When watching a film, one might spot a reference to a previous film. Repetition of ideas or characters is common in Disney movies, no matter how obvious or hidden they may be.

Characters from movies, past or future, can make their way into new releases.

Disney’s Hercules was released in 1997. In the film, Hercules, the heroic protagonist, has a familiar animal skin. This pelt belongs to none other than Scar, the villainous traitor of Disney’s The Lion King, released in 1994.

Disney Pixar’s Monsters Inc was released in 2001. Nemo, the young clownfish from Pixar’s Finding Nemo made an appearance two years before his feature film was released.

Pixar Animation Studios is well known for placing references to previous and future films in its movies. The hidden surprises in each movie are called “Easter eggs” for obvious reasons: they’re hidden

Junior Megan Coughlin said, “[Finding Easter eggs] is like a reminder of all of the movies I loved when I was a child.”

One of the most widely known Easter egg in Pixar movies is the Pizza Planet delivery truck. This vehicle was introduced Pixar’s Toy Story in 1995, the first film released by the company, and has made an appearance in every Pixar film to date. Among these are A Bug’s Life, Monsters Inc, The Incredibles, Cars, Ratatouille, Wall-E, Up, Brave, and The Toy Story Trilogy.

Senior Michael Hill said, “Every Disney movie has a message that they are trying to convey by the end of the movie.”

Many Disney movies share common ideas and principles. All trying to teach valuable lessons to younger audiences, through the characters. These stories start out with the outcast or orphan protagonist, who goes through a tragic or traumatic event. They then fall in love, and find a “happily ever after.” Examples of this are Cinderella, Snow White, Sleeping Beauty, Aladdin, Fox and the Hound, Bambi, and Beauty and the Beast, just to name a few.

Disney Pixar is constantly releasing new films. Monsters University and Planes are now in select theaters, so be on the look out for Easter eggs, like the Pizza Planet truck, and repetition in ideas or themes.