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Geri's Game is a 4 minute long 1997 animated short film made by Pixar. It was written and directed by Jan Pinkava. It was the first Pixar Short created after the creation of Toy Story, the last short being Knick Knack back in 1989. The film won an Oscar for Best Animated Short Film.
Plot
The film is set in an empty park during autumn, the title character, Geri (voiced by Bob Peterson), plays a game of chess against himself ('becoming' each of the players in turn by moving to the other side of the chessboard and taking his glasses on and off). As the game progresses, the non-glasses Geri appears to be on the edge of victory, with the glasses Geri having only his king left. Glasses Geri outsmarts Non-Glasses Geri distracting him and turns the board around (meaning Non-Glasses Geri has only his king left). Glasses Geri wins and Non-Glasses Geri gives him his false teeth.
Trivia
- The face of the character "Geri" is based on the facial features of Jonathan Harris, who played Dr. Zachary Smith in "Lost in Space." Harris also provided the voice of Geri for his Toy Story 2 cameo.
- The wooden cigar box containing the chess pieces is marked "Pt. Richmond Hand Made Pixar Shorts". The Pixar Animation Studios was located at Point Richmond, California at the time of the short's production.
- Attached to the theatrical and video releases of A Bug's Life.
Goofs
- The box holding the chess pieces falls to the ground but disappears in the closing shot.
- "Nasty" Geri (black) moves a bishop illegally, two squares horizontally to capture a pawn
- One shot shows Geri 1 (with glasses) in full frame but it also shows Geri 2's hand slamming a chess piece down. If he is the only one playing then who's hand was it?
Technology
Pixar produced the film with the goal of exploring improved techniques in the rendering of humans and clothing, including the use of subdivision surfaces.
Cameos
Geri later had a cameo appearance in Toy Story 2 as the toy cleaner who works on Woody; inside the box of his cleaning kit, viewers can see a collection of chess pieces. He was voiced by Jonathan Harris.
Awards
- 1998-Academy Awards, USA-Best Animated Short Film
- 1998-Anima Mundi Animation Festival-Best FIlm x2
- 1998-Annecy International Animated Film Festival-Jan Pinkava
- 1998-Annie Awards-Outstanding Achievement in an Animated Short Subject
- 1998-Florida Film Festival-Best Short
- 1998-World Animation Celebration-Best 3-D CGI by Professional Jan Pinkava
- 1998-Zagreb World Festival of Animated Films-Internet Favourite
External links
- Pixar's home page for Geri's Game
1997 films | Pixar short films | Films about chess | Best Animated Short Academy Award winners
"Geri's Game"