Difference between Pixar and Dreamworks
Pixar and Dreamworks are two of the most accomplished animation studios in the world, and they have racked up a respectable number of hits between them. We all love it when two giants go head-to-head however, and that is precisely what we do in this comparison article.
Insects
Insects have played a large role in the most popular of these two studios’ offerings, and Pixar’s A Bug's Life and Dreamworks’ Antz (both released in 1998) are certified modern-day animation classics. It must be said however that much of the inspiration for Dreamworks’ offering probably came from Jeffrey Katzenberg, who left Pixar to form Dreamworks immediately afterwards. In any case, Antz is clearly the better of the two, and in terms of funniness, smartness, and cleverness, it simply stands head and antennae above Pixar’s release, which was by most accounts one of the weakest titles in the Pixar lineup. In the insect category therefore, we would have to give the top honors to Dreamworks.
Monsters
The battle is more evenly placed in the monsters category, with both Pixar and Dreamworks having released two monsterrific titles. Both released in 2001, Pixar’s Monsters, Inc. and Dreamworks’ Shrek made monsters lovable in a way that few cinematic titles ever have. Shrek is actually DreamWorks' first certified hit, and it set the stage for what was to become the studio’s trademark sarcastic, satirical, and irreverent tone. While Shrek did fare far better in the tills and in fact won the first Academy Award for Best Animated Feature, Monster’s, Inc. certainly was no slouch, and its sheer emotional appeal gave Dreamworks’ own offering a serious run for its money. Which one is the better of the two? We’ll have to leave that for you to decide, as it isn't quite as clear-cut an issue as it was with the insects category. As for us, we would have to give the two equal billing in this regard.
Execution
Pixar clearly has the edge over Dreamworks in terms of execution. In most cases, Pixar’s releases are simply better and more carefully crafted than similar offerings from Dreamworks. Their character design is absolutely top-notch, and is gifted with an imaginative slant that Dreamworks' characters simply cannot compare with. The actions are also much more fluid, and it is clear that more thought and effort goes into the animating, the lighting and the special effects. In addition, you somehow get the sense that Dreamworks is often treading the same ground, as opposed to Pixar which simply gets better and better with every release, barring a few clunkers here and there.
Similarities and Differences
Pixar
- Its Bug's Life release was one of the weakest titles in the Pixar lineup
- Monster’s, Inc. won audiences for its sheer emotional appeal
Dreamworks
- Had a first certified hit with Shrek, which set the stage for the studio’s trademark sarcastic, satirical, and irreverent tone
- Antz is clearly the better insect movie in terms of funniness, smartness, and cleverness
