BURN-E (2008)

Directed by: Angus MacLane | 7 minutes | animation, comedy, short film, science fiction | Original voice cast: Ben Burtt, Elissa Knight, Jeff Garlin

‘Monsters Inc.’ (2001) had ‘Mike’s Car’, ‘The Incredibles’ (2004) was joined by ‘Jack-Jack Attack’, ‘Cars’ (2006) by ‘Mater and The Ghostlight’ and ‘Ratatouille’ (2007) was the big brother from ‘Your Friend the Rat’. Pixar makes a habit of adding cachet to its major DVD releases by putting a previously unreleased short on the disc. ‘WALL-E’ (2008) obviously couldn’t stay behind. The proud owners of the DVD of this groundbreaking sci-fi animated film get a very special icing on the cake in the form of the short ‘BURN-E’ (2008). As with the above series of films, the short film is again closely linked to the main film. What is new, however, is that the adventures in the short take place at the same time as what happens in the main film. BURN-E is a robot that can also be seen briefly in the film ‘WALL-E’. Directing animator Angus MacLane saw more than a side character in the humble BURN-E and came up with the idea of ​​introducing him to the public more closely. The high bosses at Pixar gave him the green light. “Go work with that little robot,” they said, and MacLane was given a small budget. ‘BURN-E’ is the result.

While all eyes are on WALL-E and EVE, the maintenance robot BURN-E just needs to get to work. After a meteor smashes a lamp on the outside of the spaceship Axiom, it’s his job to fix it. WALL-E and EVE are indirectly responsible for things always going wrong. When BURN-E finally manages to get the light working again on his third attempt, he is suddenly locked out (you can also see this scene in ‘WALL-E’). He tries his very best to get back in, but that too always fails. When he finally thinks he is back inside, he is immediately shot out again as Auto, the pilot of the Axiom, changes course back to Earth. Poor BURN-E barely manages to cling to the lamp he just repaired. Once on Earth, he can finally show SUPPLY-R, the robot that has had to hand him new lights, sighing and groaning, that the light is finally working again. But bad luck still haunts poor BURN-E…

MacLane modeled his film after the science-fiction films of the seventies and eighties and the sets are indeed reminiscent of that. A film like ‘BURN-E’ is naturally very episodic – the little robot that repeatedly fails to do its job well – but thanks to the excellent tempo the seven minutes rush past without the repetitive element becoming disturbing. With subtle jokes, visual feats and countless references to the main film, MacLane keeps it captivating. Plus, BURN-E may not be as endearing as WALL-E, but it’s just as endearing. The big nod that movie freak MacLane gives to his own favorite movies – BURN-E’s route from the SUPPLY-R to the outside of the Axiom was inspired by ‘Aliens’ (1986) and the music (‘Ode to Joy’ from Beethoven’) we heard earlier in, among others, ‘Raising Arizona’ (1987) and ‘A Clockwork Orange’ (1971) – making the viewing pleasure even greater for the experienced film buff. With ‘BURN-E’ Angus MacLane shows his calling card as animator and director. Pixar also shows that it is still leading and pioneering in the field of animation – especially when it comes to shorts.