Planes is not a masterpiece of animation. It lacks the narrative risks of Pixar’s heavy hitters. The villain, Ripslinger, is a generic "mustache-twirling" cheater, and the romantic subplot with an Indian plane named Ishani is threadbare at best.
: While Pixar did not animate the films, John Lasseter (then Chief Creative Officer of both Pixar and Disney Animation) executive produced them and came up with the original concept. pixar movies planes
Dusty Crophopper (voiced by Dane Cook) is a shy crop-duster with a fear of heights—and a dream of becoming a world-class air racer. Sound familiar? It’s Rocky with propellers. Dusty trains under a gruff naval veteran named Skipper (Stacy Keach), competes against arrogant jets like Ripslinger, and flies around the globe in a race that tests his courage more than his speed. Planes is not a masterpiece of animation
Visually, Planes is a mixed bag that highlights the difference between Pixar Animation Studios and DisneyToon. The rendering of the planes themselves is fantastic. The textures of the metal, the sheen of the chrome, and the reflections on the cockpit glass are top-tier. When the film takes to the skies, the scale is impressive. The sequence involving a naval ship in the Pacific Ocean, in particular, displays a level of water rendering and atmospheric lighting that is genuinely beautiful. : While Pixar did not animate the films,
Planes is a smooth, safe flight. It won't change your life, but it is a pleasant enough journey that looks better the higher you fly. It serves as a testament to the fact that while Pixar sets the bar, Disney’s B-team can still clear it when they focus on strong fundamentals and genuine passion for the subject matter.
John Lasseter, who directed the first two Cars films for Pixar, served as the executive producer and co-writer for Planes .