TikTok filters allow users to alter and enhance their videos in creative ways. They have become immensely popular on the platform, with certain filters exploding in usage and becoming viral sensations.
One filter that has recently trended on TikTok is the Pixar filter, which gives videos a stylized, animated look resembling classic Pixar movies like Toy Story.
The Pixar Filter
The Pixar filter is a filter on TikTok that makes videos look like they are computer animated in the style of Pixar films. It uses artificial intelligence to transform faces and surroundings into a smoothed-out, cartoon-like appearance reminiscent of movies like Toy Story and Finding Nemo.
The filter was introduced by TikTok in late 2020 and went viral in mid-2021 as users embraced the fun way it could make their videos look like Pixar animations come to life. As Newsweek reported, the filter’s surge in popularity led to over 3 billion views on TikTok for videos using the effect.
Why it Became Popular
The Pixar filter went viral in large part due to the nostalgia associated with Pixar movies and characters. Many people have fond childhood memories of watching classics like Toy Story, Finding Nemo, and The Incredibles. As this Sun article notes, the filter plays on Pixar’s recognizable animation style of “enlarged eyes and rosy cheeks” to transform people’s selfies. Tapping into this nostalgia and allowing people to become Pixar-fied versions of themselves resonated widely.
Additionally, the creativity and fun of looking like a Pixar character proved very popular. As a Business Insider piece mentioned, people enjoyed seeing themselves and others turned into approachable, cute cartoon versions. The filter allowed for playful self-expression. Overall, the combination of Pixar nostalgia and the chance to get an animated alter ego led this filter to take off in popularity.
Impact on Pixar Brand
The Pixar filter clearly reminded many TikTok users of the classic Pixar movie characters and films that defined their childhoods. As noted on TikTok, the filter’s exaggerated facial features are reminiscent of characters like Mr. Incredible from The Incredibles, Woody from Toy Story, and others (source). This blast from the past seems to have inspired feelings of nostalgia and encouraged people to revisit and share their love for these iconic Pixar movies.
There are many examples on TikTok of users creating short form throwback content focused on Pixar characters while using the filter. Some have even dramatically reenacted or lip synced to scenes from movies like Toy Story, Finding Nemo, and Monsters Inc. This demonstrates how the filter tapped into Pixar’s rich library of beloved films and characters, potentially inspiring viewers to rewatch the movies or buy related merchandise.
Overall, the filter provided free and organic promotion for Disney’s Pixar brand. It served as a fun, viral reminder of why people fell in love with these movies and characters in the first place. While difficult to quantify, this renewed interest and engagement sparked by TikTok users could drive more viewers to subscribe to Disney+ to rewatch Pixar films or purchase Pixar merchandising.
Other Brands Jumping In
Pixar’s filter inspired other major animation studios to create their own versions. Shortly after the Pixar filter went viral, Disney introduced a similar Disney filter that allowed users to transform themselves into classic Disney characters like Mickey Mouse and Elsa from Frozen.
DreamWorks Animation followed suit with filters featuring characters from Shrek, Kung Fu Panda, and other DreamWorks films. The Disney and DreamWorks filters also quickly amassed millions of views, as people enjoyed seeing themselves as their favorite animated characters.
These spinoff filters demonstrated the cultural impact of the original Pixar filter. Major brands wanted to capitalize on the trend, releasing their own versions for promotional purposes. While the Pixar filter kickstarted the craze, the animation filter trend grew larger than just one studio.
User Reactions
The Pixar filter on TikTok has prompted an overwhelmingly positive reaction from users. Many people have commented that they find the filter enjoyable and fun to use. It enables creativity and inspires users to make entertaining videos.
In particular, lots of users have posted compilation videos showcasing their favorite uses of the Pixar filter. These compilation videos feature humorous scenes of people and pets transformed into Pixar-style cartoons.[1] The videos demonstrate the appeal of the filter and the creative ways people have found to use it in their content.
Overall, these user reactions indicate that the Pixar filter resonates with TikTok users. People find it entertaining both to use themselves and to watch others use in funny or clever videos. The filter’s ability to turn real-life videos into animated content adds to its popularity and creativity.
Creativity it Enabled
The Pixar filter on TikTok enabled a wave of creativity, with users making all kinds of fun and inventive videos using the filter. Some of the most popular creative uses of the filter included:
Mashups with popular audios and songs – Users took trending audios and songs and used the Pixar filter to create hilarious and unexpected mashup videos. The cartoonish Pixar visuals added a new dimension when paired with popular audios.
Pixar character impersonations – People used the filter while dressed up and acting out scenes as classic Pixar characters like Woody, Buzz Lightyear, and The Incredibles. These videos showcased creativity and comedic skills.
Memes and transitions – Meme creators used the filter to make funny memes, ironic videos, and comedic transitions. The Pixar art style lent itself well to humor and internet culture.
Magic tricks and illusions – Magicians and illusionists used the filter to add a trippy, surreal dimension to magic tricks and illusions. The filter made the tricks more visually appealing.
The creativity enabled by the filter showed the unique artistry and humor of the TikTok community. The Pixar art style inspired people’s imaginations in fun new ways.
Criticisms and Controversies
The Pixar filter has received some criticism for being overused and unoriginal. Many TikTok users apply the filter to their videos without adding much creativity or original content. This oversaturation led some to feel that the trend became stale and repetitive.
There were also some minor controversies around potential copyright issues. Pixar did not officially approve or sponsor the filter, leading to questions around whether TikTok had the right to use Pixar’s recognizable animation style. However, no major legal action was taken, as the filter was considered transformative and not a direct replica of Pixar IP. But it opened up larger conversations around copyright protections for art styles and aesthetics in the age of social media filters.
One more serious controversy emerged around racist usage of the filter. Some users applied the stylized filter to themselves or others as a racist caricature, playing into offensive stereotypes. This sparked criticism and debate over moderation policies and cultural appropriation in filter trends. Sources like https://www.tiktok.com/discover/racist-pixar-filter highlighted these problematic uses of the otherwise popular and whimsical filter.
Impact on Culture
The Pixar filter has become more than just a fun app feature, it has developed into a cultural phenomenon. Users are not just making fun videos of themselves as Pixar characters, but building entire narratives and trends around the filter.
One major cultural impact has been the inspiration of Disney and Pixar-inspired makeup trends. People are doing makeup looks to resemble popular characters like Merida from Brave, Rapunzel from Tangled, and others. According to this Dexerto article, videos showing Disney character makeup tutorials have gone viral after users were inspired by seeing themselves as Disney characters via the filter.
The Pixar filter has unlocked a new form of creativity and storytelling on TikTok. It has transcended being just a filter, but a catalyst for trends that engage culture in the digital world. Users are not just transforming their appearance, but building out entire fictional worlds. The impact can be seen as users dress up as characters, role play stories, and inspire new creative directions linked back to seeing themselves as Pixar or Disney characters.
Conclusion
The Pixar filter quickly became one of the most viral filters on TikTok, demonstrating the immense power of both nostalgia marketing and user-generated content. While some criticized its repetitive overuse, the filter’s popularity showcases TikTok’s influence in driving trends and sparking creativity. Looking ahead, retro brands would be smart to explore similar filters that tap into millennial and Gen Z nostalgia. With AR technology advancing rapidly, the possibilities for creative new filters are endless. Whatever filter takes off next will likely follow the Pixar filter’s footsteps in riding a wave of viral user engagement to the heights of TikTok fame.
