Director(s): Doug
Sweetland
Date Released: 2008
Theatrically Released Alongside: WALL-E
Presto is everything a comedic short should be: hilarious, vivid, engaging and undeniably sweet. It revives the golden age of cartoon slapstick in gloriously fluent CGI, while adding Pixar’s own endearing charm. There’s a clear advantage in animation quality when comparing Presto’s slapstick to Knick Knack’s, as Presto’s fluent, sharper animation allows for much quicker comedic timing. The short has so much happening in under five minutes that multiple viewings is necessary for full appreciation.
Presto
opens with a vibrantly hand-drawn Pixar logo and title, combined with some lively
spectacle music (a sign of good things to come). The title zooms out to reveal an advertising
poster—“PRESTO Digiotagione & His HAT of Wonder!” Spread around the poster are an assortment of
little Easter eggs, such as older posters (one which reveals the act was
originally called “PRESTO Digiotagione & His HAT of 40 Fathoms” as well as
dating the short to the 20th century), makeup jars (one labeled
mustache wax), and a sticky note stating to “Feed Rabbit”. The shot slides over to Alec, the magician
Presto’s stomach-rumbling rabbit—stuck in a cage while desperately trying to
reach a large carrot. In just a few
seconds the silent short establishes a considerable amount about its characters
and setting, in particular Presto’s neglectfulness towards his rabbit (the
sticky note hinting towards Presto being more absentminded than uncaring).
Into the dressing room walks Presto
(having recently eaten), a suave-looking man of 1000 comedic expressions, eyes
budging cartoon-style at seeing how close showtime is. After hastily quadruple locking his door (in
addition to suspiciously scanning the room, a theatrically mysterious look upon
his face), Presto goes to his underwear drawer, revealing a secret compartment
containing both a traditional top hat, and a wizards hat (which looks
suspiciously similar to Mickey Mouses’ hat from Fantasia’s The Wizard’s Apprentice). Presto reveals his magic trick to not be a
trick at all, but actual magic, using a portal between hats to transfer objects
from one side to the other. Running
late, Presto hastily grabs Alec (without feeding him) and goes onstage with the
top hat—leaving Alec and the wizard hat behind curtain, ready to be pulled
through. Frustrated and hungry, Alec
refuses to cooperate until fed, making a chewing motion when an agitated Presto
signals him.
With the stage both literally and
figuratively set, Presto’s comedy erupts
into an array of wonderful slapstick antics as Presto desperately tries to pull Alec through the hat. First Presto tries
forcefully grabbing, only for Alec to slam his portaled hand against a
table. Becoming increasingly embarrassed, Presto next
tries intimidation, which appears to work until a mousetrap is drawn rather
than Alec (the audience applauds nonetheless, with Presto bowing in pain). The slapstick hilarity continues one trick
after the other, Presto becoming increasingly beat-up and furious with each new
antic.
Presto reaches his limits when Alec
jams his fingers through an electric socket (the orchestra switching to country
folk music at the sight of his spazzing, electrified body), exploding into a
mad frenzy as he chases Alec all over the stage. In his anger, Presto’s leg gets caught in the
curtain’s rope, pulling him up to the stage’s fly space. The audience gasps, believing it’s part of the
show, while a satisfied Alec happily leaves the stage. Yet suddenly the rope slips, causing Presto
to fall to his imminent doom, bringing with him some falling scenery and a
large piano (a falling anvil would’ve also been acceptable). Alec notices and—after smacking his face in annoyance—uses the wizard hat to save Presto. The
audience gives a standing ovation to the (unintended) spectacular finale, with Presto
gleefully accepting the praise and a crossed Alec leaving the stage.
