Nearly everyone has seen at least one Pixar or Disney animation movie but a mysterious code has been drawn into so many of them and you probably never noticed it. Every Pixar animation movie from “Toy Story” to “Monster’s University” has contained a mysterious code, “A113” in one or more scenes.
The infamous code hasn’t been limited to Disney or Pixar films and has been seen in “American Dad”, “The Simpsons”, and even in the blockbuster movie “The Avengers.” Here are just some of the scenes where the hidden message appears.
A113 on the license plate on Andy’s family car in Toy Story.
And again on a cardboard box in A Bug’s Life.
A113 etched on the diver’s camera in Finding Nemo.
It is cleverly hidden as the coordinates of Mr. Incredible’s cell in The Incredibles.
A113 as the train’s reporting number in Cars.
It is also the license plate number of Mater in Cars.
A113 written on an ear tag on one of the rats in Ratatouille.
A113 as the code for the Abandon Earth protocol in WALL-E.
It is the courtroom number in Up.
A113 is Siddeley’s registration number in Cars 2.
It also appears on a computer screen in Cars 2.
A113 can again be seen as Mater’s license plate number in Cars 2.
See it engraved in Roman numerals above this doorway in Brave.
A113 written on a door in Monster’s University.
It is the streetcar number in The Princess and the Frog.
A113 is popularly used as license plate numbers as seen in Lilo & Stitch.
And again in The Iron Giant.
And even in non-Disney features such as American Dad.
See it on a door in The Brave Little Toaster.
A113 also appears in some scenes of The Simpsons.
It also appears in The Avengers.
Why is it seen in so many animation shorts and movies?
A113 is actually the classroom number at the California Institute of Arts where so many first-year graphic design and character animation program students started their training. Several animators, producers, and directors from Disney, Pixar, and other animation companies all mastered their craft at the infamous University that was created and founded by Walt Disney in 1961.
By including this Easter egg in so many films, it is their way of giving a friendly nod to the school and other students who also shared this classroom. The alumni include famous names such as John Lasseter, Tim Burton, and Brad Bird just to name a few.
John Lasseter explains what this code means in one of his Q&A interviews
I personally love finding Easter eggs in movies and hope you’ll look out for this classroom number the next time you watch an animation short or feature film. Animators and voice actors are the people that bring these animations to life!
Please share this infamous code found in Disney and Pixar films with your friends and family.