Easter eggs are common in Pixar movies, such as the Pizza Planet truck originally from Toy Story.
However, A113 is unique in that it appears in every Pixar movie. Starting with Onward includes the code only in an audio format when Colt Bronco receives a dispatch about an “A113 in progress.”
While many long-time fans likely noticed this Pixar Easter egg, the history behind it is never made clear by the movies. This is because the reference is to real-life history for the industry: A113 was the number for the classroom used by animation students at the California Institute of the Arts, where many now-popular animators studied. As these animators’ careers progressed, they began including the code in their movies, especially Pixar films, as a reference to their former classroom. Although this Easter egg initially started as a joke, the running gag soon took on other meanings as well. A113 became a way for the animators to not only recognize each other and their experiences together but to honor the school that helped shape their careers.
For the animators who attended the California Institute of the Arts, A113 has provided a way to subtly acknowledge each other in their movies. Brad Bird was the first animator to include A113, using it as a license plate number in a 1987 animated episode of the TV series Soul, attended the university.
Given that A113 refers to a specific classroom, this every Pixar movie, as a way for animators to acknowledge each other and how their education has shaped their careers.
