The Chinese Food Box is a folded paperboard container, traditionally with a handle made of solid wire, used to package take-out food. One such box model first appeared in A Bug's Life as a "Chinese Cabinet of Metamorphosis" used by Manny as part of his circus act. This precise box model made cameos in several subsequent Pixar films.
Description
The model recurrent in Pixar films is characterized by its pagoda drawing in red ink, printed on both the front and back sides. It depicts a flat, one-floor pagoda with one large, round window, a balcony, and two lanterns. It is surrounded by four Chinese characters （山珍海味, a Chinese idiom literally meaning "delicacies from the mountains and the sea"）. Furthermore, the shape of the hook on the front lid is consistent in every appearance. On the top of the lid is written "Thank You", also in red ink.
Appearances in Pixar films
- A Bug's Life - In the circus as Manny's "Chinese Cabinet of Metamorphosis."
- Toy Story 2 - In the Pizza Planet Truck.
- Ratatouille - In Linguini's apartment. The markings are black instead of red and the "Thank You" on the top is missing, but the boxes are otherwise identical.
- Inside Out - Used by Riley's family for dinner.
- Incredibles 2- three of them were seen in the trailer in the dinner scene.
Different model in Monsters, Inc.
A similar box with a different ink drawing in Monsters, Inc.
Some Chinese food boxes are found in Harryhausen's in Monsters, Inc.. However their pagoda drawing is completely different, and therefore they do not truly constitute a cameo of the box from A Bug's Life. Nevertheless, the box itself is the same as in other appearances (e.g. the top lid's hook design is matching).
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