This weekend I made the EXCELLENT choice to rewatch Pixar’s “Coco.”

As expected, I laughed, I sighed, and I cried buckets. I very rarely cry at movies, but inevitably SOB during Pixar movies. Don’t judge. We all have.  Those emotionally manipulative warlocks had us choking up 5 minutes into “UP”!

And as an actor it made me wonder: Why is it exactly that Pixar seems to have a direct line to our tear ducts?

And more importantly: How can I steal this wizardry?!?

Because let’s face it, when was the last time the short-song cut of that contemporary ballad got HALF the emotional reaction of Sully saying goodbye to Boo in Monsters, Inc.? What are we doing wrong?!

I have a theory!

Let’s take a look at five of the most tear-jerking Pixar moments and see what they have in common. In no particular order:

1.  UP: The Opening Montage

We see the a couple fall in love, get married, deal with infertility, build a home, have some small...