References

 This link provides a full history on Pixar with a small timeline providing the important dates. It goes into detail about mostly everything that happened before and after Pixar was formed. I found it very useful as it contained mostly everything I wanted to research. Available at: http://www.fundinguniverse.com/company-histories/Pixar-Animation-Studios-company-History.html [Accessed on 16th January 2010]

This link provides a list of all of Pixars major films with a small bit of detail underneath. When writing my list of films this help incredibly as it provided all the films and helped me with the layout.  Available at: http://movies.yahoo.com/feature/need-to-know-pixar-history.html [Accessed on 11th January 2010]

This link gives a good amount of detail on both Ed Catmull and John Lasseter, two of Pixar's biggest people. When writing the page on John Lasseter, it gave me all the information I needed to write a short piece on him. Available at: http://www.pixar.com/companyinfo/about_us/execs.htm [Accessed on 10th January 2010]

This link is all about the history of Pixar in the form of a timeline. It highlights every iconic change in Pixar as it grew, no matter how small. It was useful to use when I did my timeline as I was able to pull out the important dates. Available at: http://www.pixar.com/companyinfo/history/index.html [Accessed on 10th January 2010]

Another link detailing the history of Pixar from the very beginning, before Pixar was formed. It was useful to use with the other link as I had a variety of information and two sources to back up anything I wasn't sure of. Available at: http://lowendmac.com/orchard/06/pixar-story-lucas-disney.html [Accessed on 16th January 2010]

This link is to the video of 'A Day in John Lasseter's Life'. It's a short documentary into the life of John Lasseter and I used it as a back up on my page about him. Available at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iZre2MUyvoQ [Accessed on 17th January 2010]

This is the link to Pixar's #Luxo Jr', one of the greatest short film successes. It's used as a back up to when I mention it in the history piece.Available at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XMMrKQLxcMI&feature=fvst [Accessed on 17th January 2010]

John Lasseter

John Lasseter is one of the biggest names in animation today. He is one of the original members when Pixar was founded and is the genius behind many of the studios biggest films. Today he is Vice President and Chief Creative Officer of Walt Disney and Pixar Animation Studios. He is also a two time academy award winning director and directs and oversees any on-going films or projects that are happening within both Disney and Pixar studios. 

Lasseter found true fame when 'Toy Story' was released; being the director and writer of such a fantastic film was the John's way of claiming success. He has also directed many of Pixar's other films such as 'Cars', 'A Bugs's Life' 'Toy Story 2', etc. One of John's earliest successes was 'Luxo Jr', the short animation that has given Pixar its trademark and was the first computer animated film to be nominated for Best Animated Short Film, but his life was surely set for all this achievement when he was announced as the only winner of two student awards at the California Institute of the Arts.  

For me, John Lasseter is a true inspiration and when I think about going into animation, it'e because of him; he is the one who brought so much joy to the world through animation and to able to do that is something that I want to do; put a smile on people faces through animation. 

The video below is a short documentary, all about a day in John Lasseter's life. It shows that if you really set your mind on something you can achieve great things!

History

Pixar, besides Disney, is the biggest animation studio in the world and it has created the best animations this world has ever seen. Of course, life wasn't always a dream and even Pixar had to work hard to earn its place at top of the leaderboard.

Lucasfilm Ltd founded a small group of a few men, including Dr. Ed Catmull who is now president of Walt Disney and Pixar Animation Studios, in 1979 as Graphics Group, one third of its computer division. Some of  their first works here were seen in the films such as Star Wars Trilogy. The group spent the next few years creating computer equipment and graphics for Lucasfilms, including the imaging computer dubber 'The Pixar' which contributed not only to graphics animation, but to medical science and weather satellites. In 1984, John Lasseter, friends with Ed Catmull and employee of Walt Disney Studios, spent a month at Lucasfilms as a working visit. This led to him making the decision to leave Disney and join the small group.    

In 1986, Pixar became more of an independent studio when Steve Jobs purchased the group for $10'000'000 after picking himself up from financial issues. The small group were excited their new boss was someone who had a laidback reputation and someone who could help achieve their goals of creating high tech fun, they were slightly let down when Jobs told his new crew to put aside their animation dreams and focus on selling points with technical graphics. 

The next few months, the company focussed on small projects, but didn't reach top success for a while which made Jobs uneasy and almost regretful on his purchase of Pixar. He later told 'Fortune' Magazine: 

'If I knew in 1986 how much it was going to cost to keep Pixar going, I doubt if I would've bought the company. The problem was, for many years the cost of the computers required to make animation we could sell was tremendously high.' 

Fortunately for Jobs, Pixar came up with the idea of a few software ideas, which they used to create a range of products. In the same year of making his purchase, Pixar created its first (of many) Oscar nominated piece; Luxo Jr. Not long after, in 1987, they created 'Red's Dream' which was followed by the development of 'Renderman,' which allowed the team to produce amazing realistic images that look almost like real photographs. Lassester was thankful for its work when he wrote and directed 'Tin Toy' and used its engine to produce images for it, resulting in the first computer generated animation. The short animation won Pixar its first Academy Award in 1988.    

The next few years were up and down for Pixar as they just couldn't raise sales high enough and were forced to let people go, but in 1991 one, something changed. With the help of Disney, Pixar made its name to the world in the form of an animated feature length film named 'Toy Story'. The success led to Pixar signing a contract with Disney and becoming responsible for its future 3 animated films with Disney providing all funding for all costs. however Disney still kept most of the profit from the films, but Pixar managed to take a piece of the gross revenues from the box offices and any video sales.    

Following the success of their first film, Pixar went on to make many more incredible films with Disney. Pixar is now known worldwide by people of all ages and brings joy to everyone all year round.  

The Big Films

Pixar has created some of the most astounding films the world has ever seen; each film made goes beyond its limits and gives the world something truely incredible to watch. Pixar has made ten top films that all have either won Best Animated Film or similar.

Toy Story (1995)

John Lasseter's first film as director; with his leadership he bought us the first ever featured length animated film that won Best Animated Film. A story about a cowboy toy learning to except the fact that his owner Andy also likes a new space toy and has to come to terms that he know has to share Andy's love, but of course, accepting isn't always easy and this leads of a huge adventure of going missing from Andy's room then working together to find their way home.     

A Bug's Life (1998)

Pixar's research for this film resulted in sticking tiny cameras on the backs of real ants. The film  is about a young ambious ant who wants to be recognised by his colony through his wacky inventions, but as always, things go wrong. When nasty grasshoppers threaten their colony it's up to him to go look for help

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• Toy Story 2 (1999)

Pixar's only film to win the Best Comedy Award, this film broadcasts all the original characters with a few new faces. Woody, once again, goes missing from Andy's room and it's up to the rest of the toys to help bring him back, but what's a Pixar film without a bit of trouble along the way. 

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• Monsters, Inc (2001)

With a young 2 and half year old Mary Gibbs providing the voice of young Boo, it was up the Pixar recording team to follow her around and capture her sweet playing sounds. Monsters at 'Monsters, Inc' power their city with children's screams and it's there job to scare the kids and collect their screams, but what happens when one becomes loose in their world? This film really is a full bundle of bubbly fun. 

Finding Nemo(2003)

Another fun research project for Pixar; before making this film, the team learnt to scuba dive and went swimming with fish to observe actually what their world was all about. This film demonstrates the father-son bond to the max; when his little son  Nemo is taken by scuba divers, dad Marlin, sets across the big blue to get him back. 

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• The Incredibles (2004)

Pixar's first film with a full cast of human characters, this film is full of action packed fun. Two super heroes who decide to settle down, feel the need to once again be super; their kids have also inherited super powers, but when the family get into trouble, they must work together to triumph over evil.

Cars (2006)

Not as successful as the other films in cinema, but its merchadise made up for the loss by pulling in an estimated $1'000'000'000. This film is about a car close to winning his dream and becoming the top racer, but when trouble acts up, McQueen learns the true meaning of friends and family.  

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• Rataouille (2007)

A Paris based film meant a trip to Paris; the crew rode  around Paris recording its incredible sights for this film. A mouse with a passion for cooking and food, see's his chance of working his dream when he meets a divvy chef who wants to impress his boss and open his own restaurant.  

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• WALL.E (2008)

An all time classic and fantastic film; this movie contain hardly any dialogue and makes it such a treat to watch as you really enjoy the animation happening. A little robot sent to a beaten and no longer 'living' earth has a mission to find life. When he meets a lovely female robot named Eve, things change dramatically and soon the little guy is whizzed off into space for his adventure. 

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• Up (2009)
• One of Pixar's most emotional films to date. This movie follows old man Carl on his journey to move his house to his late wife's dream place to live. Along the way he meets some of Pixar's most memorable characters and has the adventure of a life time.
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•   Toy Story 3 (2010)
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• Pixar's latest and greatest creation; this film brings an emotional end to a fantastic franchise with the film showing young boy Andy all grown up and ready for college, meaning it's time for Woody, Buzz and the crew to move on. As always, the toys go missing and must find there way back home to Andy before he leaves for college, but this time the toys don't go home to Andy, instead they find a new home with a young girl, thus starting their journey once again of bringing joy to a young child's heart. 
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History - Timeline

1984


Leaving his Disney animation career, John Lasseter joins George Lucas' special affects computer group, which would be soon become known as Pixar.

1986


Lucasfilm, Ltd was the first name the industry took before Steve Jobs bought the company for $10'000'000 and gave it the famous name 'Pixar'. Ed Catmull, a man who had been with the company since 1979, went from vice president to co-founder and chief technical officer at Pixar. Pixar's famous little table lamp 'Luxo Jr' has his world premiere at Siggraph.

1987


A year after it's premiere 'Luxo Jr.' wins an Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film and the Golden Gate Award.

During the next few years, Pixar continued to create short animated films and mini commercials that also went onto to win many small awards.

1991


Pixar teams up with Walt Disney Studios; this newly formed friendship leads to the development and creation of up to three feature length animated films.

1993


Pixar makes an IBM (International Business Machine) logo.

1994


Pixar makes its Paramount logo.

1995


Pixar finally goes public offering 6'900'000 shares at $22 a share. The IPO (Intellectual Property Office) raises $140'000'000 beating Netscape Communications as the highest IPO of the year. Pixar's first fully featured computer animated film, Toy Story, is released in US theatres during Thanksgiving weekend. It becomes the biggest grossing film of 1995 making an estimated $192'000'000 in domestic box office receipts and almost $362'000'000 worldwide. Disney distributed the film.

1996


Pixar's much loved characters Woody and Buzz from the film Toy Story make a special appearance at the  68th Academy Awards. John Lasseter is given the Special Achievement Award for his inspired leadership of the Pixar Toy Story Team resulting in the first feature-length computer animated film. 

1997


History is again made as Pixar and Disney make a new agreement to creature fives films together. With Pixar's employees growing to 375, the company expands to a second building. Pixar also releases the short animated film 'Geri's Game'; the film was the beginning of the advances in the ability to animate skin and cloth.    

1998


Another of Pixar's great films is released: A Bug's Life. The film broke all the previous box office records with the highest grossing animated film, earning around 163'000'000  in domestic box office receipts and roughly 362'000'000 worldwide.

1999


Making a smashing comeback, Toy Story has a sequel released and again Pixar breaks box office records in the US, UK and Japan becoming the highest grossing animated film. The film was the first be created, exhibited and mastered digitally alongside being the first animated sequel to make more than it's original.

2001

Ed Catmull, the chief technical who has been with Pixar for many years is named President of the industry, John Lasseter signs a ten year contract so that he provides only for Pixar and nobody else and the number of employees reaches 600. Pixar's next film, Monsters Inc, keeps tradition and becomes the highest grossing film of the year.

2003


The next animated film, Finding Nemo, is released.

2004


Pixar releases the film, The Incredibles. Finding Nemo becomes the number 1 selling DVD of all time and wins the Oscar for Best Animated Film.

2006


John Lasseter returned as Director for Pixar's new film Cars. Disney buys Pixar through a transaction worth $7.4'000'000'000.

2007


Pixar's eighth movie, Ratatouille was released and grossed an estimated $623'000'000, it was also nominated for five Academy Awards and won Best Animated Feature Film.

2008


Pixar released one of their most clever films to date, an animated film called WALL.E. The films main character is a small robot who doesn't speak which, ultimately, makes him more attractive and fun to watch and the audience can focus on him better. The film received a Pixar record of 6 Academy Award nominations and won Best Animated Film.

2009


Pixar's award winning film 'Up' was released and won Best Original Score and Best Animated Film.

2010


An emotional and great return of Pixar's finest; the industry released Toy Story 3 to mark 25 years after the release of the first film.

Introduction to Pixar

What is Pixar?

Pixar is an academy award winning animation studio with the ability to create and produce some of the greatest animated feature films using state of the art technology. Along with it's film, it has created some of the best selling merchandise and similar products through-out the entire world. Pixar's work has been viewed in millions of cinemas worldwide by people of every age and has made it's mark in every film lovers heart.  

Pixar has been in my life for as long as I can remember; I've been watching their films for over a decade and their work never ceases to amaze me. Of course, even a studio like Pixar had to work it's way to the top; the true making of Pixar resulted in the amazing success of it's finest featured length film that still captures the love and attention of people today: Toy Story. However Pixar had been around for many years before Toy Story's release.

Here I'll recording and researching Pixar's journey from the very beginning, talking about it's greatest films and success', it's teaming up with Disney and a dedicated page to John Lasseter, the man who brought us Toy Story.