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George Lucas wanted to complete many different technology. His goals for these machines included: digital nonlinear film editing system, digital sound editing machine, digital film printer,
and other discoveries for computer graphics. -
Pixar was originally the Graphics Group, or 1/3 part of The Computer Division of Lucasfilms with only 45 members to make computer tech. in film industry. Key people: Dr.Ed Catmull- hired head of computer graphics lab (CGL) at New York Institute of Technology. George Lucas, founder of LucasFilms. There they created many CG which are now valuable, and allowed less training and more people capable to use the technology. Practice movies were created such as "The Works" and "Motion Doctor".
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The team began worked on film sequences created by Lucasfilm or worked collectively with Industrial Light & Magic with special effects.
Key milestones in films: -"Genesis Effect" in "Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan" (bringing a planet back to life, clip below). https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=QXbWCrzWJo4 -"Stained Glass Knight" in "Young Sherlock Holmes," made with early CGI (computer generated imagery). -
"The art challenges technology. Technology inspires the art."
—John Lasseter John is an animator, director, writer, and producer. He is responsible for almost all of Pixar's success and overviews the studios projects and creations while currently being the chief creative officer of not only Pixar, but also Disney. Past: Lasseter had made a deal to work as an "interface designer" with Catmull and his colleagues on their first computer animated short: The Adventures of Andre and Wally B. -
Purchased the group of 45 members for $5 million after leaving Apple Computers. Luxo Jr. is completed: The short film was revealed in August at SIGGRAPH but for general audiences in LA theaters
in November. Luxo Jr. is the first three-dimensional
computer animated film nominated for the
Best Animated Short Film Oscar. In April 1990, Steve Jobs sold the hardware division, and some hardware technology and imaging software to company, Vicom Systems. Jobs transferred 18 of the now 100 employees. -
Not enough sales from Pixar's computers threatened the company to be put out of business. Lasseter's animation crew produced computer-animated commercials for outside campaigns/companies for Tropicana, Listerine, and LifeSavers. Example Listerine Commercial: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rq9ny7mC92s
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Tin Toy is completed. Tin Toy will be the first
computer animated film to receive an Academy Award®
the Best Animated Short Film of 1988. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wtFYP4t9TG0 -
Self-taught cartooning, flip books and homemade animated shorts. Animation, to him, was a way to "play God", bringing fictional characters to life. Started at 21, He frist worked at Pixar the day after college graduation as the 10th employee hired, and third animator. Writing, animation, sound recording, and orchestra: 1/3 key writers, Creating Movies: Inside Out(2015), Up(2009) - His daughter voiced the character Ellie and who is based/named off her. Pete wrote Toy Story, Monsters Inc, etc.
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Santon is a director, producer, screenwriter, and takes on rare voice acting parts. Key to movie successes of Finding Nemo and WALL•E. Currently working Finding Dory, expected to be released on June 17, 2016.
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A ommercial version of RenderMan® is released.
Which Pixar created, the industry standard software
for rendering computer graphics in film and to produce all their 3D movie productions. RenderMan is used to create digital visual effects for Hollywood Blockbusters such as Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin, The Lion King, Terminator 2: Judgement Day, Toy Story, Jurassic Park, Avatar, Titanic, the Star Wars prequels, and The Lord of the Rings. -
Pixar moved from San Rafael to Richmond, California. Its relationship with Walt Disney Feature Animation, who would later become an important partner in the business, strengthened.
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In 1991, after about 30 employees in the company's computer department had to go as well as Pixar's president, Chuck Kolstad, Pixar made a $26 million deal with Disney to produce at least one computer-animated feature films, including the revolutionary "Toy Story". At that point, the software programmers, who were doing RenderMan and CAPS, and Lasseter’s animation department, making commercials and a few shorts for Sesame Street, was all that was left for the company.
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Pixar kept losing money, Jobs contemplated selling it, In 1994 almost to Microsoft. Disney distributed Toy Story on November 22, The film went on to gross more than $350 million worldwide, Jobs gave Pixar another shot. The Brain Trust is a group of the best creative leaders at Pixar who overview all the development on every project.
-John Lasseter
-Andrew Stanton
-Pete Docter
-Joe Ranft -
The Walt Disney Studios and Pixar Animation Studios come to
an agreement to produce five movies together throughout a period of 10 years.
-A Bug's Life (1998)
-Toy Story 2 (1999)
-Monsters, Inc (2001)
-Finding Nemo (2003)
-The Incredibles (2004)
Pixar adds 375 new members to the company. Pixar was mainly production vs Disney Distribution/Directing. -
Geri’s Game is completed. Pixar's second winner of the Best Animated Short Film Academy Award®. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zWV3XVhaQsc
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-The first film in history to be completely finished, mastered and exhibited digitally
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Pixar obtains over 600 employees. Co-founder, Ed Catmull, is named President of Pixar.
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Finding Nemo was nominated for four Academy Awards® and won the Oscar® for Best Animated Feature.
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Its first
weekend box office of over $70 million breaks all Pixar records.
Won two academy awards:
Best Animated Feature Film and Achievement in Sound Editing. Finding Nemo becomes the best-selling DVD, selling
41 million+ copies in North America alone. -
Pixar's first exhibition of their original artwork,
Pixar: 20 Years of Animation,
at New York Museum of Modern Art. -
-Pixar is bought from Steve Jobs for $7.4 Billion.
-Steve becomes Board Directors member of Disney as part of the deal.
-Jobs became Disney's largest individual shareholder at 7%.
-Ed Catmull becomes President, and John Lasseter
Chief Creative Officer of Disney and Pixar Animation Studios -
Nominated for five Academy Awards® and wins the Oscar® for Best Animated Feature.
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Nominated for six Academy Awards®, and wins the Oscar® for
Best Animated Feature Film. -
Up was nominated for five Academy Awards®: Best Picture and wins the Oscars® for Best Animated Feature Film and Best Original Score.
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Third highest-grossing animated film, it is the first to reach the billion dollar mark.
Nominated for five Academy Awards®, and brings the Oscar® for Best Animated Feature Film home. -
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Brave is nominated and wins the Academy Award®
for Best Animated Feature Film . -
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RenderMan is available for non-commercial use. http://renderman.pixar.com/view/p-renderman
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