Pixar's logo and mascot "Luxo, Jr.", part of the animated opening logo sequence of Pixar movies.

Pixar Animation Studios (NASDAQ: PIXR (http://quotes.nasdaq.com/asp/SummaryQuote.asp?symbol=PIXR&selected=PIXR)) is an award-winning computer generated imagery (CGI) animation firm based in Emeryville, California (USA).

Specializing in high-end computer graphics technology, Pixar is the developer of the industry-standard rendering software RenderMan, used for high-quality, photorealistic image generation.

History

Pixar is led by Steve Jobs (co-founder of Apple Computer) as its chairman and CEO. The company started as a division of Lucasfilm. It was purchased by Jobs for US$10 million in 1986, establishing itself as an independent company. The sale was based on George Lucas' desire to see Pixar succeed on its own, as it was unable to shine in the shadow of Industrial Light & Magic.

Jobs co-founded the newly independent company with Dr. Edwin E. Catmull, who still remains a member of the executive team. John Lasseter —a two-time Academy Award-winning director and animator— oversees all of the company's projects as Executive Vice President of the Creative Department. Other notable members of the executive team are Sarah McArthur (Executive Vice President of Production), Simon Bax (Executive Vice President and chief financial officer), and Lois Scali (Executive Vice President and General Counsel).

Pixar's initial focus was as a high-end hardware company- They produced a visual processing computer, which primarily sold to government agencies and the medical community. The machine required a computer built by Sun Microsystems to operate. While the machine never sold well, John Lasseter began creating short animations to show at SIGGRAPH to demonstrate the power of the system. These animations, such as Luxo Jr. impressed audiences at the show because they demonstrated not simply a raw rendering, but personality.

As poor sales of Pixar's computers threatened to put the company out of business, Lasseter's animation department began selling commercials to outside companies, including successful campaigns for Listerine and LifeSavers. After substantial cuts to most of the computer department, Pixar began its current life by making a $26,000,000 deal with Disney, to produce Toy Story.

Disney & Pixar

All of Pixar's major features thus far have been made in collaboration with Walt Disney Pictures. Production has been handled by Pixar, with production costs split between Pixar and Disney. Disney has handled all distribution aspects, including all distribution and promotion costs. In 1997, after the release of their initial film, Toy Story, both companies signed a 10-year, 5-picture deal, in which the two companies split production costs and profits. Disney alone, however, retained the rights to the films and characters. The arrangement has been very profitable for both companies, with Pixar's five feature films having grossed more than $2.5 billion. This gives Pixar the highest per film average gross of any production company . The working relationship between Pixar and Disney will end in 2006 with the movie Cars being the last joint venture between the two companies.

The main contention between Pixar and Disney began with the production of Toy Story 2. Originally intended as a straight-to-video release (and thus not part of Pixar's five picture deal), Disney decided to release the film theatrically. Pixar demanded that the film then be counted toward the five picture agreement (effectively getting them out of it one picture early), but Disney refused.

The two companies attempted to reach a new agreement in early 2004. The new deal would only be for distribution, with Pixar controlling production and owning the properties themselves. As part of any distribution agreement with Disney, Pixar demanded control over films already in production under their old agreement, including The Incredibles and Cars. This was unacceptable to Disney, but Pixar refused any concessions. Pixar is currently looking for a new company to distribute its films, and many other firms are eager suitors. Disney retains the rights to all films under the five picture agreement and can make sequels to them. It has begun production of Toy Story 3, without Pixar's involvement.

Feature films

• Toy Story (1995)
• A Bug's Life (1998)
• Toy Story 2 (1999) (Originally slated as a direct-to-video film, Disney concluded this film did not count towards the '5 picture' contract when it was released in theatres)
• Monsters Inc. (2001)
• Finding Nemo (2003, Academy Award winner 2004)
• The Incredibles (2004)
• Cars (scheduled for release in June 2006)
• Ratatouille (scheduled for release in 2006)
• Ray Gun (rumored) (possible release in 2007)

Short films ("Shorts")

A wireframe view and rendered frame of "Geri", originally featured in the short "Geri's Game," but who later made a cameo appearance in Toy Story 2.

• The Adventures of André and Wally B. (1984, Lucasfilm, prior to creation of Pixar)
• Luxo Jr. (1986, became the source of today's Pixar logo)
• Red's Dream (1987)
• Tin Toy (1988, Academy Award winner 1988))
• Knick knack (1989)
• Geri's Game (1997, Academy Award winner 1997))
• For the Birds (2000, Academy Award winner 2001)
• Mike's New Car, (2002, based on characters in Monsters, Inc.)
• Boundin' (2004)

External links

• Official Pixar Web site (http://www.pixar.com/)
• CNN's 'Pixar dumps Disney' (http://money.cnn.com/2004/01/29/news/companies/pixar_disney/)
• Wired Magazine: Welcome to Planet Pixar (http://www.wired.com/wired/archive/12.06/pixar.html)
• Pixar Animation Studios (http://www.bcdb.com/cartoons/Other_Studios/P/Pixar_Animation_Studios/index.html) at the Big Cartoon DataBase