Pixar
Pixar Animation Studios is an award-winning computer generated imagery (CGI) animation firm based in Emeryville, California (USA).
Specialists in high-end computer graphics technology, Pixar are the developers 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 ten million dollars in 1986, establishing itself as an independent company.
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).
Disney & Pixar
All of Pixar's major features thus far were made in collaboration with Walt Disney Pictures. Both companies signed a 10-year, 5-picture deal, in which the two companies split production costs and profits — with Disney receiving 12.5% of the revenues and the rights to the films. The arrangement has been very profitable for both companies, as Pixar films have been far more successful than Disney's own animated films. Pixar's five feature films have grossed more than $2.5 billion, making it, picture for picture, the most successful movie house of all time. However, Disney's CEO, Michael Eisner, and Jobs did not get along. Because of personal and business disagreements, the relationship will end in 2005 with the movie Cars being the last joint venture between the two companies.
The two companies attempted to reach a new agreement in early 2004. For the new deal, Pixar only wanted to pay Disney a distribution fee with no other profit sharing or rights to the properties. 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 the earlier films and can make sequels to them.
Feature films
Short films ("Shorts")
- 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)
- Knickknack (1989)
- Geri's Game (1997)
- For the Birds (2000, Academy Award winner 2001)
- Mike's New Car, (2002, based on characters in Monsters, Inc.)
- Boundin' (2004)
