Pixar 78969 226102061 2008-07-16T20:51:32Z Okiefromokla 5736838 Reverted edits by [[Special:Contributions/76.31.196.95|76.31.196.95]] to last version by SpikeJones (using [[WP:HG|Huggle]]) {{Infobox_Company | company_name = Pixar Animation Studios | company_logo = [[Image:Pixar logo1.png|250px|Pixar Company Logo (1995&ndash;Present)]] | company_type = [[Subsidiary]] of [[Walt Disney Motion Pictures Group]] ([[The Walt Disney Company|Disney]]) | company_slogan = | foundation = [[February 3]], [[1986]] | location_city = [[Emeryville]], [[California]] | location_country = [[United States|U.S.]] | key_people = [[Edwin Catmull|Ed Catmull]], [[President]], [[Walt Disney Animation Studios|Disney and Pixar Animation Studios]]<br />[[John Lasseter]], [[Chief Creative Officer]], Disney and Pixar Animation Studios | num_employees = | parent = [[The Walt Disney Company]] | industry = [[computer generated imagery|CGI]] [[animation]] | products = [[RenderMan Interface Specification|RenderMan]], [[Marionette (software)|Marionette]] | revenue = | operating profit = | homepage = [http://www.pixar.com/ Pixar.com] }} '''Pixar Animation Studios''' is a [[Computer-generated imagery|CGI]] [[animation studio]] based in [[Emeryville, California]]. To date, the studio has earned thirteen [[Academy Award]]s, three [[Golden Globe]]s, and one [[Grammy]], among many other awards, acknowledgments and achievements. It is best known for its [[computer generated imagery|CGI]]-animated [[List of Pixar films|feature film]]s which are created with [[PhotoRealistic RenderMan]], its own implementation of the industry-standard [[RenderMan Interface Specification|Renderman]] image-[[Rendering (computer graphics)|rendering]] [[Application programming interface|API]] used to generate high-quality images. It was founded in 1979 as a division of [[Lucasfilm]] before it was bought by [[Apple Inc.|Apple]] founder [[Steve Jobs]]. [[The Walt Disney Company]] bought Pixar in [[2006]] through an [[Stock swap|all-stock transaction]] worth [[US$]]7.4 billion. ==History== ===Early history=== [[Image:Pixar - front gates.jpg|thumb|right|350px|Pixar's studio lot in Emeryville.]] Pixar was founded as the Graphics Group, one third of the Computer Division of [[Lucasfilm]] that was launched in 1979 with the hiring of [[Edwin Catmull|Dr. Ed Catmull]] from the [[New York Institute of Technology]] (NYIT).<ref name="pixar story">{{cite web | author = Hormby, Thomas| publisher =Low End Mac | title =The Pixar Story: Fallon Forbes, Dick Shoup, Alex Schure, George Lucas, Steve Jobs, and Disney | date =2007-01-22|url =http://lowendmac.com/orchard/06/pixar-story-lucas-disney.html | accessdate =2007-03-01 }}</ref> At NYIT, the researchers worked on an experimental film called ''[[The Works (film)|The Works]]''. When the group moved to Lucasfilm, the team worked on creating the precursor to [[RenderMan Interface Specification|RenderMan]], called Motion Doctor, which allowed traditional [[Traditional animation|cel animators]] to use computer animation with minimal training.<ref name="pixar story" /> The team began working on film sequences produced by Lucasfilm or worked collectively with [[Industrial Light and Magic]] on special effects.<ref name="pixar story"/> After years of research, and key milestones in films such as ''[[Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan]]'' and ''[[Young Sherlock Holmes]]'',<ref name="pixar story"/> the group was purchased in 1986 by [[Steve Jobs]] shortly after he left [[Apple Inc|Apple Computer]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.folklore.org/StoryView.py?project=Macintosh&story=The_End_Of_An_Era.txt|title=The End Of An Era|first=Andy|last=Hertzfeld|authorlink=Andy Hertzfeld|publisher=Folklore.org}}</ref> Jobs paid $5 million to [[George Lucas]] and put $5 million as capital into the company.<ref name="pixar">{{cite web|accessdate=2008-04-11|url=http://www.pixar.com/companyinfo/history/index.html|title=Pixar History |publisher=Pixar }}</ref> The Computer Division was renamed Pixar, a fake Spanish word meaning "to make pictures" or "to make pixels."<ref>http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/2006/01/29/BUG8RGTL2L1.DTL&type=business</ref><ref>http://www.takeourword.com/TOW203/page2.html</ref> A factor contributing to Lucas's sale was an increase in cash flow difficulties following his 1983 divorce, which coincided with the sudden dropoff in revenues from ''[[Star Wars]]'' licenses following the release of ''[[Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi|Return of the Jedi]]'' and the disastrous box-office performance of ''[[Howard the Duck (film)|Howard the Duck]]''.<ref name="pixar story" /> The newly independent company was headed by Dr. Edwin Catmull, President and [[Chief executive officer|CEO]], and Dr. [[Alvy Ray Smith]], Executive Vice President and Director. Jobs served as [[Chairman]] and [[Chief Executive Officer]] of Pixar.<ref>{{cite web|accessdate=2008-04-22|url=http://www.411mania.com/movies/columns/53184/Misunderstood-Masterpieces:-Howard-the-Duck.htm|title=Advertisement Misunderstood Masterpieces: Howard the Duck |publisher=411mania }}</ref> Initially, Pixar was a high-end [[computer hardware]] company whose core product was the [[Pixar Image Computer]], a system primarily sold to government agencies and the medical community. One of the leading buyers of Pixar Image Computers was Disney Studios, which was using the device as part of their secretive [[CAPS (Computer Animation Production System)|CAPS]] project, using the machine and custom software to migrate the laborious Ink and Paint part of the 2-D animation process to a more automated and thus efficient method. The Image Computer never sold well.<ref name="ohio" /> In a bid to drive sales of the system, Pixar employee [[John Lasseter]]&mdash;who had long been creating short demonstration animations, such as ''[[Luxo Jr.]]'', to show off the device's capabilities&mdash;premiered his creations at [[SIGGRAPH]], the computer graphics industry's largest convention, to great fanfare.<ref name="ohio">{{cite web|accessdate=2008-04-22|url=http://design.osu.edu/carlson/history/tree/pixar.html|title=Pixar Animation Studios |publisher=[[Ohio State University]] }}</ref> As poor sales of Pixar's computers threatened to put the company out of business, Lasseter's animation department began producing computer-animated commercials for outside companies. Early successes included campaigns for [[Tropicana Products|Tropicana]], [[Listerine]], and [[Life Savers|LifeSavers]].<ref>{{cite web|accessdate=2008-04-22|url=http://www.usask.ca/alumni/alumnisite/publications/green_white/issues/winter2007/cover_story.php|title=Toy Stories and Other Tales |publisher=[[University of Saskatchewan]] }}</ref> During this period, Pixar continued its relationship with [[Walt Disney Feature Animation]], a studio whose corporate parent would ultimately become its most important partner. In 1991, after substantial layoffs in the company's computer department, Pixar made a $26 million deal with Disney to produce three computer-animated feature films, the first of which was ''[[Toy Story]]''. Despite this, the company was costing Jobs so much money that he considered selling it. Only after confirming that Disney would distribute ''Toy Story'' for the 1995 holiday season did he decide to give it another chance.<ref>{{cite web|accessdate=1995-09-18|url=http://money.cnn.com/magazines/fortune/fortune_archive/1995/09/18/206099/index.htm|title=Steve Jobs' Amazing Movie Adventure Disney Is Betting On computerdom's Ex-boy Wonder To Deliver This Year's Animated Christmas Blockbuster. Can He Do For Hollywood What He Did For Silicon Valley?|publisher=[[CNNMoney]]}}</ref> Pixar was [[Incorporation (business)|re-incorporated]] on [[December 9]], [[1995]].<ref>{{cite web|accessdate=2008-04-22|url=http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2005/08/23/BAGDKEBPAB1.DTL|title=Pixar tells story behind 'Toy Story' |publisher=[[San Francisco Chronicle]] }}</ref> ===Disney=== Pixar and Disney had disagreements after the production of ''[[Toy Story 2]]''. Originally intended as a straight-to-video release (and thus not part of Pixar's three-picture deal), the film was eventually upgraded to a theatrical release during production. Pixar demanded that the film then be counted toward the three-picture agreement, but Disney refused.<ref>{{cite web|accessdate=2008-04-22|url=http://www.accessmylibrary.com/coms2/summary_0286-7277295_ITM|title=Sequels to `Toy Story,' `Tail,' `Dragonheart' go straight to video. |publisher=[[The Seattle Times]] }}</ref> Pixar's first five feature films have collectively grossed more than $2.5 billion, equivalent to the highest per-film average gross in the industry. Though profitable for both, Pixar later complained that the arrangement was not equitable. Pixar was responsible for creation and production, while Disney handled [[Film marketing|marketing]] and [[Film distributor|distribution]]. Profits and production costs were split 50-50, but Disney exclusively owned all story and sequel rights and also collected a distribution fee. The lack of story and sequel rights were perhaps the most onerous to Pixar and set the stage for a contentious relationship.<ref>{{cite web|accessdate=2008-04-22|url=http://www.moviesonline.ca/movienews_504.html|title=Disney trying to patch things up with Pixar |publisher=Movies Online }}</ref> The two companies attempted to reach a new agreement in early 2004. The new deal would be only for distribution, as Pixar intended to control production and own the resulting film properties themselves. The company also wanted to finance their films on their own and collect 100 percent of the profits, paying Disney only the 10 to 15 percent distribution fee.<ref>{{cite web|accessdate=2008-04-22|url=http://money.cnn.com/2004/01/29/news/companies/pixar_disney/|title=Pixar dumps Disney |publisher=[[CNN]] }}</ref> More importantly, 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 (film)|Cars]]''. These conditions were unacceptable to Disney, but Pixar would not concede.<ref>{{cite web|accessdate=2008-04-22|url=http://money.cnn.com/2004/01/29/news/companies/pixar_disney/|title=Pixar dumps Disney |publisher=[[CNN]] }}</ref> Disagreements between Steve Jobs and Disney Chairman and CEO [[Michael Eisner]] made the negotiations more difficult than they otherwise might have been. They broke down completely in mid-2004, with Jobs declaring that Pixar was actively seeking partners other than Disney.<ref>{{cite web|accessdate=2008-04-22|url=http://www.wired.com/techbiz/media/news/2004/01/62104|title=Pixar Says 'So Long' to Disney |publisher=[[Wired (magazine)|Wired]] }}</ref> Pixar did not enter negotiations with other distributors, since other partners saw Pixar's terms as too demanding. After a lengthy hiatus, negotiations between the two companies resumed following the departure of Eisner from Disney in September of 2005. In preparation for potential fallout between Pixar and Disney, Jobs announced in late 2004 that Pixar would no longer release movies at the Disney-dictated November time frame, but during the more lucrative early summer months. This would also allow Pixar to release DVDs for their major releases during the Christmas shopping season. An added benefit of delaying ''Cars'' was to extend the time frame remaining on the Pixar-Disney contract to see how things would play out between the two companies.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.businessweek.com/bwdaily/dnflash/dec2004/nf2004129_4222_db035.htm|title=Steve Jobs's Sharp Turn with Cars|author= Grover, Ronald|publisher=[[Business Week]] |date=2004-12-09|accessdate=2007-02-23}}</ref> Pending the Disney acquisition of Pixar, the two companies created a distribution deal for the intended 2007 release of ''[[Ratatouille (film)|Ratatouille]]'', in case the acquisition fell through, to ensure that this one film would still be released through Disney's distribution channels. (In contrast to the earlier Disney/Pixar deal ''Ratatouille'' was to remain a Pixar property and Disney would have received only a distribution fee.) The completion of Disney's Pixar acquisition, however, nullified this distribution arrangement.<ref>{{cite web|accessdate=2008-04-22|url=http://www.starpulse.com/news/index.php/2007/06/26/pixar_perfectionists_cook_up_ratatouille/|title=Pixar Perfectionists Cook Up 'Ratatouille' As Latest Animated Concoction |publisher=Star Pulse }}</ref> ===Acquisition by Disney=== Disney announced on [[January 24]], [[2006]] that it had agreed to buy Pixar for approximately $7.4 billion in an [[Stock swap|all-stock deal]]. Following Pixar [[shareholder]] approval, the acquisition was completed [[May 5]], [[2006]]. The transaction catapulted Steve Jobs, who was the majority shareholder of Pixar with 50.1%, to Disney's largest individual shareholder with 7% and a new seat on its board of directors.<ref name="agrees">{{cite web|accessdate=2008-04-22|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2006/01/25/business/25disney.html?_r=1&oref=slogin|title=Disney Agrees to Acquire Pixar in a $7.4 Billion Deal |publisher=[[The New York Times]] }}</ref> Jobs' new Disney holdings outpace holdings belonging to ex-CEO [[Michael Eisner]], the previous top shareholder who still held 1.7%, and Disney Director Emeritus [[Roy E. Disney]] who held almost 1% of the corporation's shares. Roy Disney's criticisms of Eisner included the soured Pixar relationship and accelerated Eisner's ouster.<ref name="buys pixar">{{cite web|accessdate=2008-04-22|url=http://money.cnn.com/2006/01/24/news/companies/disney_pixar_deal/|title=Disney buys Pixar |publisher=[[CNN]] }}</ref> As part of the deal, Lasseter, Pixar Executive [[Vice President]] and co-founder, became [[Creative director|Chief Creative Officer]] (reporting to President and [[Chief executive officer|CEO]] [[Robert Iger]] and consulting with Disney Director Roy Disney) of both Disney and Pixar Animation Studios, as well as the Principal Creative Adviser at [[Walt Disney Imagineering]], which designs and builds the company's [[Walt Disney Parks and Resorts|theme parks]].<ref name="agrees" /> Catmull retained his position as President of Pixar, while also becoming President of Disney Studios, reporting to Bob Iger and [[Dick Cook]], chairman of [[The Walt Disney Company#Studio Entertainment|Walt Disney Studio Entertainment]]. Steve Jobs' position as Pixar's Chairman and Chief Executive Officer was also removed, and instead he took a place on the Disney [[board of directors]].<ref name="buys pixar" /> Lasseter and Catmull's oversight of both the Disney and Pixar studios did not mean that the two studios were merging, however. In fact, additional conditions were laid out as part of the deal to ensure that Pixar remained a separate [[entity]], a concern that analysts had about the Disney deal.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1001039/000119312506012082/dex21.htm |publisher=[[United States Securities and Exchange Commission|Securities and Exchange Commission]] |title=Agreement and Plan of Merger by and among The Walt Disney Company, Lux Acquisition Corp. and Pixar|date=2006-01-24|accessdate=2007-04-25}}</ref> Some of those conditions were that Pixar [[Human resources|HR]] policies would remain intact, including the lack of employment contracts. Also, the Pixar name was guaranteed to continue, and the studio would remain in its current [[Emeryville, California]] location with the "Pixar" sign. Finally, branding of films made post-merger would be "Disney•Pixar" (beginning with ''[[Cars (film)|Cars]]'').<ref>{{cite web|accessdate=2008-04-22|url=http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=OKTB&p_theme=oktb&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=10F4A5FB9BD5E290&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM|title= Sale unlikely to change Pixar culture |publisher=Inside Bay Area }}</ref> Today, [[Edwin Catmull]] serves as president of the combined Disney-Pixar animation studios, and [[John Lasseter]] serves as the studios' [[Chief Creative Officer]]. Catmull reports to [[Robert Iger]] as well as [[Walt Disney Studios]] chairman [[Dick Cook]]. Lasseter, who has [[greenlight]] authority on all new films, also reports to Iger as well as consulting with [[Roy E. Disney]].<ref>{{cite web|accessdate=2008-04-22|url=http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/search/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1002651181|title=Disney-Pixar merger |publisher=[[The Hollywood Reporter]] }}</ref> ==Feature films== {{see |List of Pixar films|l1=Pixar films}} {{see |List of Pixar film references}} ===Traditions=== While some of Pixar's first animators were former [[Traditional animation|cel animators]], including [[John Lasseter]], they also came from [[stop motion]] animation, [[computer animation]], or had recently graduated from college.<ref name="pixar story"/> A large number of animators that make up the animation department at Pixar were hired around the time Pixar released ''[[A Bug's Life]]'' and ''[[Toy Story 2]]''. Although ''Toy Story'' was a successful film, it was Pixar's only feature film at the time. The majority of the animation industry was, and is still located in [[Los Angeles, California]], while Pixar is located {{convert|300|mi}} north in the [[San Francisco Bay Area]]. Also, traditional [[Animation|2-D animation]] was still the dominant medium for feature animated films. Not many Los Angeles-based animators were willing to move their families {{convert|300|mi}} north, give up traditional animation, and try computer animation. Partly because of this, animators hired at Pixar around this time either came directly from college, or had worked outside of feature animation. For those who had traditional animation skills, the Pixar animation software (Marionette) is designed so that traditional animators would require a minimum of training before becoming productive.<ref name="pixar story"/> According to an interview with John Lasseter with [[PBS]] talk show host [[Tavis Smiley]],<ref name="Tavis">{{cite web | author =Smiley, Tavis | title =Tavis Smiley | date =2007-01-24| publisher=[[PBS]]|url=http://www.pbs.org/kcet/tavissmiley/archive/200701/20070124_transcript.html#2 | accessdate =2007-03-01 }}</ref> Pixar films follow the same theme of self improvement. With the help of friends or family, a character ventures out into the real world and learns to appreciate his friends and family. At the core, according to John Lasseter, "it's gotta be about the growth of the main character, and how he changes."<ref name="Tavis"/> ==See also== {{wikinews|Disney buys Pixar}} * [[List of Pixar staff]] ==References== {{reflist|2}} ==External links== *[http://www.pixar.com/ Official site] *{{imdb company|id=0017902|company=Pixar Animation Studios}} *{{bcdb2|path=cartoons/Other_Studios/P/Pixar_Animation_Studios/index.html|title=Pixar Animation Studios}} *[http://pixarblog.blogspot.com The Pixar Blog] (unofficial news source) *[http://pixarplanet.com PixarPlanet/Upcoming Pixar] fan forums and news {{Pixar Animation Studios}} {{Disney}} {{CinemaoftheUS}} [[Category:Companies established in 1986]] [[Category:Film production companies of the United States]] [[Category:Disney production studios]] [[Category:Walt Disney Company subsidiaries]] [[Category:Companies based in Alameda County, California]] [[Category:Pixar| ]] [[Category:Steve Jobs|Pixar]] [[Category:Emeryville, California]] [[ar:بيكسار]] [[ca:Pixar]] [[cs:Pixar]] [[da:Pixar]] [[de:Pixar Animation Studios]] [[el:Pixar Animation Studios]] [[es:Pixar]] [[eo:Pixar]] [[fa:استودیوهای انیمیشن پیکسار]] [[fr:Pixar Animation Studios]] [[ko:픽사]] [[it:Pixar Animation Studios]] [[he:פיקסאר]] [[ms:Pixar]] [[nl:Pixar Animation Studios]] [[ja:ピクサー・アニメーション・スタジオ]] [[no:Pixar]] [[pl:Disney Pixar]] [[pt:Pixar]] [[ro:Pixar Animation Studios]] [[ru:Pixar]] [[sq:Pixar]] [[simple:Pixar]] [[fi:Pixar]] [[sv:Pixar Animation Studios]] [[tl:Pixar]] [[th:พิกซาร์]] [[vi:Pixar]] [[tr:Pixar]] [[uk:Піксар]] [[zh:皮克斯动画工作室]]