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Pixar was started by Lucasfilm Ltd. back in 1983. Originally the company was intended to make software and hardware in house. They developed a computer that can generate images. They sold the Pixar Image Computer to viacom for 2 million dollars. Pixar eventually spun off from Lucasfilm and was purchased by Steve Jobs in 1986 for $10 million. At this time pixar is an Independent company with only 45 employees.
Later in 1986 Pixar released it's first computer Animated
feature titled "Luxo jr." It won over 20 awards at International Film Festivals.
It made many advances in Computer animations such as Self-shadowing,
multiple light sources, and motions blurs.
In 1987 Pixars next short-film "Red Dreams" premieres at Siggraph.
One year later "Red Dreams" won the Golden gate award for best Computer
Generated imagery.
In 1988, Pixar set another milestone with "Tin Toy" the first Computer-Animated feature to win an Academy Award. The short-film tells the story of a Wind-up toy and his encounters with a newborn baby.
After 5 years of producing commercials Pixar teams up with disney and makes a deal to produce three computer Animated Full-Length features. In 1995 Pixar finally releases the first computer animated motion picture "Toy Story" and becomes the highest grossing film of the year. The film grossed over $192 million in the U.S. and $358 million world-wide. coinciding with the success Pixar goes Public offering 6,900,000 shares of stock at $22 per share. In 1996 "Toy Story" receives a special-achievment academy award. In 1997, after the success of "Toy Story" Pixar makes a new agreement with disney to produce five feature films instead of the original three.
By this time Pixar has over 375 employees and expands to a new building
in Point, Richmond. In an effort to advance the Computer-Animation
Pixar produces a short-film titled "Jeri's Game". The short-film uses
advances in Animated Cloth and skin to add more realism.
November 25, 1998
pixar released it's second full-length feature film "A Bug's Life". The
story is loosely based on Akira Kurosawa's "The Seven Samurai" involving a
colony of Ants being bullied by very mean grasshoppers. The film shattered
Thanksgiving Weekend Box office records grossing $163 million in the U.S.
and $362 million World-Wide. The film received a Grammy-Award as well
as an Oscar nomination for it's musical score.
In 1999, Pixar
released it's third feature-film "Toy Story 2" once again raising box office
records to a new height. Grossing over $245 million in the U.S.
In 2001, Pixar releases "Monsters Inc." which became the fastest grossing animated film of all time. Reaching over $100 million in less than 9 days.
In 2001, Pixar releases "Monsters Inc." which became the fastest grossing animated film of all time. Reaching over $100 million in less than 9 days.