Through the ever-changing landscape of animation, Pixar has remained at the top of the proverbial totem pole. Establishing itself as a household name due to its unmatched collection of critically acclaimed hits, the entertainment giant has pioneered more than a few aspects of the medium. There is a certain magnitude to having the “Pixar” name stamped on a film, and with it a reassurance that viewers will be in capable hands.
Being responsible for changing the medium as a whole and establishing the use of CGI animation for feature-length films, it’s only natural that a studio willing to take such risks would also be willing to grow and change. Though what differentiates the modern era of Pixar films from the original releases way back in the ’90s, and how has the company itself grown with a vastly different entertainment medium? Through experimental beginnings and monumental accolades, let’s see how the company has stayed fresh after all these years.
MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY
Tin Toy to Toy Story
Starting life in the ’70s as part of George Lucas’ Lucasfilm computer division, Pixar would eventually detach itself and be purchased by none other than Apple Computer co-founder Steve Jobs. The new company would be laser-focused on the potential behind computer generated animation, and began creating new remarkable shorts utilizing their state-of-the-art software. Looking back on the first of Pixar’s animation, it is easy to see the cracks in the seams; though it’s worth noting that up until that point, traditional cel animation was the norm for the industry, and to animate an entire project with computers was still a pipe dream.
Buena Vista Pictures
The difference is night and day between how Pixar’s earlier work compares visually to what the company and medium as a whole has been able to produce in more recent years. The stunning photorealistic effects we see in modern animation have these early test shorts to thank for providing the foundation. Shorts such as Tin Toy would not only be a great way for the newly founded company to get their feet wet with computer animation, but the idea of centering around the life of toys (due in part to not being able to animate humans without looking uncanny) would most definitely stick, leading to the conception of Toy Story in 1995.
The first of Pixar’s theatrical releases, and the progenitor of fully computer animated movies, Toy Story’s monstrous success would be responsible for putting the studio on the map, kickstarting a digital medium that was otherwise struggling during the era. Followed up by more hits, such as an adventure focused on bugs or a world populated by monsters, this would begin what many fans deem as the “golden era” of Pixar’s legacy.
The Disney Acquisition
When there’s a new animation company making a splash, it’s only a matter of time until the big mouse is on the scene to investigate. Disney would end up striking a deal with Pixar for $26 million to produce three fully computer animated feature films, starting with Toy Story. Contention grew among the two companies however, as disputes between Steve Jobs and then CEO of Disney Michael Eisner seemed to cause constant renegotiations. A prime example of Pixar’s initial defiance towards its would-be parent company happens to take the form of their much-beloved sequel, Toy Story 2.
Buena Vista Pictures Distribution
After experiencing financial success from direct-to-video sequels of theatrical films, Disney had plans to do the same for Toy Story’s next outing. With production on the animated movie being crunched into only a year’s worth of time due to having to restart the entire project, Pixar remained adamant that their landmark franchise should have a theatrical follow-up that stands tall next to the original. After long hours of exhausting work, the team managed to release another hit, though Disney maintained that, because of their initial demands to make the film direct-to-video, it would not count towards their three movie deal. This, despite the film grossing $500 million and making Disney a massive profit, and despite the fact that the film remains arguably the most beloved of all Toy Story movies.
Tensions were high between the two companies, and would eventually lead to their brief split in 2004, to which Steve Jobs announced that Pixar was actively looking for other partners. It was an unsure time for the animation studio, which had created a name for itself with a handful of timeless classics in an impressively short amount of time. Though, soon after the departure of Michael Eisner from Disney in 2005, negotiations between the companies opened back up, and in 2006 Pixar would officially be purchased outright by Disney for $7.4 billion.
Sequels Upon Sequels
By the late 2000s Pixar had an unmatched track record of success, with films such as Ratatouille, Wall-E, and Up proving that more than a decade of nearly annual releases hadn’t made the company lose its touch. It seemed as if the minds behind these hits had no interest in looking back on old properties, though for fans and studio executives alike, the fascination with continuing the stories of their biggest movies seemed too tantalizing to ignore. After giving in to the temptation of seeing classic characters come back for another nostalgia-inducing adventure with Toy Story 3 in 2010, Pixar’s age of sequels had unofficially begun, and original ideas seemed to take a back seat.
d23.com
While certain animated sequels ended up being very well received by critics and audiences, others such as the infamous Cars 2 marked the end of Pixar’s winning streak. The 2010s would end up being light on original content from the company, which was unable to ignore the marketability of continuing existing franchises. It seemed as if every legacy film within the studio’s repertoire was set to have the sequel treatment, and fatigue would gradually be felt by audiences who longed for the more original concepts that brought the company success in the first place.
While Pixar has no plans for sequels in the immediate future, many of their existing properties are still getting continuations on Disney+, in the form of follow-up shows and comedy shorts featuring popular side characters. Eyes remain on the animation company with many long-time fans looking forward to what new adventures are in store for the future.
Seeing Lightyears Ahead
With the release of this year’s Turning Red, Pixar has taken an unforeseen leap into more contemporary subject matters, as well as a new visual style unique to the film that shows they’re willing to take a chance on fresh ideas, just like they did during their conception.
Fans hope that, with the door now opened, future projects from the company continue to push boundaries and take the medium even further than ever before. With the upcoming Lightyear, a cyclic feeling is hard to overlook when comparing the Toy Story character’s film to their first movie way back in 1995.
Direct Cinema
Times have changed a great deal since Pixar began, and through all these years it seems as though the studio has never forgotten their goal: to make great films with great people. Though some critical minds would claim the company has faltered over the last decade, it cannot be understated that Pixar’s collection remains the most impressive set of hit animated films to be released in close proximity to each other, outnumbering even the Disney renaissance era in consistent quality.
What may have begun as an experimental off-shoot of new technology and its capabilities has blossomed into a titan of cinema, providing the world and countless childhoods with unforgettable memories and timeless stories, and like many others, we’ll always look forward to seeing what’s on the horizon from Pixar.
