Pixar Animation Studios is a film production company that develops entirely digitally animated feature films and shorts. Its current headquarters are in Emeryville, California.
Although the company is now linked with the Disney brand, producing some of our favorite children's films, characters, and childhood memories, it wasn't always this way.
Let's take a quick look at the history of the company that produces the most iconic digital films.
Early Days of Pixar
As per the news story of History Computer, in 1979, the company was founded as the Computer Division of George Lucas' film production company, Lucasfilm.
While in Lucasfilm, it was known as The Graphics Group, and when it went independent in 1986 with Steve Jobs' financial backing, it was formally christened Pixar.
Jobs led the corporation as CEO until 2006.
The first film released after Jobs' purchase of the production company was John Lasseter's directing debut Luxo Jr, which premiered at the 1986 SIGGRAPH conference in August, as reported by The Fil Magazine. The title character, desk lamp Luxo Jr, inspired Pixar's hopping desk lamp mascot, which can be seen in the company's logo.
Pixar Used To Only Have Disney as a Client
According to Britannica, Disney became the company's greatest client. With Lasseter as director, Pixar also created television ads and short films.
Pixar began producing films for Disney in 1991. The first film, Toy Story, was directed by Lasseter and featured a slew of talking toys. It was the most successful film of 1995, earning him a second Academy Award, this time for extraordinary achievement. Lasseter went on to helm several popular Pixar films for Disney, including Toy Story 2 (1999), a sequel to the 1995 hit with more adventures of the toys. He co-directed Cars (2006), a film about anthropomorphic automobiles.
Disney Acquired Pixar
History Computer noted that Pixar worked for years as an independent company in a prosperous relationship with Disney, but tensions between the two grew over time. Pixar was in charge of film production, while Disney was in charge of distribution, and profits were split 50-50. Pixar was annoyed by the fact that Disney owned all of Pixar's characters and stories.
Disney agreed to buy Pixar after years of trying to reach an agreement with each other.
Disney purchased Pixar in 2006, the company's 20th anniversary year. Pixar was priced at $151 million in its initial public offering in 1995. Disney had to pay more than $7 billion. They named Lasseter as Pixar's Chief Creative Officer and Catmull as head of both Pixar Animation Studios and Walt Disney Animation Studios.
Pixar would continue to be a separate company from Disney, with the same name, logo, and headquarters. All future Disney-Pixar films would be labeled as such.
Resignation of Lasseter
Lasseter announced his resignation in 2018 due to misconduct at work. It was reported that other employees accused him of unwelcome objectifying comments, kissing and groping, as well as heavy drinking at company events.
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