The Incredible Story of Pixar: From Humble Beginnings to Box Office Domination

612 mots | Temps de lecture : 3 minute(s)

Who hasn't been fascinated by Pixar's animated films ? From " Toy Story " to " Coco ", including " The Incredibles " and " Inside Out ", these masterpieces have won the hearts of audiences around the world. But do you know how this company became a real animation empire ?

Pixar's humble origins

It all started in the 1970s, when George Lucas , the creator of " Star Wars ," hired a young computer scientist named Ed Catmull to develop a digital camera system. Catmull then assembled a team of computer graphics experts, including John Lasseter , an animation enthusiast.

Together, they began to explore the possibilities offered by digital animation , a technology still in its infancy at the time. Their first attempts, although promising, did not convince the Hollywood studios, who remained skeptical of this new approach.

The Birth of Pixar

In 1986, Steve Jobs , Apple's co-founder, bought Lucasfilm's computer division and renamed it Pixar . With his financial backing and technology expertise, the team was able to focus on developing animated short films.

Their first film, " Luxo Jr. ", was a smash hit, winning the Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film in 1987. This recognition helped Pixar make a name for itself in the industry and attract the attention of major studios.

The breakthrough with "Toy Story"

In 1995, Pixar reached a milestone with the release of " Toy Story ," the first fully computer-animated feature film. The film was a critical and commercial triumph, ushering in a new era for animation .

The success of " Toy Story " helped establish Pixar as a major player in the film industry. The studios then went on to release hits, with films like " Bugs Life ," " Toy Story 2 " and " Monsters, Inc. ", cementing their reputation as masters of animation .

The Pixar Empire

Today, Pixar has become a veritable empire , with an impressive filmography and resounding successes such as " The Incredibles ", " Ratatouille ", " WALL-E " and " Inside Out ".

But beyond their technical prowess, Pixar's films are distinguished by their ability to tell touching and universal stories that resonate with audiences of all ages.

The secret of success

According to John Lasseter , the secret to Pixar's success lies in a very particular approach to animation. " We don't try to make movies for children, we try to make movies for everyone ," he explains. " Our stories have to be able to move and make adults think, while entertaining younger people ."

This philosophy, combined with a talented and passionate creative team, has allowed Pixar to become a true cultural phenomenon , profoundly influencing the animation industry.

The Future of Pixar

Despite the resounding success, Pixar has no intention of stopping there. With ambitious new projects in the works, such as " Onward " and " Soul ", the studios continue to explore new avenues to push the boundaries of animation.

Who knows what the future holds? One thing is for sure: Pixar still has great stories to tell us , that will continue to amaze us and make us dream.