Pixar
American animation studio known for computer-animated feature films.
Pixar Animation Studios, an American studio headquartered in Emeryville, California, is renowned for its commercially successful computer-animated feature films and operates as a subsidiary of Walt Disney Studios, part of the Disney Entertainment segment of the Walt Disney Company. The studio’s origins trace back to 1974, when it began as part of the Lucasfilm computer division, initially called the Graphics Group. It was spun off as an independent corporation in 1986 with financial backing from Apple co-founder Steve Jobs, who became its majority shareholder. The studio’s mascot is Luxo Jr., a desk lamp featured in its 1986 short film of the same name. Disney announced its acquisition of Pixar in January 2006, completing the deal that May. Pixar’s feature films are technologically powered by its proprietary RenderMan software, which started as an implementation of the industry-standard RenderMan Interface Specification (RISpec) image-rendering API released in 1988; support for RISpec was discontinued in 2016, and RenderMan later became fully path-traced and physically based. The studio has produced 31 feature films, beginning with *Toy Story* (1995), the first fully computer-animated feature film, and its most recent release is *Toy Story 5* (2026). Its films have collectively earned over $17 billion at the worldwide box office, averaging $589 million per film. Several titles—including *Toy Story 3* (2010), *Finding Dory* (2016), *Incredibles 2* (2018), *Toy Story 4* (2019), *Inside Out 2* (2024), and *Toy Story 5* (2026)—have each grossed over $1 billion, ranking among the 50 highest-grossing films of all time. Thirteen of Pixar’s films are also in the 50 highest-grossing animated films ever, with *Inside Out 2* currently the third highest-grossing animated film. The studio has won 23 Academy Awards, 10 Golden Globe Awards, and 11 Grammy Awards. Since the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature was inaugurated in 2001, eleven Pixar films have won that prize, including *Finding Nemo* (2003), *The Incredibles* (2004), *Ratatouille* (2007), *WALL-E* (2008), *Up* (2009), *Toy Story 3* and *Toy Story 4*, *Brave* (2012), *Inside Out* (2015), *Coco* (2017), and *Soul* (2020). Additionally, *Toy Story 3* and *Up* were nominated for the Academy Award for Best Picture. In February 2009, Pixar executives John Lasseter, Brad Bird, Pete Docter, Andrew Stanton, and Lee
- field
- Animation studio
- nationality
- American
- known_for
- Computer-animated feature films, RenderMan software
- headquarters
- Emeryville, California
Lore & Background
Edwin Catmull and Malcolm Blanchard were the first hired, soon joined by Alvy Ray Smith and David DiFrancesco. Schure invested approximately $15 million into the lab, but the group eventually realized they needed to work in a real film studio. After Francis Ford Coppola invited Smith to a media conference where George Lucas shared his vision for digital moviemaking, Lucas approached the group and six employees moved to Lucasfilm. At NYIT, the researchers pioneered CG foundation techniques, including the invention of the alpha channel by Catmull and Smith. After moving to Lucasfilm, the team worked on creating the precursor to RenderMan, called REYES, and developed critical technologies for CG including particle effects and various animation tools.
Reader's Guide
The studio has produced 31 feature films as of 2026, with its films earning over $17 billion at the worldwide box office as of July 2023. Six of its films have grossed over $1 billion, and 13 are among the 50 highest-grossing animated films of all time. Pixar has earned 23 Academy Awards, 10 Golden Globe Awards, and 11 Grammy Awards. Eleven of its films have won the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature, including Finding Nemo, The Incredibles, Ratatouille, WALL-E, Up, Toy Story 3, Toy Story 4, Brave, Inside Out, Coco, and Soul. Toy Story 3 and Up were also nominated for the Academy Award for Best Picture. In February 2009, Pixar executives John Lasseter, Brad Bird, Pete Docter, Andrew Stanton, and Lee Unkrich were presented with the Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement by the Venice Film Festival, with the award ceremonially handed to Lucasfilm's founder George Lucas.
Did You Know?
- Pixar's mascot is Luxo Jr., a desk lamp from the studio's 1986 short film of the same name.
- Steve Jobs paid $5 million of his own money to George Lucas for technology rights and invested $5 million cash as capital when Pixar became an independent company in 1986.
- Inside Out 2 is the third highest-grossing animated film of all time as of 2026, having previously been the first-highest before being surpassed by Ne Zha 2 and Zootopia 2 in 2025.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Pixar?
Pixar Animation Studios is an American animation company headquartered in Emeryville, California, that produces computer-animated feature films. It currently operates as a subsidiary of Walt Disney Studios, which is part of the Disney Entertainment segment of The Walt Disney Company.
Who owns Pixar today?
Pixar is a subsidiary of Walt Disney Studios, a division of the Disney Entertainment segment of The Walt Disney Company. It retains its own creative identity while operating within the broader Disney corporate family.
What is Pixar known for besides its movies?
In addition to its celebrated animated features, Pixar developed the RenderMan rendering software, a tool widely used across the computer graphics industry. The studio is also recognized for consistently pairing cutting-edge technology with emotionally resonant storytelling.
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