I saw some documentary on Pixar a couple of summers back--I can't remember it's name--but what it did say was that Pixar was pioneered by some computer geeks. The most notable of said geeks was the distinguished John Lesseter (bio at http://movies.nytimes.com/person/202358/John-Lasseter/biography) who made the award winning short Tin Toy, a precoursor to his later, more popular, Toy Story (1995). That these stories were both about toys is no coincidence, it's the best these computer wizzes could do; they were working with circular, oval type shapes that did not allow very realistic virtual humans.
Speaking of Toy Story, it was so successful that there is another sequal in production--very highly funded and promoted; they even have the entire original cast! I guess there's still mass appeal to the Toy Story franchise.
Since 1995 Pixar's nerdy computer guys were given free reign to create more computerized movies and each one was a bigger success than the one before it. Each movie moved closer and closer to realism and more human like movements and features in the characters. This was due to advancing technology, but also speaks to how they want to look as much like real life as possible. The Incredibles (2004) is the ultimate example of making characters as realistic as animation will allow--the future will only bring even more realistic characters.
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I was surprised to read in your post that Toy Story still has all of its original cast members. That's pretty impressive and it speaks loudly because the cast members are very well known. So they must have a lot of respect with Pixar. Also, do you think it's a good or a bad thing that these animated characters are becoming more realistic? Being too realistic takes away from animated films wouldn't you say?
ReplyDeleteHope you're not knocking nerdy computer guys, we make the world go 'round you know...
ReplyDeleteEd Catmull is one of the main guys behind the scenes that helped to develop software, algorithms and other technical things. He has won 2 Oscars for his contributions to the industry.
I have to say that I admire Lasseter a lot for always putting story first. One of my favorite quotes from him is "the computer is a tool, and it's in service of the story." It's easy to get lost in the look of everything, but if the story is bad, it doesn't really stand the test of time.
Toy Story actually wasn't originally intended for wide release, it was only after word got out about how great it was that it was widely distributed.