You know Buzz, Woody, and WALL-E—but did you know Pixar started as a failing hardware company?
Steve Jobs (who had just been kicked out of Apple) bought it from George Lucas for $5 million (later selling to Disney for $7.4 bil), sparking one of the greatest turnarounds in history.
Trailer for “The Pixar Story”
The Pixar Story
Watch “The Pixar Story”
I watched “The Pixar Story” on Disney+ at https://www.disneyplus.com/movies/the-pixar-story/5aLi1N5xRzf1.
If you don’t have a subscription to Disney+, you can rent it on AppleTV, Amazon Primve Video, Microsoft.com and Fandango ($3.99 to $4.29 last I checked (Dec. 5, 2024)).
You can find the latest streaming options at https://www.justwatch.com/us/movie/the-pixar-story
Ratings:
- My Rating: 92/100
- IMDB Rating: 7.7/10
- Rotten Tomatoes Ratings: 92/100 (Users); 86/100 (Critics) — I have no idea why critics rate this so low — are they envious of other creators? Weird.
Release Date: August 28, 2007
My Review of “The Pixar Story”
Pixar didn’t just make movies; they transformed animation, storytelling, and the business of creativity.
“The Pixar Story,” directed by Leslie Iwerks (known for “Citizen Hearst” and “The Hand Behind the Mouse”), unpacks the company’s awesome origin story.
George Lucas Wasn’t Looking to Create a Cartoon Empire
Pixar’s journey started in the early 1980s as a small part of Lucasfilm’s computer division.
George Lucas wasn’t looking to create a cartoon empire; he wanted tech to push visual effects in his “Star Wars” films.
Enter Ed Catmull, a computer scientist with a dream of making an animated feature with CGI.
Enter Steve Jobs
Then came Steve Jobs.
Kicked out of Apple, Jobs poured $10 million of his own money into Pixar, hoping to create a hardware company. The first Pixar Animation Computer? A commercial flop.
But their tech caught Disney’s attention. Short films like “Luxo Jr.,” with its hopping desk lamp, showcased their ability to make digital characters feel alive.
By 1991, they had a $26 million deal to create three films for Disney. The first was “Toy Story,” which changed everything.
You Can’t Make This Sh*t Up
- A Disney Woops — John Lasseter, Pixar’s creative heart, was let go by Disney in the early ’80s for pitching computer-animated movies. He joined Pixar, and his vision led to some of the greatest films in animation history (crushing competitor Disney in the process).
- A George Lucas Woops — Movie Master George Lucas didn’t see the potential for Pixar in animation (so he sold Pixar to Steve Jobs for $5 mil.). Disney later bought Pixar for $7.4 billion.
- Steve Jobs almost gave up: After spending millions, Jobs was ready to sell Pixar for peanuts in 1994. “Toy Story” was their last chance. If it hadn’t been a hit, there might be no Pixar today.
- The “Toy Story” bet: Early in production, Disney thought Woody was too mean, Buzz too boring, and the whole story unsalvageable. They paused production until Pixar reworked it—while burning through cash they didn’t have.
- Over 70 revisions of “Toy Story”: Pixar’s early script for “Toy Story” was rejected dozens of times. They had to reanimate key scenes just weeks before release, pushing their tiny team to the brink.
- Innovating for survival: Pixar created the CAPS system, which revolutionized 2D animation, for Disney’s “The Little Mermaid” and “Beauty and the Beast.” This invention bankrolled their animation dreams.
Bold Visionaries
The doc highlights how directors like Lasseter and writers like Andrew Stanton (“Finding Nemo,” “WALL-E”) obsessed over every detail.
Stanton famously rewrote “Finding Nemo” after his own experience as a protective father. Lasseter insisted animators act out scenes themselves, so emotions looked authentic.
Leslie Iwerks’ direction shines as she brings us into the chaos of Pixar’s early days. We see old footage of the team brainstorming, from Lasseter doodling Woody on napkins to Jobs passionately defending their vision during investor meetings.
Iwerks also shows how Pixar balanced technology with storytelling, making films that are as emotional as they are groundbreaking.
The Lesser-Known Stuff
- A bug’s life with bugs: During production of “A Bug’s Life,” the crew found inspiration by studying insects in their parking lot. They even invited entomologists to give lectures.
- Steve Jobs as showman: Jobs insisted on announcing “Toy Story” at SIGGRAPH, a tech conference, rather than a traditional movie event, cementing Pixar as a tech-driven company.
- Pixar’s “Brain Trust” meetings: Directors candidly tore apart each other’s work in brutal yet honest feedback sessions, which produced classics like “The Incredibles” and “Inside Out.”
- Toy Story’s music gamble: Disney doubted Randy Newman’s unconventional score, but his heartfelt songs became iconic. Newman had never scored a children’s film before.
- Jobs as cheerleader: While difficult at times, Jobs’ unwavering belief in Pixar kept them afloat. He reportedly walked into their offices on “Toy Story’s” toughest day and said, “If this works, we’ll make history.”
The Legacy
“The Pixar Story” captures not just the breakthroughs but the tension between art and commerce. It reveals how Pixar fought Disney for creative control, eventually becoming its crown jewel.
By 2006, Disney bought Pixar for $7.4 billion, with Steve Jobs as its largest shareholder.
This 90-minute doc is packed with behind-the-scenes gems. You’ll see early animations, hear from insiders like Pete Docter (“Up,” “Monsters, Inc.”), and marvel at how Pixar pioneered software that made hair move naturally in “Monsters, Inc.”
Wrap Up
I believe “The Pixar Story” is the best doc on an animation firm.
It’s not just for Pixar fans; it’s for anyone who’s ever dreamed of turning imagination into reality.
Thanks for reading!
Rob Kelly, Chief Maniac, Daily Doc