Pixar Animation Studios was founded back in 1979 in New York under the name Graphics Group. It started as a subordinate of Lucasfilm – the name behind the massively popular Star Wars franchise – when Edwin Catmull was recruited by them to become the head of the computer division of the company. He went on to input impressive work into Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan and with the team, create their first film-resolution image, The Road to Point Reyes. Edwin then hired the animator John Lasseter in 1984 to become a permanent member of Graphics group before Steve Jobs purchased it and established them as an independent corporation in 1986 where they finally became Pixar.
Pixar collaborated with Disney on CAPS (Computer Animation Production System) which would aid in revolutionising production in conventional animated films.
They went on to produce an array of history-making films and shorts:
These are just a select few of their movies and shorts.
The short film I will be talking about is called Bao, a 2018 short that was released with The Incredibles 2.
In “Bao,” an aging Chinese mom suffering from empty nest syndrome gets another chance at motherhood when one of her dumplings springs to life as a lively, giggly dumpling boy. Mom excitedly welcomes this new bundle of joy into her life, but Dumpling starts growing up fast, and Mom must come to the bittersweet revelation that nothing stays cute and small forever. This short film from Pixar Animation Studios and director Domee Shi explores the ups and downs of the parent-child relationship through the colorful, rich, and tasty lens of the Chinese immigrant community in Canada.
Taken from https://www.pixar.com/bao
For modelling and rigging, Pixar use Autodesk Maya but also use their self-owned software RenderMan, a 3D rendering software on in-house projects to add VFX and render.
Here are 3 examples of job roles that would be used in the making of this film:
Storyboard Artists & Assistants
Storyboard artists and assistants are the ones who turn the script into a series of sketches that represent how they want the animation to look. With the help and guidance of the directorial and script-writing staff, they ensure that the narrative, pacing, plot and continuity are on par to how they want it.
Producer & Production Assistants
The producer can be considered the head of the studio. Together with their assistants, they must work to ensure that they stay within the budget of the project, provide their studio with the required materials, hardware and software and ensure that the whole team runs smoothly and efficiently towards their goal. Producers might also have to handle negotiating with various investors and broadcasters for the finished product.
Successful producers will ensure that all work is completed in time whilst allowing enough resources and space for creative development for their directors and designers.
Character Designer/ Developer
A character designer will be creative in creating distinctive characters with flair as well as sometimes taking part in the concept creation and modelling so that the designer’s vision is enabled to truly come to life.
Here are some job opportunities for the ones featured above:
Average salary: £54,600 per year
Average salary: £21.4k – 40.1k per year
Average salary: £25,210 per year
Jasmine Cooper 