Pixar Animation Studios, also known simply as Pixar, is a California-based computer animation studio best known for its critically and commercially successful computer-animated feature films. It is headquartered in Emeryville, California, and is a subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company's Walt Disney Studios.
Pixar has created 26 full-length motion pictures, beginning with Toy Story (1995), the first fully computer-animated feature film; their most recent release was Lightyear (2022). The studio has also produced numerous short films. As of July 2019, its feature films had earned approximately $14 billion in box office revenue, with an average global gross of $680 million per film. Toy Story 3 (2010), Finding Dory (2016), Incredibles 2 (2018), and Toy Story 4 (2017) are among the top 50 highest-grossing films of all time (2019).
With a total of $1.2 billion, Incredibles 2 is the fourth-highest-grossing animated film of all time, and the other three films each made more than $1 billion. Furthermore, 15 Pixar films are among the top 50 highest-grossing animated films. Additionally, 15 Pixar movies are in the top 50 highest-grossing animated movies of all time.
Pixar began in the late 1980s as an animation studio. Pixar has always had a close relationship with technology, particularly computer animation. One of its core strengths is simplifying complex ideas and communicating them clearly. This ability enables the Pixar team to be excellent storytellers and communicators not only in films but also in commercials. A great example is a commercial for 3D printers that you've probably never seen.
Since its first nomination in 2001, Pixar has received 14 Academy Award nominations. Their films have also received 11 Academy Awards nominations, including Toy Story 2 (Golden Globe), Ratatouille (Best Animated Feature Film), and Coco (Best Animated Feature Film).
While Pixar's recent forays into non-animated films have been largely successful, there is something to be said for the company's origins. After all, it began with commercials before transitioning to full-length features.
And there are some real gems in the collection if you look at some of the studio's older work (done both as Pixar and before). So, while they aren't the most impressive or innovative commercials we've ever seen, they're still entertaining to watch and show a side of Pixar that many people overlook.
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