Winner of the Fall 2018 StMU History Media Award for
Article with the Best Title
Best Article in the Category of “Cultural History”
“It felt like it had taken a lifetime to get to this point, and in a sense it had.”1
Most of us grew up in a world where toys came to life when Andy wasn’t looking, a world where the monsters in our closet were afraid of us, a world where houses could fly with balloons. Pixar movies have created a world of magic and infinite possibilities. They have brought life and authenticity out of technology. Pixar has created a cinematographic empire like no other. Their success was forged out of mistakes and struggles as well as passion, creativity, and determination. Pixar had to make mistakes in order to grow and create the stories we love today, and they did.
Pixar’s story really starts with three men: Edwin “Ed” Catmull, Steve Jobs, and John Lasseter.
Ed Catmull was turned down for a teaching position and felt he had landed a software development job with no future. Steve Jobs had been humiliated throughout Silicon Valley when Apple Computer, the company he founded, fired him.2 John Lasseter was fired from his dream job as a Disney animator for trying to introduce three-dimensional animation technology there. He was told that if it didn’t make movie production cheaper or faster, it wasn’t worth it.3 All of these men were at a low point in their lives when they became part of the group of people that eventually became Pixar. What brought them out of this uncertain part of their lives was a single goal: to change the way stories are told by pushing the boundaries of what computers can do in animation and graphics by creating the first computer-animated movie in history. These people became the foundation of Pixar Animation Studios.
Not commonly remembered is the company’s inception as the Computer Graphics Division for Lucasfilm, the movie studio behind the Star Wars franchise, beginning in 1979. Through a series of events, Steve Jobs ended up buying this small struggling division in 1986 for five million dollars. He also gave it its iconic name. At that point, the company was selling computer hardware with the Pixar Image Computer as their main product. Their increasingly dwindling revenue also consisted of producing commercials for companies such as Trident and Listerine.4 With their financial struggles, and no clear path into the future of movie-making, Pixar was created.
Pixar’s goal moved further out of reach as they fired one-third of the company in 1991. At that point, Pixar had only sold three hundred Pixar Image Computers. They then decided to stop selling hardware. The five million dollars it had cost Jobs to buy the company had turned into a $54 million money pit. Its only source of revenue, and future survival, was a contract with Disney to produce three movies. There wasn’t even a guarantee that they could make the movies. Nevertheless, the team decided to take a leap of faith into the unknown path of creating computer-animated movies.5
Money was tight and there was constant miscommunication between the Pixar team and Jobs. Jobs was in the middle of establishing NeXT, a computer company he started after Apple. This meant that he rarely appeared in the Pixar offices. The Pixar team felt Jobs did not understand what they needed, and Jobs felt that the Pixar team had no idea how to run a business. Lasseter and Catmull would put out an idea and Jobs would shut it down immediately: the only way was his way. Jobs was described as brilliant and inspirational as well as dismissive, condescending, and bullying. It was clear, Pixar could not survive under Jobs. He simply did not connect with the company leadership and staff, but the company could not survive without him either.6
From the year 1987 to 1991, Jobs attempted to sell Pixar three times. Catmull reflected on this time, saying, “Even if Pixar doubled in value, Steve told me, we still wouldn’t be worth anything.”7 Microsoft, Alias, and Silicon Graphics all tried to acquire the company, but Jobs never sold it. Despite taking millions of dollars of his own money just to keep it afloat, he could not sell. It was his way of saying that he had something other people wanted, something special, that Pixar was worth having, despite its flaws. Every time a company made an offer for Pixar, he acted insulted, suggesting that he believed Pixar was worth much more. It was only after critics predicted that an animated film would be a hit and that Disney signed with Pixar to make their movie, that Jobs gave Pixar one last chance.8
There emerged some hope, as they assembled an excellent but inexperienced team in 1992. Catmull and Jobs began to understand each other and collaborate, and the first computer-animated movie was in its beginning stages. Production of the movie began in early 1993. Their dream was so close that they could see it; their dream was becoming a reality. Their first movie blossomed from Lasseter’s simple idea, the story about a group of toys and a boy.9
Toy Story was going to create a revolution within the technology, art, animation, and entertainment fields. Because this was going to be their debut film under their “mentor” company Disney, Pixar story writers took every advice they gave them to heart. Disney animators were the experts, and they had the success Pixar craved. Disney perceived Woody, a toy cowboy and one of the movie’s main characters, as “too perky, too earnest.”10 An edgier Woody would create a better conflict and a better story. Or so they said.
November 19, 1993 came. It was also known as “Black Friday.” On this day, a mock-up of Toy Story was presented to Disney executives. Months of hard work had been dedicated to making this idea become a reality, and finally … Disney shut down the project. There would not be an animated movie until they fixed the script.
They had technology and talent, but the entire concept was just not right. Something crucial was missing. For the next couple of months Lasseter, Catmull, and the entire team worked every possible moment to rediscover the soul of the project. By this time, special effects were starting to enter mainstream cinematography, with movies such as Jurassic Park and Terminator 2. People enjoyed the manner in which technology enhanced the movie experience, and Pixar was ready to be part of this innovation wave.
The answer to their story problem was simple. They hit on the idea of a story of a boy and his toy cowboy. This experience taught them to trust their own abilities, to give Pixar its own character, and to do things the Pixar way.11
November 22, 1995. Toy Story was released to the world, to infinity and beyond.12
In total, Toy Story earned $362 million worldwide, it was a phenomenon. It had created an ingenious and creative new storytelling method. Now the graphics on the movie screen were perceived as having emotion and character. The movie had characters that had life in a way that was unprecedented from anything animators had done before. Pixar was able to create this emotional response because the overall theme was so human and relatable. With themes such as friendship, change, finding who you truly are, and your purpose in life, it is no surprise that though this movie was made for a young audience, it resonated with people of all ages. It was a masterpiece.13
The following year, Toy Story was nominated for three Academy Awards. John Lasseter received a Special Achievement Award. And Pixar announced its retirement from making commercials in order to focus on making more movies.
Due to its success with Toy Story, Disney pursued a partnership with Pixar. Shortly afterward, Pixar decided to open their company stock to the public. With this, they earned $140 million for the company. Pixar had accomplished something it had never done before; it was now a stable company.14
What started off as a constantly struggling company became an animation empire. Their stories have since touched the lives and hearts of people around the world. They’ve made us cry and they’ve made us laugh. Ed Catmull, Steve Jobs, and John Lasseter came together to change the world by creating the first computer-animated movie.
The rest is history.
- Edwin Catmull and Amy Wallace, Creativity, Inc.: overcoming the unseen forces that stand in the way of true inspiration (New York: Random House, 2014), 56. ↵
- David A. Price, The Pixar Touch: The Making of a Company (New York: Vintage Books, 2009), 8. ↵
- Bill Capodagli and Lynn Jackson, Innovate The Pixar Way: Business Lessons from the World’s Most Creative Corporate Playground (New York: McGraw-Hill, 2009), 31. ↵
- “Our Story,” Pixar, accessed August 31, 2018, https://www.pixar.com/our-story-1#our-story-main. ↵
- Edwin Catmull and Amy Wallace, Creativity, Inc.: overcoming the unseen forces that stand in the way of true inspiration (New York: Random House, 2014), 53. ↵
- Edwin Catmull and Amy Wallace, Creativity, Inc.: overcoming the unseen forces that stand in the way of true inspiration (New York: Random House, 2014), 51-52. ↵
- Edwin Catmull and Amy Wallace, Creativity, Inc.: overcoming the unseen forces that stand in the way of true inspiration (New York: Random House, 2014), 54. ↵
- Edwin Catmull and Amy Wallace, Creativity, Inc.: overcoming the unseen forces that stand in the way of true inspiration (New York: Random House, 2014), 53; “Our Story,” Pixar, accessed August 31, 2018, https://www.pixar.com/our-story-1#our-story-main. ↵
- Edwin Catmull and Amy Wallace, Creativity, Inc.: overcoming the unseen forces that stand in the way of true inspiration (New York: Random House, 2014), 54. ↵
- Edwin Catmull and Amy Wallace, Creativity, Inc.: overcoming the unseen forces that stand in the way of true inspiration (New York: Random House, 2014), 57. ↵
- Edwin Catmull and Amy Wallace, Creativity, Inc.: overcoming the unseen forces that stand in the way of true inspiration (New York: Random House, 2014), 57. ↵
- “Our Story,” Pixar, accessed August 31, 2018, https://www.pixar.com/our-story-1#our-story-main. ↵
- David A. Price, The Pixar Touch: The Making of a Company (New York: Vintage Books, 2009), 151. ↵
- Edwin Catmull and Amy Wallace, Creativity, Inc.: overcoming the unseen forces that stand in the way of true inspiration (New York: Random House, 2014), 60. ↵
This Post Has 190 Comments
John Estrada
16 Nov 2019I had known that the creation of Pixar was the culmination of a group of people, but I had never known that one of which was Steve Jobs. I am a huge fan of animation, especially Pixar, so it’s interesting to know it possibly wouldn’t be what it is today without the contributions of Steve Jobs. Pixar animations are beautifully crafted storytelling devices that teach lessons and instill heart into the viewers, it’s genuinely a positive influence in life. To learn from this article that it wasn’t always the company’s intention of doing animation is very interesting. The building blocks of originally selling computers to becoming what it is now is definitely awe inspiring.
Felipe Macias
11 Nov 2019We usually watch films and enjoy them, but never think of the story leading up to the possibility for a film to be released. This article does a good job highlighting the people responsible for a loved animation studio and their hard efforts to make it happen. It is no doubt Pixar is absolutely influential and loved by most of the public.
Mauro Bustamante
2 Nov 2019I had no idea that Ed Catmull, Steve Jobs, and John Lasseter were the founders of Pixar, they created the movies that I loved when I was little like Monsters Inc. Toy Story and I never even new the names that founded Pixar. Honestly reading this article made me realize that the upcoming story of Pixar just shows us that everyone has to start at the bottom at some point to eventually get to the top and succeed. This article was well written and provided informative context that was quit inspiring to me when I was reading.
Nicole Ortiz
31 Oct 2019I had no idea that Ed Catmull, Steve Jobs, and John Lasseter were the founders of Pixar, i didn’t even know who these men were until today other than Steve Jobs. I remember watching Toy Story, Monsters Inc., etc. during my childhood and it is still a big part of my life now since i still continue to watch those movies to this day. It was incredible to see that despite all of the obstacles that these 3 men faced, they were able to surpass them and create the company that means a lot to many people all over the world.
Rahni Hingoranee
25 Oct 2019This was an interesting and informative article. I had never before known who the founders of Pixar were; Ed Catmull, Steve Jobs, and John Lasseter. The beginning of Pixar being something different from what it currently consists of is a common theme among big-name companies but nonetheless surprising. I did not know they started out selling computers and did not see very easy beginnings. Their legacy has continued and fills the hearts of children and adults everywhere.
Andrea Degollado
22 Oct 2019I really liked this article, a s kid i grew up watching Pixar movies. I always thought that Steve Jobs as the main person behind Pixar, but this article proved me wrong. Before this article I had no idea how Pixar started I always just assumed they started for what they are known now. This article was extrmely informative and very well written.
Amanda Quiroz
21 Oct 2019It’s amazing how far Pixar has come since then. The article was very informative about what Pixar had to do to build itself up. I also didn’t know that there were three founders of Pixar. All I really knew prior to reading this article was that they had a partnership with Disney. They really worked hard to get Pixar to where it is now.
Judy Reyes
18 Oct 2019This was such an interesting and informative article. I had no knowledge about the founders of Pixar–Ed Catmull, Steve Jobs, and John Lasseter. It was interesting to see that the lowest points in their lives did not stop them from achieving a very successful business. Even when Jobs did not necessarily believe in the company, Catmull and Lasseter was able to hold strong in their belief for the company.
Ashley Martinez
16 Oct 2019This was a very inspiring article for many different reasons. Pixar is a very famous industry for animated movies. I am a huge fan of all the different movies that Pixar has produced like Toy Story, Monsters Inc, UP and many other films. The upcoming story of Pixar just shows us that everyone has to start at the bottom at some point to eventually get to the top and succeed. It shows that you will experience certain struggles but that is the way that you will grow as a person and succeed. Steve Jobs, Edwin Catmull, and John Lasseter are great role models of persistence and hard work. These men positively impacted all generations with these heartwarming films. This story also shows that one closed door leads to an even better opportunity.
Jose Chaman
6 Oct 2019I always had Steve Jobs as the main image of Pixar, however, thanks to this great article, I could discover that Pixar was formed thanks to the necessary collaboration of two other people: Ed and John. I didn’t know that Pixar had started selling computers, much less that its beginnings had been so turbulent and unpredictable, however, always a stroke of luck and genius can mean a outright success, as it was with Pixar.