Inside the "PIXAR: 25 Years of Animation" Exhibit

[JeffSaylor]

"The art challenges the technology, and the technology inspires the art." - John Lasseter

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The films of PIXAR are, quite frankly, the best of American cinema today. However, it wasn't until 1995 when Disney and Pixar teamed up to deliver TOY STORY, the first ever computer animated film, that audiences woke up to this breathtaking new medium. What many don't know is that the ten years prior were also filled with ground breaking and award-winning shorts that lead them towards the ultimate goal that was Toy Story. Although these films may be built up of billions of pixels, textures, wire-frames and the like, there's an immense body of pencil sketches, paintings, color-scripts, and sculptures that were created by the talented artists at Pixar to make the films as great as they possibly could be.

What began in 2005 as the Pixar: 20 Years of Animation exhibit at the Museum of Modern Art in New York (and traveled the world through London, Tokyo, Scotland, Australia, Finland, Korea, Mexico, Taiwan, and Singapore) evolved into the Pixar: 25 Years of Animation exhibit housed at the Oakland Museum of California, just ten minutes away from Pixar Animation Studios in Emeryville, CA. The exhibit now features an updated display representing their latest art from Toy Story 3 as well as the artwork from all the Pixar films from 2005-2010.

The exhibit at OMCA is a can't-miss experience for any fan of animated art as the amount of talent on display is awe-inspiring and an absolute delight to see in person. Broken down into the following categories: "Character", "Story", and "World", the exhibit unfolds the filmmaking process right before your eyes. Abandoned concepts, evolving character designs... it's all here.

In addition to the beautiful art, the incredible TOY STORY ZOETROPE (also seen at Disney California Adventure Park) is on display. A zoetrope is a Victorian-era device that shows the process of animation using still images inside a spinning cylinder. This updated form makes use of fully rendered maquettes and a strobe light that, when combined, gives the illusion of life.

Another treat at the exhibit that you won't find anywhere else is the PIXAR ARTSCAPE, a wonderful display of the conceptual paintings simulated in three-dimensional motion and projected in a large hi-resolution format complete with immersive surround sound. It's a brand new way to enjoy the art and it is mind blowing.

The Pixar: 25 Years of Animation exhibit will be on display at the Oakland Museum of California until January 9th, 2011 so there's still time to catch it before it moves on. Visit museumca.org/exhibit/pixar-25-years-animation for more information. Be sure to also pick up the Pixar: 25 Years of Animation companion book sold at the museum gift shop. Published by Chronicle Books, it's the perfect memento to a memorable experience.

Check out more photos from the Pixar: 25 Years of Animation exhibit in our gallery below!

Words and Photography by David Yeh

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