In January I was invited on a trip of a lifetime to visit inside Pixar Animation Studios Campus in Emeryville, California to get an preview of newest Pixar Animation film Inside Out which is set to be released in theaters nationwide on June 19th 2015. While visiting the Pixar Animation Studios we had the opportunity to walk around and take plenty of pictures and I am so happy to finally have the opportunity to share them all with you. Visiting the Pixar Animation Studios had always been a bucket-list type of dream of mine and finally having the chance to step foot on the grounds was such a dream come true. all opinions are my own.
Luxo Jr and I
Luxo Jr – Day & Night
An Interwoven History
Originally Founded in 1979 by George Lucas in an attempt to further the digital computer technology in the film industry, Lucasfilm’s Computer Division (what Pixar was originally named) successfully created the short film: “The Adventures of André & Wally B” with the help of John Lasseter. With the ball already rolling on pushing the future technologies of animation, in 1986 Steve Jobs purchased Lucasfilm’s Computer Division and renamed it “Pixar”. The Pixar mascot “Luxo Jr” was developed after John Lasseter’s first directorial debut in the short film aptly named “Luxo Jr”. Luxo Jr. was the first three-dimensional computer animated film to be nominated for the Best Animated Short Film Oscar. In 1995 Pixar Animation Studios released Toy Story after a series of popular short films. Toy Story was a huge commercial and critical success and launched the popularity of pioneering Pixar Animation films. In 1999 Pixar and Disney announce they will partner for 10 animated films. After huge commercial success with films such as “A Bug’s Life”, “Toy Story 2”, “Monsters Inc”, “Finding Nemo” and “The Incredibles” Disney purchased Pixar in the ballpark of $7 billion dollars.
The Steve Jobs Building At Pixar Animation Studios
The 22 acre Pixar Animation Studios campus is designed to foster professional creativity, imagination and to provide a good work environment atmosphere for talented employees. Steve Jobs oversaw the project of building the two-story steel and masonry building as a collaborative space with many pathways. Steve Jobs wanted an open and airy atrium where employees would frequently bump in to one another.
The open atrium of the building oozed creativity. In the center of the building were tables for collaborative meetings and jutted off were small portal rooms containing the Pixar Studio store, mail room and dining room. To the end of the space was the screening theater where we got to watch a preview of Inside Out and Pixar short film Lava set to be released in June 2015.
Walking through the Steve Jobs Building inside the Pixar Animation Studios Campus I really got the sense of community creativity, the communal mail and dining room (where you can find every kind of breakfast cereal known to man) has to harvest a genuine commaraderie amongst Pixar Animation Studios employees. I mean how could you not bond over a bowl of Captain Crunch?
Of course during our visit we had to stop by the Pixar Studio Store where I snatched up a few goodies. Not thinking clearly, I picked up only one bouncy Luxo Ball (aka Pixar ball) and my children fight over it like cats and dogs. My Luxo Ball now lives on top of my kitchen cabinets – far out of reach of tiny fingers.
Friendly faces were by the door to greet us and wish us farewell. There was so much to see inside of the Steve Jobs Building inside Pixar Animation Studios Campus, the artwork was unbelievably beautiful and the statues of Monster’s Inc University Mike and Sully were huge.
The famous characters Mike and Sully
The famous characters Tee, Yolanda and Desiree 😉
It was an unbelievable experience getting to visit the Pixar Animation Campus and I only hope and pray I’ll be able to do it again!
During our visit we got to watch a preview of upcoming Pixar Animation film Inside Out as well as Pixar short Lava. Stay tuned for great Funny Mom Blog details of them!
It’s so beautiful! I love the photo of the Pixar lamp during the day and at night. Looks like a very fun trip and place to work at.