(From Wikipedia - Edited by Jeffrey Gillespie)
If I told you that Pixar was created as part of a division from George Lucas (The man behind Star Wars) you’d probably think I was yanking your chain.
Pixar was created in 1979 as part of the Lucasfilm (a film and television company started by George Lucas) computer division. This division was known as The Graphics Group. It was founded by computer scientist Ed Catmull, Alvy Ray Smith and Steve Jobs who In 1986 gave them funding that drove the development of Pixar that ended Disney's longtime stranglehold on the animation industry.
In 1986 Luxo Jr was born. The Inspiration for this character came when John Lasseter was interacting with Spencer Porter (who was the son of Tom Porter, a Pixar team member.
Lasseter wondered if the body proportions of a child could be applied to a lamp. When he left, he wondered what a baby lamp would look like.
He changed the proportions of the lamp and incorporated a Luxo ball and Luxo Jr was born.
Following the success of their 1988 short film Tin Toy, Pixar was approached by Disney to produce a computer - animated feature film told from a small toys perspective and so the first computer generated movie was made. The one and only Toy Story.
A LAMP NAMED LUXO (1979-1991)
Information and some images from (https://www.pixar.com/our-story-pixar)
1979
George Lucas recruits Ed Catmull from the New York Institute of Technology to head Lucasfilm’s Computer Division, a group charged with developing state-of-the-art computer technology for the film industry. Lucas’s wish list: a digital (nonlinear) film editing system, a digital (nonlinear) sound editing system, a laser film printer, and further exploration of computer graphics.
1982
The Computer Division completes the “Genesis Effect” sequence for Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan. The scene, which shows an initially lifeless planet being rapidly transformed by lush vegetation, is the first completely computer animated sequence in a feature film.
1983
The Computer Division’s Graphics Group creates their first film-resolution image, “The Road to Point Reyes.” Near the end of the year, animator John Lasseter is invited to come up to the Bay Area to do some freelance work with the Graphics Group.
1984
Lasseter is hired full-time, joining the Computer Division as an “Interface Designer.”
A partially completed version of “The Adventures of André & Wally B.” premieres at SIGGRAPH. It is the first short film created by the future animation studio, featuring complex flexible characters, hand-painted textures, and motion blur. It is also the first example of character animation in the young medium of computer animation.
At SIGGRAPH, the Computer Division also shows off its prototype Pixar Image Computer.
1985
The Computer Division completes the Stained Glass Knight sequence that appears in the film Young Sherlock Holmes.
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1986
Steve Jobs purchases the Computer Division from George Lucas and establishes the group as an independent company, “Pixar.” At this time about 40 people are employed.
Pixar and Disney begin collaboration on CAPS, the Computer Animation Production System, which would revolutionize the creation of traditional animated films. The first check written to Pixar by a client after its incorporation is from Disney, for work on this project.
“Luxo Jr.” is completed. The short film, John Lasseter’s official directorial debut, is unveiled in August at SIGGRAPH and then screened for general audiences at Los Angeles-area theaters in November. “Luxo Jr.” will go on to become the first three-dimensional computer animated film to be nominated for an Oscar®, receiving a nomination for Best Short Film (Animated).
1987
“Red’s Dream” is completed and premieres at SIGGRAPH. A portion of the film is rendered entirely on the Pixar Image Computer.
1988
Pixar’s proprietary animation system, identified to the outside world as Marionette but internally known as Menv (“men-vee”), short for “modeling environment,” comes online.
Pixar’s proprietary renderer, RenderMan®, also makes its internal debut.
Both pieces of software are used to produce “Tin Toy,” Pixar’s third short film.
A partially completed version of “Tin Toy” is screened at SIGGRAPH, with the finished film premiering later that year at the Ottawa International Film Fest. “Tin Toy” will go on to become the first computer animated film to receive an Academy Award® when it is named Best Short Film (Animated) the following year.
1989
“Knick Knack” is completed. A work-in-progress version is screened at that year’s SIGGRAPH. It is Pixar’s first animation producedin stereoscopic 3D.
The first commercial version of RenderMan® is released.
Pixar begins making commercials. The first is an ad for Tropicana orange juice, “Wake Up,” directed by John Lasseter.
1990
Andrew Stanton and Pete Docter join the company. By the end of the year, each animates a commercial – Andrew Stanton completes “Quite A Package” for Trident, and Pete Docter animates “Boxer” for Listerine. Pixar’s commercial work gives the company invaluable experience in pitching, storytelling, and working with clients, and allows it to develop and refine its production pipeline.
1991
Disney and Pixar announce an agreement “to make and distribute at least one computer-generated animated movie.”
Pixar begins work on the project that will become Toy Story, while continuing to produce commercials and other short materials, including spots for public television.
TO INFINITY AND BEYOND
1995
Toy Story, the world’s first computer animated feature film, is released in theaters on November 22. It opens at #1 that weekend and will go on to become the highest grossing film of the year, making $192 million domestically and $362 million worldwide.
Pixar’s initial public offering takes place just days later, on November 28. It is the largest IPO of the year.
1996
Toy Story is recognized with Academy Award® nominations for Best Original Song, Best Original Score, and Best Original Screenplay—the first time an animated film is recognized for screenwriting. John Lasseter receives a Special Achievement Oscar® from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences for his “inspired leadership of the Pixar Toy Story Team resulting in the first feature-length computer animated film.”
Pixar announces that it will stop making commercials in order to concentrate on longer-format and interactive entertainment.
1997
The Walt Disney Studios and Pixar Animation Studios announce an agreement to jointly produce five movies over 10 years.
1998
Groundbreaking for Pixar’s Emeryville studio begins.
"A Bug's Life" is released in theaters on November 25, accompanied by the short film “Geri’s Game.”
1999
Toy Story 2 is released in theaters on November 24. It is the first film in history to be entirely created, mastered and exhibited digitally. It is accompanied by a rerelease of “Luxo Jr.”
2000
Pixar moves to its new building in Emeryville, California.
2001
Monsters, Inc. is released in theaters on November 2, accompanied by the short film “For the Birds.”
2002
“A Bug's Land”, a themed land based on A Bug’s Life, opens at Disney California Adventure Park.
2003
Finding Nemo is released in theaters on May 30, accompanied by a re-mastered version of “Knick Knack.”
2004
The Incredibles is released in theaters on November 5, accompanied by the short film “Boundin’.”
“Turtle Talk with Crush” opens at Epcot in the Walt Disney World Resort.
2005
Pixar’s first external exhibition of original artwork, Pixar: 20 Years of Animation, opens at the Museum of Modern Art in New York.
2006
Cars is released in theaters on June 9, accompanied by the short film “One Man Band.”
The late story artist Joe Ranft is named a Disney Legend.
The Walt Disney Company announces that it has agreed to purchase Pixar Animation Studios. As part of the deal,
Ed Catmull and John Lasseter also assume leadership of Walt Disney Animation Studios.
Pixar celebrates its 20th anniversary.
2007
Ratatouille is released in theaters on June 29, accompanied by the short film “Lifted.”
"Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage” opens in Tomorrowland at Disneyland Park in California.
2008
WALL•E is released in theaters on June 27, accompanied by the short film “Presto.”
“Toy Story Midway Mania!” opens at Disney parks in California and Florida.
2009
Up becomes the first animated feature film to open the Cannes Film Festival. It opens in wide release on May 29 with the short film“Partly Cloudy.”
"Monsters, Inc. Ride & Go Seek" opens at Tokyo Disneyland
2010
Toy Story 3 is released in theaters on June 18, accompanied by the short film “Day and Night.”
“Toy Story Playland,” a themed land based on the
Toy Story films, opens at Walt Disney Studios Park at Disneyland Paris.
2011
Cars 2 is released in theaters on June 24, accompanied by the first Toy Story Toon, “Hawaiian Vacation.”
Pixar celebrates its 25th anniversary.
Construction of the second new building on Pixar’s Emeryville campus is completed.
“Toy Story Land” opens at Hong Kong Disneyland.
2012
Brave is released in theaters on June 22, accompanied by the short film “La Luna.”
"Cars Land" opens at Disney California Adventure Park.
Menv (“men-vee”), Pixar’s long-lived proprietary animation system, is officially retired in favor of a completely new proprietary system named Presto, after the studio’s 2008 short film. Brave is the first film animated using this new system—which is still referred to internally as “menv.”
Pixar, in partnership with the San Francisco Symphony, launches "Pixar in Concert", a symphonic rendition of the scores of Pixar films.
2013
Monsters University is released in theaters on June 21, accompanied by the short film “The Blue Umbrella.”
The TV special "Toy Story Of TERROR!" airs on ABC.
2014
The holiday TV special "Toy Story That Time Forgot" airs on ABC.
"Ratatouille: The Adventure" opens in Walt Disney Studios Park at Disneyland Paris.
2015
After premiering at the 68th Cannes Film Festival in May, Inside Out is released on June 19, accompanied by the short film “LAVA.”
The Good Dinosaur, accompanied by the short film “Sanjay's Super Team,” is released in theatres on November 25.
2016
Finding Dory, accompanied by the short film “Piper,” is released in theatres on June 17.
"The Toy Story Hotel" and "Buzz Lightyear Planet Rescue" attraction debut with the opening of Shanghai Disney Resort.
2017
Cars 3 accompanied by the short film “Lou,” is released in theatres on June 16.
Pixar releases its Academy Award®-winning RenderMan® software for non-commercial use.
Online educational program “Pixar in a Box” is released in partnership with Khan Academy.
The Science Behind Pixar exhibit opens at the Museum of Science, Boston.
“Piper", written and directed by Alan Barillaro and produced by Marc Sondheimer, won the Academy Award for Animated Short film
Coco premiered on October 20, 2017 during the Morelia International Film Festival in Morelia, Mexico. It went on to become Mexico's #1 highest grossing film of all time.
Coco is released in North America on November 22.
2018 Incredibles 2 is released in the United States on June 15, 2018 and sets the record for best debut for an animated film of all time, eventually grossing over $1.2 Billion dollars worldwide - Pixar’s biggest grossing film yet! “Bao”, written and directed by Domee Shi is released with Incredibles 2 on June 15, 2018. June 19 Pete Docter is officially announced as Pixar's Chief Creative Officer. 2019 Pixar debuted the first three SparkShorts projects, Smash and Grab, Purl and Kitbull in January at the El Capitan Theater in LA. “Bao," written and directed by Domee Shi and produced by Becky Neiman-Cobb, won the Academy Award for Animated Short film. Lightning McQueen's Racing Academy opened on March 31 at Disney's Hollywood Studios. Toy Story 4 is released in the United States on June 21. Ed Catmull, original Pixar co-founder, retired from his role as President of Pixar Animation Studios at the end of July. Disney+ officially launched November 12, and with it debuted original Forky Asks a Question shorts, written and directed by Bob Peterson, and new SparkShorts projects including Float and Wind. 2020 The SparkShort Loop is released on Disney+ on January 10. Toy Story 4 wins the Oscar for Best Animated Feature at the 92nd Academy Awards. Directed by Dan Scanlon and produced by Kori Rae, Onward is released in theaters on March 6. On March 16, with approximately 7 weeks of production remaining on the feature film, Soul, Pixar employees begin working from home due to the Coronavirus pandemic. With everyone’s health and safety foremost in mind, Soul is completed on time the following month. The SparkShort OUT is released on Disney+ on May 22. The docuseries, Inside Pixar, chronicling the many different types of work done by employees at Pixar, is released on Disney+ on November 13. Soul, directed by Pete Docter, produced by Dana Murray, and co-directed by Kemp Powers is released on Disney+ on December 25 along with the SparkShort Burrow.