A Brief History of Pixar

1 minute read
By TIME

Since it released the firstToy Storyin 1995 the acclaimed computer animation studio has turned out an unbroken string of hits

Toy Story, 1995

Pixar brought the world "to infinity — and beyond" with Toy Story, Hollywood's first fully computer-generated feature film. The company became a household name overnight and started the studio down its path of critical and box office success.Everett

Up, 2009

Pixar's soaring adventure stars Carl (Edward Asner), an old man with nothing to live for, and Russell (Jordan Nagai), a lonely kid with nothing to lose. Toy companies complained about the merchandising prospects for a geriatric man and a plump child, but Pixar stood its ground. The result is an endearing movie that captivated audiences and won academy awards for Best Animated Feature and Best Original Score.Everett

Toy Story 3, 2010

In Toy Story 3, Andy is off to college and the toys are in a tizzy. Like newly unemployed workers, the all-star toy cast fret about their future post-Andy — after all what's a toy to do with no one to play with?Pixar / Disney

Cars 2, 2011

In a sequel to 2006's hit Cars star racecar Lightning McQueen (voiced by Owen Wilson) is joined by his friend Mater (voiced by Larry the Cable Guy) for a trip overseas, where McQueen will compete in a "World Grand-Prix." Directed byu Lasseter, the moive is set for release in the U.S. in June 2011.Disney / Pixar

A Bug’s Life, 1998

In Pixar's second full-length feature, Flik (above), voiced by Dave Foley, is the plucky leader of an ant insurgency that rises up against a gang of meanacing grasshoppers. He is joined by a motley crew of insectoid heroes ranging from an overweight caterpillar named Heimlich to a male ladybug called Francis.Everett

Toy Story 2, 1999

The success of Toy Story called for a sequel in which Buzz Lightyear (Tim Allen) and the rest of the original movie's cast race against time to save Woody (Tom Hanks) from a portly toy collector bent on selling the cowboy to a museum in Japan.Pixar / Disney

Monsters, Inc., 2001

In Monsters, Inc., Pixar answered the age old question of whether or not there are monsters in our closets (yes there are, albeit by way of an interdimensional transporter.) This sweet fable about the perils of surrogate parenting follows the giant blue-haired Sulley (John Goodman) and his eyeball pal Mike (Billy Crystal) as they look after a two-year-old girl nicknamed "Boo" who unsuspectingly enters their monster world.Pixar / Disney

Finding Nemo, 2003

In this megahit, Dory, voiced by Ellen Degeneres, right, joins Marlin (Albert Brooks) in the search for his missing son. The dangers posed by sharks, jellyfish and seagulls became an afterthought as they just kept swimming to P. Sherman 42 Wallaby Way, Sydney in hopes of finding the clownfish's lost progeny.Everett

The Incredibles, 2004

Mr. Incredible (Craig T. Nelson), a superhero forcibly retired to a desk job, flexes his muscles (and sucks in his belly fat) in this fantastical tale of a suburban superhero crimefighting family.Everett

Cars, 2006

Pixar's ode to fast cars and rural values had a whole vaudeville of vehicles, with a storyline revolving around Lightning Mcqueen (Owen Wilson) who befriends a tow truck named Mater (Larry the Cable Guy) and other residents of Radiator Springs.Everett

Ratatouille, 2007

In France, even the rats are snobs. Not satisfied with the mindless droning and cheese-scavenging antics of his brethren, Remy, a rat voiced by Patton Oswalt, aspires for culinary greatness as a French chef. His signature dish? Ratatouille, of course.Everett

WALL-E, 2008

Toy meets girl in Pixar's wondrous tale of WALL-E, the lonely trashman, and Eve, his sleek inamorata. This tale of a not-so-distant future offers a grim look at the deterioration of society on Earth, as it is overrun by garbage and humans who literally can't stand on their own two feet.Everett

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