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The Pixar Touch


There was a time when only name people used to think about when referring to children animation movies, Walt Disney. It was almost impossible to think of someone else making animation movies for children. Then came TOY STORY and it felt world has changed. Animation movies were no longer about Mickey Mouse and Barbie fascinating kids they became a serious business and were competing with other main stream movies attracting both kids and adults. Animation was not just about Tom and Jerry fighting with each other it was much more complex now taking cues from real humans and showing them on screen using more characters like Woody and Buzz Light Year. This was followed by other hugely successful movies like Cars, The Incredible, Finding NEMO and more.

All these movies changed 2 perceptions around animation movies first that animation movies can be entertaining for both kids and adults at same time and another animation movies does not always mean Walt Disney. These movies established PIXAR as another major player in the field of kid entertainment. Obviously one of the reason I bought this book was because Toy Story, Cards and Finding Nemo are among my favourite movies but also I always used to wonder how anyone can stand against a giant like Walt Disney. This is a good read for anyone who wants to know what goes inside making a great animation movie and how determination and focus can make impossible possible.

Initial few chapters introduce you to the team behind PIXAR, a team which dreamt about something which was way ahead of their times. Almost everyone in the team encountered number of challenges and rejections from people who were established in the world of animation but they did not leave their dream and kept looking for ways to move forward. And at the end they found Steve Job who believed in them and let them do what they wanted to do. It is not very clear on what was Steve’s role besides providing financial support to the team. I have read Steve Job’s biography as well, in that his role in Apple was more like an authoritative and micro manager, but in this book it feels like his role was more like a Chief Financial Officer responsible for financing PIXAR projects and negotiating with Lucas Films and Walt Disney in ensuring a deal which was helpful for PIXAR.

Book is not meant to be a technical manual for those who want to create animation movies. But it does provides a view inside the world of animation. It breaks the myth that animation movies only require a computer and a computer animator. Yes making animated movies do require computer and that message is very loud and clear in the movie. They don’t require just any windows laptop but much more powerful computers which were built by the PIXAR teams. In addition to all this technology another important ingredient is the story itself. Compare Toy Story to Mickey Mouse or Donald Duck animation, difference is for all to see. PIXAR movies have a strong story line and all characters show emotions just like real humans.

Book also provides kind of timelines on how animation movies have moved from one step to other and how technology is improving with every movie. It explains how every movie was a step forward in a direction of bringing animation to life. As a movie watcher we do not think about how Nemo moves in sea or how colony of jelly fish move under sea. But as a creator of these movies people at PIXAR do lot of study on what is being created. A very good example is preparation they had to do for Finding Nemo, team worked with experts to understand how fishes behave, they went under sea to feel the underwater world. After reading the book I have developed much more respect and appreciation of hard work that goes in making of an animation movie.
PIXAR Touch also gives a view of the corporate world and fighting and difficult negotiation which keeps the corporate world moving. The fight between SKW and Walt Disney is clearly an example showing that animation means serious business for adults and not just kid entertainment.

Overall a good readfor anyone who wants to know more about PIXAR in specific and who wonders what is required to make Woody smile.

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