Regardless of whether or not Pixar renegotiates a distribution deal with Disney, the northern California-based animation powerhouse is poised for the future. Thanks to the stellar performance turned in by THE INCREDIBLES DVD, Pixar reported first quarter revenues this week of $161.2 million and earnings of $81.9 million, up from $53 million and $26.7 million last year.
In a conference call on Thursday, Pixar ceo Steve Jobs proclaimed that John Lasseters CARS (the last Disney release under the current contract, slated for June 9, 2006), boasts stunning modeling and shading as a result of the superior ray tracing ability of the new 12.5 version of RenderMan Pro Server.
Jobs also noted that the companys first indie feature, RATATOUILLE, directed by Jan Pinkava (GERRIS GAME), currently in production and slated for a 2007 release, will be officially announced along with two other features by the end of the year, at which time a distribution partner will be signed as well.
Meanwhile, Buena Vista and Pixar also announced this week, a 10th anniversary DVD two-disc set of the groundbreaking TOY STORY, to be released Sept. 6.
In celebration of the anniversary of the first 3D-animated feature, new TOY STORY picture utilizes advanced video technology to provide a higher digital "bit rate" than the original presentation, the highest in a Disney presentation of a Pixar film on DVD ever. The TOY STORY 10TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION boasts a new audio experience, thanks to enhancement by seven-time Academy Award-winner Gary Rydstrom, who recently joined Pixar and was an original member of the TOY STORY production team.
Among the new bonus materials is an all-new look at the legacy of TOY STORY on the field of animation and pop culture, including interviews with the movie's original voice actors and dozens of other notables from across the film industry. In addition, the DVD includes an all-new roundtable discussion with the key Pixar creative execs, including director Lasseter, writers Pete Docter, Andrew Stanton and Joe Ranft, modeler Bill Reeves, art director Ralph Eggleston and producers Ralph Guggenheim and Bonnie Arnold; a behind-the-scenes making of; deleted scenes (Sid Tortures Toys and Rain); all-new games; music videos; audio commentaries; and featurettes on the stunning design and animation.
Emeryville-California-based Pixar Animation Studios (www.pixar.com) combines creative and technical artistry to create original stories in the medium of computer animation. Pixar has created six of the most successful and beloved animated films of all time: TOY STORY, A BUG'S LIFE, TOY STORY 2, MONSTERS, INC., FINDING NEMO and THE INCREDIBLES. Pixar has won 18 Academy Awards and its six films have grossed more than $3.2 billion at the worldwide box office to date.
Bill Desowitz, former editor of VFXWorld, is currently the Crafts Editor of IndieWire.
