In 1995, Toy Story introduced us to a new form of animated film – 3D animation. Using computer technology, it broke beyond the limits of two-dimensional space, creating a three-dimensional virtual world. And the ones to bring us this astonishing revolution were none other than Pixar Animation Studios. Pixar created the miracle of 3D animation, attaining a sense of space and a tactile quality that traditional 2D animation lacked.
Pixar’s animators never called themselves computer engineers or designers, but artists, who insist that the whole process of 3D animation, from concept to completed work, is a form of artistic creation. As the painted drafts, concepts, sculptures and digital installations in Pixar: 20 Years of Animation readily demonstrate, refined detail and a process of substantial creative effort are what lie behind computer animation creation.