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To Infinity and Beyond!: The Story of Pixar Animation Studios
In 1986, gifted animator John Lasseter, technology guru Ed Catmull, and visionary Steve Jobs founded Pixar Animation Studios. Their create a computer animated feature, despite predictions that it could never be done. An unprecedented catalog of blockbuster films later, the studio is honoring its history in this deluxe volume. From its fledgling days under George Lucas to ten demanding years creating Toy Story to the merger with Disney, each milestone is vibrantly detailed. Interviews with Pixar directors, producers, animators, voice talent, and industry insiders, as well as concept art, storyboards, and snapshots illuminate a history that is both definitive and enthralling.
304 pages, Hardcover
First published November 1, 2007
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2228 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
November 3, 2010
This is the first time that I give a five star rating to a non-fiction book. I thought I would never do that because non-fiction would not be able to grab me like a novel. However, it did: I really had a hard time putting this book down (though not literally, considering its size and weight :-) ). I guess you have to really be interested in Pixar to have the same experience, but I loved reading about the birth and growth of the company and all its films (up to and including Cars). It really reminded me of Walt Disney's story: him wanting to make an animated feature-length film and everybody telling him he couldn't do that. So it's a nice sort of full-circle feeling that Pixar ended up being bought by Disney.
This is also the first of my large, hardcover Disney books that I actually read cover to cover. I definitely want to give the others a serious try now!
This is also the first of my large, hardcover Disney books that I actually read cover to cover. I definitely want to give the others a serious try now!
May 21, 2019
Kelpo opus kaikille Pixar animaatiostudiosta ja sen historiasta kiinnostuneille. Arvostukseni Pixaria kohtaan nousi jälleen kerran. Pixarin tavasta tehdä asioista voi myös hyvin ottaa oppia, vaikka ei olisi missään tekemisissä elokuvien tai animaation kanssa. Jokainen Pixarin elokuva on pitkällisen kehitystyön tulos. Timantteja ei synny hetkessä. Jokainen elokuva on myös vaatinut uuden opettelua ja paljon tutkimustyötä esimerkiksi siitä, miltä maailma näyttää muurahaisperspektiivistä (Ötökän elämää).
June 23, 2017
This book is incredibly interesting and full of amazing info. I wish they made another one, so I could learn about the movies after Cars.
August 20, 2019
This is probably one of the best non fiction I've read. It was very informative plus the pictures were amazing. Hats off to Ed, John and Steve for making what Pixar is today
February 5, 2021
3.5
I wasn't expecting the story of most of the important Pixar employees. It was dense at times and boring. I really liked the parts about the History of the company and the movies.
I wasn't expecting the story of most of the important Pixar employees. It was dense at times and boring. I really liked the parts about the History of the company and the movies.
November 19, 2022
This really gave a fresh perspective on creative business.
January 19, 2026
We could not quited playstation. Already Islam. There is no God, but Allah SWT. Peace be upon him. Ahlussunnah wal jama'ah.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 6, 2017
This book covers the history of Pixar Animation from its founding to the year 2007. It covers the making of just seven films: Toy Story, A Bug's Life, Toy Story 2, Monsters, Inc., Finding Nemo, The Incredibles, and Cars. It does not cover the great successes of WALL-E or Up nor the problems Pixar has faced as it turned into a sequel factory under Disney ownership.
This is not a book about the animation process, per se, nor a book about how Pixar functions internally. It's a history of the studio, much like a history of MGM or Warner Bros. would be. While there is some discussion of the technical problems Pixar faced, particularly in the opening chapters as the company works out the problems with its RenderMan software, this is more of a history of the making of films.
The prose style here is breezy and engaging, and yet still manages to convey a great deal of detail. The opening chapters are something of mini-biographies of people like Ed Catmull, Alvy Ray Smith, and John Lasseter. There are good summaries of the importance of discoveries like the alpha channel, particle effects, other CG animation tools. These sections omit real technical discussions and any "how we did it" in favor of phrases like "eventually, they discovered that". This allows the story to move foward while still giving a nod of the head to the computing teams that made CGI possible.
Much of the middle part of the book focuses on the role that George Lucas and Steve Job played in Pixar's history. This is a management story, not an animation story. There is a good discussion of how Pixar under Jobs initially tried to be a computer company, selling its own brand of PC -- and failed miserably at it.
It's the sale of Pixar's hardware division in 1990 that allowed the studio to really focus on films, and this story constitutes the mid to latter half of the book. There's a great deal of focus on directors and screenwriters like John Lasseter, Pete Docter, Andrew Stanton, Joe Ranft, and Brad Bird, and how Pixar's intense, long process of storytelling worked to "get the story right". The book makes it seem as if Pixar found a magic potion that allows it to craft great stories. Anyone seeing Pixar films after 2010 might find that the potion has lost its potency. But if you can look past the conclusionary tone, this is a great history (at least) of the studio's working processes.
The latter half of the book also focuses on problems of character design, and some of the animation problems encountered during the animation process (like how to depict underwater scenes in a visual way, or how to make hair look realistic). But there is a great deal of discussion about how each of Pixar's films came together, and the accidents, timeline problems, production issues, staff problems, and even the occasional serendipitous semi-miracle helped bring these seven films to the silver screen.
The book contains a whopping large amount of historic photographs and a images from Pixar productions. Few of these take up a full page, but that's not really what a person will want to read this book for.
This is not a book about the animation process, per se, nor a book about how Pixar functions internally. It's a history of the studio, much like a history of MGM or Warner Bros. would be. While there is some discussion of the technical problems Pixar faced, particularly in the opening chapters as the company works out the problems with its RenderMan software, this is more of a history of the making of films.
The prose style here is breezy and engaging, and yet still manages to convey a great deal of detail. The opening chapters are something of mini-biographies of people like Ed Catmull, Alvy Ray Smith, and John Lasseter. There are good summaries of the importance of discoveries like the alpha channel, particle effects, other CG animation tools. These sections omit real technical discussions and any "how we did it" in favor of phrases like "eventually, they discovered that". This allows the story to move foward while still giving a nod of the head to the computing teams that made CGI possible.
Much of the middle part of the book focuses on the role that George Lucas and Steve Job played in Pixar's history. This is a management story, not an animation story. There is a good discussion of how Pixar under Jobs initially tried to be a computer company, selling its own brand of PC -- and failed miserably at it.
It's the sale of Pixar's hardware division in 1990 that allowed the studio to really focus on films, and this story constitutes the mid to latter half of the book. There's a great deal of focus on directors and screenwriters like John Lasseter, Pete Docter, Andrew Stanton, Joe Ranft, and Brad Bird, and how Pixar's intense, long process of storytelling worked to "get the story right". The book makes it seem as if Pixar found a magic potion that allows it to craft great stories. Anyone seeing Pixar films after 2010 might find that the potion has lost its potency. But if you can look past the conclusionary tone, this is a great history (at least) of the studio's working processes.
The latter half of the book also focuses on problems of character design, and some of the animation problems encountered during the animation process (like how to depict underwater scenes in a visual way, or how to make hair look realistic). But there is a great deal of discussion about how each of Pixar's films came together, and the accidents, timeline problems, production issues, staff problems, and even the occasional serendipitous semi-miracle helped bring these seven films to the silver screen.
The book contains a whopping large amount of historic photographs and a images from Pixar productions. Few of these take up a full page, but that's not really what a person will want to read this book for.
April 28, 2013
What a fantastic book! I find it lies somewhere between A Pixar Story and The Pixar Touch in terms of critical analysis and tone. It frankly discusses the road-bumps Pixar has faced on the road to success, while still painting the company in an overall positive light. Considering how familiar with A Pixar Story I am (I've seen it at least 5 times) a good majority of the quotes supplied by actual Pixarians (as well as other figures who were involved in Pixar's creation) were familiar to me. It felt almost like an adaptation of the documentary for the page instead of the screen. That's not a bad thing, though; the book expands upon a lot of things that the documentary only touched upon, and I'm grateful for that.
My only criticism (if you can even call it that) is that they only chronicle the company's history through Disney's acquisition of Pixar in 2006. I would love a behind the scenes look at the company that carries on through at least WALL-E, though even further would be better. It's understandable, though, considering this was a look back at their first two decades as a company. Maybe we'll get a continuation for their 30th anniversary.
Overall, a great read and a fascinating look into my favourite company in the world. It left me itching to go back and watch their filmography for the millionth time (short films, too), or at least to go rewatch A Pixar Story XD You can never get too much Pixar.
My only criticism (if you can even call it that) is that they only chronicle the company's history through Disney's acquisition of Pixar in 2006. I would love a behind the scenes look at the company that carries on through at least WALL-E, though even further would be better. It's understandable, though, considering this was a look back at their first two decades as a company. Maybe we'll get a continuation for their 30th anniversary.
Overall, a great read and a fascinating look into my favourite company in the world. It left me itching to go back and watch their filmography for the millionth time (short films, too), or at least to go rewatch A Pixar Story XD You can never get too much Pixar.
March 11, 2015
I love reading about Pixar Animation studios and it's genius creators/animators. Their's is a really wonderful story. I have read a number of books and articles about Pixar but this one is really positive and in depth about the creations and the brilliant minds behind those creations.
My only problem with this book is the book ended (when it was published) after the Cars movie in 2006 -- they need to publish a revised edition continuing the story! ALL the movies are awesome and I want to read about making ALL of them!
My only problem with this book is the book ended (when it was published) after the Cars movie in 2006 -- they need to publish a revised edition continuing the story! ALL the movies are awesome and I want to read about making ALL of them!
June 11, 2014
After reading Steve Jobs biography, I was craving more Pixar! And this book definitely delivers. I'm a fan of all things Pixar and this was a great behind the scenes look at the making of some of my favorite movies. The size of the book was cumbersome, but the beautiful artwork definitely was deserving of the oversized format.
July 27, 2025
A visual history of Pixar, accompanied with text telling the story of its history, film by film, story by story. Contains good behind-the-scenes artwork along with creator interviews.
Even though the book is heavy and overly produced, the story inside is coherent and captivating, drawing me in with the struggles accompanying each film, as well as people.
Even though the book is heavy and overly produced, the story inside is coherent and captivating, drawing me in with the struggles accompanying each film, as well as people.
May 6, 2010
Really fascinating book for anyone interested in the history of Pixar. A story of how the best and the brightest guys around literally created a new technological art form solely so that they could make the movies they dreamed of.
June 19, 2012
Ok my five is clearly biased. I love anything Pixar. This book had a great in depth overview of the company. If you liked the parts of Pixar's in Steve Jobs' biography and wanted more then this book is for you.
August 27, 2013
منذ أن حملت الكتاب وأنا على يقين أنه لن يكون كتابا سهلا، بيكسار هنا تأخذنا في جولة فريدة من نوعها من الألف للياء، تتطرق لكل صغيرة وكبيرة، قراءة واحدة لا تكفي فهو كتاب دسم غني بالتفاصيل مليء بالعديد من المعلومات والأمور المرحة الطريفة.
أحببته كثيرا.
أحببته كثيرا.
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May 27, 2010Xmas gift 2007
July 7, 2008
My new bible lol
May 5, 2009
Lots of images, behind-the-scenes descriptions of the story behind the Pixar stories; fun!
May 30, 2012
5 stars are not enough for this book. It's a fantastic and incredible journey through the history of Pixar and CG animation.
February 3, 2017
A superb book; rich in both visual and historical information from the origins of Pixar, right through to their merger with Disney.
A must read for Pixar and Disney fans!
A must read for Pixar and Disney fans!
December 28, 2024
We’d goof off, we’d laugh, we’d work together, and we’d look at and give feedback on each other’s stuff.
May 14, 2008
To never forget what I wanted to be.
May 23, 2008
هر چي رو تصور كني مي توني بدست بياري !البته اگه جهان هم باهات موافق باشه
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews