Pixar’s RenderMan is responsible for rendering 3D animation and visual effects in the animation studio’s films as well as many other films from various studios. If you just look at this year, RenderMan was utilized on such films as Iron Man 3, Man of Steel, in addition to Pixar’s own Monsters University. At the annual Siggraph Conference, a show that spotlights computer graphics, Pixar runs a booth for RenderMan. Crowds descend upon the booth to learn more about RenderMan and have the chance to earn some freebies. The most popular item each year is a small wind-up teapot which always has collectors clamoring for one. After the break, check out a video that gives you a close look at this year’s design and provides an origin story for where the idea for the teapots came from! [Read more…]
Close-Up: ‘La Luna’ Maquette
Last summer, a cryptic tweet from La Luna director Enrico Casarosa read: “A glimpse of something special we are working on …” and included a small image with a familiar eye. That was it. No other information was given. Was it a vinyl figure? Was it a plastic toy? Interests were piqued to say the least. Months later, Casarosa unveiled a maquette of the short’s central character, Bambino. I was lucky enough to get my hands on one of these gorgeous little guys and let me tell you – it was worth the wait.
Watch: Disney/Pixar-Inspired Art Gallery Opens At Downtown Disney In California
We are wild about seeing the creativity that artists can display through their artwork. That is one of the reasons that we started PixArt, which encourages artists to use Pixar characters in their own pieces of artwork and provide a unique perspective. On June 9, Disney opened up the WonderGround Gallery, a new space to feature a rotating set of Disney- and Pixar-inspired pieces. Located at Downtown Disney in Anaheim, California, it brought in many art collectors and fans who were eager to get a look at the original pieces of work. After the break, check out a video that covers the exciting opening weekend! [Read more…]
Preview: Cars Land Merchandise
Last week, Disney California Adventure held its annual merchandise preview showcase for Annual Passholders. With the grand opening of Cars Land looming, there is no surprise that a large concentration of the t-shirts, hats, posters, and various other collectibles were Cars–themed. There is a huge amount of merchandise that will be found at Cars Land and you can take a peek at some of it after the jump! [Read more…]
Must-Have Pixar Collectibles Up For Auction
Ever wonder how one gets their hands on an original sketch from a Pixar artist or a signed book from a director at the studio? Of course you have! Dice Tsutsumi, Art Director of Toy Story 3, has set up an auction to benefit Japan after the catastrophic events the country faced one year ago. With 100% of the proceeds going to the Mercy Corps Japan Recovery Fund, taking a look at the auction of these rare items is a no-brainer. Check out some of the awesome collectibles after the jump! [Read more…]
D23 2011: 100+ Images Of The Merchandise
Walking around the show floor of the D23 Expo, I noticed that one of the things that attendees were most excited about was the merchandise. Never have you been able to attain so many different types of Disney merchandise from one place (other than maybe the first D23). The reasoning for this was the official Disney Store and the Disney Dream Store, which both had exclusive D23 merchandise or toys that would not debut across the rest of the country for months. From “Lion King” and “It’s A Small World” Vinylmations to the cute Disney POP! Funko Figures (including Boo from Monsters, Inc.), there was enough to satisfy everybody’s appetite. There was also a preview of upcoming merchandise that will be available in the coming months. Read on to take a look at 110 images of the merchandise seen at D23! [Read more…]
D23 2011: USPS Pixar Stamps Now Available + How You Can Order Some
Last Friday evening, a ceremony was held at the D23 Expo to mark the first day of issue of the “Send A Hello Forever Stamps,” which feature several Pixar characters, such as Buzz Lightyear, WALL-E, and Lightning McQueen. John Lasseter was present for the ceremony and gave a touching speech (video clip below) about how honored he and the company of Pixar was to have their characters etched into history. Read on to view the full press release marking the occasion, which includes details on how to order the stamps. Knowing how many collectors will want a piece of the action, they have provided various options for those who want keepsakes. [Read more…]
Preview: Toy Story, Cars 2 Exclusives At D23
The D23 Expo is shaping up to be quite the beast, as Disney just announced earlier today that Pixar will have a huge presence at the show. We had already heard that there would be some cool exclusive collectibles available. Now, we have some more details and images on the Toy Story and Cars 2 exclusives that you can expect to see. From the Toy Story series, there will be a marionette Woody that can be moved around as if he were a puppet (think Toy Story 2) and a flocked Lotso POP! Vinyl figure. From Cars 2, an exclusive Submarine Finn McMissile will be on sale. Read on for the images and the details! [Read more…]
Disney Consumer Products To Showcase Pixar Stamps, Toy Story and Cars 2 Exclusives At D23
This year, D23 is set to be bigger than ever, with Disney and Pixar having a large presence at the show. Back in late-2010, we learned of very cool Pixar postage stamps being released by the Post Office to highlight the animation studio’s extensive collection of popular films. Well, the time for their release is now coming up rapidly. The USPS and Disney will co-unveil the stamps in a special presentation on August 19. Additionally, there will be exclusive D23 merchandise available at the expo, such as a Toy Story Woody action figure and a Cars 2 Finn McMissile collectible. Read on to check out the full press release detailing Disney Consumer Products at the D23 Expo! [Read more…]
Silhouette Clues Us Into 2011 RenderMan Walking Teapot Design (Update: Design Revealed)
SIGGRAPH (Special Interest Group on Graphics and Interactive Techniques) is an annual conference and exhibition highlighting computer graphics. Each year, Pixar’s RenderMan, the studio’s software used throughout the movie industry that renders 3D animation and visual effects, has a great booth at the conference, where talks are held and great giveaways are handed out. Wind-up teapots have become a staple giveaway at the booth, with a line of hundreds winding up and down the show floor, as they wait for a chance to get their hands on the collectible. While last year’s design was based on Mr. Potato Head, this year’s remains a mystery (UPDATE: no more! – the design has been revealed below). The official Facebook page for the Walking Teapot has provided us with a clue, though, which you can view below! [Read more…]
