Pixar is now a household name, but its beginnings were far different from the polished production house fans know today. The company grew out of a small Lucasfilm division tasked with exploring new ways to use technology in movies.
This quiz checks how much you know about those early days, the people who led the charge, and the shift from digital hardware to animation. You will answer questions about key films, technical breakthroughs, and the transition years under Steve Jobs.
After you check your score, take a look at our other pages covering special effects history, Pixar filmography, and general film history.
Who established the computer division within Lucasfilm that eventually became Pixar?
Stanley Kubrick
Stanley Kubrick
Steven Spielberg
Steven Spielberg
Francis Ford Coppola
Francis Ford Coppola
George Lucas
George Lucas
In what type of facility was the team that eventually became Pixar first assembled to work on computer graphics for films?
In a renovated barn in upstate New York
In a renovated barn in upstate New York
In a high-tech facility in Silicon Valley
In a high-tech facility in Silicon Valley
In a quiet office complex in Los Angeles
In a quiet office complex in Los Angeles
In a converted warehouse in San Rafael, California
In a converted warehouse in San Rafael, California
What was the original name of the Lucasfilm department that served as the precursor to Pixar?
Lucasfilm Graphics Group
Lucasfilm Graphics Group
Industrial Light & Magic
Industrial Light & Magic
The Computer Division of Lucasfilm
The Computer Division of Lucasfilm
Pixar Animation Studios
Pixar Animation Studios
In what year was the computer division of Lucasfilm, which later became Pixar, officially founded?
1986
1986
1991
1991
1995
1995
1979
1979
Which cinematic sequence was one of the earliest major demonstrations of the team’s computer-generated imagery capabilities?
The stained glass knight in Young Sherlock Holmes
The stained glass knight in Young Sherlock Holmes
The Genesis Effect sequence in Star Trek II
The Genesis Effect sequence in Star Trek II
The metallic man in Terminator 2
The metallic man in Terminator 2
The stained glass knight in The Abyss
The stained glass knight in The Abyss
Which film featured the first fully computer-generated, photorealistic character: a stained-glass knight?
Willow
Willow
Young Sherlock Holmes
Young Sherlock Holmes
The Abyss
The Abyss
Ghost
Ghost
Who was the computer scientist recruited by George Lucas to lead the effort in digitizing film production?
Alvy Ray Smith
Alvy Ray Smith
Steve Jobs
Steve Jobs
John Lasseter
John Lasseter
Edwin Catmull
Edwin Catmull
In what year did the computer division of Lucasfilm break away to become an independent company under Steve Jobs?
1999
1999
1990
1990
1995
1995
1986
1986
Which 1989 film featured a groundbreaking water-tentacle creature created by the team using computer-generated effects?
The Last Starfighter
The Last Starfighter
The Abyss
The Abyss
Terminator 2: Judgment Day
Terminator 2: Judgment Day
Jurassic Park
Jurassic Park
Which 1991 blockbuster prominently featured a liquid-metal character, proving the viability of high-end CGI?
Jurassic Park
Jurassic Park
Terminator 2: Judgment Day
Terminator 2: Judgment Day
Independence Day
Independence Day
Twister
Twister
How is it often said that the team saved the film “The Rescuers Down Under” (or other traditional animation projects) during the transition to digital?
The CGI team created digital mattes for the forest scenes when the physical ones were destroyed.
The CGI team created digital mattes for the forest scenes when the physical ones were destroyed.
The CGI team created digital film composites that allowed scenes to be filmed in sequence rather than separately.
The CGI team created digital film composites that allowed scenes to be filmed in sequence rather than separately.
The CGI team developed software to animate complex crowd scenes that saved the film from visual failures.
The CGI team developed software to animate complex crowd scenes that saved the film from visual failures.
The CGI team saved the production schedule by creating backgrounds on the fly.
The CGI team saved the production schedule by creating backgrounds on the fly.
What was the name of the digital ink-and-paint system developed by the team in collaboration with Disney?
Pixar Image Computer
Pixar Image Computer
RENDERMAN
RENDERMAN
CAPS (Computer Animation Production System)
CAPS (Computer Animation Production System)
Marionette
Marionette
Which 1990 film was the first to be produced entirely using the digital ink-and-paint system co-developed by the team?
The Abyss
The Abyss
Terminator 2
Terminator 2
The Rescuers Down Under
The Rescuers Down Under
Toy Story
Toy Story
Before finding success in feature films, how did the company initially try to stay afloat financially?
Hardware and server sales
Hardware and server sales
Software licensing for medical imaging
Software licensing for medical imaging
Animated commercials for companies like Listerine and Tropicana
Animated commercials for companies like Listerine and Tropicana
Video game development for Nintendo
Video game development for Nintendo
What is the name of the industry-standard software for 3D rendering developed by the team?
RenderMan
RenderMan
After Effects
After Effects
Presto
Presto
Gelato
Gelato
Which legendary animator joined the group after Lucasfilm, bringing his passion for character-driven storytelling?
John Lasseter
John Lasseter
Steve Jobs
Steve Jobs
Edwin Catmull
Edwin Catmull
George Lucas
George Lucas
What was the name of the high-end hardware product that was a primary offering of the company before its full pivot to animation?
Digital Graphics Workstation
Digital Graphics Workstation
Image Computer
Image Computer
The Warehouse Server
The Warehouse Server
The Lucas Engine
The Lucas Engine
What was the first short film produced by the company to be nominated for an Academy Award?
Luxo Jr.
Luxo Jr.
Red’s Dream
Red’s Dream
Tin Toy
Tin Toy
Tropicana commercial
Tropicana commercial
In what year did the short film ‘Tin Toy’ win the Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film?
1990
1990
1988
1988
1992
1992
1986
1986
Which 1984 film is often cited as the first to use extensive computer-generated graphics for space scenes, predating the formation of Pixar as an independent entity?
The Abyss
The Abyss
The Last Starfighter
The Last Starfighter
Futureworld
Futureworld
Tron
Tron
What was the first entirely computer-animated feature film produced by the company?
The Abyss
The Abyss
Jurassic Park
Jurassic Park
Toy Story
Toy Story
Terminator 2
Terminator 2
Why were early short films like “Luxo Jr.” crucial to the future of the company?
To compete with traditional stop-motion studios.
To compete with traditional stop-motion studios.
To train new hires in computer graphics.
To train new hires in computer graphics.
To fulfill a contract with a technology company.
To fulfill a contract with a technology company.
To demonstrate they could do complex character animation before attempting a full feature.
To demonstrate they could do complex character animation before attempting a full feature.
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If you enjoyed this look back at early computer animation, browse our other sections on animation styles, sci-fi classics, or the history of Disney animation.
