Today marks a significant milestone as we celebrate the 40th anniversary of Pixar Animation Studios, a company that emerged from a corporate spin-off of Lucasfilm. This remarkable journey began four decades ago when a dedicated team of computer animators set out to change the landscape of animation. Fast forward nine years, and they released their groundbreaking first film, Toy Story, which paved the way for Pixar to become the most critically acclaimed animation studio globally over the next 20 years.
Despite facing immense challenges, including 45 rejections from 36 venture capitalists, the visionary George Lucas ultimately found a financial partner in Steve Jobs, who had recently departed from Apple. With hit films such as Finding Nemo, The Incredibles, Monsters Inc., and Up, Pixar dominated the animation scene in the early 2000s, earning an impressive 23 Academy Awards along the way.
In its formative years, Pixar struggled to secure investments, leading to significant financial losses. This ultimately resulted in Jobs becoming the company’s sole owner and a series of layoffs that reduced the workforce from 100 employees to just 42. Early attempts to sell proprietary computer animation technology faced obstacles, but salvation came when Disney stepped in with a much-needed $26 million, signing a three-film production deal that helped keep Pixar afloat.
With this new support, Pixar produced Toy Story, A Bug’s Life, and Toy Story 2, which collectively grossed over $1 billion. The studio’s consistent excellence is reflected in its remarkable track record of never receiving less than an A- from CinemaScore, alongside their 23 Academy Awards. Over the years, Pixar has continually outshined even the animated offerings from its parent company, Disney.
In addition to celebrating Pixar, we also reflect on other historical milestones that occurred on this date. For instance, 108 years ago, the Twin Peaks Tunnel was inaugurated in San Francisco, connecting the Castro neighborhood to West Portal. At the time, it was the world’s longest underground automobile tunnel, measuring an impressive 11,920 feet (3,630 meters) and was completed three months ahead of schedule, costing around $100 million in today’s dollars.
The Twin Peaks presented a barrier to urban expansion due to their size and limited transportation access, prompting the proposal of this tunnel, which opened up new avenues for development equivalent to a quarter of the city’s total area at that time. The tunnel was later adapted to serve the MUNI metro system, which now accommodates four lines.
Moreover, we also celebrate the birth of renowned Finnish architect and designer Alvar Aalto, who was born 128 years ago. Much like Frank Lloyd Wright, Aalto believed in crafting complete artistic experiences, designing not just structures but the interiors as well. His work evolved from Nordic Classicism to a rational ‘International Style’ Modernism in the 1930s and later embraced a more organic modernist style. Over 300 buildings, designed by Aalto, can be found across Finland, Germany, France, and the USA, leaving an indelible mark on the architectural landscape.
