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‘The Pixar Story’ (Wisconsin Film Festival)

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by Tony Lewis

Thursday, April 3, 2008

How familiar are these names to you: Buzz Lightyear, Nemo and Lightning McQueen? Now what about Ed Catmull, John Lasseter and Steve Jobs? While the former trio may be far more recognizable, it is because of the latter that these characters have become household icons.

This is the premise of Leslie Iwerk’s award-winning documentary, “The Pixar Story.” The film follows the lives of these inspiring innovators, and how they combined their gifts and used groundbreaking 3-D animation in ways never thought possible to create timeless, imaginative films.

But this film is far more than just a montage of DVD extras you would find included in your copy of “The Incredibles.” The film uses never-before-seen footage from the Pixar archives and exclusive interviews with key players — including George Lucas, Michael Eisner, Tom Hanks and Brad Bird — to highlight the dedication and sacrifice that went into transforming a close-knit enterprise into a multi-billion dollar corporation.

“The film is, in large part, a tribute to their tenacity and creativity, their unwillingness to give in when it seemed impossible to win, and to continue their creative journey no matter how difficult it became,” said Iwerks, the granddaughter of film pioneer Ub Iwerks, who is the original designer and co-creator of Mickey Mouse, during an interview with ACED Magazine.

The film also chronicles the birth of Pixar Animation Studios and takes audiences on a personalized tour through a wacky world where employees ride around on Segways and participate in paper airplane contests.

“The Pixar Story” is a must-see for those who not only want to experience some nostalgia but also wish to learn more about what led to the creation of today’s golden age of animation.

“The Pixar Story” runs April 5 at 11 a.m. at the Union Theater. Tickets are $4 for students.

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