F I R S TP R E V349NEXTLAST

Pixar Animation Studios, Emeryville
The Pixar Animation Studios, ten minutes from downtown San Francisco in Emeryville, seems to fit everyone's idea of a dream job. The high-tech offices are filled with foosball tables, tiki lounges, scooters, a swimming pool, and even 'hidden' rooms. Employees take creative classes outside their area of expertise at the in-house educational program, Pixar University. These classes may include improvisation for designers or sculpture for office workers. The result of all this creativity can be seen in films like, Toy Story, A Bug's Life, Monsters, Inc., Finding Nemo, The Incredibles, and Cars. Pixar was started in 1986 when Apple founder, Steve Jobs bought George Lucas' Computer Graphics Division for $5 million. Despite this, the two companies have continued to have a close relationship. Pixar head, John Lasseter calls this typical of the "we're in it together" spirit of the Bay Area's film community.
[ MAP K-12 ]