12 Things You Didn't Know About Pixar

9. They Dabbled In The World Of Commercials

Pixar Logo.jpg
Dan Steinberg/AP

Even the greats have to start somewhere, right? Back in the late eighties, when Pixar began developing confidence in its animation technique and software, John Lasseter convinced Steve Jobs that a good way to raise capital would be through TV commercial contracts.

It makes sense when you think about it: before then, the idea of TV commercials that didn't feature hand-drawn graphics or live-action was pretty unheard of, so anything computer-animated would have seriously stood out.

Lasseter managed to secure contracts with everyone from Tropicana to LifeSavers, Listerine, and beyond. With the success of these commercials, it became clear that Pixar should focus on animation rather than hardware.

Contributor
Contributor

Commonly found reading, sitting firmly in a seat at the cinema (bottle of water and a Freddo bar, please) or listening to the Mountain Goats.