Hard to believe that it’s already been over thirty years since Pixar Animation Studios released Toy Story — the world’s first computer-animated feature film. But Pixar’s instant blockbuster was just the beginning. Since then, the company has created some of the most successful films of all time, including Toy Story, Finding Cars, Nemo, Monsters, Inc, The Incredibles, A Bug’s Life, and more.
“The Science Behind Pixar”— a massive 10,000 square foot touring exhibit debuting at Miami’s Phillip & Patricia Frost Museum of Science, is a wonderful, immersive journey that explores Pixar’s production process from start to finish.
Created by Boston’s Museum of Science in collaboration with Pixar Animation Studios, “The Science Behind Pixar” boasts over 50 interactive experiences that explore how math, engineering, technology, and science have brought some of the world’s most beloved films to life.
Winner of the ASTC Roy L. Schafer Leading Edge Award, this record-breaking exhibit offers an unparalleled view of the eight areas of Pixar’s production pipeline: Modeling (creating virtual 3D models); Rigging (making movement possible); Surfaces (applying properties of light to control surface appearances); Sets and Cameras (using virtual cameras to create 3D scenes); Animation (also known as “acting); Simulation (creating automated motion); Lighting (manipulating light to enhance a scene’s mood or believability); and Rendering (transforming a 3D scene into a 2D image for the theater). Each of these engaging sections is equipped with both screen-based and tactile activities, as well as video interviews with a variety of Pixar staff members.
The fascinating experience also provides a rare opportunity to participate in fun, hands-on activities, listen to firsthand accounts from members of the studios’ production teams, and even come face-to-face with re-creations of your favorite Pixar film characters, including Buzz Lightyear from Toy Story, Dory from Finding Nemo, Mike and Sulley from Monsters, Inc, Edna Mode from The Incredibles, and WALL•E.
For young museum-goers, the exhibit is an inspiration to explore STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) fields by providing them with a real-world context for the topics they’re learning in school. “The Science Behind Pixar” is on view daily now through Sunday, April 11 starting at 10 am.
You can find it on the first floor of the Phillip & Patricia Frost Museum of Science, 1101 Biscayne Blvd, Miami. Info: 305-434-9600; frostscience.org.
FYI: Admission to this not-to-be-missed exhibit is included with all museum admission tickets.
