On Friday September 22, I shall go over to go over to the
Bay Area to celebrate my uncle’s (the one that works at Pixar) 50th birthday. I’ll be there for the entire
weekend. So before I leave, is there anything that you want me to ask him?
Hire me please? 
More importantly, since I’m
pretty sure the above won’t work, what steps does he reccommend for a graduating senior with a shiny new
computer science degree looking for work in the animation industry? Also, I’m always looking for contacts in
the industry, so if he’d be interested in being all advice-ful and such, I’d be happy to supply my contact
information.
Thanks!
I am not
really sure if he can answer that because he isn’t an animator.
Well, unless he has
nothing to do with the computer graphics end of the deal, I imagine most of the process is the same (except
replace “modeling” with “rigging” and such). At least, this is what most people have led me
to believe, and I’m not even sure if I want to do animation specifically or lighting, or perhaps even modeling.
However, if he’s like, a concept artist or something, I may be out of luck. 
I’d still take the company
contact, since any contact at Pixar is better than no contact at all, since he could point me in a better
direction than the Office of Career Services can.
No big if he can’t. I’m just focusing on
getting my after-graduation life in something resembling not chaos, and so it’s bleeding into everything.
[b]I would like for you to
get to get all the information you can from your Uncle About W.A.L-E and Toy Story 3. Also ask him if there will
be a 2-disc Cars DVD and when.
Thanks for doing this. [/b]
Well, those
three suggestions happen to be on the top of the list, but thanks. I’ll also ask about sequels too.
[b]Also (if you don’t mind asking him) If
he know of any new Pixar Shorts films being made.
p.s When will you be back to post what he
said?[/b]
Um,
excuse me…
Although the idea of asking your uncle questions about Pixar stuff sounds exciting, but do
you honestly think he would give you any information, especially about future
projects? He should know better as an employee to keep that kind of info secret.
I too am dying to know
about anything Pixar’s up to, but they like to be really private about their work.
~~=oP
I ask general questions. If there is something that he
doesn’t want to tell me, I skip to the next one. I mean, he told me about W.A.L-E before the word ever appeared
on PixarPlanet. He usually tells me an answer unless he chooses not to. If he tells me he won’t answer that
question, “that’s alright with me. I’m good. . . I’m good.”- Frozone, [i]The
Incredibles[/i]. 
I’m in
agreement with PixarVixen. As die-hard fans as we all are, Pixar Animation Studios
does have its limits. They probably won’t let your uncle reveal anything too secretive. However, being his
nephew, you might be able to wriggle something out of him… (sniggers)
So, if you
do get some info out of him…
1. Why did the
Pixar animators chose the name ‘Remy’ for the title character in Ratatouille?
2. How long does it normally take for the animators and staff to completely
finish a feature film?
3. Is ‘Rollie’ the real name of the fat rat, or is
it just a nick-name for the present time?
4. Soooo…what is it like having
rats (to study) at the studio?
Simple enough questions. I don’t think it’ll be too hard for him to
answer them.
[b]Can you also
try to get the rest of the Ratatouille cast that has not been confirmed yet?[/b]
Heck, I can answer this
one.
It takes about 4 years. John Lasseter said that during an interview with one of the Movie Surfers on
the Disney Channel, but I learned that a loooong time ago. Disney animated movies
usually take 3-4 years to make.
Those guys must be exhausted all the time, but we thank them for putting
the effort into their films that they do.
Another fascinating time fact (as quoted from Pixar’s
official website):
(about rendering) "Each frame represents 1/24 of a second of
screen time and takes about 6 hours to render, though some frames have taken as many as 90
hours."
~~=oP
lol I’m
kidding – I knew that. Thanks for the info anyway.
Oh yes, we definitely appreciate all the hard
work that they do. I’m gonna tell them that if I ever – excuse me – …
[i]when[/i] I get to meet them.
Wow. 1/24 of a second?
And it takes 6 hours? Gee whiz. I did read something about that, actually. Technically, it takes at least a week
for the animators to render four seconds of screen time – sheesh. But, they sure do a great job of it!
Oh yeah.
But as for those other questions, while part of me
would love to know the answers, the other part of me wants to be patient. It’s the kind of stuff I love to
uncover on DVDs, like during the commentaries. That’s what makes DVDs so fun!
~~=oP
The only one I can think of right
now is one that was already mentioned. If and When will there ever be a wide release of a 2-disc Cars?
True PV, but I am also trying to provide news for maybe
future podcasts.
[b]When will you answer
are questions Star Swordsman? [/b]
I got a few questions, Swordsman. You should
be able to get answers, as they don’t deal with the PIXAR films or shorts!
I - Does every PIXAR employee
have a scooter? Or do the animators mainly have them?
II - What’s there to buy at the PIXAR gift shop
(There is one, right? I have heard of it from time to time . . .)??
III - Have they continued their zany
traditions like the Annual PIXAR paper airplane contest and ugly make up? Or were they one-time things and have
moved on to more bizarre traditions??
Sorry
to say, I can’t ask that. It’s too late now. But I’ll ask him the next time I’ll see him (thanksgiving)
I can wait . . . Pheon’s got a
long sense of patience (only way I could remain a fan of HP, KP, and Gargoyles all
these years!!)