It’s been my dream to work for Pixar for a while now, but I still have a long way to go before I’d be able to. Not only because I’m only fourteen right now, but I definately need to improve a lot of my skills that would be needed to work there. I’m hoping to maybe take some animation courses somewhere when I move this summer, and I’ll be taking some art classes at the school I’ll be going to, which will be good for me, since that’s one of the areas where I think I need to imrpove the most.
Even if I don’t end up working for Pixar, I still think it would be great to end up doing SOMETHING in the animation field (I guess you could call it that. Haha) one day. Even if it’s just working on commercials, or something, I’d be happy. It’s just what I love to do 
Andy: Welcome to Pixar Planet dude. And I see you have a big goal in your life. I hope that you get a chance to work at Pixar too.
Like Kyries sister, I too was inspired by Toy Story when it came out. I went to the theatre with the the parents, and after the show, I knew I was an 11 year old on a mission. Going through high school, I sort of forgot about the animation dream and I got interested in architecture and foreign language translation. I went to a university to study both and after three years (nearly graduated), I realized that I was only kidding myself and animation would be the only thing that would make me happy. So I enrolled in an art school with an animation program and through some unbelievably fortunate events, I have met many of the people who inspired me when I was younger to do art.
Now, I am finishing up animation school. I would loooooove to work at Pixar, but I also know there are many other studios who offer the jivey things that Pixar does. I think I have the gutz to make it in the industry, but if I could just find time to sleep…
If anyone has questions about schools or training or animationy stuff, I have a little experience with the journey of getting off my butt and making it happen. I am always glad to share. I share because I care.
My first post 
I am sooo happy I found this website and I think it will help me a lot.
I want to work for Pixar after watching the Incredibles. After that I am just a huge fan.
But like what Heimlich said I’ll still be happy even if I work somewhere else. I just want to be able to make my characters and make other people happy with them. I want my characters to be alive, and actually have a personality.
So right now, I am teaching myself Maya at school and going to take art classes, and I am planning to take the AnimationMentor program for college. After that I’ll see how far I’ll need to go.
I hope you make it, rwilkins and fightforfishes! 
And welcome to Pixar Planet, guys! We’re glad to have you here!
That sounds exactly like me, only my school doesn’t offer art classes, but I’m pretty sure I mentioned somewhere in my last post that the school I’ll be going to next year does, which is great.
I also hope to go to CalArts for college, and I’d really like to go take a tour of it before I move, if it’s at all possible to.
Oh, and welcome to Pixar Planet!
Ya I heard about CalArts. Didn’t Brad Bird go there?
I don’t have enough money to go to that school but other than that I will love to go there.
I know its a plus to know how to draw, but is it a plus if you know how to work a 3d program?
Yep, I’m pretty sure Brad Bird went there as well as Tim Burton and John Lasseter.
I am hoping maybe through college to try to get an intern at Pixar because on there website they said they have paid internship there.
I am wondering how hard it is to get into that intern
Does anyone know?
It’s extremely competitive. Depending on the what department you’re looking at you need to have a certain quality of skill. You should probably know at least the basics of color theory, figure drawing, scene development, timing, CGI modeling, character design, ect. Or so I’ve been told.
For instance I’m looking into storyboard and pre-production, and I’ve been told I need to know figure and perspective drawing, color theory, 2D animation, understand basic CGI modeling and animation, and have the ability to create readable sequential art.
I guess above all you need creativity and a love of the art of animation to make it to Pixar.
I want to intern at the animation part. I am currently learning how to draw (going to CCAD for saturday art classes) I know CGI modeling and animation. I know how to make characters. I just need to learn about color theory.
Do they require a demo reel to get in?
For animation almost certainly. For myself I’m not too sure. I guess if you have recent quality work, show it.
I’ve been a Pixar fan for a while (ever since A Bug’s Life) but at that time I didn’t know it was Pixar. I just assumed all animation was Disney (you know how young’ns are).
Right now I’m rounding up my junior year in high school and am looking at the Academy of Art University in San Francisco for when I graduate in 2009. They seem to have a lot of graduates who land major jobs with big companies right out of college (Dreamworks, ILM, BlueSky, Lucasfilm, Pixar, etc). It’s a 90% hire rate from there.
I agree with who said that it’s good to be happy wherever you land a job at. Especially considering what a competitive field animation is. My ultimate goal is to one day work at Pixar but I’ll be very satisfied if I can even get a job at Dreamworks, BlueSky, Sony Imageworks or something along those lines.
I don’t like to judge my own work but I think I’m fairly good for my age group. Of course, what’s important is being fully qualified for the job and loving what you do, right? With hard work and perseverance any of us can make it, if that’s what we really aspire to do, I believe.
Here’s an off topic question though: Does anyone know if it’s true that Pixar pays 15-25% lower than what other companies pay their animators? I was a bit confused when I read this statement by someone on CGTalk. It doesn’t seem accurate to me, seeing as how Pixar is one of the biggest and most reputable companies in the industry right now. And with them being backed by Disney, that -definitely- doesn’t sound right.
The intern program is fairly competitive. I believe in the fall/winter months they have about 12-15 interns respectively. Summers they bring on about 30-40 interns, including production, art, animation, tools.
As far as production/technical work, I heard they recently started a longer-term program for new graduates. Despite the fact that it’s PIXAR! The internships there are incredible. They are quite well paid, and most interns work right on production. They also do hire a small amount of interns after their “trial run”. But vying for only 8-12 intern spots…you’ve gotten be crazy-incredible! Could you imagine going straight from school to Pixar for an internship and then get hired straight up? I can’t even fathom it.
-pixar lover
(I know I barely post on Pixar Planet - yet here I am!)
I’ve wanted to be an animator since … at least 12 years old … although I’m sure it stems back further, I remember being obsessed with animated films (especially re-watching The Lion King over and over) but I don’t think I particularly understood what Pixar was until ‘Toy Story 2’ (being a twin of Jessie the cowgirl helped) – nowadays - as an animation student (and the most wonderful school in the world.) - it feels almost cliche to want to work for Pixar.
It feels like everyone is going after the same dream and I’ve come to accept that - I want to get there, but I don’t need to get there right away to be happy.
The lady who takes care of job placement at my school was telling me how important internships are and that nearly all our students who get into internships get the job (one of our past students happens to be featured on the Pixar Internship site) - lately I’ve been more excited about a company called LAIKA - they’re doing a lot of exciting things right now - but I still have a dream for Disney and Pixar.
I also fear about moving outside of Southern California - most of my family lives here and while I would love to go up North (LAIKA in Portland, Pixar in Emeryville) I don’t know how much I could stand to be away. Luckily for me - most animation related jobs are here in SoCal … but to be honest, if I had the chance to work at Pixar - I’d probably drop everything in an instant.
I don’t think I’ll end up being animator material, I really enjoy hand drawn animation but I haven’t acquired a taste for the CGI stuff quite yet (maya is still a learning process … although lately I’ve only been learning the modeling side - not the animation side) – either way, I find the storytelling aspects to be much more interesting. (It also helps that all story jobs tend to stay in America as apposed to animation jobs being sent overseas).
Soo - I would love to work my butt off in order to get to Pixar - but I am aware of the competition out there … this doesn’t discourage me in the slightest, but I like to have options and I know plenty of artists out there don’t work for them and are very happy as well. Pixar would be a dream come true - and time will tell whether I’m Pixar worthy or what.
it’s very interesting seeing my friends though - I can tell you right now who would be best in what - I have friends that I know should work for Blizzard, or Cartoon Network or be a CGI modeler. They may love to work for Pixar - it doesn’t necessarily mean that’s what they’ll end up getting into … more than likely though, they’re going to find a place they love regardless.
As for me? I have no idea what my thing is, yet.
But yanno - when I met Mr. Lasseter last year and he told me to “Come work for us” I really should have had him put that in writing (of course, I did say “YES SIR!”).
… Did any of that even make sense? X)
You wouldn’t happen to be going to a college in San Francisco would you? When I went for college tours at Academy of Art University and Art Institute of San Francisco, the Academy of Art showed stats of a 90% job placement right out of college and they both talked a lot about getting internships are Pixar and getting hired after that. (just curious as to what school you’re going to because it sounds familiar )
I’m looking up Laika now and they seem pretty good. But yeah, I think as long as we love what we’re doing (whether it’s 2D or 3D animation or drawing, designing, writing, composing, etc) we would be happy doing that just about anywhere (as long as it’s not on the street side doing it for dimes and pennies…)
If you check out animation mentors some of the mentors are actually Pixar animators. It will be cool to know a Pixar animator in person!
sfox8 - Actually no, I go to a school in Southern California.
I did look at those schools - especially Academy, but the one thing to remember is that they have a VERY high drop out rate simply because they accept anyone who is willing to pay. So their job placement rate is high because there are less students graduating - not to say don’t go there because there are talented teachers there if you’re willing to stick it out. I personally didn’t want to go because I wasn’t impressed with them calling me constantly (at school even!) and I wanted to submit a portfiolio to a school and be accepted so that I have some idea that I actually have what it takes - instead of just being handed an acceptance. You know what I mean?
I hope I didn’t just bum you out about that school - but I was pretty dead set on going there for a while (after visiting them and everything) until I was so turned off by their constant emails and nagging - I wanted a school that wanted me for what I can do and who I am - not for, strictly, my money.
Edit: Fightforfishes - Animation Mentor is an excellent school - if I hadn’t been accepted to a school I would have definitely gone for them next.
What school do you go to Jessie?
Man I wished I lived in California so I can schedule studio visits.
To bad I live across the country 
Same here. Detroit seems a world away from the studios I’m looking at. Thankfully my mentor is helping me find studios looking for interns over the summer. I’ve got my eye on a few choice places.