MoMA Mounts Pixar: 20 Years of Animation

Looking for an art museum exhibition that offers perfect "family" time? You could hardly do better than loading up the children and heading to MoMA's newly opened Pixar: 20 Years of Animation, on view December 14, 2005 – February 6, 2006. Pixar Animation Studios has lent more than 500 sculptures, paintings, color "scripts" and storyboards to the show, none of which have ever before traveled outside of Pixar's Point Richmond, California studios. Art from all six feature-length and 11 short films is represented, including such popular favorites as Toy Story, A Bug's Life, Finding Nemo, Monsters, Inc., and so on.

It may come as a revelation to some that the background work to create a feature-length, computer animated motion picture consists of a whole lot of sketching, drawing, painting and sculpting by Real Live Artists using traditional tools. The computer? It's merely another tool taking things one step further in the creative process. In the proper hands, the end result is splendid entertainment. For my money (and we have spent plenty of it on Kid Vid over the years), the Pixar flicks are the only ones I've actively watched more than once. They're witty, they work on an adult level, the stories are strong and the finish art is seamlessly executed. However, none of us need to mention the grown-up, educational aspects of the show to the young ones. They'll probably be happy simply to see prototypical work on perennial favorites Woody, Buzz, Nemo, Sullivan and Mike in such official surroundings.

It's perhaps only fitting that MoMA, with its 66–year tradition of championing animation as "legitimate" art, should present the public with its first taste of behind-the-scenes computer-generated image (CGI) animation. While word on the street is to skip purchasing the catalogue, the exhibition itself is both a good time and great excuse to bond with the kids in the Name of Art. If you’ve been concerned about the $20 adult tickets, don’t forget that admission to MoMA is free for children under 16 (as long as we're not talking about a "group" of children). Additionally, Target sponsors Free Friday Nights every Friday evening from 4:00–8:00 p.m.

Image credit:
Geefwee Boedoe
Sullivan and Boo, Monsters, Inc.
Mixed media
8 ¼ x 12 ½ (20.8 x 31.6 cm)
© Disney/Pixar