Disney·Pixar’s animated characters such as Buzz Lightyear from Toy Story and Sully from Monsters, Inc. will come to life in the spectacular new exhibition Pixar: 20 Years of Animation at the Australian Centre for the Moving Image opening mid 2007.

Pixar: 20 Years of Animation will feature more than 500 works of original art from Pixar Animation Studios,  including paintings, concept art, sculptures, and an array of digital installations. The works will reveal the intricate, hands-on processes behind Pixar’s computer-generated films—including Toy Story, A Bug’s Life, Toy Story 2, Monsters, Inc., Finding Nemo, The Incredibles, Cars, and the studio’s acclaimed short films.

Tony Sweeney, Director, ACMI said “ACMI is thrilled to be presenting this blockbuster exhibition under the umbrella of Melbourne Winter Masterpieces. ACMI continues to bring to Victoria the works of the masters of the world of film, television and new media and is delighted to bring this exhibition of the work of Pixar, the animation studio which pioneered a revolution in theatrical animation and has been accorded the extremely rare distinction of exhibiting at one of the most important cultural institutions in the world, the Museum of Modern Art in New York.”

John Lasseter, executive vice president, creative, Pixar said “We are thrilled ACMI is honouring the artists of Pixar with this exhibition. Our artists work in traditional media – hand drawings, painting, sculpture – as well as the computer, to create our films.

“In our world the computer is a tool, the same as a pencil or a brush. Our artists create so much beautiful art for each film that most people never get to see, so we are very grateful to ACMI for giving Australians a rare chance to see behind the scenes.”

Dr Ziggy Switkowski, President ACMI said “Through presenting major international exhibitions such as Pixar: 20 Years of Animation and Stanley Kubrick: Inside the mind of a visionary filmmaker ACMI has reconfirmed its reputation, both here and overseas, as the premier destination in Australia to showcase screen culture.”

At the heart of Pixar: 20 Years of Animation are the concept drawings, sketches, paintings and maquettes that scores of artists have created over the past two decades to devise the groundbreaking computer-generated image animation for which Pixar has become internationally recognised.

The exhibition will demonstrate the symbiotic relationship between traditional and digital media pioneered by the Pixar over its twenty-year history.

In addition to the exhibition, ACMI will also present complete retrospective of Pixar films and public programs including animation workshops.