Is Pixar part of Disney Animation?

No, Pixar operates as its own distinct studio with a separate creative identity, though both are owned by The Walt Disney Company.

What was Pixar's first fully computer-animated film?

Toy Story, released in 1995, was the first entirely computer-animated feature film in history.

When did Disney buy Pixar?

Disney acquired Pixar in 2006 for approximately $7.4 billion.

What was Pixar's first feature film?

Toy Story, released in 1995, was Pixar's first feature film and the first fully computer-animated feature in history.

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Pixar

Pixar movies, the acclaimed animation studio behind Toy Story, Up and Inside Out.

Written by Total Apex Entertainment Staff · Editorial Policy · Updated October 10, 2026

Total Apex Take

Inside Out 2 proved audiences still show up for original-feeling Pixar at full force — the studio's bigger problem is a slate still leaning heavily on sequels.

Inside Out 2 became one of the highest-grossing animated films ever, a genuine reminder that Pixar's core strength — emotionally sophisticated, high-concept storytelling for all ages — still works at full scale when the execution is right. Elemental's recovery from a weak opening weekend to solid long-term earnings told a similar story about word-of-mouth still mattering for original titles.

Our honest take: Pixar's post-pandemic slate has leaned on sequels (Inside Out 2, Toy Story 5, further Incredibles plans) more than any stretch in the studio's history, a defensible financial strategy after several original films underperformed, but a real shift from the studio's founding identity as the place that took the biggest creative swings in animation.

Worth watching: whether Pixar's next wave of original, non-sequel films gets the same marketing confidence Inside Out 2 and Elemental eventually earned, or whether the studio continues treating sequels as the safe default and originals as the experiment.

About Pixar

Pixar Animation Studios is a computer-animation studio founded in 1986 and acquired by Disney in 2006, widely credited with pioneering full-length computer-animated filmmaking through Toy Story in 1995, the first entirely CGI feature film. Pixar has built one of the most consistent critical track records of any studio, known for blending inventive premises with emotionally mature storytelling aimed at both children and adults.

The studio's films have won numerous Academy Awards for Best Animated Feature, and several Pixar franchises, including Toy Story, have become some of the most commercially successful and culturally beloved series in animation history.

Notable Pixar Releases

Title	Year	Notes
Toy Story	1995	The first entirely computer-animated feature film
Finding Nemo	2003	One of the best-selling animated films of all time on home video
Up	2009	Nominated for the Academy Award for Best Picture
Inside Out	2015	Won the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature

Financials

Founded	1986, when Steve Jobs purchased the computer graphics division of Lucasfilm
Disney acquisition price	Disney acquired Pixar in 2006 for roughly $7.4 billion
Academy Awards	Pixar films have won numerous Academy Awards for Best Animated Feature since the category's introduction

How It Compares

Compared To	Key Difference
DreamWorks Animation	Pixar built its reputation on emotionally resonant, often melancholic storytelling, while DreamWorks has leaned more toward comedic, pop-culture-infused franchises like Shrek.
Walt Disney Animation Studios	Pixar and Disney Animation operate as sister studios under the same parent company, with Pixar historically focused on CG-original stories and Disney Animation blending CG with its classic musical fairy-tale tradition.

Pixar

Founded	1986
Parent company	The Walt Disney Company (since 2006)
First feature	Toy Story (1995)
Headquarters	Emeryville, California

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