Ever Wanted To Make Your Own Pixar Film?

For over 20 years the world has been entertained and astounded by the efforts Pixar have gone to to create the type of animation they’re synonymous with, but now you (yes, that’s right!) can get in on the act, so to speak.

Pixar have now released RenderMan, the in-house creative software used to make classic movies such as ‘Toy Story’, ‘WALL-E’, and ‘Up’. And what’s more it’s absolutely free to the public.

- Toy Story Will Not Continue The Narrative Of Toy Story 3
- Trailer: Frozen Fever First Look
- Disney Win Second Oscar In A Row

As long as you download it for non-commercial use, obviously, then you can begin to create or recreate your very own animated movie, which is a really cool thing to access, courtesy of the animation company.

However, just in case you thought Pixar were offering you the chance to make an Oscar-winning film in a few easy step, think again. RenderMan is but one of a number of software packages that are used to make what we see in the likes of ‘Finding Nemo’ and ‘Ratatouille’.

Not only will you need to know what you’re doing in terms of animating and using various packages, you will have to already have 3D modelling software, such as Maya.

While RenderMan is often referred to as Pixar’s ‘secret ingredient’, it’s worth noting that this is a realistic lighting package that works in conjunction with the aforementioned Maya (or whichever other software you have), allowing you to render images.

It’s still a generous gesture Pixar are offering to budding animators or inspired fans who wish to get into animation themselves, with the possibilities for amateur animators to showcase their skills and even impress Lasseter and co.

This year sees Pixar release not one, but two features. ‘Inside Out’ is due in cinemas this June, with ‘The Good Dinosaur’ with us a few months later in November.

- Beauty And The Beast: What We Know So Far
- Sony Cancels Genndy Tartakovsky’s Popeye
- Frozen Fever: Everything You Need To Know

Picture credits: Pixar