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Enjoy a unique look into the Pixar process and explore the science and technology behind some of their most beloved animated films!
This interactive exhibition shows you the science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) concepts used by the artists and computer scientists who bring Pixar's award-winning films to the big screen. Created by the Museum of Science and Pixar Animation Studios, its eight sections (with more than 50 interactive elements) focus on steps in the filmmaking process, so you can experience an unparalleled view of the production pipeline and concepts used at Pixar every day.
Participate in engaging activities, hear from members of the studios’ production teams, and even get acquainted with your favorite characters, including Buzz Lightyear, Dory, Mike and Sulley, Edna Mode, and WALL•E!
Enjoy a unique look into the Pixar process and explore the science and technology behind some of their most beloved animated films!
This interactive exhibition shows you the science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) concepts used by the artists and computer scientists who bring Pixar's award-winning films to the big screen. Created by the Museum of Science and Pixar, its eight sections (with more than 40 interactive elements) focus on steps in the filmmaking process, so you can experience an unparalleled view of the production pipeline and concepts used at Pixar every day.
Participate in engaging activities, hear from members of the studios’ production teams, and even get acquainted with your favorite characters, including Buzz Lightyear, Dory, Mike and Sulley, Edna Mode, and WALL•E!
Included with Exhibit Halls admission
Nichols Gallery, Museum Map
All Ages
What have you always wanted to know about the magic behind Pixar's awesome animation? Delve into stages of the production pipeline and see how everything from Modeling and Rigging to Animation and Rendering rely on both creativity and the use of STEM concepts. Screen-based and physical activities invite you to use your own computational thinking skills, the way Pixar’s filmmakers do!
If you’re not able to come to The Science Behind Pixar, let it come to you! Learn all about the Pixar animation pipeline through our virtual exhibit experience on MOS at Home.
Animation is a series of images shown in sequence. When shown fast enough, we see an illusion of motion. Learn how Pixar animators bring a story to life: first by creating key frames that mark out important positions in a movement; then, by using a computer program to describe how the object moves between those key frames, so the resulting animation conveys the emotions they’re looking for.
The virtual scene is set — the characters are shaded and posed, the lights and camera are in position, and the simulations are ready to run. But no one knows what it looks like until the rendering process turns all that data and programming into an image we can see by determining the color of each pixel in the image. Rendering is what turns a virtual 3-D scene into the 2-D image we see up on the screen!
The Science Behind Pixar was developed by the Museum of Science, Boston in collaboration with Pixar Animation Studios. © Disney/Pixar. All Rights Reserved. Used Under Authorization.
Find ways to incorporate The Science Behind Pixar into your classroom directly with our supplemental activities.
The Museum's mission is to play a leading role in transforming the nation's relationship with science and technology.
The Museum's mission is to play a leading role in transforming the nation's relationship with science and technology.
