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Pixar: 25 Years of Animation
It’s no secret that Pixar holds a revered place in Hongkongers’ hearts, but now there’s proof. Coming in just behind Avatar and Titanic, Toy Story 3 recently became the third highest-grossing film in Hong Kong history, raking in $90m in the space of three weeks at the box office. How apt then, that Pixar Animation Studios have chosen us as the first stop for their ‘Pixar: 25 Years of Animation’ exhibition. Originally installed at the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York, this re-curated exhibition features never-seen-before drawings and models from Toy Story 3, as well as the likes of Finding Nemo, WALL-E, and Monsters, Inc. More excitingly, of the nearly 500 exhibits, Pixar estimates that three-quarters have never been seen outside of the studio’s archives before. And in case you’re still not salivating, Hong Kong audiences will be among the first in the world to catch a sneak preview of the artwork from this summer’s Cars 2.
“[This exhibition] is really Pixar in historical retrospection,” says lead archivist Christine Freeman, “but it’s also about putting the art in the hands of the people.” Freeman, who has been at Pixar for more than a decade, anticipates the exhibition will be inspirational and educational, as visitors can expect to walk away from the exhibit with a greater appreciation behind the creative process of an animation, which can involve years of conceptualisation and redesigns. Visitors will be able to witness the evolution of their favourite characters, like the many lovingly handcrafted prototypes of Buzz Lightyear, as well as concepts that never made it to the final cut, such as a whimsical set of ‘x-rays’ of Andy’s toys from the Toy Story trilogy.
However, the two must-see exhibits are, without a doubt, the Zoetrope and Artscape. Originally inspired by a similar creation in the famed Studio Ghibli Museum in Japan, the Zoetrope displays characters from Toy Story using a set of 18 near-identical figurines (known as ‘maquettes’) that sit on a disc and spin, giving the illusion of living motion. Artscape, on the other hand, is a mesmerising widescreen audio-visual installation. This immersive, near-magical exhibit is also a personal favourite of Kimberley Donovan, the project manager for the exhibition. “Kids have tried to run into the projection to be with the art,” she laughs.
When asked what visitors should expect, Donovan could barely contain her excitement. “You’ll love it!” she insists. We have a feeling you won’t disagree.
Tina Leung
Pixar: 25 Years of Animation Hong Kong Heritage Museum, 1 Man Lam Rd, Sha Tin, 2180 8188; www.heritagemuseum.gov.hk. Until July. Tickets: $20 standard, $10 concession. Half price admission on Weds.
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