LUXO Jr.

Let's begin with a bridge from the Art Is.. Innovation study to the Art Is... Illumination study via a work of art that changed animation.  Twenty four years ago, in 1986, Pixar Animation Studios produced its first animated film, "Luxo, Jr." featuring two swing arm lamps. http://www.pixar.com/shorts/ljr/index.html

John Lasseter first began exploring the possibilities of computer animation as a Disney animator, with a thirty second test called the Wild Things test (yes, that Wild Things http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LvIDRoO8KnM) combining handdrawn animation with computer generated backgrounds. Lasseter was interested in doing things with lamps, having made two student films featuring lamps, Lady and the Lamp (1979) and Nitemare (1980).  He answers a question about his inspiration for Luxo, Sr.

It's interesting; that question keeps coming up. A lot of people say it's a mother; a lot of people say it's a father. I always envisioned it as a father, but it's based greatly on my mother. To me, if it was a mother lamp, she would never let the baby jump up on that ball But the dad is like, "Go ahead, jump up on it, fall off and break your bulb. You'll learn a lesson."

http://www.harrymccracken.com/luxo.htm

Compare the vector test with the final short, rendered complete with light, shadows and reflections.

 

You can also visit website of LUXO, original L-1 lamp and the benefits of proper lighting. http://www.luxo.com/


Interestingly, Luxo the company has posted their own animated Luxo lamp short, "Tango," created by an animation studio other than Pixar. http://www.luxo.com/designicon/ Watch it and I think that in less than two minutes you can see what makes Pixar the tops.  It takes more than a just a super computer to create memorable characters and inspired storytelling.