To infinity — and behind the science — at COSI
Add Axios as your preferred source to
see more of our stories on Google.

A life-size Buzz Lightyear greets you at COSI's new Pixar exhibit. Photos: Alissa Widman Neese/Axios
Classic Pixar films like "Finding Nemo" and "Inside Out" are known for stunning visuals and heartfelt stories. But the magic that makes them possible actually involves a lot of science.
Why it matters: COSI's newest exhibit, "The Science Behind Pixar," shows how the studio has transformed the animation industry since debuting the first computer-animated feature film, "Toy Story," in 1995.
How it works: The traveling exhibit takes visitors through eight steps of the filmmaking process — modeling, rigging, surfaces, sets and cameras, animation, simulation, lighting and rendering.
- It's all showcased around six large statues of iconic characters.
- There are interactive kid-friendly activities, like picking paint for "Cars" vehicles and helping the "Luxo Jr." lamp jump, to demonstrate stop-motion.

Between the lines: The videos and displays can get pretty technical.
- Yes, but: Kids can still enjoy them. Like the movies, Pixar's exhibit is geared toward guests of all ages and is much more than a photo opp.

The intrigue: It dives into some surprising details, like creating new software to animate Merida's 1,500 fiery ringlets in "Brave," which mimic springs.
Stunning stat: Rendering, the final step that turns data into images, takes around 24 hours to process a single frame.
- Pixar's "rendering farm" of 2,000 computers speeds things up, but it still took two years to render the 104-minute "Monsters University."

💭 Alissa's thought bubble: I'm a big fan of all animation, but I miss the hand-drawn, 2D movies I grew up with. I assumed computer-animated films — now the industry standard, thanks to Pixar — were cheaper and easier to make.
- After exploring this exhibit, I have newfound respect for the work it takes.
- I'll be thinking about this when I see "Toy Story 5" next summer.
Stop by: Hours. Tickets are $15 on top of COSI admission ($10 for members). Through May 25.






