A Look Behind The Scenes At The Pixar Campus

Getting a tour of the Pixar Campus in by invitation only. There are no public tours, educational tours, open to the public days or tickets for purchase. To get invited onto the Pixar Campus is truly not what you know but WHO you know. Pixar employee connections are how to get invited for a tour. The tour at the Walt Disney Concert Hall is free!

How Do I Get Invited To The Pixar Campus?

My connection was on was on a press tour promoting the June 15 release of Incredibles 2 and we were invited behind the scenes, but not all the doors, to the Pixar campus. Much of what I saw was not aloud to be photographed or recorded but what I will share with you all that I was allowed to share.

The Pixar Campus Lobby

The lobby is a two story atrium full of glass, steel and amazing Pixar artwork. Sign in at the welcome desk and get your identity badge and just take in all the details. Mini figures on the most recently completed Pixar animated feature greeted us. Adjacent to the front doors are lager than life figures of some of your favorite Pixar friends. Always a good idea to take a photo with them.

360 degree immersive tour of the Pixar Animation Studios lobby

Pixar Campus Cafeteria, aka Cafe Luxo

There is a beautiful cafeteria for the employees to purchase lunch. But don’t think hairnet lunch ladies and scoops of mystery meat on a plate. Oh no! Think wood fire pizzas, custom burrito bowls and all of the cutlery and serving pieces are either recyclable or reusable. Go California!

Also there is a cereal room. Yes, a room with all sorts of cereals from flake to sugar to oatmeal with every type of dairy option to top them with. Who doesn’t love cereal when they are working? I don’t have a photo of the cereal room because there was ALWAYS employees in it and I thought it would be odd for me to snap a photo of them getting breakfast.

Coco art work in the employee seating area. I am sure this will be rotating to Incredibles 2 shortly.

Complimentary Beverages For Employees

Pixar wants their employees to be fully hydrated, and in some cases caffeinated, to work at peak creativity. There is a coffee station with organic roast coffee, every dairy consideration you may need, a soda machine, fresh brewed teas and juices. Recyclable cups are provided but there is also the option to take a ceramic mug or cup back to your desk. The cafeteria will take care of cleaning the cups once returned. I am thinking there is minimal memos sent around asking people to be mindful of keeping the shared kitchenettes cleaned up.

Rotating Art Installations

The Steve Jobs building on the Pixar campus is divided into two wings. One will will feature the artwork, concept art, molds, line sketches, posters of the most recently completed Pixar animated film. When I was on campus Coco was the film most recently covered.

See my coverage of Coco in these posts:

• Edward James Olmos is the voice of Chicharron in Pixar’s Coco
• Sharing all the feelings of Pixar’s Coco from the directors, writers and producers
• Meet the voices of Mama Imelda and Miguel from Pixar’s Coco
• Pixar Coco Gift Guide For All Ages
• Gael Garcia Bernal Brings To Life The Voice of Hector in Pixar’s Coco
• Is Pixar’s Coco Going To Scare My Kids?
• Coco coloring and activity sheets from Disney Pixar 
• Coco Cocoa Mexican Hot Chocolate Mix Recipe and Printable

 

Incredibles 2 Art Installation

In the lobby are larger than life figures of the entire Parr Family. When we arrived, Jack Jack was keeping the welcome desk company by sitting on the counter but was quickly moved to be with the rest of the family, as not to miss out on a single photo opportunity.

On the second floor we had to put way phones and allow the staff photographer to snap what was permitted. With each rotation of art, the walls get repainted, the windows get re stickered, the kitchenettes get a makeover with artwork, the digital screens are updated with new videos.

I wish I was able to take a photo of it but there are ‘random’ stickers on the walls. I put random in quotes because NOTHING at Pixar is random.

These stickers are placed there for the younger visitors. Often some of the information that is shared on the second floor tour is over their heads, or they quickly loose interest as most kids tend to do. These stickers are placed for them to find. Easter eggs even for visitors!

Pixar Store

I always want to walk away with a little remembrance when I visit INCREDIBLE places, such as the Pixar campus. Thankfully there was a little gift shop adjacent to the lobby with a nice selection of Pixar merch. I bought myself a Pixar 2 movie poster to hang in our downstairs theater, some books for the nieces and nephews, cell phone case for the teen, a reusable water bottle for the boy, and my artist got a personalized, autographed book from one of the animators.

Plus I bought myself a set of Pixar wine glasses. I have enough mugs but can never have enough wine glasses! Especially when they are etched with the Luxo lamp and ball.

360 degree immersive tour of the Pixar Animation Studios Courtyard

Outside Photos On Pixar Campus

The iconic Luxo lamp and ball have not always been part of the campus. Believe it or not these pieces came from a Pixar art Exhibition that toured Australia. I can’t imagine the campus with out them!

There is also a beautiful amphitheater behind the Lamp and Ball. Perfect for taking a group photo.

The POOL on Pixar campus. Yes. There is a pool and there were people swimming laps when we were there.

There is also a basketball court and a health center on the Pixar campus. No excuse not to be physically active!

Who do you see watching over the campus?

What are the chances my husband will let me do this to our driveway?

Good bye Pixar! Thanks for having me. It was fabulous!