The Turing Award this year will be awarded to Dr. Ed Catmull and Dr. Pat Hanrahan. These two graphic engineers were the maestros that brought classics such as “Toy Story” and “Finding Nemo” from Pixar Studios.
Considered to be the most prestigious award in the field of computer science, the Turing Award is given to those have made long-lasting changes to the field.
Dr. Catmull was one of the founders of Pixar, while Dr. Hanrahan was one of the first that was to be hired. Notified of their win earlier last month, the longtime friends were able to enjoy a meal together just before the statewide lockdowns began in California.
With movies inundated with computer graphics so common, it is hard to imagine a time before the digital revolution. However, everyone thought that a fully digital movie like “Toy Story” would be impossible back in 1995.
Catmull and Hanrahan are respected as pioneers among their colleagues. To bring what was considered a pipe dream into reality, the duo had to come up with ways to generate 3D objects on computers.
There was no better person to take on this challenge; Dr. Catmull’s postdoctoral study was focused on how to input curves in computers. This was the crucial step that allowed engineers to experiment adding depth, shadows and textures.
Pixar was born in 1986 when Apple CEO Steve Jobs came around. After buying the computer division of Lucasfilm, Jobs turned the division into an individual company called Pixar. Along with Catmull and Jobs was John Lasseter, the chief creative director of Pixar until 2017.
Hanrahan quickly joined the team, and the team created a software known as RenderMan. A joint effort by experts that crossed all borders, RenderMan is the Pixar used to create their beloved 3D animations.
RenderMan allowed animators to created much more realistic models. From Pixar’s “Toy Story” and “A Bug’s Life” to mega-blockbusters such as “Titanic” and “Jurassic Park”, RenderMan truly revolutionized the industry.
Moreover, it kickstarted and revitalized the video game industry. Given the right hardware, characters could be animated with unprecedented quality on computer and TV screens across the globe.
Steve Jobs reportedly told his animators that even when the computers they use will be thrown away, their work will stand the test of time. Pixar’s undying popularity seems to prove his words true.
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Replaced!