From lamps and Luxo balls to talking toys and teary credits, Pixar has reimagined animated storytelling for three decades.
This mega-set blends easy starters and deep cuts across films, creators, technology, and more.
Whether you’re hosting trivia night or cramming solo, these questions will keep your inner animator busy.
Studio Origins & History
Q: Where is Pixar headquartered?
A: Emeryville, California.
Q: Who bought Lucasfilm’s Graphics Group in 1986, forming Pixar?
A: Steve Jobs.
Q: What was the Graphics Group before it became Pixar?
A: A division inside Lucasfilm.
Q: Which 1986 short introduced the lamp that hops on the “I”?
A: Luxo Jr.
Q: Which 1988 short earned Pixar its first Academy Award?
A: Tin Toy.
Q: What high-end workstation did early Pixar sell to hospitals and studios?
A: The Pixar Image Computer.
Q: What Pixar-developed renderer became an industry standard?
A: RenderMan.
Q: Which company acquired Pixar in 2006?
A: The Walt Disney Company.
Q: Approximate value of that all-stock acquisition?
A: About $7.4 billion.
Q: Which two computer-graphics pioneers are credited as Pixar co-founders?
A: Ed Catmull and Alvy Ray Smith.
Q: What 1991 agreement with Disney greenlit feature production?
A: A three-picture deal.
Q: What was Pixar’s first feature-length release?
A: Toy Story (1995).
Q: What’s the official name of the hopping desk lamp mascot?
A: Luxo Jr.
Q: What yellow toy with a blue stripe and red star is a studio icon?
A: The Luxo Ball.
Q: Who served as long-time Pixar president?
A: Ed Catmull.
Q: What candid, notes-heavy meeting tradition guides story development?
A: Braintrust sessions.
Q: What larger company originally housed Pixar’s precursor?
A: Lucasfilm.
Q: What annual graphics conference premiered many early shorts and papers?
A: SIGGRAPH.
Q: Who became Pixar/Disney Animation’s Chief Creative Officer in 2018?
A: Pete Docter.
Q: What open architectural feature fosters collaboration on campus?
A: A large central atrium.
Q: What famous classroom number many alumni share shows up in films?
A: A113.
Feature Films & Release Milestones
Q: Which film launched Pixar’s feature era?
A: Toy Story (1995).
Q: What was Pixar’s first theatrical sequel?
A: Toy Story 2 (1999).
Q: What was Pixar’s first prequel?
A: Monsters University (2013).
Q: Which film opens with long stretches of near-silent storytelling?
A: WALL•E (2008).
Q: Which feature is the Parisian rat-chef tale?
A: Ratatouille (2007).
Q: Which Pixar film opened the Cannes Film Festival?
A: Up (2009).
Q: Which movie centers on a family of superheroes?
A: The Incredibles (2004).
Q: Which sequel returns to the reef in search of a blue tang?
A: Finding Dory (2016).
Q: Which feature explores emotions inside a child’s mind?
A: Inside Out (2015).
Q: Which film journeys through Mexico’s Land of the Dead?
A: Coco (2017).
Q: Which 2021 film is set on the Italian Riviera?
A: Luca (2021).
Q: Which movie follows a teen who transforms into a red panda?
A: Turning Red (2022).
Q: Which spinoff imagines the in-universe sci-fi hero Buzz?
A: Lightyear (2022).
Q: Which original centers on fire and water beings in one city?
A: Elemental (2023).
Q: Which early feature spotlights an embattled ant colony?
A: A Bug’s Life (1998).
Q: Which film pairs elf brothers for a suburban quest?
A: Onward (2020).
Q: Which feature sends a house skyward with balloons?
A: Up (2009).
Q: Which sequel takes the Cars gang into a spy caper?
A: Cars 2 (2011).
Q: Which other Pixar film shared 2015 with The Good Dinosaur?
A: Inside Out (2015).
Q: Which Toy Story entry features a harrowing landfill scene?
A: Toy Story 3 (2010).
Q: Which 2024 sequel brings new emotions like Anxiety?
A: Inside Out 2 (2024).
Characters & Voice Talent
Q: Who voices Woody?
A: Tom Hanks.
Q: Who voices Buzz Lightyear in Toy Story?
A: Tim Allen.
Q: Who voices Joy in Inside Out?
A: Amy Poehler.
Q: Who voices Dory?
A: Ellen DeGeneres.
Q: Who voices James P. “Sulley” Sullivan?
A: John Goodman.
Q: Who voices Mike Wazowski?
A: Billy Crystal.
Q: Who voices Bob Parr / Mr. Incredible?
A: Craig T. Nelson.
Q: Who voices Helen Parr / Elastigirl?
A: Holly Hunter.
Q: Who voices fashion icon Edna Mode?
A: Brad Bird.
Q: Who voices Remy the rat?
A: Patton Oswalt.
Q: Who created the signature beeps for WALL•E and M-O?
A: Ben Burtt.
Q: Who voices Lightning McQueen?
A: Owen Wilson.
Q: Who voices Mater?
A: Larry the Cable Guy.
Q: Who voices Merida in Brave?
A: Kelly Macdonald.
Q: Who voices Miguel in Coco?
A: Anthony Gonzalez.
Q: Who voices Joe Gardner in Soul?
A: Jamie Foxx.
Q: Who voices Mei Lee in Turning Red?
A: Rosalie Chiang.
Q: Who voices Luca Paguro?
A: Jacob Tremblay.
Q: Who voices Hank the octopus in Finding Dory?
A: Ed O’Neill.
Q: Who voices Duke Caboom in Toy Story 4?
A: Keanu Reeves.
Q: Which actor is often called Pixar’s “good-luck charm” for frequent cameos?
A: John Ratzenberger.
Directors, Writers & Key Creators
Q: Who directed Toy Story?
A: John Lasseter.
Q: Who directed Monsters, Inc.?
A: Pete Docter.
Q: Who directed Up?
A: Pete Docter (co-dir Bob Peterson).
Q: Who directed The Incredibles?
A: Brad Bird.
Q: Who took over and directed Ratatouille?
A: Brad Bird.
Q: Who directed Finding Nemo?
A: Andrew Stanton.
Q: Who directed WALL•E?
A: Andrew Stanton.
Q: Who directed Toy Story 3?
A: Lee Unkrich.
Q: Who directed Coco?
A: Lee Unkrich (co-dir Adrian Molina).
Q: Who are the credited directors of Brave?
A: Brenda Chapman and Mark Andrews.
Q: Who directed Monsters University?
A: Dan Scanlon.
Q: Who directed Onward?
A: Dan Scanlon.
Q: Who directed The Good Dinosaur?
A: Peter Sohn.
Q: Who directed Elemental?
A: Peter Sohn.
Q: Who directed Luca?
A: Enrico Casarosa.
Q: Who directed Turning Red?
A: Domee Shi.
Q: Who directed Lightyear?
A: Angus MacLane.
Q: Who directed Cars 3?
A: Brian Fee.
Q: Which co-founder served as Pixar’s president for years?
A: Ed Catmull.
Q: Who became Pixar’s Chief Creative Officer in 2018?
A: Pete Docter.
Q: Which writer/animator voiced Roz and Dug?
A: Bob Peterson.
Technology & Production Breakthroughs
Q: What’s Pixar’s commercial rendering software called?
A: RenderMan.
Q: Which prop doubles as a lighting/shading test object?
A: The Luxo Ball.
Q: Which character showcased groundbreaking fur simulation?
A: Sulley (Monsters, Inc.).
Q: Which film pushed underwater lighting and caustics?
A: Finding Nemo.
Q: Which short highlighted believable skin and subdivision surfaces?
A: Geri’s Game.
Q: Which feature advanced large-scale crowd simulation with insects?
A: A Bug’s Life.
Q: Which film is famed for photoreal landscapes via RIS path-tracing?
A: The Good Dinosaur.
Q: Which film required new tech for red, curly hair?
A: Brave.
Q: Which feature proved expressive pantomime with minimal dialogue?
A: WALL•E.
Q: What’s the name of Pixar’s candid feedback tradition?
A: The Braintrust.
Q: Which creature needed thousands of animation controls?
A: Hank the octopus (Finding Dory).
Q: What was Pixar’s first widely released 3D feature?
A: Up.
Q: What texture system stores data per polygon face, not UVs?
A: Ptex.
Q: What’s Pixar’s proprietary animator-facing toolset called?
A: Presto.
Q: What do artists call rough edited movies of storyboards?
A: Story reels (animatics).
Q: Which film required volumetric character rendering for fire/water beings?
A: Elemental.
Q: What mid-2010s shift moved Pixar to physically based path tracing?
A: RenderMan RIS.
Q: What recurring code appears on license plates, screens, and doors?
A: A113.
Q: Which Pixar feature blends CG with live-action performances?
A: WALL•E (Fred Willard).
Q: What iconic courtyard sculptures double as lighting references?
A: Luxo Jr. and the Luxo Ball.
Q: What’s the term for the network that renders frames overnight?
A: A render farm.
Shorts & Spin-offs (Including SparkShorts)
Q: Which 1988 short about a toy won an Oscar?
A: Tin Toy.
Q: Which short stars a snowman trapped in a snow globe?
A: Knick Knack.
Q: Which short pits a magician against a ravenous rabbit?
A: Presto.
Q: Which short features little birds bullying a big blue bird?
A: For the Birds.
Q: Which short shows a chess game in the park?
A: Geri’s Game.
Q: Which short pairs personified Day and Night?
A: Day & Night.
Q: Which short imagines a cloud crafting baby animals?
A: Partly Cloudy.
Q: Which short follows a family moon-sweeping tradition?
A: La Luna.
Q: Which short tracks a sandpiper chick facing waves?
A: Piper.
Q: Which short is a rainy love letter to city life?
A: The Blue Umbrella.
Q: Which short features a dumpling that comes to life?
A: Bao.
Q: What program fosters experimental, filmmaker-led shorts?
A: SparkShorts.
Q: Which SparkShorts film follows a pink yarn ball at work?
A: Purl.
Q: Which SparkShorts pairs two robots on a rail heist?
A: Smash and Grab.
Q: Which SparkShorts tells of a kitten and a pit bull?
A: Kitbull.
Q: Which SparkShorts centers on a nonverbal autistic teen in a canoe?
A: Loop.
Q: Which SparkShorts explores a grandson and grandma in a windy shaft?
A: Wind.
Q: Which SparkShorts features a Filipino-American dad and floating son?
A: Float.
Q: Which SparkShorts spotlights a grandma who loves wrestling?
A: Nona.
Q: Which SparkShorts portrays a ballet student facing body-image issues?
A: Reflect.
Q: Which Toy Story Toon strands Buzz at a chicken joint?
A: Small Fry.
Easter Eggs, Running Gags & Crossovers
Q: What yellow-blue ball with a red star often appears in backgrounds?
A: The Luxo Ball.
Q: What delivery truck from Toy Story recurs across films?
A: The Pizza Planet truck.
Q: What megacorp links WALL•E with batteries in Toy Story 3?
A: Buy n Large (BnL).
Q: Which fish appears as a toy in Boo’s room?
A: A clownfish—Nemo.
Q: Whose silhouette chases Remy in Ratatouille?
A: A dog—Dug.
Q: Which pink teddy bear briefly appears in Up before Toy Story 3?
A: Lots-o’-Huggin’ Bear (Lotso).
Q: Where does a medieval Pizza Planet truck cameo?
A: As a wood carving in Brave.
Q: What insider classroom number turns up repeatedly?
A: A113.
Q: What friendly monster is carved in the witch’s workshop in Brave?
A: Sulley.
Q: Which Toy Story cowgirl doll is visible in Boo’s room?
A: Jessie.
Q: What is Mr. Incredible’s island called—a pun on a proverb?
A: Nomanisan Island.
Q: What fictional brand connects Toy Story gas and Cars racing?
A: Dinoco.
Q: Which school inspired the A113 in-joke?
A: CalArts.
Q: Which actor is famed for recurring Pixar voice cameos?
A: John Ratzenberger.
Q: What does the “Grape Soda” cap symbolize?
A: Ellie’s badge of love/Adventure (Up).
Q: What tradition hints at Pixar’s next movie?
A: A hidden teaser Easter egg.
Q: Where can visitors find a giant lamp and ball statue?
A: Pixar’s Emeryville courtyard.
Q: Which characters appear as piñatas in Coco’s plaza?
A: Woody, Buzz, and Mike Wazowski.
Q: Which classic short’s hero cameos in Toy Story 4’s antique shop?
A: Tinny from Tin Toy.
Q: Which race car nods to Steve Jobs with #84?
A: The Apple car in Cars.
Q: Lightning McQueen’s #95 references which Pixar milestone?
A: Toy Story’s 1995 release year.
Awards, Box Office & Records
Q: What was Pixar’s first Animated Feature Oscar winner?
A: Finding Nemo (2003).
Q: Which Pixar films earned Best Picture nominations?
A: Up (2009) and Toy Story 3 (2010).
Q: What was Pixar’s first Oscar of any kind?
A: Tin Toy (Best Animated Short).
Q: Which short about park chess also won an Oscar?
A: Geri’s Game.
Q: Which film won Michael Giacchino an Original Score Oscar?
A: Up.
Q: Which film won Animated Feature and Original Song (“Remember Me”)?
A: Coco.
Q: Which robot romance scored a rare Original Screenplay nomination?
A: WALL•E.
Q: Which Pixar feature both opened Cannes and went 3D?
A: Up.
Q: Which sequel held Pixar’s top global gross before the mid-2020s?
A: Incredibles 2.
Q: Which Pixar film was the first animated movie to pass $1B worldwide?
A: Toy Story 3.
Q: Which fishy sequel also crossed $1B globally?
A: Finding Dory.
Q: Which composer is synonymous with the Toy Story sound?
A: Randy Newman.
Q: Which Toy Story 3 song earned Randy Newman an Oscar?
A: “We Belong Together.”
Q: Which Pete Docter film won Animated Feature for its inside-the-mind concept?
A: Inside Out.
Q: Which 2020 film won Animated Feature with jazz and soul themes?
A: Soul.
Q: Which short won an Oscar before its director made a feature?
A: Bao (Domee Shi).
Q: Which 2017 film won two Oscars and holiday box-office records?
A: Coco.
Q: Which 2020 original premiered on streaming yet swept major awards?
A: Soul.
Q: Which 2023 original became a sleeper box-office success?
A: Elemental.
Q: Which franchise is Pixar’s highest-grossing across all entries combined?
A: Toy Story.
Q: Which 2024 sequel expanded Inside Out with new emotions?
A: Inside Out 2.
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