Pixar became a digital pioneer, with help from Steve Jobs

After buying Pixar from George Lucas in 1986, Steve Jobs helped revolutionize animated movies by encouraging the company to produce ground-breaking digitally animated flicks.

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The main characters from the new Walt Disney Pictures film “Toy Story” are shown together. Spaceman action figure Buzz Lightyear and pull-string cowboy toy Woody appear in the first feature-length film done completely by computer animation. The film follows the toys as they come to life when owner Andy leaves the room. The film was released in 1995.

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Flik, an original thinker out of step with more traditional bugs on Ant Island, stars in the computer-animated film “A Bug's Life,” from Walt Disney Pictures and Pixar Animation Studios, which debuted in 1998.

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Woody, left, and Buzz Lightyear play a video game in a scene from the Disney/Pixar computer animated comedy adventure "Toy Story 2," which opened in theaters in November 1999.

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The animated film “Monsters, Inc.” features actors John Goodman as the voice of Sully, left, and Billy Crystal as the voice of Mike, two monsters who run the largest scare factory in the monster world. The film opened in November 2001.

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Dory, lower left, and Marlin, lower right, face an ocean full of perils in their efforts to rescue Nemo, including a close encounter with an unusual group of great white sharks, in this scene from Pixar’s "Finding Nemo," which was released in 2003.

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Brad Bird, formerly of “The Simpsons,” broke from the world of traditional ink-and-paint animation to make “The Incredibles,” a computerized story about a dysfunctional family of superheroes. The Incredibles family: speedy 10-year-old Dash, left, shy teenager Violet, second from left, the strong and heroic Mr. Incredible, center, and ultra-flexible Elastigirl as they race to save the day. The film was released in 2004.

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A character from the Disney/Pixar film "Cars," Lightning McQueen, center, voiced by Owen Wilson, is a hot-shot race car who gets stuck in the deserted town of Radiator Springs, where he learns about friendship. The movie was released in June 2006.

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Remy, left, and Linguini star in "Ratatouille," a film about a young rat who loves cooking and who makes friends with a restaurant’s garbage boy. The Disney/Pixar film was released in 2007.

/ DISNEY ENTERPRISES INC. AND PIXAR ANIMATION STUDIOS VIA AP

Wall E, a robotic trash compactor from Disney/Pixar's animated movie "Wall E," examines a Rubik’s Cube. Wall E was left alone on a trash-covered Earth in the film, which opened in June 2008.

Disney/PIXAR / VIA BLOOMBERG NEWS

Carl Fredricksen, the 78-year-old central character of Disney/Pixar’s “Up,” ties thousands of balloons to his home to fulfill his lifelong dream of seeing South America. After setting out, he realizes Russell, left, has hitched a ride. The film debuted in 2009.

/ Disney/Pixar

Jessie, left, voiced by Joan Cusack, Buzz Lightyear, voiced by Tim Allen, and Woody, voiced by Tom Hanks, are shown in a scene from "Toy Story 3." The animated sequel about toys that come to life leaped to the No. 1 spot with a $109 million opening weekend in 2010.

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Lightning McQueen, left, with pal Mater, go overseas to compete in the World Grand Prix race in “Cars 2,” released in June 2011.

Disney/Pixar

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In this image released by the Miss Universe Organization, Miss Washington USA 2012, Christina Clarke; Miss West Virginia USA 2012, Andrea Rogers; and Miss Wisconsin USA 2012, Emily Guerin compete in their swimwear by Kooey Australia and fashion footwear by Chinese Laundry during the 2012 Miss USA Presentation Show on May 30, 2012 at the Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino Theatre for the Performing Arts in Las Vegas, Nevada. The 2012 MISS USA Pageant will air LIVE on NBC June 3 at 9:00 p.m. ET from the Theatre for Performing Arts in Las Vegas. = RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - MANDATORY CREDIT 'AFP PHOTO / Miss Universe Organization / DARREN DECKER' - NO MARKETING NO ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS - DISTRIBUTED AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS =DARREN DECKER/AFP/GettyImages

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The SpaceX Dragon commercial cargo craft is seen in a camera on the end of the International Space Station's Canadarm2 robotic arm as it moves away from the station in preparation for its return to earth in this image from NASA TV May 31, 2012. REUTERS/NASA TV (SCIENCE TECHNOLOGY) FOR EDITORIAL USE ONLY. NOT FOR SALE FOR MARKETING OR ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS. THIS IMAGE HAS BEEN SUPPLIED BY A THIRD PARTY. IT IS DISTRIBUTED, EXACTLY AS RECEIVED BY REUTERS, AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS

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Police investigate the scene where a man who was believed to have shot and killed several people earlier in the day shot himself Wednesday, May 30, 2012, in the West Seattle neighborhood of Seattle. A gunman opened fire at a Seattle cafe earlier Wednesday, killing three people and critically wounding two others and later a man believed to be the same suspect shot and killed a woman and took her car near downtown, abandoning it less than two miles from where the alleged shooter shot himself as officers closed in on him, authorities said. His condition wasn't immediately known. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)

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LANDOVER, MD May 30, 2012 U.S. Men's National Team midfielder Fabian Johnson (23) hits a crossing pass to forward Herculez Gomez (9) for their 1st half goal against Brazil Men's National Team goalie Rafael (12) on May 30, 2012 in Landover, MD (Photo by Jonathan Newton/The Washington Post)

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Camels rest at a watering hole outside the town of Aleg May 25, 2012. REUTERS/Joe Penney (MAURITANIA - Tags: ANIMALS SOCIETY)

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HANDOUT PHOTO: Camera men film as the Soyuz TMA-04M spacecraft carrying the International Space Station (ISS) crew, U.S. astronaut Joseph Acaba and Russian cosmonauts Gennady Padalka and Sergei Revin, blasts off from it's launch pad at Baikonur cosmodrome, May 15, 2012. (Courtesy of Shamil Zhumatov/ADAY.org)

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