Pixar RenderMan

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Pixar RenderMan
Developer(s)Pixar
Initial release1987; 37 years ago (1987)
Stable release
26.0 / April 8, 2024; 54 days ago (2024-04-08)
Operating systemLinux, macOS, Windows
TypeRendering system
LicenseProprietary commercial software
Websiterenderman.pixar.com

Pixar RenderMan (also known as RenderMan)[1] is a photorealistic 3D rendering software produced by Pixar Animation Studios. Pixar uses RenderMan to render their in-house 3D animated movie productions and it is also available as a commercial product licensed to third parties. In 2015, a free non-commercial version of RenderMan became available.[2]

Name[edit]

To speed up rendering, Pixar engineers performed experiments with parallel rendering computers using Transputer chips inside a Pixar Image Computer. The name comes from the nickname of a small circuit board (2.5 × 5 inches or 6.4 × 13 cm) containing one Transputer that engineer Jeff Mock could put in his pocket. During that time the Sony Walkman was very popular and Jeff Mock called his portable board Renderman, leading to the software name.[3]

Technology[edit]

RenderMan defines cameras, geometry, materials, and lights using the RenderMan Interface Specification. This specification facilitates communication between 3D modeling and animation applications and the render engine that generates the final high quality images. In the past RenderMan used the Reyes Rendering Architecture. The Renderman standard was first presented at 1993 SIGGRAPH, developed with input from 19 companies and 6 or 7 big partners, with Pat Hanrahan taking a leading role. Ed Catmull said no software product met the RenderMan Standard in 1993. RenderMan met it after about two years.[3]

Additionally RenderMan supports Open Shading Language to define textural patterns.[4]

When Pixar started development, Steve Jobs described the original goal for RenderMan in 1991:

"Our goal is to make Renderman and Iceman the system software of the 90s," Mr. Jobs said, likening these programs to PostScript, the software developed by Adobe Systems Inc. for high-quality typography.

— Lawrence M. Fisher, [5]

During this time, Pixar used the C language for developing Renderman, which allowed them to port it to many platforms.[1]

Historically, RenderMan used the Reyes algorithm to render images with added support for advanced effects such as ray tracing and global illumination. Support for Reyes rendering and the RenderMan Shading Language were removed from RenderMan in 2016.[6]

RenderMan currently uses Monte Carlo path tracing to generate images.[7]

Awards[edit]

RenderMan has been used to create digital visual effects for Hollywood blockbuster movies such as Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin, The Lion King, Terminator 2: Judgment Day, Toy Story, Jurassic Park, Avatar, Titanic, the Star Wars prequels, and The Lord of the Rings. RenderMan has received four Academy Scientific and Technical Awards. The first was in 1993 honoring Pat Hanrahan, Anthony A. Apodaca, Loren Carpenter, Rob Cook, Ed Catmull, Darwyn Peachey, and Tom Porter.[citation needed] The second was as part of the 73rd Scientific and Technical Academy Awards ceremony presentation on March 3, 2001: the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences' Board of Governors honored Ed Catmull, Loren Carpenter and Rob Cook with an Academy Award of Merit "for significant advancements to the field of motion picture rendering as exemplified in Pixar’s RenderMan".[8] The third was in 2010 honoring "Per Christensen, Christophe Hery, and Michael Bunnell for the development of point-based rendering for indirect illumination and ambient occlusion." The fourth was in 2011 honoring David Laur. It has also won the Gordon E. Sawyer Award in 2009 and The Coons Award.[9] It is the first software product awarded an Oscar.[10]

Credits[edit]

Feature Films[edit]

1984: Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan
1985: Young Sherlock Holmes
1986: Luxo, Jr., The Adventures of The Great Mouse Detective
1987: Oilspot and Lipstick, Red's Dream
1988: Oliver & Company, Technological Threat, Tin Toy
1989: The Little Mermaid, Knick Knack
1990: The Rescuers Down Under, Jetsons: The Movie, The Funtastic World of Hanna-Barbera, The Prince and the Pauper
1991: Beauty and the Beast, Terminator 2: Judgment Day, Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country
1992: Aladdin, FernGully: The Last Rainforest, Off His Rockers, The Muppet Christmas Carol, The Lawnmower Man, Batman Returns, Death Becomes Her
1993: Jurassic Park, Cliffhanger, Demolition Man, Free Willy
1994: The Lion King, The Swan Princess, Asterix in America, A Troll in Central Park, Forrest Gump, Thumbelina, The Pagemaster, Stargate
1995: Balto, Casper, Jumanji, Pocahontas, Toy Story, Ghibli Experimental Theater On Your Mark, Apollo
1996: The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Independence Day, Twister
1997: Hercules, The Lost World: Jurassic Park, Titanic, Men in Black, Geri's Game, Starship Troopers
1998: Mulan, A Bug's Life, What Dreams May Come
1999: The Matrix, Tarzan, Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace, The Iron Giant, Toy Story 2, Fantasia 2000, Stuart Little
2000: Chicken Run, The Emperor's New Groove, Buzz Lightyear of Star Command: The Adventure Begins, Dinosaur, For the Birds, Nutty Professor II: The Klumps
2001: Aida of the Trees, Atlantis: The Lost Empire, Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius, Monsters, Inc., Shrek
2002: Lilo & Stitch, Treasure Planet, Cinderella II: Dreams Come True, The Wild Thornberrys Movie, Ice Age, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, Men In Black II
2003: Finding Nemo, Brother Bear, Looney Tunes: Back in Action, Hulk
2004: The Incredibles, The Polar Express
2005: Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith, Chicken Little
2006: The Ant Bully, Cars
2007: Meet the Robinsons, Surf's Up, Ratatouille
2008: Bolt, WALL-E, The Tale of Despereaux
2009: Up, G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra
2010: Toy Story 3, Tangled, How to Train Your Dragon
2011: Rango, Cars 2
2012: Rise of the Guardians, Brave, Wreck-It Ralph, Hotel Transylvania
2013: Monsters University, Frozen
2014: Big Hero 6, Mr. Peabody & Sherman, The Lego Movie
2015: Inside Out, Star Wars: The Force Awakens, The Good Dinosaur, Hotel Transylvania 2
2016: Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, Zootopia, Finding Dory
2017: Cars 3, Coco, Star Wars: The Last Jedi, Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle
2018: Incredibles 2, Ralph Breaks the Internet, Hotel Transylvania 3: Summer Vacation
2019: Frozen II, Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, Pokémon: Detective Pikachu, Toy Story 4
2020: Onward, Soul
2021: Raya and the Last Dragon, Far from the Tree, Luca
2022: Chip 'n Dale: Rescue Rangers, Turning Red, Strange World, Lightyear
2023: Elemental, The Super Mario Bros. Movie, Wish

Notable studios using RenderMan[edit]

North America[edit]

United States[edit]

Canada[edit]

Europe[edit]

United Kingdom[edit]

France[edit]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b Ponting, Bob (February 27, 1989). "Renderman Imaging Gets Vendor Support". InfoWorld. Vol. 11, no. 9. InfoWorld Media Group. pp. 19, 21.
  2. ^ "Free Non-Commercial RenderMan FAQ". RenderMan home. Pixar. Retrieved December 16, 2014. 1. When will Non-Commercial RenderMan be released? We are now targeting early 2015 for final release. [...]
  3. ^ a b "Pixar's RenderMan turns 25". 25 July 2013. Retrieved 2019-04-21.
  4. ^ "Pixar unveils RenderMan 21 | CG Channel". www.cgchannel.com. Retrieved July 22, 2016.
  5. ^ Fisher, Lawrence M. (2 April 1991). "Hard Times For Innovator In Graphics". New York Times.
  6. ^ "Pixar ships RenderMan 21 | CG Channel". www.cgchannel.com. Retrieved July 22, 2016.
  7. ^ "RenderMan: under the (new) varnish". May 14, 2015. Retrieved July 22, 2016.
  8. ^ "Pixar's RenderMan a true lasting effect | Hollywood Reporter". www.hollywoodreporter.com. 11 August 2008. Retrieved 2020-12-18.
  9. ^ "Pixar's RenderMan | About". renderman.pixar.com. Retrieved 2021-03-05.
  10. ^ And the Oscar goes to..., IEEE Spectrum, 2 April 2001.

External links[edit]

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