Producers Guild to salute Pixar

Studio given kudos for computer graphics work, feature films

By DAVE MCNARY

HOLLYWOOD -- The Producers Guild of America has tapped Pixar Animation Studios the recipient of its new Vanguard Award, which recognizes achievement in new media and technology.

Pixar chiefs Ed Catmull, John Lasseter and Steve Jobs are slated to accept the kudos at the PGA Awards, March 3 at the Century Plaza Hotel in Los Angeles.

The PGA cited Pixar's work in computer graphics and its four hit features, "Toy Story," "A Bug's Life," "Toy Story 2" and "Monsters, Inc."

"Their Academy Award-winning RenderMan software propelled computer graphics into mainstream moviemaking by allowing computer-generated images to blend in seamlessly with live-action scenes," the org said. "RenderMan has been used in 26 of the last 30 films nominated for a visual effects Oscar."

PGA Awards co-chairs Bruce Cohen and Debra Hill said, "Pixar's groundbreaking body of work has created a whole new genre of filmmaking and has entertained a new generation of filmgoers. They are the perfect premiere recipients of this new award."