Heads Up, Parents: Pixar Is Coming To Minnesota's Science Museum

The Science Museum of Minnesota announced Tuesday that it will host The Science Behind Pixar, a 12,000 square-foot exhibit inspired by the science and technology behind some of the most beloved animated films and their characters.

The colorful interactive exhibit will open at the Science Museum on Friday, June 9. The Science Museum of Minnesota is only the fourth museum in the nation to host The Science Behind Pixar.

Created by the Museum of Science, Boston and Pixar Animation Studios, and featuring more than 40 interactive elements, the exhibit demonstrates the technology that supports the creativity and artistry of Pixar’s storytellers.

The exhibition is broken into eight distinct sections, each focusing on a step of the filmmaking process — Modeling, Rigging, Surfaces, Sets & Cameras, Animation, Simulation, Lighting, and Rendering — providing visitors with a unique view of the production pipeline and concepts used at Pixar every day.

Visitors of all ages will engage in and learn about the filmmaking process through hands-on activities inspired by some of Pixar’s most treasured films, from the first-ever computer animated feature film Toy Story, which opened nearly two decades ago, to Pixar’s summer 2015 release, Inside Out.

Visitors will come face-to-face with re-creations of their favorite Pixar film characters, including Buzz Lightyear, Dory, Mike and Sulley, Edna Mode, and WALL•E, according to a news release.

“The Science Behind Pixar will bring the perfect blend of popular culture, art, and science to the Science Museum this summer,” Science Museum of Minnesota president Alison Rempel Brown said in a statement. “So much goes into creating what looks like the magic of Pixar films — and much of it stems from creative problem solving and computational thinking. Visitors are going to love what this exhibit has to offer them regarding science learning, nostalgia, and hands-on fun.”

Priority Ticket Information

Tickets for The Science Behind Pixar will go on sale to the general public in May. Visitors who wish to get a jump on ticket sales may join the Science Museum’s Ticket Priority List.

Those who sign up will have the opportunity to purchase tickets before they go on sale to the general public and will receive periodic email updates about the exhibit and special events, including an adults-only preview.

Visitor Information

Admission to the Science Museum and The Science Behind Pixar will be $28.95 for adults, 22.95 for kids ages 4 to 12 and seniors age 65 and older. Discounts are available for Science Museum members, groups of 15 or more, and individuals with limited incomes.

Tickets will be timed and dated, so visitors will be asked to choose a date for their visit and a specific entry time for The Science Behind Pixar.

Image via The Science Museum of Minnesota