Pixar is one of the best known names in digital animation, famous for the likes of Toy Story, Monsters Inc., Ratatouille and Wall-E. This exhibition, part of a world tour, is doubtlessly appealing to Pixar fans, animation lovers and anyone with an interest in graphic art.

The exhibition begins with an explanation of Pixar’s film-making process, from the initial scripting through manual and digital storyboarding to clay maquettes and voice-overs. Interesting nuggets of info abound, such as the fact that mathematical equations are used to plot the individual strands of fur for Lotso from Toy Story 3. After this initial introduction to Pixar’s processes, the exhibition involves room after room of beautiful sketches, clay models, digital paintings and acrylics from the movies. Seeing the development of familiar characters is oddly poignant; sketches show that an early incarnation of Toy Story’s Woody from 1995 had a distinctly wider face.

As well as bringing characters alive and adding depth to our understanding of old favorites, this exhibition celebrates the talented artists behind the films. Some of the most impressive work comes from Japan-born Daisuke “Dice” Tsutsumi, and there are excellent sketches from Jay Shuster. A decal partway through the show explains that the most important aspect of creating a character is “capturing someone’s essence,” and it’s clear that Pixar’s artists work hard to embody this principle. Indeed, the skill of the artists becomes apparent as you walk through the exhibition, as well as the painstaking work that goes into making a Pixar movie.

One of the most interesting parts of the exhibition is the zoetrope presented to Pixar by Studio Ghibli. Updating early animation techniques coined in 1834, the device involves a series of beautifully executed figures from all three Toy Story films. When spun around and illuminated with flashes of light, the zoetrope appears to come alive: Buzz Lightyear bounces on a beach ball, Woody rides a bucking bronco, and Jessie twirls a lasso as minor characters run and caper below. In moving Pixar’s characters from the digital realm into actual 3-D, the device proves how timeless and enduring they really are.

DETAILS

What: Animamix Biennial

Where:MoCA

When:Now through Oct. 31

How much: Weekdays RMB70, weekends RMB100