Luxo Jr. is a landmark two-minute animated short from 1986, directed by John Lasseter the same year Pixar was founded. Though simple — a larger desk lamp (Luxo Sr.) watches a smaller, playful lamp (Luxo Jr.) bounce a ball — the short was revolutionary, showcasing computer animation’s potential for character, emotion, and storytelling.
Inspired by a coworker’s baby, Lasseter imagined how a childlike lamp might behave, leading to this now-iconic experiment. While the narrative is minimal, the film’s attention to detail — the fluid motion of cables, realistic lighting, shadows, and expressive timing — pushed CGI to new heights and proved it could do more than just technical demos.
Luxo Jr. was Pixar’s first official project after Lasseter and Ed Catmull left Lucasfilm’s Computer Division, and it helped redefine animation’s future. The title character went on to become Pixar’s mascot, appearing in the studio’s logo ever since Toy Story (1995). What began as a test became a symbol of Pixar’s innovation, and storytelling vision.
Credits
Directed and Animated by: John Lasseter
Executive Producer: Ed Catmull
Developed at: Pixar Animation Studios
Original Release: 1986
Software: Custom in-house Pixar tools and early Renderman tech
