It used to be a widely accepted fact that Pixar was the American studio on the cutting edge of CG animation. Ever since it came out of the gate swinging with the animated masterpiece Toy Story, Pixar consistently released high-quality, high-concept films that tested the boundaries of 3D animation and tugged at our heartstrings. Soon, the entire industry followed its example, with Disney and every other animation studio quickly making the switch from 2D animation to 3D.
But Pixar’s success has waned over the last decade. Its sequels began to outnumber its original films, and its films started to become more forgettable (Onward) or less critically acclaimed (RIP Cars 2). Either way, Pixar was no longer leading the American animation pack, and now an unlikely rival has taken its place.
