William Reeves
Encyclopedia
William "Bill" Reeves is a pioneer in the field of computer graphics. He was the technical director who worked with John Lasseter
on the animation breakthrough shorts: Luxo Jr and The Adventures of André and Wally B.
.
After obtaining a Bachelor of Mathematics from the University of Waterloo
and completing a Ph.D. at the University of Toronto
, Reeves was hired by George Lucas
as a member of the LucasFilms Industrial Light and Magic, Computer Graphics Group. He was one of the founding employees of Pixar
when it was sold in 1986 to Steve Jobs
. Some of the patents he developed for Pixar earned international reputation. Reeves is the inventor of the first Motion Blur
algorithm and methods to simulate particle motion in CGI.
Lasseter and Reeves received the Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film (Oscar) in 1988 for their work on the film Tin Toy
. Their collaboration continued with Reeves acting as the Supervising Technical Director of the first feature length, computer-animated film: Toy Story
.
John Lasseter
John Alan Lasseter is an American animator, director and the chief creative officer at Pixar and Walt Disney Animation Studios. He is also currently the Principal Creative Advisor for Walt Disney Imagineering....
on the animation breakthrough shorts: Luxo Jr and The Adventures of André and Wally B.
The Adventures of André and Wally B.
The Adventures of André and Wally B. is an animated short made in 1984 by The Graphics Group , which was later spun out as a startup company called Pixar...
.
After obtaining a Bachelor of Mathematics from the University of Waterloo
University of Waterloo
The University of Waterloo is a comprehensive public university in the city of Waterloo, Ontario, Canada. The school was founded in 1957 by Drs. Gerry Hagey and Ira G. Needles, and has since grown to an institution of more than 30,000 students, faculty, and staff...
and completing a Ph.D. at the University of Toronto
University of Toronto
The University of Toronto is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, situated on the grounds that surround Queen's Park. It was founded by royal charter in 1827 as King's College, the first institution of higher learning in Upper Canada...
, Reeves was hired by George Lucas
George Lucas
George Walton Lucas, Jr. is an American film producer, screenwriter, and director, and entrepreneur. He is the founder, chairman and chief executive of Lucasfilm. He is best known as the creator of the space opera franchise Star Wars and the archaeologist-adventurer character Indiana Jones...
as a member of the LucasFilms Industrial Light and Magic, Computer Graphics Group. He was one of the founding employees of Pixar
Pixar
Pixar Animation Studios, pronounced , is an American computer animation film studio based in Emeryville, California. The studio has earned 26 Academy Awards, seven Golden Globes, and three Grammy Awards, among many other awards and acknowledgments. Its films have made over $6.3 billion worldwide...
when it was sold in 1986 to Steve Jobs
Steve Jobs
Steven Paul Jobs was an American businessman and inventor widely recognized as a charismatic pioneer of the personal computer revolution. He was co-founder, chairman, and chief executive officer of Apple Inc...
. Some of the patents he developed for Pixar earned international reputation. Reeves is the inventor of the first Motion Blur
Motion blur
Motion blur is the apparent streaking of rapidly moving objects in a still image or a sequence of images such as a movie or animation. It results when the image being recorded changes during the recording of a single frame, either due to rapid movement or long exposure.- Photography :When a camera...
algorithm and methods to simulate particle motion in CGI.
Lasseter and Reeves received the Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film (Oscar) in 1988 for their work on the film Tin Toy
Tin Toy
Tin Toy is a 1988 short film using computer animation. It was directed by John Lasseter and produced by Pixar. It was the first testing of PhotoRealistic RenderMan...
. Their collaboration continued with Reeves acting as the Supervising Technical Director of the first feature length, computer-animated film: Toy Story
Toy Story
Toy Story is a 1995 American computer-animated film released by Walt Disney Pictures. It is Pixar's first feature film as well as the first ever feature film to be made entirely with CGI. The film was directed by John Lasseter and featuring the voices of Tom Hanks and Tim Allen...
.
Filmography
- Star Trek: The Wrath of Khan (1982) (Computer Graphics Artist)
- Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the JediStar Wars Episode VI: Return of the JediStar Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi is a 1983 American epic space opera film directed by Richard Marquand and written by George Lucas and Lawrence Kasdan. It is the third film released in the Star Wars saga, and the sixth in terms of the series' internal chronology...
(1983) (Computer Graphics) - The Adventures of André and Wally B.The Adventures of André and Wally B.The Adventures of André and Wally B. is an animated short made in 1984 by The Graphics Group , which was later spun out as a startup company called Pixar...
(1984) (Forest Design And Rendering/Models) - Young Sherlock HolmesYoung Sherlock HolmesYoung Sherlock Holmes is a 1985 mystery/adventure film directed by Barry Levinson, produced by Steven Spielberg and written by Chris Columbus, based on characters by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle...
(1985) (Computer Animation) - Luxo Jr.Luxo Jr.Luxo Jr. is the first film produced in 1986 by Pixar Animation Studios, following its establishment as an independent film studio. It is a computer-animated short film , demonstrating the kind of things the newly-established company was capable of producing...
(1986) (Producer/Modeling/Rendering) - Red's DreamRed's DreamRed's Dream is a short film produced by Pixar Animation Studios and directed by John Lasseter, which was released in 1987. To date, this is the only short that has not been attached to one of Pixar's feature films in some form, the only Pixar short to be rendered on the Pixar Image Computer, and...
(1987) (Technical Director/Modeling And Animation Software) - Tin ToyTin ToyTin Toy is a 1988 short film using computer animation. It was directed by John Lasseter and produced by Pixar. It was the first testing of PhotoRealistic RenderMan...
(1988) (Producer/Technical Director/Modeler/Additional Animator) - Toy StoryToy StoryToy Story is a 1995 American computer-animated film released by Walt Disney Pictures. It is Pixar's first feature film as well as the first ever feature film to be made entirely with CGI. The film was directed by John Lasseter and featuring the voices of Tom Hanks and Tim Allen...
(1995) (Supervising Technical Director/Modeling/Animation System Development/Renderman Software Development) - A Bug's LifeA Bug's LifeA Bug's Life is a 1998 American computer animated adventure comedy film produced by Pixar and released by Walt Disney Pictures in the United States on November 25, 1998. A Bug's Life was the second Disney·Pixar feature film after Toy Story, and the third American computer-animated film after Toy...
(1998) (Supervising Technical Director) - Finding NemoFinding NemoFinding Nemo is a 2003 American comi-drama animated film written by Andrew Stanton, directed by Andrew Stanton and Lee Unkrich and produced by Pixar. It tells the story of the overly protective clownfish Marlin who, along with a regal tang called Dory , searches for his abducted son Nemo...
(2003) (Lead Technical Development) - RatatouilleRatatouilleRatatouille is a traditional French Provençal stewed vegetable dish, originating in Nice. The full name of the dish is ratatouille niçoise.- Origin :...
(2007) (Global Technology Supervisor)