Talented people and a lot of money have given Pixar an advantage, but their success has come from their creative ideas. Pixar is known for being at the forefront of innovation by using the latest technology to develop its concepts. While many other animators were still illustrating traditionally, Pixar was taking chances on young college graduates that were skilled in computer animation. They set up a base in San Francisco, far from California's animation capital, Los Angeles, and it didn't take long before the magic started happening.
Pixar's risks and business strategies paved the way for a new generation of animation. Their movies are made using CGI, a special type of computer graphics. Unlike regular movies, Pixar creates locations in computers instead of on land. Actors come into the studio to voice the characters, and the illustrators rely on them for inspiration when animating characters. Pixar movies have also inspired others to follow suit, such as DreamWorks Animation. Although their first release was in 1998, DreamWorks has released nearly double the movies compared with that of Pixar. Regardless, Pixar has changed the way children and adults all over the world watch movies and has consistently offered everyone something to enjoy.
be at / in the forefront of... 處於……的領先地位；位於……的最前列
My father's company is at the forefront of computer technology.
我父親的公司在電腦科技業領先群雄。
innovation n. 創新（不可數）； 新發明（可數）
The 21st century is a time of innovations and challenges.
二十一世紀是創新與挑戰的時代。
illustrate vt. 為……畫插圖；說明
Janet illustrated children's books for a living.
珍妮特以替兒童書籍畫插圖維生。
pave the way for... 為……鋪平道路／創造條件
My law degree paved the way for my success.
我的法學學位為我的成功鋪路。
voice vt. 為（動畫）配音；表達
David voiced his protest clearly.
大衛清楚地表達了他的抗議。
rely on... 依賴……
= depend on...
Nathan relies on two cups of coffee to get him started each morning.
納森每天早上靠兩杯咖啡開始一整天的生活。
follow suit 跟進，跟著照做
Ed took out a cigarette, and his younger brother followed suit.
愛德拿出香煙，而他弟弟也有樣學樣。
compare with... 與……比較
Bill's salary doesn't compare with mine.
比爾的薪水比不上我。
＊ graphics n. （電腦）繪圖（恆用複數）
『擅長／精通於……』的說法
本文 "...that were skilled in computer animation." 中的 be skilled in... 表『擅長／精通於……』。也等於be proficient in / at...、be good at...、be adept in / at...。例：
John is adept in painting.
= John is skilled in painting.
= John is good at painting.
（約翰擅長作畫。）
May is proficient in English and Japanese, not to mention her native Mandarin.
（阿美精通英日語，更別說她的母語國語了。）
