see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Pixar_staff

Pixar needs about 4 a 5 people to make a short, I estimate it takes them say 2 months.

the famous Killer Bean 2 (7 min, no fancy lighting or any kind of realism, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yMAkMLx-fqs) took Jeff Lew three years on his own computer. Don't know if he had a day job too but I guess so.

My own 3 min animations (http://www.artb.artbeeweb.nl/e107_expose/expose.php?album=10) took about 3 months = 600 - 1000 hours, either to get the scenes and story done (merry go round), either to get the rendering done (mirror in mirror). Cinema4D.

have fun.

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Usually I'm wrong. But to be effective and efficient, I don't need to be correct or accurate.

visit www.aRtBeeWeb.nl (works) or Missing Manuals (tutorials & reviews) - both need an update though