Final answer:
Pixar's first Academy Award was an Oscar for Best Animated Short Film for 'Tin Toy' in 1988. This marked the beginnings of Pixar's successful run in animated movies and the eventual acknowledgement of the need for diverse leads and stories in animation, highlighted by the subsequent release of 'Brave'.
Step-by-step explanation:
Pixar's first Academy Award was for the 1988 short film Tin Toy, which won an Oscar for Best Animated Short Film. This triumph for Pixar underscored the studio’s dedication to innovation and storytelling in animation. It also marked a significant milestone, as Pixar later went on to produce feature films with widespread acclaim, including titles like Toy Story, Cars, The Incredibles, and Up. Despite their success, it wasn't until the release of Brave in 2012 that Pixar introduced a female lead, reflecting a shift towards greater representation in its films. The importance of diversity and representation at the Oscars has been increasingly recognized, as seen in efforts by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and controversies surrounding the voting bodies' composition. Pixar's achievement with its first Oscar win serves as a foundation for its ongoing legacy in the film industry.