Pixar, the animation studio powerhouse with Steve Jobs as its CEO, has reported first quarter earnings that soundly beat expectations, reports TheStreet.com. Earnings came in at US$81.9 million, or 67 cents per share, up from the year-ago profit of $26.7 million, or 23 cents a share. Revenue increased to $161.2 million from $53.8 million a year earlier, which is attributed to strong sales of the company’s latest DVD release, “The Incredibles.” In after-market trading Thursday, Pixar shares rose $2.78 to $49.05.