S3E01: Wizard of Awe: Peek Behind the Pixar Curtain with Ed Catmull

Paint & Pipette: The Art & Science of Innovation

Today on the show, we have a great conversation with Edwin Catmull, the Founder and former CEO at Pixar and former CEO of Disney Animation Studios. Edwin dives deep into some of the ideas that he shared in his book Creativity Inc., so you can expect a real masterclass on the creative process and how this translates to high-level teams. We get into some insightful discussions on the objectivity problem, learning by doing, the dangers of overestimating past successes, and the constancy of change. Edwin also makes amazing arguments for why learning should be centralized in the creative process and how balance is often struck through forward motion. Along the way, you can expect to hear some colorful anecdotes about some of the beloved movies that Edwin was involved in, including Zootopia, Finding Nemo, and Monsters University. The wonderful thing about this conversation is how specific it is to the world of animated films, but also how these lessons and ideas translate for leaders in any field. Make sure to join us to hear it all!

Key Points From This Episode:

• Edwin shares the story of the 'Zootopia incident' and the point it illustrates.
• How a team can hold onto an element of a film that they love but is not working.
• Solving the objectivity problem by drawing on trusted outside perspectives.
• Assessing the group dynamic and sketching the role of the person in charge of gauging this.
• Edwin comments on the place of customer feedback in internal discussions.
• Reflecting on the failure of the Blue-Footed Newt project and why this and other initiatives might not have worked.
• Explaining the reasons and roots for the 'three pitches rule'.
• The importance of protecting new ideas and how Edwin approaches this.
• Thoughts on assessing the creative process; Edwin talks about best practices for great hires.
• Creating a trusting environment for interns and why this is so beneficial for all involved.
• Edwin's tactics for identifying assumptions and how he looks for what he is missing at any given time.
• Why our ideas about the past are as misleading as our predictions for the future!
• Making use of deeper research trips to enhance an audience's sense of the truth.
• Unpacking the real reasons for Steve Jobs' strength and success.

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Edwin Catmull

Creativity Inc.: Overcoming the Unseen Forces that Stand in the Way of True Inspiration

Pixar

Walt Disney Animation Studios

Lucasfilm

Andrew Stanton

Zootopia

Inside Out

WALL-E

Finding Nemo

Toy Story

A Bug's Life

Marcus Hollinger

Jeremy Utley

Reach Records

Portrait Coffee