Masters of Scale Pixar’s Ed Catmull: Throw out your rules
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Dec 5, 2023 
Ed Catmull, co-founder of Pixar and president of Walt Disney Animation Studios, shares his insights on creativity and leadership. He emphasizes that there’s no perfect process for achieving goals; rules need constant re-evaluation to foster innovation. Ed reveals the impact of Steve Jobs’ evolving leadership style on company culture and discusses the transition from short films to Pixar's full-length features, highlighting the importance of collaboration and open communication in driving creative success.
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Jobs's Humor
- Steve Jobs, known for his demanding nature, surprised many by having Noah Wyle impersonate him at Macworld '99.
- This playful act demonstrated a shift in Jobs's personality towards greater empathy and humor.
Early Influences
- Ed Catmull's childhood passions included both animation, sparked by Walt Disney, and science, inspired by Einstein.
- This blend of art and science foreshadowed his pioneering work in computer graphics.
Creating New Software
- In graduate school, Ed Catmull found existing computer graphics software limiting.
- He and Fred Park wrote their own, creating foundational works in computer animation, including a digitized hand.