Innovation, Inc.

Abstract

Not long ago, it seemed far-fetched to think that feature films could be made on computers. Pixar co-founder Ed Catmull is interviewed regarding how his company turned improbability into reality with the blockbusters Toy Story, A Bug's Life, and Monsters, Inc. Catmull was recruited by George Lucas to start up the computer division of Lucasfilm. Steve Jobs bought the division from Lucas in 1986, and they founded Pixar. Creating a feature film was such a long-range goal that Pixar needed other smaller goals along the way. The company works hard on the culture. The firm has tried hard to make sure that the technical people and creative people are peers. After its fantastic success with Toy Story, Catmull was shocked because, amidst all the excitement, he had missed that there were problems. People should beware of being blinded by their own success.