Pixar: the Early Days a Never-Before-Seen 1996 Interview
Key topics
A rare 1996 interview with Pixar's early days has resurfaced, offering a glimpse into the studio's formative years. Commenters are digging into the insights from the interview, riffing on the creative tensions and innovative spirit that defined Pixar's rise. As they dissect the archival conversation, some are highlighting the parallels between Pixar's early struggles and the challenges faced by modern tech startups. The discussion is sparking nostalgia and fresh perspectives on the power of interdisciplinary collaboration and creative risk-taking.
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2h
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18-24h
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Based on 21 loaded comments
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- 01Story posted
Nov 21, 2025 at 3:45 PM EST
about 2 months ago
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Nov 21, 2025 at 5:39 PM EST
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6 comments in 18-24h
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Nov 24, 2025 at 5:05 AM EST
about 2 months ago
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It feels like there are some obvious parallels to what we're seeing in AI hiring, where you have a firm like Anthropic that openly acknowledges that they're not going to try to compete on comp but on culture, compared to Meta which is basically saying "we'll give you more money than god if you join our efforts to throw things at the wall and be part of this," and watching as people churn out even though the opportunity cost on the surface may be unfathomable.
Put another way: Steve truly understood the virtue and value of that cultural component to not just attract but _retain_ that kind of world-class talent, and _that's_ what he attributes Pixar's success to. He goes on to talk about how getting those disparate talent worlds to stick together for a decade, and how valuable that is.
Both Jobs and Pixar’s Ed Catmull believed this so strongly that they took illegal measures to protect it:
http://www.cartoonbrew.com/artist-rights/ed-catmull-on-wage-...
I really love this kind of culture. Life is grey without being challenged to the limit.
How many 8-year-olds could pick out Snow White in a line-up?
Literally all of them. You obviously dont have kids!
So... yeah. Though there is a slight diminishment in the sense of its aesthetics, it objectively continues to be relevant, seeing as it was literally in theaters this year.
(I was locked out of the embedded player on suspicion of being a bot)