Summary
David Price traces Pixar’s development from its roots in computer graphics to its success in animated films and its sale to Disney. The history follows the people who joined technical skill with a long ambition to make feature films, including Ed Catmull, Alvy Ray Smith and John Lasseter. Steve Jobs appears as a financier and leader, while disputes with Disney form part of the company’s story.
Why read it Our view
This history is useful for thinking about a company whose strongest work begins as a sideline. Read for the relationship between technical ambition, creative talent and continued funding, and for the demands of working with a powerful partner.
Written about
- Ed CatmullCompany-history subjectPrice’s history follows the company Catmull co-founded. In the publisher’s author interview, Price discusses Catmull and Alvy Ray Smith’s role in Pixar’s early technical work. This is company coverage, not proof Catmull read or endorsed the book.Source
- Steve JobsCompany-history subjectJobs is one of the business figures in Price’s account of Pixar’s development and relationship with Disney.Source