The Original Spline Doctor
Adam Burke and I did a great interview with Ed Catmull. Thanks to everyone who sent us questions. Special thanks to Ed for doing the interview and to Adam for setting it up. The fact that Ed made time to do this interview says alot about him and the kind of company he runs
Download: Ed Catmull Splinecast
Lefty
You guys are so amazing at doing this. These interviews bring so much inspiration to us, at least for me that is, in all aspects of animation. I have nothing but total respect for the people at Pixar. And especially for you guys for doing such a good job setting up this blog. A really huge thanks for doing this guys!! Keep up the good work! I’m always looking forward to your future posts! Cheers!
Lel
Comming from someone who cried when they heard Disney had closed down its last 2D animation studio (actually kinda of embarrassing as there were a few people around) I almost wet my pants with excitment to hear how Disney is approaching the art for the future.
Thank you so much for this post, you have very literally made my day…wait scrap that, you’ve made my entire year!!
Anonymous
Fastastic interview, thanks guys.
It’s really interesting to hear from somebody as smart and inspirational as Ed Catmull, who also happens to come at the industry from a different angle.
Keep up the good work!
vineet
great interview, i’m really impressed with the depth of the questions you posed. thanks a lot…….any chance Doug Sweetland wants to talk?
Marcos Gp
You guys are so generous, thanks a lot
Germán
thanks so much for this. It was really inspiring to hear. keep up the good work. Sound quality was great, too.
Anonymous
Thank you so much guys!
I love this blog and all these amazing interviews. Such great inspiration to listen to while at work.
Anonymous
Ed has an awesome radio voice. He would make a cool DJ!
Bobby Pontillas
Thank God for Ed Catmull.
Another stellar splinecast guys, great to hear much he covets hand drawn animation.
Davipalooza
I think this is the best interview you guys have done yet. Ed was able to sum up 3d history in a matter of minutes and keep in interesting (something my college professors could not do). He is very intelligent and is a great inspiration. Any chance of interviews with Steve Jobs and John Lasseter? Awesome sound quality by the way.
Anonymous
Great interview.
I wish I had posted a question to ask Ed about the return of 2D Animation to Disney , but after the fact I’ll just throw it out there :
There are rumors all over that large portions of the upcoming Disney hand-drawn feature film “The Princess and the Frog” will be outsourced , rather than all of it being done in-house at Disney . It seems inconceivable that the animation on a Pixar film would ever be outsourced to another company , so why is Disney 2D animation different ? If they’d never do it with a Pixar film why would Ed and John consider it for Disney 2D ?
AJ Jefferies
Thank you so much for yet another great interview. It was truly fascinating & like most people listening I now *wish* my boss(es) had the same insight, intelligence & sensibilities.
Once again, thank you!
Nick
I can’t imagine being able to say…”Z-buffer, yeah that was me”…
Total great way to pick up chicks…
Heather
This site is very impressive. Thanks for all the amazing posts. Working at Pixar has to be a blast. I can only hope that one day I too can experience Pixar. Thanks again for the post they are really great.
:O)
Heather Kilber
Nicholas Kelley
Wow Ed its so smart. I didn’t want to
conversation to end because his outlook on things are very thought provoking. I think I may listen again
and take notes this time!
Thanks Spline Docters!
Sheldon Kruger
That was an amazing interview. Thank you so much Doctors. These spline casts are perfect to listen to while I animate.
Daniel M.C. Alvite
ual
That was inspiring, again i heard “try to be really good at something”, and “it’s not easy”, thanks, it gave me confidence to keep going, learning, practising, sometimes i smash my had on the wall but it’s necessary, I learn from mistekes, just do it.
Thanks guys.
Jett
Thanks so much for your (and Ed’s time) in putting this particular ‘cast together.
Have you thought about interviewing anyone from the layout department? Considering they are the ones who transition the film from storyboard to ready to pass off to the animator I think hearing about that process would be fascinating to hear about.
Thanks again!
Rene Barrera
I really enjoyed the interview with Dr. Catmull. Thank you! I really enjoyed what he had to say about the future of 2D animation. It really gives me hope for the future of the medium.
Keep up the great works, Docs!
s-hooks
Thank you for sharing! I am a huge fan of Dr. Catmull.
He’s so right on about Walt Disney. I think he’d be happy to know Ed’s in there now taking care of business.
Great job!
Rene Barrera
One more thing…
I just want to comment on what Dr. Catmull said about taking risks. When Walt was around, he was always taking risks. He had no idea how Fantasia was going to turn out, but he knew he had to make it. It’s nice to know that Pixar is taking those same risks. Dr. Catmull said they have no idea if a film is going to work, and yet they do. Keep taking risks. It only strengthens the medium. It goes with what Brad Bird said about being brought on to Pixar, “They didn’t want to become complacent.” You cannot keep repeating the same story over and over again and expect them to work. To be creative, you have to take risks.
Anonymous
@rene barrera…
Walt had no idea how Fantasia was going to turn out? I think the record shows he had VERY specific ideas and expectations. He made it because he thought it would be a hit. And he was quite disappointed when it wasn’t.
Anthony Ross
All of these splinecasts are so inspiring as an animator. You guys are so generous for sharing your talents and ideas. I hope one day to work with all of you at Pixar and maybe even.. become a spline doctor