JOHN LASSETER
John Lasseter is amongst the greatest names in 3D animation history. If not the greatest. Lasseter, the former CEO and creative officer for Pixar and Walt Disney Animation Studios. He alongside Steve Jobs founded the studio we now now as Pixar. From 1986-2018 he was the front face of the business whilst also overlooking Walt Disney Animations from 1979-1983 then from 2006-2018. The father of 5 started his career as an animator for Disney but was fired for promoting 3D animation. He moved on to Lucasfilm where he worked on the start of the groundbreaking discovery that was CGI. In 1986 Lucasfilm computer graphics was bought by Steve Jobs. Since the buyout John oversaw all Pixar films till his departure in 2018 as executive producer and Directed 5 films, including Toy Story, the film that put Pixar on the map and changed the 3D animation game forever. The films he has made and produced have generated over $19 billion USD, making him one of the most successful filmmakers of all time. Johns training was a very lucky one. He attended the California Institute Of The Arts (CalArts) in 1975, and was trained by 3 of the 9 animators that made up Walt Disney's "9 Old Men". This in itself is a huge opportunity. The reason John is one of my inspirations is due to the fact he was so determined to stand up for what he believed in and not let it slip away. Despite being fired from a top animation company early into his career, he pushed through and created his own multi-billion dollar studio, where to this day it never ceases to amaze. John to me seems like a good role model for pursuing your dreams and being unique in doing so. He as a person seems so fun and witty, especially through his infamous Hawaiian shirts collection! Not to mention that his animation style and short film ideas were out of this world!
Jacob Frey
Jacob Frey is a 36 year old, award-winning animator from Germany. He has created many a short film that open and take part in film festivals each year around the world. The director has won over 100 awards, most notably from his multi award winning short film; "The Present". This film sees a boy obsessed with gaming receive a dog. After learning the puppy has 3 legs he casts the dog aside. Throughout the film the boy learns to love the dog and eventually takes the pup outside to play fetch. We learn that he too is an amputee, missing a leg. This seriously emotional short film fills you with all emotions and gained over 150 million views on YouTube alone, still rising! The film even landed Jacob a straight offer to work for Disney Animation Studios. Since its release Jacob has worked on "Zootopia/Zootropolis" and "Moana" with Disney, "The Secret Life Of Pets" with Illumination. He also worked on the film "Room On The Broom". Jacob works on Autodesk Maya, like myself and is an amazing inspiration and ambassador for what I could one day be. His creative directing and story telling is one thing I hope to have in my life. The fact he worked so hard to produce something so stunning (not just visually) and to be rewarded with a job at Disney is why he is my personal inspiration.
Watch the short film below
Watch the short film below
Dr. Ed Catmull
Dr. Edwin Catmull earned his PhD in computer science and a B.S. in physics, then was later awarded a "Doctoral Degree" in Engineering. He was also a co-founder of Pixar alongside John Lasseter and Steve Jobs and was president at Walt Disney Studios. He was also Vice President of the Computer Division at Lucasfilm. Ed has earned 5 Academy Awards, the Academy Award of Merit, the Gordeon E. Sawyer Lifetime Achievement Award, 2 Scientific and Engineering Awards and a Technical Achievement Award. He also bagged the Ub Iwerks Award for 'technical advancements in the art or industry of animation'. This mans contribution to the technical advancements in the animation industry are just incredible. The industry honour him constantly.
Catmull found inspiration in a lot of Disney movies, including Ptere pan and Pinocchio and dreamt of becoming a feature film animator. In spare times he made animations using flip-books. In 1969, Catmull graduated, with a B.S. in physics and computer science from the University of Utah and then met Ivan Sutherland, who had designed the computer drawing program called Sketchpad which is what put the feul in his rocket to propel him into the industry. In 1972, he made his earliest contribution to the film industry in the form of an animated version of his left hand, which was later picked up by a Hollywood producer who then included the sequence in the 1976 movie Futureworld. This film was the first film to use 3D computer animation. The one-minute sequence was created with a man by the name of Fred Parke, who too attended the University of Utah.
The text above shows quite clearly just how great this man is and how inspirational he is to anyone in the industry!
Catmull found inspiration in a lot of Disney movies, including Ptere pan and Pinocchio and dreamt of becoming a feature film animator. In spare times he made animations using flip-books. In 1969, Catmull graduated, with a B.S. in physics and computer science from the University of Utah and then met Ivan Sutherland, who had designed the computer drawing program called Sketchpad which is what put the feul in his rocket to propel him into the industry. In 1972, he made his earliest contribution to the film industry in the form of an animated version of his left hand, which was later picked up by a Hollywood producer who then included the sequence in the 1976 movie Futureworld. This film was the first film to use 3D computer animation. The one-minute sequence was created with a man by the name of Fred Parke, who too attended the University of Utah.
The text above shows quite clearly just how great this man is and how inspirational he is to anyone in the industry!
Dominique R. Louis
Dominique R. Louis was the development art director on 2006's Ratatouille and he joined Pixar in 1998. He also took the role of an art director on Monsters Inc. and did visual development work for Finding Nemo and UP. He also contributed to the shorts "The Adventures of Mr. Incredible," "Lifted," and "Mater and the Ghostlight." Louis also provided the voice of small crook Bomb Voyage seen early on in The Incredibles. Prior to coming to Pixar, Louis worked as a visual development artist and character designer at Warner Brothers Animation, he worked on both, A Quest For Camelot and The Iron Giant.
For me Dominique is an inspiration because of his art style. Yes he has done well in the industry but his art style is stunning and draws so many in. He creates a story in one picture.
For me Dominique is an inspiration because of his art style. Yes he has done well in the industry but his art style is stunning and draws so many in. He creates a story in one picture.
Teddy Newton
Teddy Newton Joined Pixar in July of 2000 to work on The Incredibles and has since contributed his considerable character design skills to many of Pixar’s award-winning feature and short films, including Ratatouille, Your Friend the Rat and Presto. He was also an instrumental in the creation of the end title sequences of The Incredibles and Ratatouille and is frequently cast as a voice in Pixar films, including the role of Chatter Telephone in the feature film Toy Story 3. Newton earned an Academy Award nomination for his direction in the short film “Day & Night,” which was released in 2010 as the short film playing before Toy Story 3.
Prior to coming to Pixar, Newton also worked in the story department and in character design at Warner Bros. on The Iron Giant and he also served as writer/producer for the independent feature film The Trouble with Lou. Newton grew up in Dana Point, California, and attended California Institute of the Arts (Cal Arts). He is currently developing a feature animated film for Warner Bros where he began and was inspired by with the early animation. He also is inspired by the works of artist Al Hirschfeld.
Newton has created one of my all time favourite concept art pieces, (as seen below) I even used it in my 2020 FMP. He is an inspiration because he proves how much you can do in the industry and he is so versatile and talented in doing so. He has worked in all the departments I would want to work in.
Prior to coming to Pixar, Newton also worked in the story department and in character design at Warner Bros. on The Iron Giant and he also served as writer/producer for the independent feature film The Trouble with Lou. Newton grew up in Dana Point, California, and attended California Institute of the Arts (Cal Arts). He is currently developing a feature animated film for Warner Bros where he began and was inspired by with the early animation. He also is inspired by the works of artist Al Hirschfeld.
Newton has created one of my all time favourite concept art pieces, (as seen below) I even used it in my 2020 FMP. He is an inspiration because he proves how much you can do in the industry and he is so versatile and talented in doing so. He has worked in all the departments I would want to work in.