"In 1986, Ed Catmull co-founded Pixar, a modest start-up with an immodest goal: to make the first-ever computer animated movie. Nine years later, Pixar released Toy Story, which went on to revolutionize the industry, gross $360 million, and establish Pixar as one of the most successful, innovative, and emulated companies on earth. This book details how Catmull built an enduring creative culture -- one that doesn't just pay lip service to the importance of things like honesty, communication, and originality, but committed to them, no matter how difficult that often proved to be. As he discovered, pursuing excellence isn't a one-off assignment. It's an ongoing, day-in, day-out, full-time job. And one he was born to do"-- Provided by publisher.

Includes index.

Introduction: Lost and found -- Getting started. Animated ; Pixar is born ; A defining goal ; Establishing Pixar's identity -- Protecting the new. Honesty and candor ; Fear and failure ; The hungry beast and the ugly baby ; Change and randomness ; The hidden -- Building and sustaining. Broadening our view ; The unmade future -- Testing what we know. A new challenge ; Notes day -- Afterword: The Steve we knew -- Starting points: Thoughts for managing a creative culture.