Ed Catmull Books

Big creative achievements often begin as improbable obsessions. For Ed Catmull, the dream was not simply to work in film or technology, but to bring the two together by making the world’s first computer-animated feature film. At a time when such a goal seemed almost absurd, Catmull was drawn to both...

From Creativity, Inc.

Great organizations are rarely born from a perfect plan. Pixar emerged through a messy chain of events involving research labs, filmmaking technology, entrepreneurial risk, and the persistence of people who believed in a future others could not yet see. Catmull first worked in the computer division ...

From Creativity, Inc.

A brilliant idea is only the beginning; what matters is whether a team can improve weak early versions into something extraordinary. The making of Toy Story demonstrated one of Catmull’s most important beliefs: early drafts are supposed to be flawed. Pixar’s first feature was historic, but it was al...

From Creativity, Inc.

Honest feedback is uncomfortable, but without it, creative organizations slowly drift into mediocrity. Catmull argues that one of the leader’s most important jobs is to create an environment where people can tell each other the truth, especially when the truth is inconvenient. At Pixar, this princip...

From Creativity, Inc.

Failure is painful, but false success can be even more dangerous. Catmull makes a subtle but powerful point: when a project succeeds, people often assume the process behind it was sound. In reality, good outcomes can conceal poor decisions, weak communication, or lucky escapes. Failure, by contrast,...

From Creativity, Inc.

The most valuable parts of innovation are often invisible at first. Catmull repeatedly argues that leadership is not about controlling creativity but about protecting the conditions in which unexpected ideas can develop. Because original work begins uncertain and fragile, it is easy for organization...

From Creativity, Inc.