“If you take a great idea and give it to a mediocre group of people, they will return a bad product. If you give a mediocre idea to a great group of people, they will deliver something amazing.” Pixar’s idea of a project worth fighting for could be summed up in one simple word: story. If you have a good story in which you believe in, the rest is up to how much hard work and time you are willing to put into it. Pixar’s philosophy works like a charm always, for they are not trying to make a movie that will give them a lot of profit, they try to make a movie the audience will fall in love with. For this, I believe Pixar’s magic relies in their idea of greatness and the philosophy they follow to achieve it.
Pixar is all about story telling. A great story comes from the heart and not from the wallet. They hope that if they have a unique and exciting plot, people will just enjoy it without sacrificing their ideals for some extra cash. Taking chances is a major aspect in the development process inside the company. Who would think that a love between two machines could be a heart-moving story? Or, that a rat could be called the best chef in France? Not being afraid to create something different is what takes Pixar’s movies to the next level. The first and most important part of a movie is the part where they sit to think what they want to create and how they want to set free that particular idea. If they do not convey on which feelings are about to be imprinted in their tale, no other action can take place.
Another important aspect of Pixar (and probably the most) is the community they have created. It is not the building nor the company name that made the people, the people inside is what has made Pixar such an amazing place. Trust is the base for any relationship; it is just like that in any corporation. If you cannot trust the guy who is working right next to you (you have the same goal!), why should you trust in anything you are making together? Getting along with your co-workers and superiors leads to a better environment, therefore to a better job. Pixar wants their employees to feel safe. Lets face it, no one likes to work under pressure, add that to a lousy work schedule and a horrendous atmosphere and you have a recipe for disaster. If you feel safe, you work better and you can make the creative process (which is the bottom of this whole deal) a swifter and healthier one.
Remember that time when you wanted to ask your boss something but could not get past your superior, then discovered your superior took your idea and gave it to your boss, and now you are back to cleaning tables and your superior has a better office now? No? Never been there? Anyway, point is, stuff like this cannot happen in Pixar. Going back to relationships, now we will mention communication. It is free, and anyone can have it with anyone in the company. Keeping an open mind to fresh ideas will assure that fantastic stories just keep coming, in quantity and quality (“Not everyone can cook, but a great cook can come from anywhere!”). Another column of this institution, and way of living, is the group of experts they have to watch over every story they are producing. Lead by Steve Jobs, John Lasseter and Ed Catmull, the creative team makes sure to watch over any job they have. Taking care of every single detail and making sure the new project stays true to their principles is what they do best. It is only when this guys give the thumbs up that the real work begins.
Keeping faithful to their set of rules is what has made Pixar one of the greatest companies in the filmmaking business. Any studio can only dream with the success that can be found in every Pixar movie. Animating is basically “to give life” and giving life to this creative power has not always been an easy task, yet awesomeness can be found in every corner of the building. Pixar’s attitude has become a way of life for all this men and women, and now is a force to be reckoned with in the industry. For this, (and also a non-mentioned cereal bar inside the offices) I believe Pixar’s magic relies in their idea of greatness and the philosophy they follow to achieve it.
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