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Pixar Story and Droid Makers are great books about the early days of animation. Pixar was the hardware/software group for early computer graphics at ILM, but Lu
by topherjaynes 4y ago
Pixar Story and Droid Makers are great books about the early days of animation. Pixar was the hardware/software group for early computer graphics at ILM, but Lucas needed money and sold the group to Jobs. They then go on to make Toy Story etc. I imagine some of the history is whitewashed, and I would love to read more documents like this. Check out Ed's book Creativity Inc, which discusses how they grew the company. Ed invented math at the University of Utah for early computer graphics, and after Toy Story wanted to figure out how to run the company. Being a leader probably wasn't natural to him, so again, I would be curious about how he handled situations like this. Especially when he took over Disney animation as well, he retired somewhat abruptly. I've always been curious about why since what a fantastic career and the opportunity to lead two different animation organizations! Ed has always been interesting. Still, I tend to read this letter optimistically that Alvy would even write it. There are no words minced. Did he think Ed would listen, so he wrote it? Some other posters said it's now fixed, so maybe he did something? I can't imagine writing a letter this scathing and accomplishing something. Again, what an environment they must have had.
- trop 4y agoAlso worth checking out Alvy Ray Smith's 2021 book, "A Biography of the Pixel". It is (from what I've read so far), much more in the history/theory of technology field, examining the math/technology behind resolving continuous to the discrete (waves to pixels, vectors to rasters, etc.), and the associated cultural/business/entertainment shifts. Not to be petty, but I see that to all appearances Smith is not, having given "Catmull, Edwin" about half a page of index entries. (The cover identifies Smith as "Cofounder of Pixar. And that there are index entries for "Pixar, origin and cofounding of, cofounded by Ed Catmull and Alvy Ray Smith" as well as for "Pixar, origin and cofounding of, not cofounded by Steve Jobs".)
- topherjaynes 4y agoInteresting. Also looked at Sith's site from OP url, and he has copies of the incorporation papers. This is under the corrective history. I'm guessing there are slights on both sides. And thanks for the book recommendation, I just ordered it.