So you wanna work at Pixar?

        Pixar is one of the powerhouse animation companies of this world. So of course you've thought about working at it. Which is why there's an interview with animation mentor Nate Wall. What better way to learn what it is like to work at Pixar than from an employee himself?

        A typical day at Pixar starts with a coffee, a few chats before jumping into work, animation dailies, and then the rest of the day in an office drawing or animating or studying with the potential of another meeting happening at some other point. Wall explains to readers what dailies are. He says they may be the most amazing and valuable part of the job. They are the department's opportunity to meet with the director and show the work that has been done. They are a great way to start work. And while they are not unique to Pixar, the studio has truly forged them into something special. he says that it is a loud affair and that anyone in the room can give notes and speak up with ideas and opinions in service of the shot and the story. Of course, egos are left at the door and everyone is cooperative. The director has the final say, and he says that Pixar is lucky to have directors that engage with the dailies process so readily. To sum it up, he says, what defines a Pixar animation daily is humility. It is humbling to show your work to a room full of artists, and have them show theirs right back with the same humility. Humility is key, they all serve the story. He then explains that to serve the story means that he most powerful way every person can contribute is to make every decisions based around the central idea that they serve the story. Story doesn't make the animation, the animation follows and understands the story.

         Nate says that his favorite kind of shots are anything that takes something you've seen before and makes it new. It could squeeze some new meaning out of a moment, like when the character is profoundly sad but keeps a brave smile on the entire time. He wishes he could redo many of his scenes. It is frequent that he watches his finaled shots and wants them back. But also that is natural, as an artist is their own worst critic. The biggest challenge faced at Pixar is that feeling that there is never enough time. And personally for Wall it is balancing his time and effort with his emotions and sometimes anxiety. A job at Pixar is a Job, not a side passion project you can spend leisure years on.

         The interview with Nate Well ends with asking why he does what he does. He says it is because he loves the process. Working for just the final product can be daunting. But he loves the process, and wants to make something meaningful. Animation can be a tough business, but if you can get into the swing of it, I'm sure you can love it.

        This was a good article because it gave an inner perspective of working at Pixar. It was cool to read someone opinions of what he does day in and day out and how he feels about it.

        I want to hear other perspectives. Or just more. Like how he really fully breaks his days down or more about how meetings go. It would give a wider perspective.