Pixar’s “Dream Retreats”

In our best-selling book, The Disney Way, we write that “Dream Retreats Inspire Creativity.” The “dream retreat” frees people from their daily routines and places them in an atmosphere that encourages a “childlike” expression of their dreams. Many of our clients have derived enormous benefits from allowing their employees to gather off-site to begin a planning process for creative change that ultimately revolutionizes a culture.

In our soon-to-be-released book, Innovate the Pixar Way, we describe how the original Toy Story team came together in a “dream retreat” to bring to life a story about buddies—guys who might have had a rocky start to their relationship but who became friends for a greater cause. They were living the theme song…You’ve Got a Friend in Me!

This month, John Lasseter spoke to a group at the first annual D23 Convention (Bob Iger, President and CEO of The Walt Disney Company, decided to organize a “Disney fan” convention dubbed D23 – the “D” for Disney {obviously!} and “23” for the year 1923 when Walt Disney launched his studio.) during which he described how he and his Toy Story “buddies” gathered for a retreat to create the widely anticipated Toy Story 3’s main story, themes and new characters. He discussed how the story of Andy growing up and going to college was inspired by his own real life experiences in sending his now grown children off to college. (Toy Story 3’s release on June 18th, 2010 will be here before we know it!)
Pixar’s founding values of collaboration and mutual respect were solidified during the process of making Toy Story in the early 1990s. As Pixar co-founder, Alvy Ray Smith, explained to us, “If you are going to have a really talented group of people, it’s really important to have mutual respect and dignity across the technical and graphical divide.” Creative people flourish when they unite in a trusting environment to forge new frontiers. And certainly, in their “dream retreats”, the Pixar Toy Story “buddies” create stories that last forever.

Is Disney Attempting to Bring Back Walt-Disney inspired Leadership into its Studios?

In yesterday’s Forbes article – “Disney’s Choice” – Dorothy Pomerantz writes, “Disney Chief Executive Bob Iger unceremoniously fired the popular Dick Cook as head of Walt Disney Studios, a position he had held since 2002.” Not surprising to us, John Lasseter, Chief Creative Officer at Pixar and Disney Animation Studios, is a top candidate for Cook’s job. Perhaps Disney CEO Bob Iger envisions John Lasseter infusing Disney Studios with the same “Walt Disney-like” magic that he brings to Pixar. As we write in our upcoming book, Innovate the Pixar Way (see Amazon.com), Bob Iger deserves credit for giving Pixar the autonomy that fosters unbridled creative culture. Like was true of Walt Disney, Pixar isn’t pressured to sacrifice the “story” for the sake of chasing profits and compromising their desire to remain true to who they are. Up, Pixar’s most recent blockbuster, is a classic example John Lasseter’s passion for innovation and quality. John’s credo is “Quality is the best business plan”… one that isn’t shared by many of the profit-driven naysayers. As Pomerantz writes, “…Up was roundly derided by Disney analysts who felt sure that the tale of an old widower setting out on an adventure in a house lifted by balloons would never appeal to children. The movie has since earned $420 million at the worldwide box office and is Disney's seventh-highest grossing film in the U.S.”

John Lasseter said, “We (Pixar) have a company culture that celebrates being pioneers.” Clearly Disney needs more pioneering at this point in time! In Innovate the Pixar Way, we describe how the all-too-often overlooked intangible cultural measures – employee loyalty, freedom and collaboration keep the Pixar “band” playing. Maybe Disney Studios will bring back the Walt Disney-like culture of yore…we are staying tuned!

Alvy Ray Smith - cofounder of Pixar's Innovative Playground

Alvy Ray Smith, one of Pixar’s cofounders, was our best resource for understanding how Pixar's innovative and playful culture was born. Alvy told us, "When I sit around and watch the animators, it seems that they have managed to hold onto childhood. They surround themselves with toys, and they just have a lot of fun like kids. That’s one of the reasons they are so damn much fun to be around--they’re sort of constantly fun--playful--setting up little secret rooms--you just don’t know what they are going to do next.” Unfortunately, however, most organizations have no interest in and no knowledge of what it takes to produce such an collaborative, innovative, and energizing environment. It begins with creating a culture where imagination--the very thing that kept us so interested in discovering and trying new things when we were young--is cherished and rewarded.

What can be learned from Pixar's Innovative "Playground"?

At Pixar, dreaming like a child, believing in their playmates, daring to jump in the water and make waves and doing whatever it takes to unleash their childlike potential – dream, believe, dare, do – are the keys. Walt Disney applied these same principles when he was leading his studio almost a century ago, and Ed Catmull and John Lasseter live these principles today.

Why Did We Write a Book on Pixar's Innovation?

For the past thirty years, we have studied Disney’s culture, wrote a best-selling book called The Disney Way, and continue to speak to thousands of people every year about Walt Disney’s success principles…dream, believe, dare, do. We were fascinated to watch Disney progress from being the premiere blockbuster movie studio to relying on a handful of storytelling pioneers in computer animation now known as Pixar – which became part of Disney in 2006. It was interesting to learn that Pixar leaders Ed Catmull and John Lasseter modeled their organization upon Walt Disney’s original studio. Pixar honors the legacy of Walt Disney by refusing to take shortcuts, by bringing the story to life in each and every movie they make, and by living a simple formula: "Quality is the best business plan of all."

Innovate the Pixar Way - Endorsements

Thanks so much to our wonderful Innovate the Pixar Way Endorsers:

Carol Lawrence, Singer, Dancer, Actress, National Spokesperson for the Opening Minds through the Arts student achievement program:
“Creativity makes it possible for our dreams to become real — my life is my proof. This book puts all those possibilities in the hands of the reader...for those who will be creating the future.”

Ken Blanchard, Management Expert and Best-selling Author: “Bill and Lynn have done it again! Innovation the Pixar Way details how this playful organization provides a working environment that encourages imagination, inventiveness, and joyful collaboration. If you dream of creating a more positive climate in your company, this book might just make your dreams come true.”

George Zimmer, CEO Men’s Wearhouse: “Dreaming like a child, having fun and nurturing creativity are all a part of the success of Men’s Wearhouse. This book is essential to managers who have lost sight of the importance of fun in the workplace.”I guarantee it!

Stephen Covey, Management Expert and Best-selling Author: “This tremendous book brings the magic and genius of Pixar to the page and lets us in on the secrets and intuitive synergy of such a successful company.”

Brian Walker, President and CEO, Herman Miller, Inc.: “Encouraging dreams, embracing risk, cultivating and empowering talented and collaborative teams, celebrating both achievement and failure—Capodagli and Jackson share these and other great hallmarks of innovation management through a compelling narrative of Pixar's successful culture. This insightful work is a great primer for leaders who are looking to unleash creative potential and instill a sense of joy and playfulness in their organizations."