Inside Pixar — Season 1
You know their stories. Now meet the storytellers.
About this season
This documentary series of personal and cinematic stories that provide an inside look into the people, artistry, and culture of Pixar Animation Studios.
Episodes (20)
1. Inspired: Kemp Powers, Writing Something Real
8.0Aired 13 November 2020 • 13 min
Authenticity is essential to creating a film that is believable and relatable. Co-Director Kemp Powers discusses the real-life experiences that led him to propose a simple, yet pivotal scene in Soul.
2. Inspired: Deanna Marsigliese, The Art of the Pivot
5.0Aired 13 November 2020 • 14 min
Inspiration isn't instant. Coming up with unique and creative characters takes time and effort. Character Designer Deanna Marsigliese takes us through the process of character creation and the artistic detours that often come with it.
3. Inspired: Steven Hunter, For That Kid
6.0Aired 13 November 2020 • 12 min
Growing up in a small town in Canada, Steven Hunter never felt like he saw himself represented in cartoons and comic books. After getting the opportunity to direct a Pixar SparkShort, Steven was inspired by his own life to create 'Out,' a unique and vulnerable story he wished he saw in his youth.
4. Inspired: Jessica Heidt, Who Gets All the Lines?
7.0Aired 13 November 2020 • 14 min
Script Supervisor Jessica Heidt manages endless lines of dialogue. Through her script access, she detected a disparity in male to female roles, motivating her to create a program to improve gender balance throughout Pixar's films and the greater film industry.
5. Inspired: Dan Scanlon, Where Ideas Come From
Aired 13 November 2020 • 16 min
Inspiration can be hard to come by. Sometimes it takes years to find, while other times it's been right under your nose. Director Dan Scanlon takes us on a personal journey of inspiration that led to his film, Onward.
6. Portraits: Cynthia Lusk, Director of International Production
Aired 12 February 2021 • 14 min
Director of International Production Cynthia Lusk takes us into the fascinating world of localization. From translations to graphics to even changes in animation, Cynthia and her team work to make sure that Pixar’s films can connect and resonate to fans and families throughout the world.
7. Portraits: Marylou Jaso, Pastry Chef
Aired 12 February 2021 • 12 min
Marylou Jaso has the sweetest job at Pixar - literally. As Pixar's Pastry Chef, she spends each day creating the confections and sweet treats that delight, inspire, and help feed the studio's creativity.
8. Portraits: Rachelle Federico, Production Assistant
Aired 12 February 2021 • 13 min
As Production Assistant on Pixar's Soul, Rachelle Federico hard work might not always be that glamorous, but she considers it an important and essential need in the creation of an animated film.
9. Portraits: Barney Jones, Music Editor
Aired 12 February 2021 • 15 min
As a Music Editor, Barney Jones uses these talents to help shape the storytelling and emotion of a Pixar film.
10. Portraits: Patty Bonfilio, Director of Facility Operations
Aired 12 February 2021 • 14 min
No two days are the same for Patty Bonfilio. Join her on a VIP tour of the grounds and all of its hidden gems.
11. Foundations: Recipe for a Movie
Aired 26 March 2021 • 12 min
How exactly are animated films made using computer graphics? Pixar’s creative minds introduce and break down how a movie is made through understandable explanations using metaphors and examples.
12. Foundations: Creating Characters
Aired 26 March 2021 • 13 min
From cars to fish to toys to superheroes, Pixar characters have unique personalities, designs, and traits. Join Pixar’s character artists and designers as they break down the process of developing a new character.
13. Foundations: Through the Lens
Aired 26 March 2021 • 13 min
Camerawork is just as crucial in animation as it is in live action. Pixar’s layout artists explain the craft behind camera and staging, showcasing how camera positioning enhances emotion within a story.
14. Foundations: Animation and Acting
Aired 26 March 2021 • 14 min
Animation brings characters to life by making them move, feel, think, and talk. Pixar animators take us through the artistry of how they breathe life into characters authentically and explain the importance of acting (and eyebrows) in their craft.
15. Foundations: Color, Light, and Emotion
Aired 26 March 2021 • 12 min
Light and color are essential in conveying the time of day, creating unique worlds, and even evoking emotion. Pixar lighting directors and artists reveal how they illuminate a scene and how they utilize light and color for everything from terrifying twists to signature Pixar tearjerkers.
16. Unpacked: About Time
Aired 21 May 2021 • 13 min
How can the passage of time be utilized as a tool for emotional storytelling?
17. Unpacked: Everybody Loves a Villain
Aired 21 May 2021 • 12 min
From Ernesto de La Cruz to Lotso to Hopper, foes of all shapes and sizes are essential to many of our favorite Pixar movies. But what makes a good villain?
18. Unpacked: The Squint Test
Aired 21 May 2021 • 12 min
Pixar characters strive to strike a balance between realistic and caricatured.
19. Unpacked: Inner Drive
Aired 21 May 2021 • 12 min
Beyond the world of Cars, vehicles of all kinds have made their mark throughout Pixar’s films.
20. Unpacked: No Small Roles
Aired 21 May 2021 • 10 min
Take a deep dive into the art of crowds animation. Each of your favorite Pixar characters live in worlds populated by fellow fish, cars, toys, and humans, but creating thousands of these fully animated background characters is no easy feat.