Lessons from Pixar: Collaboration and Iteration in Animation

As a professional animator and TV show creator, Daniel Chong shares his insights on collaboration, iteration, and humility in the creative process, drawing from his experiences at Pixar and with his hit TV show We Bare Bears.

1. Daniel Chong is an artist in animation, known for creating the TV show "We Bare Bears."
2. He has worked on movies such as "Bolt," "Minions," "Cars," and "Inside Out."
3. Collaboration is important in animation; it requires humility to accept that one's initial ideas may not be the best.
4. Pixar's Brain Trust provides feedback from a group of directors to help improve movies.
5. Iteration, or making changes and improvements over time, is a key part of the animation process.
6. At Pixar, Chong worked as a storyboard artist, turning scripts into drawings.
7. His portfolio, which included comic strip books he had written and illustrated, helped him get hired.
8. Humility, necessary for removing ego, has been important in Chong's leadership and work with others.
9. Working on "Inside Out" was memorable for Chong because of the community of creative people involved.
10. The concept for "We Bare Bears" came from doodling with his girlfriend's niece and creating a comic strip.
11. Building a team of the right people is crucial for a director; it takes time to learn what works.
12. Sometimes, talented individuals may not be the best collaborators; it's important to let them be themselves and use what works for the project.
13. Knowing restrictions and limitations helps in producing content that is both feasible and engaging.
14. Creativity can take many forms, and learning to work with constraints can help one adapt to different storytelling challenges.
15. Pitch Day was a technique used on the "We Bare Bears" crew to gather and develop ideas.
16. The show gained popularity in China, with merchandise being sold in stores and high demand for it.
17. Animation allows for more imaginative storytelling, as audiences are more accepting of surreal elements.
18. Growing up in the suburbs without much inspiration led Chong to use "We Bare Bears" as a metaphor for outsiders trying to fit into society.
19. Laughter is a powerful connector, and making people laugh was one of Chong's main goals with the show.
20. Following "We Bare Bears," Chong has been working on a movie that he is excited about but cannot discuss much.
21. Looking back, Chong feels he has achieved more than he ever thought he would and hopes to continue making projects he enjoys with people he likes for the rest of his life.

Source: EO via YouTube

❓ What do you think? What is one crucial piece of advice you would give to an aspiring artist or storyteller about embracing collaboration and iteration in their creative process? Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments!