john lasseter quality is the best business plan

Quality is the best business plan

John Lasseter of Pixar, in a recent interview in Fast Company:

“Everything I do and everything Pixar does is based on a simple rule: Quality is the best business plan, period.

I love this quote for several reasons. First, it makes perfect sense in light of what people like about Pixar. They tell well-crafted, sophisticated stories that are universal yet simple to understand. Second, it’s a litmus test for every decision the company makes. All decisions can be tested against it. Will this lead to better quality? Will this make the story great? If so, let’s do it. If not, kill it.

Not all business plans are about putting quality first. Some business plans are focused on growing market share, some are focused on low pricing, and many are about finding a niche in the marketplace and just surviving. But this one, putting quality first, seems like a good strategy in a world where things can be made faster and faster every day.

/ht @jbrewer

Rosenberg’s Leadership Rules

On Advertising

Bokardo.com is a blog about product design written by Joshua Porter , co-founder of the product design/dev shop Rocket Insights .

GREATEST HITS

• Principles of Product Design
• Principles of User Interface Design
• The Del.icio.us Lesson
• Writing Microcopy
• Designing for the Next Step

© 2000-2024 Joshua Porter - All Rights Reserved. Follow me on Twitter

John Lasseter: “Quality is a great business plan”

With the hope that this article might even out the score a bit, make it not seem like JHM is always picking on Pixar, Jim Hill shares a transcript of John Lasseter’s remarks at Disney’s annual shareholder meeting last month. But then – to balance things out – Jim shares a bit of news that will probably upset both Mr. Lasseter & Disneyana fans

You know, I’ve been hammering pretty hard on John Lasseter & Ed Catmull lately. Faithfully reporting on virtually every misstep that these two have made as they move through the Mouse House.   Which – I think – is giving JHM readers the wrong impression about how I actually feel about these guys. A lot of people who read this site seem to think that I’m gunning for Ed & John. That I’m actually pulling for Team Pixar to fail.   Nothing could be further from the truth, folks. Yes, I think that Disney really over-paid for Pixar. And – yes – I do believe that there are going to be some significant culture clashes as well as some badly hurt feelings as the management of the younger animation studio tries to remake the older studio in its own image.   But – that said – I still would really like to see Ed Catmull & John Lasseter ultimately succeed here. To have Pixar Animation Studios continue to make great movies. More importantly, to have Disney Feature Animation come out of its funk and get back to making great movies again.   How can I prove that I really want Ed & John to succeed. Here. Let me share with you a transcript of one of the more optimistic, hopeful speeches I’ve heard in the past 10 years.   These are the remarks that John Lasseter made last month as he stood on stage at Arrowhead Pond. As the new Chief Creative Officer of Disney Feature Animation addressed Disney shareholders for the very first time.   As you read this transcript, notice how passionate John is as he talks about the real connection that he feels toward the Walt Disney Company. More importantly, notice Lasseter’s enthusiasm as he talks about the future.   Better yet, let’s back up here a bit. And let Disney’s new CEO introduce WDFA’s new Chief Creative Officer. Take it away, Bob!   BOB IGER: Here to tell you about the exciting future in animation at Disney is a man who has a great love & passion for the art and also a great love & passion for the Walt Disney Company. Ladies & gentlemen, John Lasseter.   (John enters to huge applause from audience as “You’ve Got a Friend in Me” from “ Toy Story ” plays underneath)   JOHN LASSETER: Thank you. Thank you. (Applause continues) Oh, stop! (Applause finally subsides) For the Disney stockholders meeting, my wife said that “You’ve gotta dress up, John.” So I wore black tennis shoes and I put a jacket on. Look at it, baby. This is as dressed as I get.   Anyway … I can’t tell you how exciting it is to be here. Not here at the Pond. But to be here at Disney.   As you know … Maybe you don’t know … I was born in Whittier, California about a half hour from here. All I ever wanted to be was an animator. All I ever wanted to do was work for Walt Disney.   You know, when you really love cartoons but you’re in high school and you’re supposed to be cool and you would run home … This was before the Disney Channel, before video cassettes … And you’d need to run home for 4:30, “Bugs & his Buddies” on KTTV, Channel 11 , to catch it even in high school. That was me.   And then when I was in high school and read “ The Art of Animation ” by Bob Thomas and it dawned on me: People make money doing cartoons? Then that’s what I want to be.   Then I went to Cal Arts . In fact, I got a scholarship through the Disney Foundation . And while I was there, I worked as a ride operator at Disneyland on the Jungle Cruise .   My favorite joke is – remember the natives that are on the pole and the rhino is there? And you’d come up and “Oh, there they are. It’s the famous Hantas tribe. They’ve been lost for a long time. And look! The rhino is trying to poke a Hantas.” Number  1 joke. Copyright Walt Disney Productions Anyway, I worked at Disney after I graduated from Cal Arts in 1979. And then I saw something that I felt was amazing. It was the very first bit of 3D computer animation ever done. And I knew that Walt would have loved this. Walt always tried to get more dimension into his animation. And I thought that “This is amazing.”   So I followed my dream to work with who I think is one of the most amazing people I’ve ever known in my life: Ed Catmull. To Lucasfilm ’s computer division. And in 1986, Steve Jobs bought us from Lucasfilm and we formed Pixar.   And for the first 10 years, we lost a lot of Steve’s money. A lot of Steve’s money. But he believed in us. He believed in what we were doing.   Pixar is people. An amazing group of people that Ed & Steve & I have been fortunate enough to lead for all these years. And all of us believe in one simple thing: Quality is a great business plan. Period.   We always believed, no matter what we did – be it a feature film or a DVD, a lunchbox, a t-shirt – if we make it the best quality it can be … Where an animated film can entertain someone from the moment that the lights dim in the theater to the moment that they turn back on. From every moment, you’re deeply entertained.   That’s why we do what we do. We believe in that. That’s what I love to do. I love to entertain people thoroughly.   And so when Bob Iger came to the three of us and said that “We’re interested in acquiring you,” I was worried. Because we have built this incredibly wonderful culture at Pixar about creativity and quality. And everyone there – 850 of us – believe in that single thing.   And I was worried until I got to know Bob Iger. Ladies and gentlemen, you are led by a great man. He’s amazing. That’s why we’re here. That’s why Pixar joined up with Disney.   And that’s why Ed & I are so proud to lead Disney Feature Animation into the future. I promise you we will make films that will entertain you from the moment the light dim ‘til the moment they come up. I give you my word on that. Photo courtesy of Google Images And you know what we found at Disney Feature Animation is the most amazing group of talented artists that have been wanting to make amazing motion pictures for a long time and we are going to work with them and it is just going to be phenomenal. And I am so excited. We’re bringing back some amazing people that have left and we’re making Disney the place that you have to work at again.     And I get to help design theme park rides. I never understood why you wouldn’t start designing a ride when you’re coming up with an idea for an animated film. So when a film comes out, two months later, a ride can open.   You know, it’s just   … We believe that you can make great stories with great characters that live beyond the boundaries of the film so that people want to be with those characters for the rest of their lives and experience it again and again and again. So I promise you – not only are we going to make great motion pictures – we are going to make theme park rides that as soon as you get off that ride you want to get back in that line no matter how long it is to ride that ride again. I promise you that …   So, I’m so excited … I get to direct movies too. And my new movie – which I’m very proud of – is “ Cars .” I’ve worked on this movie since December of 1999, since I finished directing “ Toy Story II .”   My father was the parts manager at a Chevrolet dealership in Whittier, CA. all my life. And I’ve loved cars. And my mother was a high school art teacher in Bell Gardens High School for 38 years. So this is a very personal story for me, ‘cause it puts my two loves together.   This is a very personal story for me. I worked non-stop directing “Toy Story,” “ A Bug’s Life ,” “Toy Story II.” And during that time, I actually had four of my five sons.   And towards the end of “Toy Story II,” my wife said “John” – she was very supportive of me and my career and Pixar – she said “One day, you’re going to wake up and your kids are going to have gone off to college and you will have missed it.”   I realized that she was right. I took the summer off that year. We bought an old used motor home. We put our feet in the Pacific Ocean . We turned and headed east. And we had two months, just the family. And it was amazing.   I changed. I came back and I said “That’s what I want that movie to be about. What I learned that summer.” Photo courtesy of Google Images And so this story is a very special one to me. It’s about a character called Lightning McQueen, voiced by Owen Wilson . This unbelievable rookie race car in a world where there are no humans. Just cars are alive and — in this world — race cars are athletes.   And he’s driven to be the fastest, the quickest to get there. And on his way to the final race of the season, through his selfishness, he gets lost and stuck in an old Route 66 town. That the interstate – the modern world – has bypassed long ago.   And it’s inhabited by nothing but old cars from the 50s & 60s. The one commodity that they have a lot of is time. And he thinks that he’s stuck in hell. But he learns a lot about life.   There, he meets an old ’51 Hudson Hornet called Doc Hudson . He’s the town doctor and the town judge. They all have two jobs in this town. He’s voiced by Paul Newman . And he falls in love with a Porsche 911, voiced by Bonnie Hunt .   And he meets probably the most … The character that he could never possibly be friends with. You see, he only likes to hang out with new cars. It’s a beat-up, rusty tow truck named Mater. As he says: “It’s Mater. It’s like tamater without the ‘ta.’” And it’s voiced by probably the greatest living American actor today: Larry the Cable Guy.   I brought with me something special for just you. No one has seen this outside of Pixar. It’s a clip – it’s not a trailer – it’s a full clip from our movie.   In this scene, Lightning McQueen has been – they don’t know who he is – here’s this guy comes through town. He wreaks their main road. Their livelihood. And he’s sentenced …   Doc Hudson sentences him to community service. You’ve gotta fix what you broke before you can leave. So fixing the road, Lightning McQueen – being the prima donna – he has to pull this disgusting, smelly tar-covered rotating machine (Which they lovingly call Dusty) to fix the road. And he’s working really, really hard.   Mater – who’s hanging out with him the whole time because there’s this new person to talk to —   is given the job to watch him so he doesn’t escape one evening. So instead of just watching him, Mater takes him to do his absolute favorite pastime.   (The tractor tipping sequence from “Cars” is then shown. As the lights come back up in the hall, John is again greeted with great applause)   JOHN LASSETER: Thanks you so much for having me here. I am so proud to be a part of this company again. And this guy’s a great guy. Thank you, Bob.   BOB IGER: John, hold on one second. I think you’re holding back. I think you’ve got a little bit more.   JOHN LASSETER: Oh, that’s right. I’ve got one more thing. How would you like to see what Pixar is doing next after “Cars”? This is the world premiere of the trailer for our new movie. I’d just like to show it to you.   (The “Ratatouille” teaser is then shown. It too is received with much enthusiasm from the crowd at Arrowhead Pond)   JOHN LASSETER: “Ratatouille” is our eighth motion picture at Pixar. It will come out in the Summer of 2007. It is creatively being led by Brad Bird , the director of “The Incredibles” from a story idea by Jan Pinkava and it is … We’re very, very excited about it. Trust me, you’ve never seen anything like this.   So, anyway, I’m so glad to be here. Thank you, Bob, for having me.   BOB IGER: Thanks, John.   (Lasseter exits stage to thunderous applause)   BOB IGER: Obviously from your reaction, you join in welcoming John and Ed Catmull, who’s also with us today, as well as the entire Pixar team to the Walt Disney Company. We’re incredibly optimistic about what the future holds ….   You see that? In his remarks to Disney’s shareholders, John Lasseter comes across as being this incredibly sincere guy. Sincerity with feet, if you will.   And given all the great nights at the movies that I’ve had over the past 10 years because of John & his team at Pixar (As Joel Siegel so amusingly put it in his introduction of Lasseter at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art : “This man has shown me more good times in the dark than my ex-wife ever did”) … It’s hard not to pull for this guy. To wish he & Ed continued success.   But – that said – as a reporter, I’m not allowed to be a fan. I’m supposed to be a dispassionate observer. Which (in theory) allows me to be even-handed. To report on the good and the bad.   Which is why I’ve been somewhat disturbed of late to learn that Iger’s reportedly been telling reporters that Lasseter’s other job at Disney (I.E. Principal Creative Advisor for Walt Disney Imagineering) will be largely ceremonial. That John’s No. 1 responsibility will be stoking the creative fires at both Pixar & Disney Feature Animation.   Well, I hope that someone’s told John that. Given the amount of time that Lasseter has allegedly been devoting to that new “Monsters, Inc.” attraction that’s supposed to be opening at WDW ’s Magic Kingdom in 2007. The way I hear it, he’s been regularly meeting with Imagineers & animators as they all try & get a handle on this “Laugh Floor” show. Which – just like “Turtle Talk with Crush” at DCA & Epcot – will be another one of WDI’s “Living Creature Initiative” projects.   Given all the effort that Lasseter has supposedly been pouring into this new Disney theme park show … Well, that doesn’t sound as if John knows that his position at WDI is supposed to be largely ceremonial.   One wonders what else Iger hasn’t told Lasseter. Like … Is John aware that the Walt Disney Company has reportedly hired a New York-based headhunter to find a new CEO for WDI? I mean, given how buddy-buddy these two seemed in Anaheim last month, I’m going to assume that Bob has kept John in the loop on all this. But then again …   Oops … Let me guess: I’ve just upset all you die-hard Disney fans out there. All because this article suddenly took a sharp left turn. Going from being a rah-rah-rah let’s-all-be-upbeat-about-John-Lasseter-and-the-future-of-the-Walt-Disney-Company piece to yet another corporate expose.   See? This is what comes with having to be a dispassionate observer. You really do have to report on the good (I.E. John Lasseter is an incredibly talented, very passionate filmmaker. Who – if all the breaks actually go his way – will hopefully be able to lead WDFA back to greatness) and the bad (I.E. I’m not sure that all those years of making movies up in Port Richmond and Emeryville is going to serve John well while he’s in Hollywood .   Given how cut-throat things can get in Tinseltown, Lasseter may be a little too touchy-feely & trusting for his own good. He may need to toughen up a bit, be less trusting in order to really succeed in his new position).   Here’s hoping that I’m wrong about all this. But what are your thoughts on this matter?

A very Toon-ful Why For

Wednesdays with Wade: Disney goes postal

Jim Hill is an entertainment writer who has specialized in covering The Walt Disney Company for nearly 40 years now. Over that time, he has interviewed hundreds of animators, actors, and Imagineers -- many of whom have shared behind-the-scenes stories with Mr. Hill about how the Mouse House really works. In addition to the 4000+ articles Jim has written for the Web, he also co-hosts a trio of popular podcasts: “Disney Dish with Len Testa,” “Fine Tooning with Drew Taylor” and “Marvel US Disney with Aaron Adams.” Mr. Hill makes his home in Southern New Hampshire with his lovely wife Nancy and two obnoxious cats, Ginger & Betty.

You may like

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Seward Johnson bronzes add a surreal, artistic touch to NYC’s Garment District

Greetings from NYC. Nancy and I drove down from New Hampshire yesterday because we'll be checking out Disney Consumer Products ' annual Holiday Showcase later today.

Anyway … After checking into our hotel (i.e., The Paul. Which is located down in NYC's NoMad district), we decided to grab some dinner. Which is how we wound up at the Melt Shop .

Which is this restaurant that only sells grilled cheese sandwiches. This comfort food was delicious, but kind of on the heavy side.

Which is why — given that it was a beautiful summer night — we'd then try and walk off our meals. We started our stroll down by the Empire State Building …

… and eventually wound up just below Times Square (right behind where the Waterford Crystal Times Square New Year's Eve Ball is kept).

But you know what we discovered en route? Right in the heart of Manhattan's Garment District along Broadway between 36th and 41st? This incredibly cool series of life-like and life-sized sculptures that Seward Johnson has created .

And — yes — that is Abraham Lincoln (who seems to have slipped out of WDW's Hall of Presidents when no one was looking and is now leading tourists around Times Square). These 18 painted bronze pieces (which were just installed late this past Sunday night / early Monday morning) range from the surreal to the all-too-real.

Some of these pieces look like typical New Yorkers. Like the business woman planning out her day …

… the postman delivering the mail …

… the hot dog vendor working at his cart …

… the street musician playing for tourists …

Not to mention the tourists themselves.

But right alongside the bronze businessmen …

… and the tired grandmother hauling her groceries home …

… there were also statues representing people who were from out-of-town …

… or — for that matter — out-of-time.

These were the Seward Johnson pieces that genuinely beguiled. Famous impressionist paintings brought to life in three dimensions.

Some of them so lifelike that you actually had to pause for a moment (especially as day gave way to night in the city) and say to yourself "Is that one of the bronzes? Or just someone pretending to be one of these bronzes?"

Mind you, for those of you who aren't big fans of the impressionists …

… there's also an array of American icons. Among them Marilyn Monroe …

… and that farmer couple from Grant Wood's "American Gothic."

But for those of you who know your NYC history, it's hard to beat that piece which recreates Alfred Eisenstaedt's famous photograph of V-J Day in Times Square.

By the way, a 25-foot-tall version of this particular Seward Johnson piece ( which — FYI — is entitled "Embracing Peace") will actually be placed in Times Square for a few days on or around  August 14th to commemorate the 70th anniversary of Victory Over Japan Day (V-J Day).

By the way, if you'd like to check these Seward Johnson bronzes in person (which — it should be noted — are part of the part of the Garment District Alliance 's new public art offering) — you'd best schedule a trip to the City sometime over the next three months. For these pieces will only be on display now through September 15th. 

Wondering what you should “Boldly Go” see at the movies next year? The 2015 Licensing Expo offers you some clues

Greeting from the 2015 Licensing Expo, which is being held at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas.

I have to admit that I enjoy covering the Licensing Expo. Mostly becomes it allows bloggers & entertainment writers like myself to get a peek over the horizon. Scope out some of the major motion pictures & TV shows that today's vertically integrated entertainment conglomerates (Remember when these companies used to be called movie studios?) will be sending our way over the next two years or so.

Take — for example — all of " The Secret Life of Pets " banners that greeted Expo attendees as they made their way to the show floor today. I actually got to see some footage from this new Illumination Entertainment production (which will hit theaters on July 8, 2016) the last time I was in Vegas. Which was for CinemaCon back in April. And the five or so minutes of film that I viewed suggested that "The Secret Life of Pets" will be a really funny animated feature.

Mind you, Universal Pictures wanted to make sure that Expo attendees remembered that there was another Illumination Entertainment production coming-to-a-theater-near-them before "The Secret Life of Pets" (And that's " Minions ," the "Despicable Me" prequel. Which premieres at the Annecy International Animated Film Festival next week but won't be screened stateside 'til July 10th of this year). Which is why they had three minions who were made entirely out of LEGOS loitering out in the lobby.

And Warner Bros. — because they wanted " Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice " to start trending on Twitter today — brought the Batmobile to Las Vegas.

Not to mention full-sized macquettes of Batman, Superman and Wonder Woman. Just so conventioneers could then see what these DC superheroes would actually look like in this eagerly anticipated, March 25, 2016 release.

That's the thing that can sometimes be a wee bit frustrating about the Licensing Expo. It's all about delayed gratification. You'll come around a corner and see this 100 foot-long ad for " The Peanuts Movie " and think "Hey, that looks great. I want to see that Blue Sky Studios production right now." It's only then that you notice the fine print and realize that "The Peanuts Movie" doesn't actually open in theaters 'til November 6th of this year.

And fan of Blue Sky's " Ice Age " film franchise are in for an even longer wait. Given that the latest installment in that top grossing series doesn't arrive in theaters 'til July 15, 2016.

Of course, if you're one of those people who needs immediate gratification when it comes to your entertainment, there was stuff like that to be found at this year's Licensing Expo. Take — for example — how the WWE booth was actually shaped like a wrestling ring. Which — I'm guessing — meant that if the executives of World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. didn't like the offer that you were making, they were then allowed to toss you out over the top rope, Royal Rumble -style.

I also have to admit that — as a longtime Star Trek fan — it was cool to see the enormous Starship Enterprise that hung in place over the CBS booth. Not to mention getting a glimpse of the official Star Trek 50th Anniversary logo.

I was also pleased to see lots of activity in The Jim Henson Company booth. Which suggests that JHC has actually finally carved out a post- Muppets identity for itself.

Likewise for all of us who were getting a little concerned about DreamWorks Animation (what with all the layoffs & write-downs & projects that were put into turnaround or outright cancelled last year), it was nice to see that booth bustling.

Every so often, you'd come across some people who were promoting a movie that you weren't entirely sure that you actually wanted to see (EX: " Angry Birds ," which Sony Pictures Entertainment / Columbia Pictures will be releasing to theaters on May 20, 2016). But then you remembered that Clay Kaytis — who's this hugely talented former Walt Disney Animation Studios animator — is riding herd on "Angry Birds" with Fergal Reilly . And you'd think "Well, if Clay's working on 'Angry Birds,' I'm sure this animated feature will turn out fine."

Mind you, there were reminders at this year's Licensing Expo of great animated features that we're never going to get to see now. I still can't believe — especially after that brilliant proof-of-concept footage popped up online last year — that Sony execs decided not to go forward with  production of Genndy Tartakovsky 's "Popeye" movie.  But that's the cruel thing about the entertainment business, folks. It will sometime break your heart.

And make no mistake about this. The Licensing Expo is all about business. That point was clearly driven home at this year's show when — as you walked through the doors of the Mandalay Bay Convention Center — the first thing that you saw was the Hasbros Booth. Which was this gleaming, sleek two story-tall affair full of people who were negotiating deals & signing contracts for all of the would-be summer blockbusters that have already announced release dates for 2019 & beyond.

"But what about The Walt Disney Company?," you ask. "Weren't they represented on the show floor at this year's Licensing Expo?" Not really, not. I mean, sure. There were a few companies there hyping Disney-related products. Take — for example — the Disney Wikkeez people.

I'm assuming that some Disney Consumer Products exec is hoping that Wikkeez will eventually become the new Tsum Tsum. But to be blunt, these little hard plastic figures don't seem to have the same huggable charm that those stackable plush do. But I've been wrong before. So let's see what happens with Disney Wikkeez once they start showing up on the shelves of the Company's North American retail partners.

And speaking of Disney's retail partners … They were meeting with Mouse House executives behind closed doors one floor down from the official show floor for this year's Licensing Expo.

And the theme for this year's invitation-only Disney shindig? "Timeless Stories" involving the Disney , Pixar , Marvel & Lucasfilm brands that would then appeal to "tomorrow's consumer."

And just to sort of hammer home the idea that Disney is no longer the Company which cornered the market when it comes to little girls (i.e., its Disney Princess and Disney Fairies franchises), check out this wall-sized Star Wars -related image that DCP put up just outside of one of its many private meeting rooms. "See?," this carefully crafted photo screams. "It isn't just little boys who want to wield the Force. Little girls also want to grow up and be Lords of the Sith."

One final, kind-of-ironic note: According to this banner, Paramount Pictures will be releasing a movie called "Amusement Park" to theaters sometime in 2017.  

Well, given all the "Blackfish" -related issues that have been dogged SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment over the past two years, I'm just hoping that they'll still be in the amusement park business come 2017.

Your thoughts?

It takes more than three circles to craft a Classic version of Mickey Mouse

You know what Mickey Mouse looks like, right? Little guy, big ears?

Truth be told, Disney's corporate symbol has a lot of different looks. If Mickey's interacting with Guests at Disneyland Park (especially this summer, when the Happiest Place on Earth is celebrating its 60th anniversary ), he looks & dresses like this.

Or when he's appearing in one of those Emmy Award-winning shorts that Disney Television Animation has produced (EX: "Bronco Busted," which debuts on the Disney Channel tonight at 8 p.m. ET / PT), Mickey is drawn in a such a way that he looks hip, cool, edgy & retro all at the same time.

Looking ahead to 2017 now, when Disney Junior rolls out " Mickey and the Roadster Racers ," this brand-new animated series will feature a sportier version of Disney's corporate symbol. One that Mouse House managers hope will persuade preschool boys to more fully embrace this now 86 year-old character.

That's what most people don't realize about the Mouse. The Walt Disney Company deliberately tailors Mickey's look, even his style of movement, depending on what sort of project / production he's appearing in.

Take — for example — Disney California Adventure Park 's " World of Color: Celebrate! " Because Disney's main mouse would be co-hosting this new nighttime lagoon show with ace emcee Neil Patrick Harris , Eric Goldberg really had to step up Mickey's game. Which is why this master Disney animator created several minutes of all-new Mouse animation which then showed that Mickey was just as skilled a showman as Neil was.

Better yet, let's take a look at what the folks at Avalanche Studios just went through as they attempted to create a Classic version of Mickey & Minnie. One that would then allow this popular pair to become part of Disney Infinity 3.0.

"I won't lie to you. We were under a lot of pressure to get the look of this particular version of Mickey — he's called Red Pants Mickey around here — just right," said Jeff Bunker, the VP of Art Development at Avalanche Studios, during a recent phone interview. "When we brought Sorcerer Mickey into Disney Infinity 1.0 back in January of 2014, that one was relatively easy because … Well, everyone knows what Mickey Mouse looked like when he appeared in ' Fantasia .' "

"But this time around, we were being asked to design THE Mickey & Minnie," Bunker continued. "And given that these Classic Disney characters have been around in various different forms for the better part of the last century … Well, which look was the right look?"

Which is why Jeff and his team at Avalanche Studios began watching hours & hours of Mickey Mouse shorts. As they tried to get a handle on which look would work best for these characters in Disney Infinity 3.0.

"And we went all the way back to the very start of Mickey's career. We began with 'Steamboat Willie' and then watched all of those black & white Mickey shorts that Walt made back in the late 1920s & early 1930s. From there, we transitioned to his Technicolor shorts. Which is when Mickey went from being this pie-eyed, really feisty character to more of a well-behaved leading man," Bunker recalled. "We then finished out our Mouse marathon by watching all of those new Mickey shorts that Paul Rudish & his team have been creating for Disney Television Animation. Those cartoons really recapture a lot of the spirit and wild slapstick fun that Mickey's early, black & white shorts had."

But given that the specific assignment that Avalanche Studios had been handed was to create the most appealing looking, likeable version of Mickey Mouse possible … In the end, Jeff and his team wound up borrowing bits & pieces from a lot of different versions of the world's most famous mouse. So that Classic Mickey would then look & move in a way that best fit the sort of gameplay which people would soon be able to experience with Disney Infinity 3.0.

"That — in a lot of ways — was actually the toughest part of the Classic Mickey design project. You have to remember that one of the key creative conceits of  Disney Infinity is that all the characters which appear in this game are toys," Bunker stated. "Okay. So they're beautifully detailed, highly stylized toy versions of beloved Disney , Pixar , Marvel & Lucasfilm characters. But they're still supposed to be toys. So our Classic versions of Mickey & Minnie have the same sort of thickness & sturdiness to them that toys have. So that they'll then be able to fit right in with all of the rest of the characters that Avalanche Studios had previously designed for Disney Infinity."

And then there was the matter of coming up with just the right pose for Classic Mickey & Minnie. Which — to hear Jeff tell the story — involved input from a lot of Disney upper management.

"Everyone within the Company seemed to have an opinion about how Mickey & Minnie should be posed. More to the point, if you Google Mickey, you then discover that there are literally thousands of poses out there for these two. Though — truth be told — a lot of those kind of play off the way Mickey poses when he's being Disney's corporate symbol," Bunker said. "But what I was most concerned about was that Mickey's pose had to work with Minnie's pose. Because we were bringing the Classic versions of these characters up into Disney Infinity 3.0 at the exact same time. And we wanted to make sure — especially for those fans who like to put their Disney Infinity figures on display — that Mickey's pose would then complement Minnie.

Which is why Jeff & the crew at Avalanche Studios decided — when it came to Classic Mickey & Minnie's pose — that they should go all the way back to the beginning. Which is why these two Disney icons are sculpted in such a way that it almost seems as though you're witnessing the very first time Mickey set eyes on Minnie.

"And what was really great about that was — as soon as we began showing people within the Company this pose — everyone at Disney quickly got on board with the idea. I mean, the Classic Mickey that we sculpted for Disney Infinity 3.0 is clearly a very playful, spunky character. But at the same time, he's obviously got eyes for Minnie," Bunker concluded. "So in the end, we were able to come up with Classic versions of these characters that will work well within the creative confines of Disney Infinity 3.0 but at the same time please those Disney fans who just collect these figures because they like the way the Disney Infinity characters look."

So now that this particular design project is over, does Jeff regret that Mouse House upper management was so hands-on when it came to making sure that the Classic versions of Mickey & Minnie were specifically tailored to fit the look & style of gameplay found in Disney Infinity 3.0?

"To be blunt, we go through this every time we add a new character to the game. The folks at Lucasfilm were just as hands-on when we were designing the versions of Darth Vader and Yoda that will also soon be appearing in Disney Infinity 3.0," Bunker laughed. "So in the end, if the character's creators AND the fans are happy, then I'm happy."

This article was originally posted on the Huffington Post's Entertainment page on Tuesday, June 9, 2015

How Disney’s “Bambi” led to the creation of Smokey Bear

Introducing “I Want That Too” – The Ultimate Disney Merchandise Podcast

New Updates and Exclusive Content from Jim Hill Media: Disney, Universal, and More

Attractions that make it easy to slip some education into your next Orlando-area vacation

Totting Up the Eisner Scorecard

Disney Will Bring D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event to Anaheim, California in August 2024

Star Wars Spoof: Space Robots in Outer Space Ep X: Battle for the Halcyon: The Last Starcruiser

Jim Hill Turns Lady & the Tramp Inside Out for D23 Fanniversary

Jim Hill & Nancy’s most excellent adventure in Diagon Alley

Unpacking the History of the Pixar Place Hotel

From Birthday Wishes to Toontown Dreams: How Toontown Came to Be

The Evolution and History of Mickey’s ToonTown

• INNOVATION FESTIVAL
• Capital One

08-02-2013 TECH

Pixar’s John Lasseter on Steve Jobs, Creativity, and Disney Infinity

With a major new Disney video game on the way, the legendary animator behind Toy Story and The Incredibles explains how his partner and close friend Steve Jobs inspired his work: “Everything is based on a simple rule: quality is the best business plan, period.”

BY  Sarah Kessler 3 minute read

On August 18, Disney will release Disney Infinity , its largest-ever video game effort. Infinity does something unheard of in the Disney universe: It brings well-known characters from different Disney and Pixar properties– Pirates of the Caribbean , Cars , Monsters University , etc.–into a single environment.

As Disney and Pixar’s chief creative officer, John Lasseter is the gatekeeper to many of the company’s most beloved characters, and he was deeply involved in Infinity ‘s development. Lasseter helped pioneer computer animation at Lucasfilm, and after Steve Jobs bought the studio’s computer graphics division in 1986, he worked closely with the Apple CEO to establish an independent company called Pixar. When Disney acquired Pixar in 2006, he returned as the company’s head creative executive. He has been a producer for 60 films and directed 16 more, including Toy Story and Cars .

Fast Company recently spoke with Lasseter for a story in the upcoming September issue.

How Steve Jobs Influenced Pixar:

When Jobs bought Lucasfilm’s computer graphics division in 1986, establishing it as an independent company called Pixar, Lasseter became his creative partner. “We were so close he became like a brother to me,” says Lasseter.

Both men admired the other’s work. Jobs liked the idea that stories, unlike technology, didn’t necessarily have a shelf life. “I’ll never forget,” Lasseter says, “Steve Jobs was kind of waxing poetically about things and he said, ‘You know, at Apple when we make a computer, what’s the lifespan of it? Maybe three years. In five years it’s a doorstop. Technology moves so fast. If you do your job right with Toy Story , this thing could last forever.'”

Lasseter, meanwhile, tried to instill his movies with the same quality that Apple built into its products. “Everything I do and everything Pixar does is based on a simple rule: Quality is the best business plan, period. With Steve Jobs, this is what we had driven the company to be all these years.”

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Sarah Kessler is a senior writer at Fast Company, where she writes about the on-demand/gig/sharing "economies" and the future of work.   More

Explore Topics

• disney infinity
• john lasseter
• Tech Lyft announces layoffs, will restructure its bike and scooter business
• Tech OpenAI cofounder’s new AI startup SSI raises $1 billion
• Tech Fridgescaping, explained: Why influencers are decorating the inside of their fridges with flowers
• News Can you guess the best business schools for 2024? LinkedIn’s top MBA programs might surprise you
• News Dollar Tree and Family Dollar stock falls 20% as company puts blame on the economy
• News U.S. launches investigation into Shein and Temu over ‘deadly’ baby items
• Design Tom Brady’s $200 million NFT startup Autograph relaunches without NFTs
• Design Sizzler is back from the brink with a shiny new brand and ambitions to match
• Design Jools Lebron’s ‘very demure, very mindful’ could be trademarked. Here’s what to know about the law
• Work Life 3 ways to improve DEI efforts in the workplace
• Work Life What should I do if I feel like my company is trying to get me to quit?
• Work Life Why gamers are the best hires to lead teams into the future 

Quality is the Best Business Plan

“Quality is the best business plan, period” - John Lasseter of Pixar Animation I consider myself a seeker. A highly curious and inquisitive gal. Which is why I love a good quote so much. I love to discover them, adopt them, regurgitate them, hang them on my wall, etc. They distill down an idea into a digestible action item. Challenge accepted.  I humbly believe that these inspirational quotes and a solid desire to keep learning and growing have helped me attain success with my businesses, and this one really hits home for me. I can’t think of a more worthy pursuant in life, than quality. To reach higher, get better, reevaluate where our blind spots are that are potentially bringing the quality down. An inspiring quote from someone you respect, love or admire can light you up inside and give you a boost of energy. It’s a simple way to get you going and really potent in shifting your mindset, am I right? So, what do quotes NOT do? They do not do the work for you. They can be something you hide behind but don’t adopt (don't do that, k?). They can be inspiring but not implemented. You can save them on your phone, write them down, regurgitate them, and hang them on your wall but if you don’t live it, they don’t deliver. This is where quotes can trip you up and falsify your integrity. 

Keep reading with a 7-day free trial

Subscribe to The Messy Truth to keep reading this post and get 7 days of free access to the full post archives.

John Lasseter: On Business Plans

Quality is the best business plan, period. — John Lasseter, chief creative officer, Pixar and Disney Animation

If you create good books, it’s far easier to sell them. If you create great books, it’s simple to create word of mouth for them. Word of mouth sells 80% of all books sold. Create your word-of-mouth army today by writing a useful, inspiring, entertaining, and life-changing book. Do it today.

Click To Tweet

• About John Kremer

John Kremer is author of 1001 Ways to Market Your Books, the Relationships Matter Marketing program, and many other books and reports on book marketing, Internet marketing, social media, and book publicity. -- John Kremer on Book Marketing .

Share this post:

Fun Viral Book Trailer: Incredibly Easy to Duplicate for Any Book

Free Book Marketing Audio

Pingback: Book Marketing Tip of the Week: August 14, 2013 | Book Marketing Bestsellers

• Book Marketing Bestsellers: An Introduction
• Relationships Matter Marketing Program
• Book Marketing Articles and Tips
• Book Marketing: How to Market Novels and Poetry
• Book Marketing FAQs – Book Marketing Answers to Help You Sell More Books
• Book Marketing Success Podcast
• Book Launches and Product Launches
• Book Marketing Inspiration
• Book Marketing Freebies
• Book Marketing GIFs and Memes
• Book Marketing Tip-O-Graphics
• Book Marketing Quotes
• Book Publicity Services
• Book Publicity Tips and Resources
• Newspaper Book Review Editors
• Publicity Opportunities
• Regional and Local Magazines
• Internet Marketing Tips
• Internet Marketing Resources
• Social Media: Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter, Etc.
• Content Marketing
• Blogging Resources and Tips
• Meme and GIF Resource Sites
• Mobile Marketing Statistics
• Podcasting Tools
• Slideshow Sharing Websites
• Teleseminar and Webinar Resources
• Audios on Book Marketing and Internet Marketing
• Videos on Book Marketing, Writing, and Publishing
• Book Design Services
• Free Graphics Websites
• Book Editing
• Book Publishing Distribution Report 2022
• U.S. Book Printers
• Canadian and Overseas Book Printers
• Book Printing and Print-on-Demand
• Publishing Attorneys
• Ebook Marketing Resources and Tips
• Ebook Publishing Resources and Tips
• Self-Publishing Tips
• Self-Publishing FAQs
• Self-Publishing Fun
• Self-Publishing Hall of Fame
• Book Authors: On Writing and Publishing Books
• Author Book Promotions
• Book Author Success Stories
• Writing Tips for Book Authors, Bloggers, More
• Book Writing Inspiration
• Inspiration for Book Readers
• 1001 Ways to Market Your Books: Real World Edition
• 1001 Ways Testimonials
• Book Marketing Video Series
• Selling More Books Audio Series
• Book Marketing Consulting by John Kremer
• 747 Book Marketing Take-Off Program
• Book Marketing Services from John Kremer
• Books, Reports, and More
• Book Marketing Q&A: Ask Your Questions Here!
• John Kremer Fan Club
• John Kremer on Facebook
• Privacy Policy
• Copyright 2024 by John Kremer

• Quote of the Day
• Picture Quotes

I have this saying. Quality is the best business plan. I believe so strongly in that.

• Business Plan
• Best Business

Popular Topics

• Inspirational
• Motivational

Related Authors

Send Report

• The author didn't say that
• There is a mistake in the text of this quote
• The quote belongs to another author
• Other error
• Javascript and RSS feeds
• WordPress plugin
• ES Version AZQuotes.ES
• Submit Quotes
• Privacy Policy

Login with your account

Create account, find your account.

“Quality is the best business plan”

“Quality is the best business plan” is a saying that has been printed on many images . John Lasseter, an American animator and the chief creative officer of Pixar Animation Studios, is credited with the saying that has been cited in print since a least 2007.   “Quality is the best business plan of all,” Lasseter told the Los Angeles (CA) Times in 2008 when asked about Pixar’s many successes.         Wikipedia: John Lasseter John Alan Lasseter (born January 12, 1957) is an American animator, film director, screenwriter, producer and the chief creative officer of Pixar Animation Studios, Walt Disney Animation Studios, and DisneyToon Studios. He is also the Principal Creative Advisor for Walt Disney Imagineering.   Lasseter began his career as an animator with The Walt Disney Company. After being fired from Disney for promoting computer animation, he joined Lucasfilm, where he worked on the then-groundbreaking use of CGI animation. The Graphics Group of the Computer Division of Lucasfilm was sold to Steve Jobs and became Pixar in 1986. Lasseter oversees all of Pixar’s films and associated projects as executive producer. In addition, he directed Toy Story (1995), A Bug’s Life (1998), Toy Story 2 (1999), Cars (2006), and Cars 2 (2011).   9-11 February 2007, Hollywood Reporter , “Dis draws up old game plan” by Paul Bond, pg. 1: Ed Catmull, president of Pixar and Disney Animation Studios, said Thursday in Orlando that he and John Lasseter, chief creative officer of those same endues, intend to bring back traditionally animated movies. The news comes little more than two months after Disney eliminated 160 jobs from its staff of 800 at its Burbank animation studio that deals in movies and TV shows. (...) Catmull expressed an appreciation for animation of the CG and traditional variety, provided a worthy story is being told. “Quality is the best business plan,” he said.   Los Angeles (CA) Times—The Big Picture by Patrick Goldstein and James Rainey Pixar defies gravity JUNE 30, 2008 | 10:52 AM I VIVIDLY remember two things about having breakfast with Pixar guru John Lasseter earlier this year. One was that my back was out, so unable to sit comfortably, I had to take notes either standing up or lying down on the carpet of his hotel suite. The second was that when I asked him how Pixar had managed to rack up such an astounding streak of hit films, he said simply, “Quality is the best business plan of all.”   23 October 2008, Hollywood Reporter , “To Infinity and Beyond” by Alex Block, pg. S10: John Lasseter on the evolution of 3-D technology, creating quality direct-to-DVD titles and the next era of Disney animation (...) Lasseter: To make very successful and entertaining films, you need to do three things really well: You need to tell a story that keeps people on the edge of their seat ; you need to populate that story with really memorable and appealing characters; and you must put that story and those characters into a believable world. My philosophy is that quality is the best business plan, and it all starts with a great story, regardless of whether it’s released in theaters or goes straight to video.   Twitter Chris Yeh ‏@chrisyeh Awesome quote from John Lasseter of Pixar: “Quality is the best business plan.” http://cli.gs/SWTGGH Thanks for the pointer, Bob Sutton! 11:24 PM - 14 Mar 2009   Google Books The Art of Pixar Short Films By Amid Amidi and John Lasseter San Francisco, CA: Chronicle Books 2009 Pg. 9: John Lasseter, Pixar’s chief creative officer, suggested yet another reason why Pixar has continued its short-film program: “I have this philosophy that quality is the best business plan, period, and I always like to overdeliver, no matter what we’re making— a feature, a DVD, a toy.”     Google Books Creativity, Inc.: Overcoming the Unseen Forces That Stand in the Way of True Inspiration By Ed Catmull with Amy Wallace New York, NY: Random House Publishing Group 2014 Pg. ?: Around this time, John coined a new phrase: “Quality is the best business plan.” What he meant was that quality is not a consequence of following some set of behaviors. Rather, it is a prerequisite and a mindset you must have before you decide what you are setting out to do. Everyone says that quality is important, but they must do more than say it. They must live, think and breathe it.   Twitter Tuija Seipell ‏@TuijaSeipell Tuija Seipell Retweeted Walt Disney Company ”#Quality is the best #business #plan.” True #leadership by John Lasseter @DisneyPixar Tuija Seipell added, Walt Disney Company @WaltDisneyCo VIDEO: John Lasseter looks back on 30 years of Pixar: http://bit.ly/1X6IiY1   5:40 PM - 4 Feb 2016

Quality Is the Best Business Plan in 2023: Everything You Need to Know

I’m sure you know quality is the best business plan, but what makes a quality business plan?

By reading this post, you discover the eight most important parts of a good business plan.

Best Business Plan For Startups: Everything You Need to Know

Source: Pinterest

So you’ve finally decided to start on your own business after a lot of pondering and consultations. Kudos for that!

But taking a look decision is the first step, what follows next is the action that requires planning before execution. When it comes to business, no one wants to leave any stone unturned to flourish their startup.

By the time you are done reading this guide, you will know the six essential elements for a business plan and the eight components of a good business plan.

For this, a business plan is vital and the starting point towards a successful business.

One important note, though…

This post shares general guidelines. Keep in mind that any plan that helps you get closer to and ultimately achieve your goals is the ideal business plan. That’s what makes a quality plan.

Let’s dive in and learn more about why quality is the best business plan.

What Is a Business Plan?

A business plan is a formal written document including the goals, strategies to attain those goals, targeted time-frame, nature, and background of the organization, along with a detailed description of pivotal points. It gives direction and ideas for a startup .

A business plan is not only a representation of what you are aiming for but also how you are going to achieve it. It comprises the essentials of a business and what you need to focus on in the long term. 

In a nutshell, it is your own, detailed and structured road map of where you see yourself in the coming years. Hence, it needs to be prepared with utmost vigilance and care.

The essential elements of a business plan to keep in mind while writing a business plan for a startup are:

1.        You should be clear on the company’s objectives and vision

2.        Ground research needs to be done

3.        Legal processes and documentation should be completed

4.        The business plan should be easy to comprehend 

5.        It should be detailed and descriptive

6.        It should sound realistic and honest

Let’s find out why quality is the best business plan.

Components of a Good Business Plan 

Every business plan comprises components that make it more structured and informative. Including these makes the business plan more appealing to everyone’s eyes.

The principal elements are listed below:

• Executive Summary

This is the introductory part of your business plan however, it is prepared once you’ve completed the business plan. Although every element in the business plan is equally important, this is something that should be exact, well-defined, and engaging at the same time. The first impression is the last impression. Hence, the primary goal of this is to compel the investor to read the rest of your business plan.

It is a summary of your business plan. It gives a wholesome view of it. Thus, it needs to be short and crisp without missing any significant point.

• Company Description

This includes necessary information regarding your company, how you function, what are the products and services you provide, your company’s background, its employees, aims and objectives, and upcoming ventures or where you aim to be in 5 to 10 years. It should be concise and provide your company’s vision in short.

• Product and Marketing Analysis

It includes all the necessary details of the products or services offered by the company, the targeted customers, online presence, and lead generation and promotion. The strategy of marketing, the steps involved in it, its objectives, the target or niche markets, promotional strategies on different platforms, and the formation of the entire marketing plan, will also be covered. The five P’s of marketing should be taken care of.

For instance, junk removal marketing targets a specific industry and immediately helps you create a marketing plan suitable for your niche (if you happen to be in the junk removal or skip space). The same goes for legal or HR agency marketing. Once you drill down on a specific type of marketing, your plan will be more helpful than if you deliberately make it generic.

Don’t fall into the trap of believing your approach to marketing should be the same as everyone else’s. Winners rarely walk down well-trodden paths. 

• Organization and Management

Exemplary organizational and management skills are necessary for any business to run smoothly. It becomes all-important when we talk about startups since they have to take care of everything ranging from administrative, financial, legal, and technical to human resource management . 

The more simplified the management, the smoother it runs. Hence, this section is the eyes and ears of your business plan.

• Pricing and sales

This column speaks about your pricing strategy which is based on factors like the demand of the product in the market, the potential competitors, the quality and quantity of goods, brand imaging, the number of offers, and the authenticity of products.

It is important to select reputed sourcing agents like MatchSourcing that can help you find reliable sources for your products, which will, in turn, enable maintaining your products’ quality.

Sales depend on the demand and popularity in the market, along with affordability. It includes the ways in which you can create grounds for your product in the market.

• Profit and Funding

There should be a proposed profit since it is what business is all about. Everyone wants to earn profit progressively. It is the actual sales minus expenditure that your company will be making. Thus, a constant demand for the products is necessary to earn profits. 

Profit planning is a chief step in any business plan to know the scope and future reach of the startup. It is an inevitable part of your budget plan too.

In the long run, profits are what sustains a business and help them grow and spread. These are necessary to attract investors to invest in your business for further expansion. A company can secure funds from a bank only when it’s stable in the market. Fundings and investments secure a significant place for any business.

Let’s learn more about why quality is the best business plan.

• Risk Analysis and Risk Management

This can be called a precautionary measure for any business. It is true that you need to embark upon your ability to take risks before going for any startup. A pre-analysis of the risk involved along with the intensity of risk should be made beforehand. 

This section of your business plan states all the possible risks and your strategies to overcome them and reduce the chances of potential losses that your company may suffer. 

A risk management program is critical and acts as a backup plan in times to overcome unforeseen hurdles, difficulties, and challenges.

• Appendix 

It includes additional documents or insights into your products and services. It is the ending of your business plan. 

By reading the eight components of a business plan, I trust you can see that quality is the best business plan.

Quality is the Best Business Plan FAQ

What quality is the best business plan.

Quality that brings you the biggest ROI (Return on Your Time Investment) is the best business plan. Quality is the best business plan when you achieve your business goals. That is a quality plan.

Conclusion : Quality is the Best Business Plan

The business plan is a crucial part of your startup. It should include all the targets and milestones clearly. Focus on what is significant and alluring to the investors. 

Once you have completed the business plan, it is good to get it reviewed by a business advisor, consultant, business partner, or accountant before forging ahead with it. 

As with all matters involved in running your business, follow your instinct. In other words, be flexible in designing a business plan. If your gut believes you came up with a quality plan, use it. After all, quality is the best business plan.

Readers, please share so entrepreneurs discover the eight most important parts of a business plan.

I look forward to your views in the comments section. Do you have examples that show quality is the best business plan?

Related Reading

These best business blog examples certainly know that quality is the best business plan which is why they are so successful.

This post was contributed and made possible by the support of our readers.

Download ​ Free ​PDF of 137 Tools

​Get notified of tips to increase your traffic, access to our exclusive Pinterest group board, a link exchange, a Follow to Follow Directory and a free, downloadable PDF of 137 blogging tools that will save you hours of time.​

​Privacy Policy | Created with Thrive Leads

Share this:

Related Posts

Would you like to share your thoughts cancel reply.

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Notify me of follow-up comments by email.

Notify me of new posts by email.

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed .

Get the Reddit app

Quality is the best business plan. john lasseter.

By continuing, you agree to our User Agreement and acknowledge that you understand the Privacy Policy .

Enter the 6-digit code from your authenticator app

You’ve set up two-factor authentication for this account.

Enter a 6-digit backup code

Create your username and password.

Reddit is anonymous, so your username is what you’ll go by here. Choose wisely—because once you get a name, you can’t change it.

Reset your password

Enter your email address or username and we’ll send you a link to reset your password

Check your inbox

An email with a link to reset your password was sent to the email address associated with your account

Choose a Reddit account to continue

“ Quality is the best business plan. ”

“Quality is the best business plan.”

— John Lasseter

• Save image...
• Open in new tab
• Copy quote text

Beautiful Wallpapers and Images

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

[email protected]

Terms of use Privacy policy Quote Maker Contact us

© 2024 Quotefancy. All rights reserved.