--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: At Pixar, Toy Story 2 taught us this…" description: "\"“At Pixar, Toy Story 2 taught us this lesson—that we must always be alert to shifting dynamics, because our future depends on it—once and for all. Begu..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aac/ed-catmull-1553_disney_at-pixar-toy-story-2-taught-us-this-less_2500259.jpg" --- # At Pixar, Toy Story 2 taught us this lesson—that we must… ![“At Pixar, Toy Story 2 taught us this lesson—that we must always be alert to shifting dynamics, because our future depends on it—once and for all. Begun as a direct-to-video sequel, the project proved not only that it was important to everyone that we weren’t tolerating second-class films but also…” quote by Ed Catmull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aac/ed-catmull-1553_disney_at-pixar-toy-story-2-taught-us-this-less_2500259.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aac/ed-catmull-1553_disney_at-pixar-toy-story-2-taught-us-this-less_2500259.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aac/ed-catmull-1553_disney_at-pixar-toy-story-2-taught-us-this-less_2500259.jpg) > ““At Pixar, Toy Story 2 taught us this lesson—that we must always be alert to shifting dynamics, because our future depends on it—once and for all. Begun as a direct-to-video sequel, the project proved not only that it was important to everyone that we weren’t tolerating second-class films but also that everything we did—everything associated with our name—needed to be good. Thinking this way was not just about morale; it was a signal to everyone at Pixar that they were part owners of the company’s greatest asset—its quality.”” [Ed Catmull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-catmull/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote stresses the importance of staying vigilant to change, ensuring high quality, and fostering collective ownership of a company's core values. **In simple terms:** Stay alert to change and maintain quality. Key Takeaway Prioritize adaptability and quality. Themes adaptability quality ownership leadership Mood inspirational reflective professional Type leadership business motivational When to use this quote - product development - creative brainstorming - quality reviews - team meetings Key Concepts continuous improvement team empowerment brand reputation innovation Questions to Reflect On - How can teams embed quality ownership? - What signals indicate shifting dynamics? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Disney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/disney/) [Sequel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sequel/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [The only reason we made 'Toy Story 2' is that we happened to come up with a storyline that was really good. It wasn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-unkrich/the-only-reason-we-made-toy-story-2-is-that-we-happened-to-come-up/) [Lee Unkrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-unkrich/) > [I never wanted 'Toy Story 3' to feel like another sequel just grafted on. We all know that if you put 3 after your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-unkrich/i-never-wanted-toy-story-3-to-feel-like-another-sequel-just-grafted/) [Lee Unkrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-unkrich/) > [We've always had ups and downs at Pixar, starting with the high we felt doing something we'd never done - 'Toy Story' - and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwin-catmull/we-ve-always-had-ups-and-downs-at-pixar-starting-with-the-high-we/) [Edwin Catmull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-catmull/) > [Every Pixar movie has its own rules that viewers have to accept, understand, and enjoy understanding. The voices of the toys in the 'Toy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwin-catmull/every-pixar-movie-has-its-own-rules-that-viewers-have-to-accept/) [Edwin Catmull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-catmull/) > [Well, we try to - we definitely try to have a balance. And I think things have gotten a lot better at Pixar. When…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pete-docter/well-we-try-to-we-definitely-try-to-have-a-balance-and-i-think-things/) [Pete Docter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pete-docter/) > [At Pixar, I don't have to compromise at all. When I look at the finished "Toy Story 3," I don't sit and constantly think,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-unkrich/at-pixar-i-don-t-have-to-compromise-at-all-when-i-look-at-the/) [Lee Unkrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-unkrich/) > [“In 1997, executives at Disney came to us with a request: Could we make Toy Story 2 as a direct-to-video release—that is, not release…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-catmull/in-1997-executives-at-disney-came-to-us-with-a-request-could-we-make/) [Ed Catmull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-catmull/) > [“Toy Story went on to become the top-grossing film of the year and would earn $358 million worldwide. But it wasn’t just the numbers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-catmull/toy-story-went-on-to-become-the-top-grossing-film-of-the-year-and/) [Ed Catmull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-catmull/) > [“What makes Pixar special is that we acknowledge we will always have problems, many of them hidden from our view; that we work hard…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-catmull/what-makes-pixar-special-is-that-we-acknowledge-we-will-always-have-2/) [Ed Catmull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-catmull/) > [“if not anyone else—that what we’d created at Pixar could work outside of Pixar. Both the run-up to the acquisition and its execution provided…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-catmull/if-not-anyone-else-that-what-we-d-created-at-pixar-could-work-outside/) [Ed Catmull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-catmull/) > [“What makes Pixar special is that we acknowledge we will always have problems, many of them hidden from our view; that we work hard…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-catmull/what-makes-pixar-special-is-that-we-acknowledge-we-will-always-have/) [Ed Catmull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-catmull/) > [“What makes Pixar special is that we acknowledge we will always have problems, many of them hidden from our view; that we work hard…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-catmull/what-makes-pixar-special-is-that-we-acknowledge-we-will-always-have-3/) [Ed Catmull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-catmull/) > [“Every morning, as I walk into Pixar Animation Studios—past the twenty-foot-high sculpture of Luxo Jr., our friendly desk lamp mascot, through the double doors…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-catmull/every-morning-as-i-walk-into-pixar-animation-studios-past-the-twenty/) [Ed Catmull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-catmull/) > [“That’s how much candor matters at Pixar: It overrides hierarchy.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-catmull/that-s-how-much-candor-matters-at-pixar-it-overrides-hierarchy/) [Ed Catmull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-catmull/) > [“The good stuff was hiding the bad stuff. I realized that this was something I needed to look out for: When downsides coexist with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-catmull/the-good-stuff-was-hiding-the-bad-stuff-i-realized-that-this-was/) [Ed Catmull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-catmull/) ## More by Ed Catmull > [“So I tell myself that I have time, even when I don’t. As in, ‘Okay, I’m going to proceed as if I have time—I’m…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-catmull/so-i-tell-myself-that-i-have-time-even-when-i-don-t-as-in-okay-i-m/) [Ed Catmull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-catmull/) > [“How, then, do you make failure into something people can face without fear? Part of the answer is simple: If we as leaders can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-catmull/how-then-do-you-make-failure-into-something-people-can-face-without/) [Ed Catmull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-catmull/) > [“Andrew Stanton says, adding that on each of his own films, he has made a point of doing this on a smaller scale, separate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-catmull/andrew-stanton-says-adding-that-on-each-of-his-own-films-he-has-made/) [Ed Catmull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-catmull/) > [“This was a success in itself, but it came with an added and unexpected benefit: The act of thinking about the problem and responding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-catmull/this-was-a-success-in-itself-but-it-came-with-an-added-and-unexpected/) [Ed Catmull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-catmull/) > [“This principle eludes most people, but it is critical: You are not your idea, and if you identify too closely with your ideas, you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-catmull/this-principle-eludes-most-people-but-it-is-critical-you-are-not-your/) [Ed Catmull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-catmull/) > [“You might say I’m an advocate for humility in leaders. 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But it wasn’t just the numbers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-catmull/toy-story-went-on-to-become-the-top-grossing-film-of-the-year-and/) [Ed Catmull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-catmull/) > [“THERE IS NOTHING quite like ignorance combined with a driving need to succeed to force rapid learning.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-catmull/there-is-nothing-quite-like-ignorance-combined-with-a-driving-need-to/) [Ed Catmull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-catmull/) > [“What makes Pixar special is that we acknowledge we will always have problems, many of them hidden from our view; that we work hard…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-catmull/what-makes-pixar-special-is-that-we-acknowledge-we-will-always-have/) [Ed Catmull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-catmull/) > [“Every morning, as I walk into Pixar Animation Studios—past the twenty-foot-high sculpture of Luxo Jr., our friendly desk lamp mascot, through the double doors…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-catmull/every-morning-as-i-walk-into-pixar-animation-studios-past-the-twenty/) [Ed Catmull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-catmull/) > [“What makes Pixar special is that we acknowledge we will always have problems, many of them hidden from our view; that we work hard…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-catmull/what-makes-pixar-special-is-that-we-acknowledge-we-will-always-have-2/) [Ed Catmull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-catmull/) > [“I believe that managers must loosen the controls, not tighten them. 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They don't seem like old films, they still seem…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-minkoff/what-s-unique-about-disney-animation-many-of-the-films-have-this/) [Rob Minkoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-minkoff/) > [The way Pixar has always worked is that we think of an idea and then we make it. We don't develop lots of ideas…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-stanton/the-way-pixar-has-always-worked-is-that-we-think-of-an-idea-and-then/) [Andrew Stanton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-stanton/) > [Disney Channel is celebrities coated in sugar. Everything is really happy; everything is really bright.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-osment/disney-channel-is-celebrities-coated-in-sugar-everything-is-really/) [Emily Osment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-osment/) > [“Walt also had a humorous sign posted outside the mansion, recruiting ghosts who wanted to enjoy 'active retirement' in the "country club atmosphere' of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leslie-le-mon/walt-also-had-a-humorous-sign-posted-outside-the-mansion-recruiting/) [Leslie Le Mon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leslie-le-mon/) > [Florida has tons of entertainment opportunities because Walt Disney World and Universal Studios are there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-richardson/florida-has-tons-of-entertainment-opportunities-because-walt-disney/) [Kevin Richardson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-richardson/) > [Well, we try to - we definitely try to have a balance. And I think things have gotten a lot better at Pixar. When…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pete-docter/well-we-try-to-we-definitely-try-to-have-a-balance-and-i-think-things/) [Pete Docter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pete-docter/) > [With Epcot Center, the Disney corporation has accomplished something I didn't think possible in today's world. They have created a land of make-believe that's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/with-epcot-center-the-disney-corporation-has-accomplished-something-i/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I'm a lifelong Disney nut.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-maltin/i-m-a-lifelong-disney-nut/) [Leonard Maltin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-maltin/) > [The only one that seems to be able to hold the business is Disney. 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