--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: After Pixar's 2006 merger with the Walt…" description: "\"After Pixar's 2006 merger with the Walt Disney Company, its CEO, Bob Iger, asked me, chief creative officer John Lasseter, and other Pixar senior manag..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e08/edwin-catmull-5340_disney-animation_after-pixar-s-2006-merger-with-the-walt_1355018.jpg" --- # After Pixar's 2006 merger with the Walt Disney Company… ![“After Pixar's 2006 merger with the Walt Disney Company, its CEO, Bob Iger, asked me, chief creative officer John Lasseter, and other Pixar senior managers to help him revive Disney Animation Studios. The success of our efforts prompted me to share my thinking on how to build a sustainable creative…” quote by Edwin Catmull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e08/edwin-catmull-5340_disney-animation_after-pixar-s-2006-merger-with-the-walt_1355018.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e08/edwin-catmull-5340_disney-animation_after-pixar-s-2006-merger-with-the-walt_1355018.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e08/edwin-catmull-5340_disney-animation_after-pixar-s-2006-merger-with-the-walt_1355018.jpg) > “After Pixar's 2006 merger with the Walt Disney Company, its CEO, Bob Iger, asked me, chief creative officer John Lasseter, and other Pixar senior managers to help him revive Disney Animation Studios. The success of our efforts prompted me to share my thinking on how to build a sustainable creative organization.” [Edwin Catmull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-catmull/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Building a lasting creative organization requires clear purpose, supportive culture, and disciplined processes that nurture talent while delivering results. **In simple terms:** Sustainable creativity needs purpose, culture, and process. Key Takeaway Focus on purpose, empower teams, enforce standards. Themes creativity leadership organization culture process Mood inspired determined reflective Type leadership strategic When to use this quote - studio turnaround - team building - product development - innovation strategy Key Concepts systems thinking psychological safety vision alignment Questions to Reflect On - How do you keep creativity alive under commercial pressure? - What structures best protect artistic risk? A Different Perspective Balancing artistic freedom with business constraints can stifle spontaneity. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Disney animation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/disney-animation/) [Disney company](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/disney-company/) [Help](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/help/) [Organization](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/organization/) [Success](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/success/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) ## Related quotes > [It is accurate that the Walt Disney Company and ESPN are committed to diversity and inclusion. These are long-standing values that drive fundamental fairness…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-skipper/it-is-accurate-that-the-walt-disney-company-and-espn-are-committed-to/) [John Skipper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-skipper/) > [I took a job at the Walt Disney Company and after 18 months decided to go to business school at Harvard. I was awestruck…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-kilar/i-took-a-job-at-the-walt-disney-company-and-after-18-months-decided/) [Jason Kilar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-kilar/) > [For almost 100 years, The Walt Disney Company has had a variety of leaders. Even though it has been hard for some of these…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-capodagli/for-almost-100-years-the-walt-disney-company-has-had-a-variety-of/) [Bill Capodagli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-capodagli/) > [“studios down. (He also thought, frankly, that making us the stewards of both entities would guarantee that Pixar’s traditions didn’t get overtaken by those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-catmull/studios-down-he-also-thought-frankly-that-making-us-the-stewards-of/) [Ed Catmull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-catmull/) > [I learned my first lesson at the Walt Disney Company about not being able to trust my associates.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-ovitz/i-learned-my-first-lesson-at-the-walt-disney-company-about-not-being/) [Michael Ovitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-ovitz/) > [No matter where they are or who they're with, dogs are incapable of being anything but themselves. Show me a dog that puts on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meghan-daum/no-matter-where-they-are-or-who-they-re-with-dogs-are-incapable-of/) [Meghan Daum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meghan-daum/) > [One of the reasons for The Walt Disney Company's long- term success is really the first of Dr. Deming's famous points, "create constancy of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-capodagli/one-of-the-reasons-for-the-walt-disney-company-s-long-term-success-is/) [Bill Capodagli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-capodagli/) > [If you can dream it, you can do it. Your limits are all within yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/if-you-can-dream-it-you-can-do-it-your-limits-are-all-within-yourself/) [Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/) > [If you can dream it, you can make it so.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/belva-davis/if-you-can-dream-it-you-can-make-it-so/) Belva Davis > [Animation can explain whatever the mind of man can conceive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walt-disney/animation-can-explain-whatever-the-mind-of-man-can-conceive/) [Walt Disney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walt-disney/) > [One reason for keeping Disney animation separate from Pixar was that by solving their own problems when they finished a film, Disney could say,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwin-catmull/one-reason-for-keeping-disney-animation-separate-from-pixar-was-that/) [Edwin Catmull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-catmull/) > [I'm privileged and grateful to lead The Walt Disney Company and our talented, dedicated team at this exciting time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-iger/i-m-privileged-and-grateful-to-lead-the-walt-disney-company-and-our/) [Bob Iger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-iger/) > [I took a job at the Walt Disney Company and after 18 months decided to go to business school at Harvard. I was awestruck…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-kilar/i-took-a-job-at-the-walt-disney-company-and-after-18-months-decided-2/) [Jason Kilar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-kilar/) > [“The message, never stated but avuncularly implied, is that America’s values ought to reflect those of the Walt Disney Company and not the other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-hiaasen/the-message-never-stated-but-avuncularly-implied-is-that-america-s/) [Carl Hiaasen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-hiaasen/) > [What's unique about Disney Animation, many of the films have this perennial quality about them. 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/) ## More by Edwin Catmull > [Lucasfilm has always had an openness to technology.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwin-catmull/lucasfilm-has-always-had-an-openness-to-technology/) [Edwin Catmull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-catmull/) > [Creative ideas aren't like Jenga blocks, where they fall apart and you've got to start from scratch, though it can feel that way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwin-catmull/creative-ideas-aren-t-like-jenga-blocks-where-they-fall-apart-and-you/) [Edwin Catmull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-catmull/) > [With every one of our films, we try to touch emotions, but we don't try to touch the same emotions each time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwin-catmull/with-every-one-of-our-films-we-try-to-touch-emotions-but-we-don-t-try/) [Edwin Catmull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-catmull/) > [Every new idea in any field needs protection.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwin-catmull/every-new-idea-in-any-field-needs-protection/) [Edwin Catmull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-catmull/) > [Creativity has to start somewhere, and we are true believers in the power of bracing, candid feedback, and the iterative process - reworking, reworking,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwin-catmull/creativity-has-to-start-somewhere-and-we-are-true-believers-in-the/) [Edwin Catmull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-catmull/) > [At heart, we believe that the films that work well are the films that do touch people emotionally.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwin-catmull/at-heart-we-believe-that-the-films-that-work-well-are-the-films-that/) [Edwin Catmull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-catmull/) > [Creativity doesn't follow titles. It just comes from where it comes from.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwin-catmull/creativity-doesn-t-follow-titles-it-just-comes-from-where-it-comes/) [Edwin Catmull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-catmull/) > [We'll fund a project even if I'm skeptical because I'd rather be proven wrong by somebody on the inside than by somebody on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwin-catmull/we-ll-fund-a-project-even-if-i-m-skeptical-because-i-d-rather-be/) [Edwin Catmull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-catmull/) > [I actually feel awkward being at the center of attention.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwin-catmull/i-actually-feel-awkward-being-at-the-center-of-attention/) [Edwin Catmull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-catmull/) > [We have a whole industry which is gigantic: games. Games is very successful. It's its own art form, though, and it's not the same…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwin-catmull/we-have-a-whole-industry-which-is-gigantic-games-games-is-very/) [Edwin Catmull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-catmull/) > [A movie contains literally tens of thousands of ideas. They're in the form of every sentence; in the performance of each line; in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwin-catmull/a-movie-contains-literally-tens-of-thousands-of-ideas-they-re-in-the/) [Edwin Catmull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-catmull/) > [With certain ideas, you can predict commercial success. So with a 'Toy Story 3' or a 'Cars 2,' you know the idea is more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwin-catmull/with-certain-ideas-you-can-predict-commercial-success-so-with-a-toy/) [Edwin Catmull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-catmull/) > [Beware of being blinded by your own success.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwin-catmull/beware-of-being-blinded-by-your-own-success/) [Edwin Catmull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-catmull/) > [My best advice came by examples. A supportive environment at home, school, and grad school. Support at the New York Institute of Technology, then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwin-catmull/my-best-advice-came-by-examples-a-supportive-environment-at-home/) [Edwin Catmull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-catmull/) > [When it comes to producing breakthroughs, both technological and artistic, Pixar's track record is unique. In the early 1990s, we were known as the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwin-catmull/when-it-comes-to-producing-breakthroughs-both-technological-and/) [Edwin Catmull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-catmull/) [Explore all 101 Edwin Catmull quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-catmull/) ## More Disney animation quotes > [What's unique about Disney Animation, many of the films have this perennial quality about them. 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/) > [“That uncertainty can make us uncomfortable. We humans like to know where we are headed, but creativity demands that we travel paths that lead…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-catmull/that-uncertainty-can-make-us-uncomfortable-we-humans-like-to-know/) [Ed Catmull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-catmull/) > [Born of necessity, the little fellow literally freed us of immediate worry. He provided the means for expanding our organization to its present dimensions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walt-disney/born-of-necessity-the-little-fellow-literally-freed-us-of-immediate/) [Walt Disney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walt-disney/) > ['Bolt' was made by Walt Disney Animation Studios, not by Pixar.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lasseter/bolt-was-made-by-walt-disney-animation-studios-not-by-pixar/) [John Lasseter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lasseter/) > [Walt Disney’s Mickey Mouse... by Floyd Gottfredson will be warmly received by comics aficionados but should also intrigue Disney animation buffs who aren’t necessarily…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-maltin/walt-disney-s-mickey-mouse-by-floyd-gottfredson-will-be-warmly/) [Leonard Maltin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-maltin/) > [Now that had worked very successfully at Pixar, and he ended up adding one at Walt Disney Animation and one at DTS. So, I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/klay-hall/now-that-had-worked-very-successfully-at-pixar-and-he-ended-up-adding/) [Klay Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/klay-hall/) > [In my work I try to reach and speak to that innocence, showing it the fun and joy of living; showing it that laughter…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walt-disney/in-my-work-i-try-to-reach-and-speak-to-that-innocence-showing-it-the-2/) [Walt Disney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walt-disney/) > [Look what Disney's done to their animation department. There wasn't an animator in charge of their animation unit!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-bakshi/look-what-disney-s-done-to-their-animation-department-there-wasn-t-an/) [Ralph Bakshi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-bakshi/) > [When I first started working at Disney animation, I can't tell you how many people said to me, 'Oh, man, take a powder.' Nobody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-menken/when-i-first-started-working-at-disney-animation-i-can-t-tell-you-how/) [Alan Menken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-menken/) > [If you can dream it, you can make it so.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/belva-davis/if-you-can-dream-it-you-can-make-it-so/) Belva Davis > [There was a manga boom, so I read 'Astro Boy,' 'Osomatsu-kun,' and such. But what influenced me the most were things like 'Popeye' and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/akira-toriyama/there-was-a-manga-boom-so-i-read-astro-boy-osomatsu-kun-and-such-but/) [Akira Toriyama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/akira-toriyama/) > [If you can dream it, you can do it. Your limits are all within yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/if-you-can-dream-it-you-can-do-it-your-limits-are-all-within-yourself/) [Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/) > [I don't know if I really watched any Disney animation as a kid.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emilie-de-ravin/i-don-t-know-if-i-really-watched-any-disney-animation-as-a-kid/) [Emilie de Ravin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emilie-de-ravin/) > [“Rather than trying to prevent all errors, we should assume, as is almost always the case, that our people’s intentions are good and that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-catmull/rather-than-trying-to-prevent-all-errors-we-should-assume-as-is/) [Ed Catmull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-catmull/) > [Aladdin' was probably my favorite Disney animation when I was a kid. The animation was great and Robin Williams was unbelievable as the Genie.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zachary-levi/aladdin-was-probably-my-favorite-disney-animation-when-i-was-a-kid/) [Zachary Levi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zachary-levi/) [Browse all 28 Disney animation quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/disney-animation/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "After Pixar's 2006 merger with the Walt Disney Company, its CEO, Bob Iger, asked me, chief creative officer John Lasseter, and other Pixar senior managers to help him revive Disney Animation Studios. 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