--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: One of Pixar's key mechanisms is the…" description: "\"One of Pixar's key mechanisms is the Braintrust, which we rely on to push us toward excellence and to root out mediocrity. It is our primary delivery s..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b51/edwin-catmull-5340_disney_one-of-pixar-s-key-mechanisms-is-the-bra_2180993.png" --- # One of Pixar's key mechanisms is the Braintrust, which we… ![“One of Pixar's key mechanisms is the Braintrust, which we rely on to push us toward excellence and to root out mediocrity. It is our primary delivery system for straight talk.” quote by Edwin Catmull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b51/edwin-catmull-5340_disney_one-of-pixar-s-key-mechanisms-is-the-bra_2180993.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b51/edwin-catmull-5340_disney_one-of-pixar-s-key-mechanisms-is-the-bra_2180993.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b51/edwin-catmull-5340_disney_one-of-pixar-s-key-mechanisms-is-the-bra_2180993.png) > “One of Pixar's key mechanisms is the Braintrust, which we rely on to push us toward excellence and to root out mediocrity. It is our primary delivery system for straight talk.” [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. Pixar’s Braintrust uses candid peer feedback to elevate work and eliminate mediocrity, fostering honest communication. **In simple terms:** Open, honest feedback pushes projects toward excellence. Key Takeaway Create a trusted group for direct, constructive critique. Themes collaboration excellence feedback trust Mood inspirational reflective Type philosophical practical When to use this quote - film production - software development - product design - academic labs Key Concepts organizational behavior creative process team dynamics Questions to Reflect On - How do you ensure feedback remains supportive? - What safeguards prevent groupthink? A Different Perspective Group dynamics can become overly critical or stifling. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Disney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/disney/) [Excellence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/excellence/) [Mediocrity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mediocrity/) [System](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/system/) ## Related quotes > [Donald Trump doesn't speak like a politician, and that's made some people uncomfortable. In a world of political correctness run amok, his straight talk…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-scaramucci/donald-trump-doesn-t-speak-like-a-politician-and-that-s-made-some/) [Anthony Scaramucci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-scaramucci/) > [“The Braintrust, which meets every few months or so to assess each movie we’re making, is our primary delivery system for straight talk. Its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-catmull/the-braintrust-which-meets-every-few-months-or-so-to-assess-each/) [Ed Catmull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-catmull/) > [I don't care what level you are, there is the need to offer straight talk when you're working with clients. You have to have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-sweet/i-don-t-care-what-level-you-are-there-is-the-need-to-offer-straight/) [Julie Sweet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-sweet/) > [The whole straight talk thing, which John McCain kind of turned into a slogan at one point in one of his presidential campaigns, what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-maddow/the-whole-straight-talk-thing-which-john-mccain-kind-of-turned-into-a/) [Rachel Maddow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-maddow/) > [The first film where I had a speaking role was 'The Low Life,' but I did appear for about three seconds in 'Straight Talk'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-livingston/the-first-film-where-i-had-a-speaking-role-was-the-low-life-but-i-did/) [Ron Livingston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-livingston/) > [Republicans prefer straight talk to politically correct talk!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitt-romney/republicans-prefer-straight-talk-to-politically-correct-talk/) [Mitt Romney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitt-romney/) > [At Pixar, we believe strongly that filmmakers should develop ideas they are passionate about. This may sound like a no-brainer, but in fact in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwin-catmull/at-pixar-we-believe-strongly-that-filmmakers-should-develop-ideas/) [Edwin Catmull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-catmull/) > [I started off life at Pixar with interesting technical problems. But as time has moved on, I found that the social and management problem…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwin-catmull/i-started-off-life-at-pixar-with-interesting-technical-problems-but/) [Edwin Catmull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-catmull/) > [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/) > [One of the effects Pixar University has on the culture is that it makes people less self-conscious about their work and gets them comfortable…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwin-catmull/one-of-the-effects-pixar-university-has-on-the-culture-is-that-it/) [Edwin Catmull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-catmull/) > [What I've learned running Pixar applies to all businesses.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwin-catmull/what-i-ve-learned-running-pixar-applies-to-all-businesses/) [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/) > [Pixar is a community in the true sense of the word. We think that lasting relationships matter, and we share some basic beliefs: Talent…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwin-catmull/pixar-is-a-community-in-the-true-sense-of-the-word-we-think-that/) [Edwin Catmull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-catmull/) > [The Pixar name means more than any other name. It's very important to us to keep that name at a high level.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwin-catmull/the-pixar-name-means-more-than-any-other-name-it-s-very-important-to/) [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/) ## 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 quotes > [Whether we think of Disney's blonde beauty and her pumpkin carriage or Marissa Meyer's recent recasting of 'Cinderella' as a cyborg in the young…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marie-rutkoski/whether-we-think-of-disney-s-blonde-beauty-and-her-pumpkin-carriage/) [Marie Rutkoski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marie-rutkoski/) > [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/) > [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. They do it is because they have a fabulous philosophy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-bluth/the-only-one-that-seems-to-be-able-to-hold-the-business-is-disney/) [Don Bluth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-bluth/) > [I've worked in animation for a long time. I started in Spain and I wanted to make feature films. That desire to figure out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raul-garcia/i-ve-worked-in-animation-for-a-long-time-i-started-in-spain-and-i/) [Raul Garcia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raul-garcia/) > [Beauty and the Beast became the first animated feature ever nominated for best picture.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-maltin/beauty-and-the-beast-became-the-first-animated-feature-ever-nominated/) [Leonard Maltin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-maltin/) > [I certainly did not envisage making a Disney movie. The most I hoped for was to be able to pay my bills. I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-lowery/i-certainly-did-not-envisage-making-a-disney-movie-the-most-i-hoped/) [David Lowery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-lowery/) > [When life gets you down do you wanna know what you've gotta do? Just keep swimming. -Dory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/finding-nemo/when-life-gets-you-down-do-you-wanna-know-what-you-ve-gotta-do-just/) Finding Nemo > [It's time to take charge, live your own life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/goofy/it-s-time-to-take-charge-live-your-own-life/) Goofy [Browse all 798 Disney quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/disney/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "One of Pixar's key mechanisms is the Braintrust, which we rely on to push us toward excellence and to root out mediocrity. 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