More than most people you know, Oscar-winning animator Pete Docter ( “Inside Out,” “Up,” and “Soul” ) has marked generations of children for life. I first met him back in 1995, when Pixar launched “Toy Story” into the world. Animation was never the same.
I toured the original Pixar compound in Richmond, near San Francisco, and watched over his shoulder as Docter showed me how animators used computers to create characters. That was just the beginning. “Toy Story” was a first step toward a new form of digital motion pictures, pioneered by then leader John Lasseter and the mighty Pixar Brain Trust .
Back in 2018, when Lasseter left the company, Docter moved up to Chief Creative Officer, as the Disney division tried to continue its unsullied record of major hits. It did not always succeed, and the pandemic did not help. But in 2024, “Inside Out 2” broke Pixar’s own box-office record ($1.
7 billion worldwide). For a time, the movie looked unbeatable for the Best Animated Feature Oscar, but the sequel may have to make do with its blockbuster bonafides as it faces competition from challengers like “The Wild Robot” and “Flow.” Ahead, Docter explore the arc of his career at Pixar, and much more.
The following interview has been edited and condensed for length and clarity. Anne Thompson: How do you feel about generations of children growing up on your movies? Pete Docter: I grew up on the previous generation. I’d meet all these old [Disney] guys, Fran.
