From Toy Story to WALL-E: A 30 Yr Career in Animation - John Lee (Art Director, Ex-Pixar & Skydance)

In this episode, we sit down with John Lee — former Art Director at Pixar and Skydance Animation — who has spent over 30 years working on some of the most iconic animated films of all time, including Toy Story, WALL-E, Cars, and Hercules.John shares his journey from a high school student discovering art for the first time to working inside Disney and Pixar during some of the most transformative moments in animation history.We go behind the scenes of how these films were actually made — from hand-painted backgrounds at Disney to the shift into 3D at Pixar — and what it was like being part of that transition.We also dive into:What it was like working on films like Mulan, The Incredibles, and CarsHow Pixar’s storytelling and production process worksThe evolution of animation pipelines over the last 30 yearsWhat artists really think about AI — and how it compares to past tech shifts like motion captureAdvice for artists and creators navigating a rapidly changing industryOne of the biggest takeaways: every new technology feels disruptive at first — but over time, it becomes just another tool in the creative process.If you're interested in animation, game development, or the future of creative work, this episode is packed with insights from someone who’s seen the industry evolve from the inside.