In a rare glimpse into the mind of a visionary entrepreneur and innovator, Apple co-founder Steve Jobs shares his thoughts on Pixar Animation Studios' groundbreaking debut feature, Toy Story. The 22-minute interview, conducted nearly a year after the film's release in 1995, offers an unprecedented look at how Jobs envisioned Pixar's role in the entertainment industry.
At the heart of Jobs' vision for Pixar was fostering an environment where talented individuals from both Hollywood and Silicon Valley could thrive together as peers. He saw Pixar as the only studio capable of attracting the "very best" talent, and its success was paramount to him. "We're a very hot place to be right now," he boasted, citing the studio's rapid expansion and need for consistency in quality across all staff and projects.
To maintain this high level of quality, Jobs advocated for an employee retention model reminiscent of Silicon Valley, where employees were valued so highly that they would never want to leave. In a tongue-in-cheek remark, Jobs said, "We don't take anybody for granted, because if they don't want to be here, then they should probably leave anyway." This approach allowed Pixar to stay ahead of the curve and maintain its position as a leader in animation.
The collaboration between Disney and Pixar also played a significant role in Jobs' vision. With access to resources and guidance from Disney, Pixar refined techniques like editing before production, which became a hallmark of their success. The partnership even led to speculation about future collaborations, including a potential reteaming with Disney after the initial three-picture deal.
Fast-forward to today, and it's clear that Jobs was correct in his predictions about Toy Story's shelf life. The franchise has not only endured but also continued to evolve, with multiple sequels, spin-offs, and merchandise. As Jobs once joked, its impact would last for 60 years, a sentiment now borne out by the release of Toy Story 3 just a year after his passing.
The interview serves as a fascinating glimpse into the mind of a visionary who saw the potential in Pixar's early days and backed it with unwavering support. With Toy Story 5 set to premiere in June 2026, fans can look forward to another installment in the beloved franchise, cementing its place in animation history alongside Jobs' enduring legacy.
At the heart of Jobs' vision for Pixar was fostering an environment where talented individuals from both Hollywood and Silicon Valley could thrive together as peers. He saw Pixar as the only studio capable of attracting the "very best" talent, and its success was paramount to him. "We're a very hot place to be right now," he boasted, citing the studio's rapid expansion and need for consistency in quality across all staff and projects.
To maintain this high level of quality, Jobs advocated for an employee retention model reminiscent of Silicon Valley, where employees were valued so highly that they would never want to leave. In a tongue-in-cheek remark, Jobs said, "We don't take anybody for granted, because if they don't want to be here, then they should probably leave anyway." This approach allowed Pixar to stay ahead of the curve and maintain its position as a leader in animation.
The collaboration between Disney and Pixar also played a significant role in Jobs' vision. With access to resources and guidance from Disney, Pixar refined techniques like editing before production, which became a hallmark of their success. The partnership even led to speculation about future collaborations, including a potential reteaming with Disney after the initial three-picture deal.
Fast-forward to today, and it's clear that Jobs was correct in his predictions about Toy Story's shelf life. The franchise has not only endured but also continued to evolve, with multiple sequels, spin-offs, and merchandise. As Jobs once joked, its impact would last for 60 years, a sentiment now borne out by the release of Toy Story 3 just a year after his passing.
The interview serves as a fascinating glimpse into the mind of a visionary who saw the potential in Pixar's early days and backed it with unwavering support. With Toy Story 5 set to premiere in June 2026, fans can look forward to another installment in the beloved franchise, cementing its place in animation history alongside Jobs' enduring legacy.
and I'm still mind-blown by how ahead of his time he was! He really believed that Disney's money and guidance would be the key to making Pixar great 
, and it totally worked out. He even said they should just steal people from other studios because they're so talented 
... talk about confidence in your team!
, where people would be too busy making magic to leave. And it sounds like he actually succeeded! The interview is really interesting because you can see how his vision for Pixar evolved over time... and now we have Toy Story 5 coming out next year?! 
I'm so down for that!
but seriously, it's amazing to see how toy story has stood the test of time. and can you imagine what steve jobs would say now? haha would he be hyping up toy story 5 again or maybe something even more groundbreaking? 
Like, an employee retention model where you just keep people because they're valuable? That sounds like a total fantasy world to me. And can we talk about how he basically said that if employees don't want to work hard, they should just leave? That's not exactly the most inspiring message 
.
. It's crazy to think about how far that franchise has come.
i never knew steve jobs was so into pixar and their whole ethos. like totally makes sense though, if u got talented ppl who r passionate about what they do, u can create something truly magical 
he was right on the money with his vision 4 the future of animation. and can we talk about how awesome it is that pixar's still killing the game after all these yrs? 
i mean toy story 5 already? 
. The way he's all about fostering a culture of innovation and collaboration is SO relatable 
. I mean who wouldn't want to work for someone who values their employees so much? 
. can we get more companies to adopt this model?! 
.
and I am SO down for more of Buzz Lightyear and Woody 
.
. And don't even get me started on the merch 
, instead of churning out the same ol' franchise nonsense 
. The franchise has become this cultural phenomenon, and it's interesting to think about how it all started with this 22-minute interview 
. It's like a time capsule of what it meant for Pixar to be a leader in animation back then 
.
. Foster an environment? That sounds like some Silicon Valley buzzword to me 
.
.
. Toy Story 5 can't come soon enough! 
. It's so true and it's clear why Pixar has remained a leader in animation all these years 
The fact that he wanted to attract the "best" talent from both Hollywood and Silicon Valley speaks volumes about his forward-thinking approach.
. It's no wonder Pixar was able to stay ahead of the curve all those years ago. The Disney partnership also makes total sense – it's all about building on each other's strengths and creating something truly special 
.
.
. anyway, i guess it's cool to see what steve jobs thought about pixar back in the day, but let's not get carried away with speculation here 
.