I promise you we will make films that entertain you the moment the lights go down. We're making Disney the one place you have to work (as an animator).
Pixar's short films convinced Disney that if the company could produce memorable characters within five minutes, then the confidence was there in creating a feature film with those abilities in story and character development.
Short films really helped me develop as a story teller, animator, and as a director.
We work very hard in all of the Pixar films to not make anything in the imagery that causes people to think of something other than the story.
Look at the films of Walt Disney: 'Snow White' came out in February 1938, and I can't think of another film from that year that's watched as much. The same is true of 'Bambi,' 'Dumbo'... even, frankly, 'Toy Story,' which is probably watched more than any other movie of 1995.
You never hear of a live-action studio that has been making so-so films looking over at a studio that's making great movies and going, 'Oh, we see the difference - we're using a different camera.'
The way the films look will never entertain an audience alone. It has to be in the service of a good story with great characters.
When I started work with LucasArts Computer Division back in 1984, I went to the Palace of Fine Arts and saw the Festival of Animation for the first time. I loved the diverse collection of animated films the festival held.
I love the work of Hayao Miyazaki. 'My Neighbor Totoro' and 'Castle in the Sky' are two of the great films that he's made that I just love.
When Walt Disney was making his films, he trusted his instincts and made films for himself, but they appealed to everybody, not just kids.
I do what I do because of Walt Disney. Goofy. Mickey Mouse. I never forgot how their films entertained me.