9781422287163

CHAPTER ONE

I f you were to visit Pixar’s headquarters, you’d find a pretty interesting place. The first thing you’d probably see when you walked in the door would be the giant plasma TV where the day’s activities are listed— everything from live performances of Pixar films’ soundtracks to aerobic exercise classes. The Smile Squad, guides wearing yellow T-shirts, would show you around. You’d see the Cereal Bar, where Pixar’s staff can help themselves twenty-four hours a day to fourteen different kinds of break- fast cereal (most of them kids’ cereals!) and an endless supply of milk. Af- ter the Cereal Bar, you might see the Pizza Room, where staff can grab a slice whenever they want. Then there’s the Breathing Room, where people who need a break can go to sit quietly and meditate. If you talked to some of the employees, you’d get an even better pic- ture of what it’s like to work at Pixar. Phil Shoebottom, for example, is a The Man Who Made It All Possible