Like building a business, making a movie at Pixar is hard. In fact, it takes years.
Step inside the studio that brought you "Toy Story," "Up" and "Inside Out" and learn what it takes to bring a Pixar feature film to life. What are the different departments at Pixar and how do they work together with the goal of making a great movie?
In this program, "The Magic Behind the Scenes," Supervising Animator, Mike Stocker, will walk you through the process of making "Finding Dory" from story to final animation. Then show you how the cantankerous, yet lovable octopus was created for the film--one of the most challenging projects the Animators at Pixar have ever faced. Michael will walk you through the development process from initial character design, to being animated, to his final look in the film.
Join us for this month's Business Connections program and discover how making an animated movie is much like building a business.
About our Speaker:
Michael Stocker joined Pixar Animation Studios in December 2002, and recently served as a supervising animator on the studio’s upcoming feature film, “Finding Dory." His other Pixar credits include animating on the Academy Award®-winning feature films “The Incredibles,” “Cars,” “Ratatouille,” and “Up,” plus roles as directing animator on “Toy Story 3” and “Monsters University.”
Before entering the animation industry, Stocker worked with several companies in various capacities, including a Spokane advertising agency, a Seattle based industrial design company as an illustrator, among others. In 1992, he began an internship with Disney’s Florida Animation Studio, where he worked as an 'in-betweener trainee' on “The Lion King," which led to his first animation assignment. Stocker went on to serve a ten-year stint with Walt Disney Animation Studios, where his credits include animation roles on “Hercules,” “Tarzan,” “Fantasia/2000,” “The Emperor’s New Groove,” “Treasure Planet,” and “Home on the Range.”
Raised in the Spokane Valley, Stocker studied commercial art at Spokane Falls Community College and completed a two-year program at California Institute of the Arts (CalArts). He currently resides in the Bay Area with his wife and children.