How does 3-D animation compare to the traditional 2-D cel animation?
It’s much more difficult. You have to concentrate more on the timing and posing of things, as opposed to drawing things properly. And you’re working on the computer, using a mouse and keyboard…sometimes a Wacom tablet.

And I guess what is similar is that you do a lot of acting…
Yes. A hundred percent of the time you act it out in the mirror or you get one of your friends to act it out. You videotape yourself, or draw yourself.

How do you hone your acting skills?
By observing what you want to animate, if at all possible. Be it the way somebody takes off a coat or the way somebody smiles. Also, I show people my work all of the time and as often as possible. They give me feedback on how to improve things and make the actions clearer and more entertaining.

Do you have any favorite spots for people-watching?
DMV [Department of Motor Vehicles] lines or lines at the grocery store. People waiting for an elevator. Everybody waits differently. Malls are a classic place to watch people for all types of expressions. For animals I’ll go to the zoo or the park.

Were you taught how to use the computer animation programs in art school?
No. “Pixar University” teaches you how to use the computer and tools. It’s a little bit overwhelming.

Where did you first study animation?
I went to Cleveland Institute of the Arts. Then I went to California Institute of the Arts because it’s a better school for animation.

So you got degrees from both?
Nope. I dropped out of both. No degrees here, man.

Are you tempted to go back to finish?
I would love to go back to school, but not for a piece of paper or degree. I’d go back to have more time to train or learn more things. But I will say this: To maintain longevity, you have to get your education someplace—either in the workforce or in school.

Pixar offers classes, right?
Yes—for all its employees. They’re taught here at Pixar. I’ve taken two painting classes and a lot of life drawing. It’s also a good mixer; you meet different people from different parts of the company. It’s a good way to learn new things.

So when did you first start drawing?
I started drawing when I was around four years old. My earliest memory is doing a drawing of a saber-toothed tiger for my brother’s book report. My family was very supportive of me pursuing my art. They didn’t have much money to buy me stuff, but they allowed it and encouraged it. They recognized that I had a talent.

And you knew right off you’d be an animator?
I knew in high school—freshman year. In my commercial arts class I met a senior named Chris Sonneburg. He showed our class his drawings and how animation was done. It seemed cool and fun. Now Chris is working at Disney as an animator.

Are there any shots you did that stand out as really challenging?
There was this one I did in Toy Story 2 of Buzz telling Woody why he came to rescue him. It’s not easy acting out genuine, emotional moments.

When you’re not tackling animation shots and taking art classes what are you doing?
I love to hang out in bookstores. I love books, and I have an obsession with children’s books. I think as a kid you get very into children’s books and then into comic books, and that passion for visual information is still there. Mainly, I check out the art books over and over again. It’s very exciting to discover new artists.

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