A few weeks ago I was able to experience something that was only on my Dream Bucket List – something I never thought would happen. I got to tour and spend the day at Pixar Studios in Emeryville, California.
I visited Pixar Studios with a group of 24 bloggers to learn more about the movie Brave, which is Pixar’s latest movie. When you pass through the iconic Pixar gates and first step foot onto Pixar’s campus – and it truly is a vast campus – you’re greeted by the giant hopping desk lamp that is featured in the Pixar logo and the small ball.
Walking into the main building of Pixar Studios, it seems similar to walking into a giant airplane hangar.
They began the tour telling us how Steve Jobs designed the concept of Pixar Studios – he wanted it big, open and informal to nurture creativity, not close it off.
At Pixar Studios there’s an outdoor swimming pool, soccer field, basketball courts, fitness center and even a daycare center. With everything on the Pixar Campus where you wouldn’t even have to leave, you would imagine most of the employees practically living there. I asked one of the Pixar employees what an average workday was and she said it was about 8-10 hours and up to 12 only if they were on a deadline. Pixar believes in a work/life balance!
There’s Cafe Luxo, which serves up items like pizza, pasta, sandwiches and made to order burritos.
For your mornings, there is a Cereal room with a huge variety of cereal, teas and coffee.
I was impressed by how green Pixar Studios is. Everywhere you looked there were recycling bins and also the encouragement of a bike rack outside – I love companies like that!
We got to explore the second floor of Pixar Studios, where the magic really happens. Of course, there were no photos allowed there, but believe me when I say it’s amazing!
All of the walls were covered in artwork from the beloved Pixar films. We were introduced to Story Corner, where we saw how an idea gets pitched at Pixar Studios. When someone comes up with an idea, they pitch it with story boards. No one ever tears down an idea, they “plus” the idea! They’ll say, “I love that idea, now let’s add this to the story, this to the character!”
We also learned a little bit more about the process of making a Pixar film. On average, most Pixar films will take 4-5 years to make. They have a film come out every year, so that means they are always working on something!
Fun Fact: A frame of a Pixar film is 1/24 of a second. Each frame can take anywhere from 5-50 hours to render. No wonder it takes so long to make a film – but it’s all worth it!
Touring Pixar was such an amazing opportunity and I loved the little touches we kept coming across like a hidden Mater in the floor or Bo Peep outside the women’s restroom. Just walking around I felt inspired and the need to let some creativity out!
Check out the rest of these pictures!
Disney/Pixar is providing me with an all expenses paid trip to San Francisco for an advance screening of Chimpanzee and select footage from Brave. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
I am still SO excited for you! It seems like it was a dream trip. I love all of the fun facts you were tweeting during the event! It looks like it would be an amazing place to work.
Thanks so much Ashley – I wish you could have been there with me! It definitely seems like the coolest place ever to work!
This is such a Cool experience. Thanks for sharing with us.
Thanks for reading!
How fun!! What a great experience to have!
Thanks Samantha! It was amazing!
Wow, what a fun adventure. I’m very happy for you. I have to say, though, that 10-12 hour days don’t sound that much like work/ life balance! But if it’s only occasional, I can understand. I hadn’t heard of Brave until your post, so am now looking out for it.
It was definitely amazing! When they were telling us about the deadlines and how they would have just 3 days to do thousands of drawings but still only worked 12 hours, I thought that was a good balance, LOL! I love that they have a daycare onsite and so many sporting activities too.
Definitely look out for Brave, I loved it!
Wow!!!! What an incredible experience! This Disney/Pixar nut would have been totally geeking out! 🙂
I have to tell you, I was definitely geeking out the whole time!
This must be the most amazing place to work! I especially love their green iniatitives – the bikes/scooters and recycling. With all that amazing food all over the place, I’d definitely be one of those employees that ate at my desk…all the time! 🙂
I can’t imagine working there! They all seemed so happy too! Loved the green initiative – I don’t see that much around here.
I’m still jealous! So glad you had this opportunity!! 🙂
Thanks Stefanie! 😉
What an amazing opportunity!! I love your post – makes me feel like I was there with you!!
Thanks Emily – I’m so glad you enjoyed it!
What an amazing experience! I am SO very jealous!
Thanks Becca – it was definitely amazing! My husband is so jealous too!
Now THATS a place to work! What an amazing creation. Looks like you had a LOT of fun!
Amanda
http://www.mommyoftwolittlemonkeys.com
I love living vicariously through your posts. I can only dream of one day getting this opportunities like you. What an awesome trip. Thanks for sharing!
What an amazing experience you had!! It looks like a fun place to work, huh?
That’s awesome! I found you through the UBP 12. I have toured a couple of studios, but never Pixar. It looks like a fun place to work.
What an amazing campus. Can you imagine working there? Awesome experience!
What a great experience dude, I’m from Mexico and I will have a trip to San Francisco con June 24-26, with a few classmates of my Master Class and we are looking to have visits to different companies. I am really interested in trying to get a tour in to Pixar. I will really appreciate if you have any contact which I could get in touch in order to make this dream come true.
What a great experience dude, I’m from Mexico and I will have a trip to San Francisco con June 24-26, with a few classmates of my Master Class and we are looking to have visits to different companies. I am really interested in trying to get a tour in to Pixar. I will really appreciate if you have any contact which I could get in touch in order to make this dream come true.