Ralph's Open Road
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Ralph Eggleston Highlight (0:31)
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Interview (3:44)
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Research (0:56)
Interview Excerpt -
Creative Process (1:01)
Interview Excerpt -
Definition of Success (0:53)
Web Exclusive -
No Fallback (0:52)
Web Exclusive
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INTERVIEWED BY:
Design Roadtrip
RALPH EGGLESTON
Art Director
Pixar
“Start with character and everything else will follow.”
INTERESTS:
THEMES DISCUSSED:
Education Experience Exploration Character Inspiration Dedication Desire Determination Confidence Success Goals
FOUNDATION:
BIOGRAPHY:
- Always wanted to do film animation; gravitated towards Disney animation, especially the film Cinderella.
- One of his favorite toys was a hand-crank projector-he'd look at films frame by frame to better understand the process.
- Heard about CalArts' animation major when he was in sixth grade and says "that was it," locked in on that goal.
- Worked for a variety of studios before being hired by Pixar; one of his first Pixar projects was art directing Toy Story.
- Views each different film as its own "graduate course," he puts about four years worth of research and work into one subject.
- Some of his "research" is unconventional-hung out in trash dumps, on cruise ships for Wall-E.
- Says that the reward for all of the weird work he puts into a movie is seeing an audience's reaction, hearing what people think.
- Urges students to find an interest, then find out as much as they can about it; simultaneously try to experience as much of the world as possible.