The Art of Storytelling | Andrew Gordon

For more than twenty years, Andrew Gordon helped bring some of Pixar's most beloved characters to life, contributing to films including A Bug's Life, Finding Nemo, and The Incredibles. Behind those iconic stories is a career shaped by rejection and imposter syndrome, as well as experimentation and a determination to keep getting better. In this episode, Dr. Eiman Jahangir is joined by filmmaker, animator, and creative leader Andrew Gordon to talk about the power of storytelling, and what is required when building a career around creativity. Andrew reflects on his initial rejection from Pixar before eventually joining the studio, and the culture that helped produce its groundbreaking films, before exploring why failure and iteration are essential parts of creating something great. As the conversation continues, the pair discuss Andrew's decision to leave Pixar in search of new challenges, and how emerging AI tools are changing what's possible for filmmakers. Andrew also shares why technology can never replace a compelling story and why, even after decades of success, he is still pushing beyond his comfort zone in search of the next great thing he can create. 00:00 Welcome to A Heart for Space 00:32 Meeting Andrew Gordon: From New York to Pixar 02:04 Early Inspiration: A Cousin's Sketchbook and Computer Graphics 03:31 The Commodore Amiga and Finding His Craft 05:22 Heading West: From New Jersey to Animation School 07:18 First Break: Landing at Warner Brothers Looney Tunes 08:20 Rejection and Redemption: The Path to Pixar 10:12 Driving to the Mecca: First Day at Pixar 11:31 The Pixar Culture: Weirdos, Excellence, and John Lasseter 13:01 Imposter Syndrome and Daily Scrutiny 15:30 Animating Characters: From Gil to Mike Wazowski 17:34 The Art of Caricature: Bringing Edna Mode to Life 19:51 Why Pixar Makes Adults Cry Over Toys and Fish 25:09 The Lucky 7 Lounge: Building a Secret Casino at Pixar 27:10 Teaching and Giving Back: Breaking Down the Secrets 28:30 The Internship Program: Molding Through Play 32:40 Storytelling for Business: The Salesforce Success Story 36:31 Leaving Pixar: Twenty Years and a New Chapter 38:21 AI and Animation: The New Frontier at ITEL 41:01 Advice for Aspiring Creatives: Persistence and Fundamentals 43:11 The Space Still Worth Reaching For: Crafting Diamonds Discover more about Dr. Eiman Jahangir, and preorder your own copy of A Heart for Space, now at https://aheartforspace.com/