We tell the stories of legendary projects and the leaders behind them.

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How do you accomplish a project that’s part art, part technology?

When Toy Story first debuted in 1995, it changed filmmaking forever. For the first time, a movie had been made entirely with computer animation. The film became the highest-grossing release of the year in the U.S., inspired one of the most successful franchises in cinema, and launched Pixar’s unprecedented run of seven consecutive box office hits.

On the surface, Toy Story looked like an overnight success–but it was actually the culmination of 25 years of work from three visionaries: Ed Catmull, John Lasseter, and Steve Jobs.

In this episode of Project Blueprint, discover the origins of Pixar and the making of Toy Story. It’s a story of  Silicon Valley innovation, Hollywood storytelling, and one man's decades-long journey to change how movies are made.

What You’ll Learn:

• The unique relationship between art and technology
• How ambitious creative projects actually get accomplished
• How you can become a better leader by removing barriers to creativity

Chapters:

(00:00:00) - Introduction

(00:01:21) - Ed Catmull

(00:29:49) - John Lasseter

(00:50:35) - Steve Jobs

(01:07:27) - Pixar

(01:18:58) - Disney Partnership

(01:32:04) - Black Friday

(01:47:35) - Toy Story

(01:58:18) - Epilogue

(02:04:46) - Analysis

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• Quick Survey–tell us what you think of the show or share suggestions for the next episode
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• The Road to Point Reyes
• Black Friday Reel

What does it take to build the biggest airplane the world has ever seen—an aircraft two and a half times larger than any plane at the time?

When the Boeing 747 debuted in 1970, it changed air travel forever. With double the capacity of earlier jets, it slashed ticket prices and democratized global travel. But behind the triumph is a story of near-disaster: a company on the edge of bankruptcy and an engineering team crippled by corporate bureaucracy.

In this episode of Project Blueprint, discover how Boeing built the “Queen of the Skies.” It’s a story of groundbreaking engineering, corporate politics, and one man’s lifelong quest to build the plane everyone said was impossible. Along the way, you’ll learn how this legendary project almost broke Boeing… but instead made aviation history.

What You’ll Learn:

• How Joe Sutter and “the Incredibles” designed the world’s first jumbo jet under crushing time pressure
• Why Boeing built the largest factory in the world
• How the 747 reshaped global culture, making long-haul travel affordable to millions

Links:

• Quick Survey–tell us what you think of the show or share suggestions for the next episode
• Sources
• Get email updates every time a new episode is released–plus bonus material
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• Contact Us