Videos
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Andrew Gordon: How to Tell an Incredible Story -
Moving Pixels: All-Star Animators Panel
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Inside Pixar with Andrew Gordon
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Pixar Studio Stories — Where’s Gordon
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Iron Maiden – The Writing On The Wall (Official Video)
Learn More About Andrew Gordon
Stories matter. They spark the imagination, influence perceptions and inspire stakeholders to believe in an organization’s values and brands. How can leaders leverage the power of storytelling to communicate their messages in memorable, actionable ways? Master storyteller, former Pixar animator and winner of the Brand Personality Award in Animation from The Asia Pacific Brands Foundation for his contributions to the world of animation, Andrew Gordon teaches business audiences how to awaken their storytelling superpowers and use them to unleash larger-than-life innovation.
For more than 20 years, Gordon led Pixar’s animation team to create wildly imaginative films, including “A Bug’s Life,” “Finding Nemo,” “The Incredibles” and many more family favorites. Through the lens of Pixar’s filmmaking process, Gordon demonstrates how emotional and potent storytelling isn’t just good for movies; it’s great for business too. In his talks and highly interactive workshops, he provides practical, yet fun, tools and processes that build storytelling skills, encourage feedback and collaboration, and teach the value of learning from failure.
Gordon, who is currently co-directing a film for Illumination Entertainment, the creators of such hits as “Despicable Me,” “Sing,” “The Secret life of Pets” and “Minions,” has been teaching others the art of creativity for decades. He has worked internationally with companies like Salesforce, Cisco, Pinterest, Deloitte and IDEO to help leaders implement new processes and approaches that disrupt the norm and cultivate creative, innovative cultures. He also helps organizations tell their unique stories in new and more compelling ways, helping them more effectively reach, engage and motivate their audiences toward action.
From 2004-2017, Gordon worked as Pixar’s animating director and director of promotions. In addition to his animation work, he is passionate about educating the next generation of animators. Gordon has taught animation and storytelling classes since 2000 and has helped lead the Pixar Animation Internship program four times. He also co-founded The Animation Collaborative and the animation programs at California College of the Arts and The One Academy of Communication Design.
Gordon began tinkering with animation in his teens. He studied at art schools in Vancouver, New York, California and New Jersey. Prior to joining Pixar, he was an animator in the Looney Tunes division of Warner Bros. and lectured on art at a variety of schools. The Visual Effects Society presented Gordon the Outstanding Character Animation in an Animated Motion Picture award for his work on “Finding Nemo.”
Andrew Gordon is available to advise your organization via virtual and in-person consulting meetings, interactive workshops and customized keynotes through the exclusive representation of Stern Speakers & Advisors, a division of Stern Strategy Group®.
Storytelling and the Iteration Process of Pixar
Discover why unforgettable stories aren’t born – they’re built. In this keynote, Andrew Gordon pulls back the curtain on the creative engine behind Pixar’s golden age, sharing insights from two decades spent shaping some of the world’s most beloved films. Audiences will learn the hidden mechanics of crafting stories that resonate: how to captivate from the first moment, how to create deep emotional alignment by placing viewers inside the characters’ shoes, and how to respect your audience by inviting them into the narrative. Gordon will explore Pixar’s famed iterative process – how “breaking” a story is the essential step to rebuilding it into something extraordinary – and reveal the secret sauce behind making any idea unforgettable.
Some of the topics will include:
- Hooking your audience
- Putting the audience in the characters shoes
- Respecting your audience by involving them in the process and
- Story structures
Storytelling in Sustainability
Data informs, but stories transform. In this session that was originally designed for Deloitte Digital, Andrew Gordon shows how sustainability messaging becomes far more powerful when grounded in narrative. He guides participants through real sustainability stories, deconstructing why some inspire action while others fall flat. Using Pixar’s time-tested framework and an accessible iteration method, attendees will collaborate, experiment and ultimately leave with a compelling sustainability story of their own. This talk empowers organizations to move beyond statistics and craft narratives that change minds – and the future.
Storytelling in the Age of A.I.
Artificial intelligence is reshaping creativity, but the heart of storytelling remains human. In this session, Andrew Gordon dives into the craft of narrative using today’s cutting-edge A.I. tools, drawing from his experience creating 75 short films with emerging technologies. Participants will learn what A.I. enhances, what it can’t replace and how to avoid the pitfalls that lead to “content slop.” From premise to structure, from character to controlling idea, from tool selection to telegraphing narrative beats, this is a masterclass in building meaningful stories in a world overflowing with generative content. Attendees walk away knowing how to turn A.I. from a gimmick into a genuine storytelling partner.
Failure and Feedback: The Creative Culture Behind Pixar
Greatness isn’t achieved by avoiding failure, it’s built by embracing it. In this candid and inspiring talk, Andrew Gordon shares a behind-the-scenes look at how Pixar cultivated one of the most admired creative cultures in the world. Audiences learn how psychological safety, the “Braintrust” model and a relentless feedback process transformed setbacks into breakthroughs. Attendees will discover why films fail, how to mine crises for insight and what an effective notes session really looks like. This keynote is ultimately about trusting the process, creating a culture where honest feedback fuels innovation, and where teams feel empowered to take risks that lead to excellence.
The New Uncharted World of Virtual Identity: The Metaverse and Web 3.0
The metaverse and web 3.0 are upon us. How we are represented in a new 3-D space will be important to us in the future, says Andrew Gordon, master storyteller and award-winning animator and film director. In this talk, Gordon focuses on the work he’s done with metaverse company Itsme, where they are creating digital avatars. For audiences looking around the corner to what’s new and next, he reveals how he applies the storytelling principles learned from 20 years at Pixar to create another 3-D world. Gordon also touches on NFTs as well as some of the rising issues in this new uncharted world of virtual identity.
"Thanks so much for the outstanding keynote at our first Glint Summit Europe (and for the wonderful drawing of Edna Mode)! I heard so many great comments from our attendees that were inspired by your sharing insights from Pixar Animation Studios and on storytelling overall. On behalf of everyone at the event and the team, thank you!"
“It’s rare that you come across world class talent like Andrew Gordon. I’ve been fortunate enough to work with Andrew to learn storytelling skills and invest in the Salesforce Ignite teams culture of feedback. During story workshops, Andrew is able to listen deeply and coach creative teams to breakthrough levels of creativity and collaboration. What makes working with Andrew most satisfying is that he is fueled by feedback. The learning and impact from our teams work with Andrew grows with each new session.”
“Andrew’s presentation and story opened a window into a world that most people never hear about, the world of animation and movies, and how that world functions. He did this with great audience engagement; his storytelling ability is equally as good as his animation skills. We really enjoyed his presentation and at the same time learned a lot. His presentation was exemplary of innovation and creativity in action.”
“Really enjoyed the session and took two things away in particular. First, we tell stories every day to our teams, our peers, our board, and external partners and investors. While not all elements of the process we used yesterday apply in every case, crispness and clarity of messaging, holding the attention of the audience, and energy in delivery all matter. It was a good refresher on how a little extra effort in prep to tighten the storyline can help us do better work and cover more ground efficiently. Second, the open feedback process spurred creativity and engagement from the group. I plan to emphasize that approach in meetings to draw out constructive ideas more broadly from the team.”
“Andrew blew away the crowd, got them inspired and returned them to their childhood dreams of becoming their own super heroes. The workshop afterward was so inspiring and informative, people talked to us about it for weeks to come, a truly incredible experience left behind for the Dubai community.”
