Pete Docter

Pete Docter came in on the ground level of arguably the most creative, technologically cutting-edge studio in filmdom, essaying a fantasy-filled childhood into some of the most spectacular and whimsical feature films of the late 1990s and 2000s. At just 21 years of age, Docter became one of the first employees of Apple Computer honcho Steve Jobs' boutique computer-animation shop, Pixar, going on to work as a writer and animator on the company's groundbreaking animated comedies "Toy Story" (1995) and "Toy Story 2" (1999). He conceived and directed "Monsters, Inc." (2001) and went on to originate three features that would earn the studio some its most glowing praise and most substantial profit - "WALL E" (2008), the adventure-comedy spectacle "Up" (2009), and the sweet-natured, emotional "Inside Out" (2015), all three of which won the Best Animated Feature Academy Award. A self-admitted archetypal nerd growing up in the Midwest, Docter achieved every film geek's dream by boasting multiple award nominations and wins for his timeless tales enjoyed by both children and adults, as well as commanding the respect of the industry as one of the most admired creators of high-tech animated fantasy at the most celebrated movie shop in show business.