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| Diana Walker—Contour by Getty Images for TIME |
Jobs did more to change the way people experience the world than any innovator of the past century. As CEO of Apple, he showed the masses what electronic devices should be.
No Jobs, no Pixar.
Sure, Steve didn't have much to do with Pixar's films creatively—the characters, the stories. But he had more influence on the business of animation than anyone since Walt Disney.
He was an unflinching CEO for the studio during some of its darkest moments. He put aside his tendency to micromanage (which worked 'insanely great' at Apple) and saw the value of supporting the director-driven process Pixar is so well known for.
The most valuable and long-lasting thing he contributed to both Pixar and Apple is a culture—a way of doing things. A way of thinking differently.
His impact on history is rightly compared to that of Leonardo da Vinci (who's life also intersected science and the arts) and Thomas Edison (who didn't invent the light bulb, but made it commercially possible).
But it's Jobs' legacy at Pixar, sometimes overlooked, that, in a sense, may last the longest.
As Jobs himself once pointed out, technology changes; gadgets become obsolete. The world-changing products he helped create (he is listed as an inventor on 317 patents), as magical as they seem today, will be historical rather than functional in a few short years.
Not so with great films. Great films endure in an entirely different way. And without Jobs, it's unlikely that any of Pixar's would exist.
No Jobs, no Pixar.
Sure, Steve didn't have much to do with Pixar's films creatively—the characters, the stories. But he had more influence on the business of animation than anyone since Walt Disney.
He was an unflinching CEO for the studio during some of its darkest moments. He put aside his tendency to micromanage (which worked 'insanely great' at Apple) and saw the value of supporting the director-driven process Pixar is so well known for.
The most valuable and long-lasting thing he contributed to both Pixar and Apple is a culture—a way of doing things. A way of thinking differently.
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8 comments:
*raises a glass* RIP Steve Jobs
So true - there are many areas that Steve left a mark on countless number of lives. Heck, he helped me buy my first house since I used the proceeds from the sale of my Apple stock to put it towards my down payment. The trickle down of who he affected by his inventions and ideas is really a roaring river much more than a trickle. The sadness continues and the memories continue to pour in. I couldn't imagine how stagnate the animation field would be if it weren't for Steve and the fellas at Pixar.
Such a nice article, and a beautiful picture. Steve Jobs gave many of this blog's readers something very special. As Mike put it 'No Jobs, no Pixar,' therefore, if it weren't for Jobs, none of us would be wishing to work at Pixar when we grow up. What I'm saying is Steve gave us a dream, all because of this culture he helped to create.
I couldn't have put this better! While my house was a flipper flopper between Apple and PC's... we were always a Disney home and embraced Pixar early as Richmond residents.
Thank you Steve for your fingerprints left on all of us through Pixar!!
How I'd love to see the sit down of Walt Disney, Jim Henson and Steve!! Amazing men of innovention...
Such a great and touching article. He changed people's lives by making their dreams of computer animated films come true and those films inspired millions. If you can inspire a person, you've changed something. If you can inspire the world, you've changed everything.
Thank you.
Beautifully articulated. RIP Steve. You are already so very missed.
With Steve Jobs ends the relentless driving force of Apple, perhaps. Tim may be the best replacement, but there will never be another Steve Jobs' again. Miss you, Steve!
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