Edwin Catmull

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Edwin Catmull

Edwin Earl Catmull (born March 31, 1945) is an American computer scientist and former president of Pixar and Walt Disney Animation Studios. He is a prominent figure in the field of computer graphics and computer animation.

Early Life and Education

Edwin Catmull was born in Parkersburg, West Virginia. He developed an early interest in animation and computer science. Catmull attended the University of Utah, where he earned his bachelor's degree in physics and computer science. He later pursued a Ph.D. in computer science at the same institution, where he studied under Ivan Sutherland, a pioneer in computer graphics.

Career

Early Career

After completing his education, Catmull worked at The Boeing Company and New York Institute of Technology (NYIT). At NYIT, he was part of the Computer Graphics Lab, where he made significant contributions to the field of computer graphics.

Lucasfilm and Pixar

In 1979, Catmull was hired by George Lucas to head the computer division at Lucasfilm. During his time at Lucasfilm, Catmull and his team developed several groundbreaking technologies, including the RenderMan rendering software.

In 1986, Steve Jobs purchased the computer graphics division of Lucasfilm and established it as an independent company, Pixar. Catmull became the Chief Technical Officer (CTO) of Pixar, where he played a crucial role in the development of the company's animation software and the production of its first feature film, Toy Story.

Walt Disney Animation Studios

In 2006, following the acquisition of Pixar by The Walt Disney Company, Catmull was named president of both Pixar and Walt Disney Animation Studios. Under his leadership, both studios produced numerous critically acclaimed and commercially successful films.

Contributions to Computer Graphics

Catmull is known for his pioneering work in computer graphics, including the development of subdivision surfaces, Z-buffering, and the Catmull-Rom spline. His contributions have had a lasting impact on the field of computer animation and have been widely recognized by the industry.

Awards and Honors

Edwin Catmull has received numerous awards for his contributions to computer graphics and animation, including several Academy Awards for Technical Achievement. He has also been honored with the Turing Award, the highest distinction in computer science.

Personal Life

Catmull is married and has three children. He is known for his dedication to fostering creativity and innovation within the animation industry.

Related Pages

• Pixar
• Walt Disney Animation Studios
• RenderMan
• Toy Story
• Computer graphics
• Subdivision surface
• Z-buffering
• Catmull-Rom spline
• Ivan Sutherland
• George Lucas
• Steve Jobs