Senior Correspondent

You Can Now Take A Pixar Storytelling Course Online For Free!

Behind The Scenes Khan Academy Mark Andrews Pete Docter Pixar in a box The Art of Storytelling

Have you ever dreamed about being able to learn from some of the greatest storytellers in the industry? Or what about gaining specific insight in animation from some of your heroes like Pete Docter and Mark Andrews? With Pixar’s new online course, you will be able to do just that.


This month Pixar launched the first course of their 6-part online curriculum on “The Art of Storytelling.” The program will be helmed by Docter, Andrews, and a plethora of other top notch animation talent from the studio. The course is aimed to guide anyone who is interested in learning more about the Pixar storytelling process – the segments will give tips on how to create original stories, captivating characters, and diverse worlds. The courses will also offer a variety of techniques other than your typical video and reading assignments; there will be firsthand exercises that will even teach some newcomers the ABC’s of taking an original idea and seeing it through to the story boarding phase. Pixar’s online class will disperse their different lessons throughout the year, so stay-tuned for more production wisdom from the studio!
Pete Docter’s own statement on the course should give you enough motivation to give it a try: “We hope that by sharing how we tell stories, we’ll inspire students all over the world to tell their own stories.”
“The Art of Storytelling” can be accessed through the online-education website Khan Academy.
Have you already taken the course or are thinking about trying it out? Let us know on Twitter and in the comments below.

Tags: , , , , Last modified: February 24, 2017

Nia Alavezos is a storyteller based in Cardiff, Wales. She recently made the great pilgrimage across the pond from sunny Los Angeles to pursue her dreams of living abroad. With over 6 years of animation experience (from working in the trenches on The Tom and Jerry Show at Renegade Animation to The Epic Tales of Captain Underpants at DreamWorks) she hopes to provide a unique commentary to Pixar's films, culture, and animation.