Author: Edwin Catmull

Edwin Earl Catmull is a computer scientist and animator. He is renowned as the co-founder of Pixar and served as the President of Walt Disney Animation Studios. Catmull’s groundbreaking contributions to 3D computer graphics have left an indelible mark on the industry. His journey began in Parkersburg, West Virginia, and later led him to Salt Lake City, Utah. As a young man, Catmull served as a missionary in New York City during the 1960s. Although he initially aspired to be an animator, the absence of animation schools at the time steered him toward a scientific path. He graduated from the University of Utah in 1969 with a B.S. in physics and computer science. Under the mentorship of Ivan Sutherland, Catmull shifted his focus to digital imaging. He made significant discoveries, including texture mapping, and bicubic patches. His early animation work included the creation of “A Computer Animated Hand” in 1972. Catmull’s legacy extends beyond academia; he co-founded Pixar, revolutionized computer graphics, and earned prestigious awards such as the ACM Turing Award in 2019