Andrew Stanton, director and creative force behind the Toy Story franchise, spoke about the evolving relationship between creativity and technology in animation during a recent interview. Diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in 2012, Stanton reflected on his approach to the creative process, emphasizing a willingness to embrace mistakes early on. “My strategy has always been: Be wrong as fast as we can… which basically means, we’re gonna screw up, let’s just admit that,” he said.

Originally from Rockport, Massachusetts, Stanton comes from a family with a technical and artistic background. His father, Ron Stanton, founded a company specializing in radar technology for the U.S. Department of Defense, while his mother, Gloria, gave up an acting career to raise the family. Andrew Stanton began developing his passion for storytelling and animation early, directing a comedy sketch show on Super 8 film during high school. He later studied character animation at the California Institute of the Arts before launching his professional career in the late 1980s. He initially worked on projects such as "Mighty Mouse: The New Adventures" before joining Pixar in 1990.

Despite his parents’ concerns about rapid technological advances, Stanton expressed confidence that new tools would not undermine the creative integrity of the Toy Story series. He described art as inherently “messy” and “chaotic,” noting that the process requires a deliberate effort to introduce imperfection. “The computer wants to do things perfectly, but it’s the imperfections of life that make it interesting,” Stanton explained. He highlighted the challenge of balancing the precision of digital tools with the natural spontaneity that defines human creativity.

Stanton’s comments shed light on how technology can enhance rather than hinder artistic expression when integrated mindfully. The interview was adapted from a recent episode of The Arts Hour on the BBC World Service.