Pixar Animation Studios:
From Inspiration to Animation

Steve Purcell joined Pixar Animation Studios in September 2001 as a story artist on the Golden Globe®-winning feature film Cars. As part of the Cars production team research trip along Route 66, the crew’s discoveries introduced a sense of warmth, heart and authenticity to the story and characters of the film. In addition to his valuable work on the story crew, Purcell contributed script material, voiced the Tractors and consulted and produced concept art for the Cars franchise toys and games. It was his storytelling talent that led Purcell to his next role as co-writer, co-director, lyricist and Crow voice on the Academy Award®-winning feature film Brave. Working closely with the film’s directors and producer, their research immersed them in Scottish culture, including an inspiring journey across the Scottish Highlands. Purcell was also the writer and director for Pixar’s second ever television special, Toy Story That Time Forgot, and performed the character of the villainous Cleric. He is currently series writer as well as directing on the upcoming Cars on the Road Disney+ series, which is set to debut in Fall 2022.

Prior to Pixar, Purcell worked as a freelance illustrator, concept artist, and comic book creator. He was a computer game animator and designer for LucasArts and adapted his own comic book characters as a LucasArts game and later a network television animated series. He was also an artist at Industrial Light and Magic working on feature concepts and story development. Raised in the San Francisco Bay Area, Purcell grew up with a passion for art and filmmaking, finding inspiration through Mad Magazine, the Marx Brothers and Monty Python, and creating his own stories, comics and 8mm films in the suburbs of the East Bay.

Purcell graduated from California College of the Arts in Oakland, California, and has remained in the Bay Area throughout his career. He currently lives in Sonoma County with his wife and small pooch.