Dan Scanlon Quotes

Powerful Dan Scanlon for Daily Growth

About Dan Scanlon

Dan Scanlon is an American animator, director, and screenwriter who has made significant contributions to the world of animation with his heartwarming and emotionally resonant stories. Born on July 16, 1980, in Glen Ellyn, Illinois, Scanlon developed a passion for storytelling at a young age. He attended Pixar Animation Studios' prestigious internship program while studying Computer Science at Carnegie Mellon University and later earned a position as a full-time employee. Scanlon began his career at Pixar working on various projects, including the Academy Award-winning films "Finding Nemo" (2003) and "The Incredibles" (2004). He gained recognition for co-directing the 2015 animated short film "Sanjay's Super Team," which was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film. In 2017, Scanlon made his feature directorial debut with the critically acclaimed Pixar film "Coco." A deeply personal project inspired by his Mexican heritage and his late grandmother, "Coco" went on to win the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature and was widely praised for its emotional depth and cultural significance. Scanlon's work is characterized by his ability to tackle complex themes of loss, love, and identity with sensitivity and a keen understanding of human emotions. He continues to push boundaries in animation, using the medium as a vehicle for storytelling that resonates with audiences of all ages.

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"There's always room for a second story in your heart."

This quote by Dan Scanlon suggests that there's always space to accommodate new feelings, experiences, or relationships in one's heart. It implies that even when our hearts may seem full, there is an ability to love, empathize, or care more deeply - in essence, to have a "second story" written within us, adding layers to the tapestry of our emotions and connections with others.


"Find joy in what you have, while you still have it."

This quote encourages appreciation for the present moment and its joys. It's a reminder to savor the good things we have, understanding that they may not always be there, inspiring gratitude and mindfulness, and prompting us to make the most of our current circumstances before opportunities or situations change.


"The hardest thing to learn is that there is nothing to learn."

Dan Scanlon's quote, "The hardest thing to learn is that there is nothing to learn," suggests that true understanding or wisdom often comes from realizing that we don't need to acquire more knowledge, skills, or experiences; rather, it lies in appreciating the simplicity and interconnectedness of life itself. This perspective can lead to a greater sense of peace, freedom, and fulfillment as we let go of our constant pursuit for external validation and embrace the present moment.


"You can find beauty everywhere if you look closely enough."

This quote emphasizes that there's inherent beauty in everything, if only we take the time to observe our surroundings with a discerning eye. It encourages us to appreciate even the smallest details of life, fostering mindfulness and promoting a sense of wonder about the world around us. The quote serves as a reminder that beauty is not confined to grand vistas or perfect moments; it's woven into the very fabric of existence, waiting to be discovered by those who care to look closely.


"Sometimes it's the people who seem the most lost who are actually the bravest, because they're the ones willing to admit they don't have all the answers."

This quote suggests that individuals who appear 'lost' or uncertain in life may be demonstrating significant courage. By acknowledging their lack of knowledge or direction, these individuals are taking a brave step toward growth and self-discovery, which is often an essential part of personal development and success. It implies that vulnerability, curiosity, and the willingness to learn from others can lead to valuable insights and personal transformation, making those who embrace such attitudes courageous in their own unique way.


I trust every lead in every department. All of the teams are phenomenal artists. All I need to tell them is why to do something, not how to do something.

- Dan Scanlon

Trust, Need, Teams, Phenomenal

I think the biggest difference is in live action, you show up, and there's a set there and a ground to stand on, at least, and in animation, there's kinda nothing. You are making decisions on everything.

- Dan Scanlon

Show, I Think, Least, Live Action

I worked in the story department for years on 'Cars' and 'Toy Story 3.'

- Dan Scanlon

Story, Years, Worked, Department

There's some real dark days where you just feel like the story is falling apart in every one. Just keep moving forward, even when you are bluffing, even when you don't quite know what is going to happen next.

- Dan Scanlon

Feel, Next, Some, Apart

I actually worked for a small company in Ohio that sort of farmed out work from Disney and Dreamworks, so I really only ever worked in two studios.

- Dan Scanlon

Small, Studios, Dreamworks, Disney

The first 'Monsters, Inc.' represents starting at Pixar for me, I have a special place in my heart for it. So to be able to tell a story with those ideas is an honor.

- Dan Scanlon

Honor, Tell, Monsters, Special Place

Once you get into a feature, whether it's a sequel or an original one, you have to start all over again, and you're creating a world, creating new characters. You're also tracking emotions. You're trying to create emotion and create a character that you can fall in love with for two hours.

- Dan Scanlon

Love, Two, Characters, Tracking

I think we make the movies, initially, with the one movie in mind. But we do love the characters, and so we kind of miss the characters when the movie is over. But I think what happens is, every now and then you realize there's more to tell, or an idea comes up.

- Dan Scanlon

Love, Movie, I Think, Now And Then

The idea of us telling a story where a character doesn't get everything he wants at the end is one of the relatable things - dealing with failures and missteps in life - and it's something that's so rarely dealt with in movies, especially kids' movies.

- Dan Scanlon

Life, Idea, Telling, Rarely

At Pixar, we do a million versions of the movie, and every one of them goes through their awkward teenage phase where it's terrible and doesn't make sense, and we just keep working on it.

- Dan Scanlon

Through, Movie, Phase, Versions

I'm not really a horror movie fan.

- Dan Scanlon

Movie, Horror, Fan, Horror Movie

I started at Pixar the month 'Monsters Inc.' came out.

- Dan Scanlon

Month, Started, Came, Monsters

No one ever tells a story to help you figure out where to go when a door closes on you.

- Dan Scanlon

Door, Go, Figure, Closes

I don't think at Pixar we'd ever make something that was too scary for general audiences.

- Dan Scanlon

Think, General, Ever, Audiences

I was an animator for a while early on, but a 2D animator.

- Dan Scanlon

Early, While, Animator

People will turn their noses up at a sequel or that type of thing, but Pixar really works hard - if they're making a sequel - to make a sequel an original movie, to make it an original story.

- Dan Scanlon

Making, Noses, Works, Pixar

I tend to like dry humor.

- Dan Scanlon

Humor, Like, Tend, Dry

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