Subvolts take Pixar's lighting director shows how code and art create magic, inspiring future creators. Oct 29, 2018
For you
Developers
Learn how creative applications of computer science can inspire new AI-driven visual tools.
Business
Understand how technical innovation fuels artistic output, relevant for AI content generation.
Everyday users
Discover the blend of art and technology behind beloved animated films.
Hype note
3/5Notable

This is a solid interview with a leader in a creative technology field, showing AI's broader impact.

Behind The Tech with Kevin Scott · Ep 5 Episode Official · Microsoft

Danielle Feinberg: Pixar's Academy Award-winning computer scientist

49 min Interview Hosts: Kevin Scott
0:0048:38

Audio streams from Microsoft. Your place is remembered on this device.

From Subvolts

Summary and analysis by Subvolts editorial, AI-assisted.

Summary

This episode of Behind The Tech features Danielle Feinberg, Pixar's director of photography for lighting. She discusses how she blends computer science and art to create award-winning animated films. Feinberg also aims to inspire young women to explore the creative potential of math, science, and coding.

Explained simply

This episode talks about how a computer scientist named Danielle Feinberg uses math and code to make the beautiful lighting and visuals in Pixar movies. She wants to show everyone, especially girls, that science and art can work together to create amazing things.

Why listen

This episode offers insight into the creative application of computer science, a field central to AI development. Feinberg's work at Pixar demonstrates how technical skills can drive artistic innovation. Listeners interested in the intersection of technology and creativity, particularly women in STEM, will find this valuable. It highlights how foundational computer science skills, like those used in AI model development, can be applied to visually stunning outputs, mirroring current efforts in AI-driven content generation by frontier labs.

On the mic
  • HostKevin Scott
  • GuestDanielle FeinbergDirector of Photography for Lighting, Pixar Animation Studios
About
Key facts
  • Guest: Danielle Feinberg
  • Title: Pixar's Academy Award-winning computer scientist
  • Show: Behind The Tech with Kevin Scott
  • Length: 49 minutes
  • Guest Role: Director of Photography for Lighting at Pixar Animation Studios
Show notes from Microsoft

Science meets art. Danielle Feinberg, director of photography for lighting at Pixar Animation Studios wins Academy Awards by blending computer science with art – creating magical moments. Hear about how she shows the world, especially young women, the beauty of what math, science, code and art can create in the world.

Jargon decoded
Director of Photography for Lighting
Danielle Feinberg
The person in charge of how movies look, specifically the lighting and visual style.
Published
Show
Behind The Tech with Kevin Scott · Microsoft
Length
49 min
Companies
Microsoft
Summary by
Subvolts, using an AI model (how we work). Spotted a mistake? Tell us.

Questions people ask

What does Danielle Feinberg do at Pixar?
Danielle Feinberg is the director of photography for lighting at Pixar Animation Studios, where she blends computer science with art to create the visual magic in their films.
What is the goal of Danielle Feinberg's work?
She aims to show the world, especially young women, the beauty and creative potential that comes from combining math, science, code, and art.

Page generated Oct 19, 2026. Summaries are Subvolts' own; the audio, artwork and notes belong to Microsoft.