On Monday July 22, nine legendary animation film directors climbed the stage at SIGGRAPH 2013 for the Marc Davis Lecture Series: Giants' First Steps. For an hour and a half, the men shared stories and laughs, providing the audience a rare glimpse into the lives of some of the biggest names in the animation world.

The giants (Ron Clements, Pete Docter, Eric Goldberg, Kevin Lima, Mike Mitchell, Chris Sanders, Henry Selick, David Silverman and Kirk Wise) were interviewed onstage by Randy Haberkamp of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. In addition to providing amusing behind-the-scenes anecdotes, the men opened up about their earliest attempts at animation and the evolution of their careers. Toward the end of the address, the animators also divulged a few pieces of valuable advice for students. The full keynote is available below. It's a must-see!

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