Ed Catmull Pixar Postmortem Review

Reflect on project outcomes using the Ed Catmull postmortem process to capture key lessons and improve future team workflows.

4 time blocks, 45 minutes in total.

Time blocks

Timeline and Data Audit: 10 min
Review concrete metrics, schedules, and objective project milestones
Five Positives and Five Changes: 10 min
List five things that went well and five things to do differently
Workflow and Root Cause Review: 15 min
Examine unexpected obstacles and systemic process bottlenecks
Future Protocol Commitments: 10 min
Document clear process changes and assign ownership for next time

About this routine

In his book Creativity, Inc., Pixar co-founder Ed Catmull describes how project postmortems often default to polite repetition or defensive debate. To break this pattern, the Ed Catmull postmortem process focuses on extracting objective data before feelings distort memory. Teams look at what actually happened rather than what people remembered happening.

A core element of Catmull approach at Pixar involved changing the structure of every review session. By varying formats and requiring teams to list five specific things they would do differently alongside five things they would keep, postmortems became active learning sessions rather than routine bureaucracy.

This 45-minute template translates those principles into a visual schedule for reviewing completed projects. You begin by compiling factual project data, progress through structured evaluation, and conclude by recording concrete operational changes for future projects.

Why this routine works

Extracts objective facts before opinions color project results
Prevents team meeting fatigue by structuring clear evaluation stages
Balances project wins with honest process critique
Turns postmortem insights into actionable future protocols

FAQ

How did Ed Catmull conduct postmortems at Pixar?

Ed Catmull structured Pixar postmortems around objective data, rotated session formats to keep participants engaged, and required teams to identify five things they would do differently and five things they would keep.

Why did Pixar use the five and five rule in postmortems?

The rule forced teams to balance positive accomplishments with constructive critique, preventing meetings from becoming either purely celebratory or overly critical.

How long should a lessons learned review take?

A focused postmortem review typically takes 45 to 60 minutes when guided by clear data and a structured format.

Sources

Creativity, Inc. by Ed Catmull and Amy Wallace, Random House
How Pixar Fosters Collective Creativity, Harvard Business Review

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