Interview with Writer and Pixar Detective Jon Negroni

Remember that Pixar Theory that went viral last summer? That was written by Jon Negroni. Do you recall the theory suggesting Andy's mom from Toy Story was Emily, Jessie’s previous owner? That too was made popular by Jon Negroni. Does a sad theory about Andy's dad come to mind? That revelation was also brought to you by Jon Negroni.

In the blogosphere, Jon Negroni's work offers some very imaginative answers to some of Pixar's most mysterious characters.  

The Pixar Theory as told by Jon Negroni, 2013. ©Disney/Pixar.

Last week I had the honor of briefly interviewing writer and Pixar Detective Jon Negroni. To further acquaint you, here are his answers to my three questions:  

1. The Pixar universe is full of characters we can relate to. Is there one particular character you identify with the most? Why?

That's the beauty of Pixar characters, isn't it? It's so easy for me to relate with so many different characters, it's hard for me to single out any one of them. But I guess I can use the power of nostalgia to settle on the one character that has inspired me from the beginning (because he reminds me so much of myself). And that would be Toy Story's Woody. Of all of the Pixar stories, his redemption and growth as a loyal, compassionate leader has always struck a chord with me.

Left: Woody. ©Disney/Pixar. Right: Jon Negroni. 

2. What person, place or thing is inspiring you right now?

Right now, I'm being bombarded with the genius of The Beatles. I've been a diehard fan of the music since high school, but I just recently purchased the Box Set on iTunes. So I've been binging on all of their songs for the last few weeks as I write. It "inspires" me in the sense that it opens up my creativity. I think and create in different ways when I'm exposed to the music, and every time I hear something truly complex within the seemingly simple tunes, I'm challenged to add more depth to the simple things I say, do and bother to write down.

3. Over the years you have written content that has shaped how people think about life, art, and culture. It's obvious that somewhere along the way you discovered that writing was more than a hobby for you. For those having a difficult time pinpointing their passion, what are some indicators they should look for in the discovery phase? 

If people don't like that you're doing something a certain way, that's how you know you're on to something. In other words, my English teachers mostly hated me (in the nicest way possible). And when I started blogging out of college, everyone told me the way I picked my blog's topics was too scattered. They all said I needed to settle on a niche. Just one singular focus. That way, they said, I could build a loyal fan base. 

But I told myself that I'd rather just write about whatever I want. Best blog-related decision I've ever made. So if you're trying to figure out your passion, then sometimes its useful to just try some different things and see what works. Let yourself get excited about the things that easily excite you. This can be hard if you're not naturally an opportunist. In those cases, pay very close attention to how people react to what you contribute to the world and find a reason for why you do it.

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For more of Jon's musings about life, art, and culture, make sure to check out his blog at jonnegroni.com