Former Pixar Story Supervisor Who Contributed to Popular Films Such as Monsters Inc., Cars, & Ratatouille, Was The Youngest Animator To Work On The Simpsons & Author of ‘The Best Story Wins’
Matthew Luhn’s Biography:
Matthew Luhn is a former Story Supervisor at Pixar, acclaimed storyteller and creative consultant with more than 25 years of experience developing award-winning films, memorable characters and global brands. Renowned for helping shape some of Pixar’s most beloved productions, including Toy Story, Finding Nemo, Up and Ratatouille, Matthew has also advised companies including Google, Apple, Adidas and Disney on the power of storytelling in business. His unique ability to translate Hollywood’s storytelling techniques into practical strategies for leadership, innovation and communication makes him a highly sought-after keynote speaker for organisations worldwide.
Matthew’s career began remarkably early while studying at the California Institute of the Arts, when a student short film earned him a position as the youngest animator on The Simpsons at just 19 years old. During the show’s third season, he contributed to iconic episodes including Kamp Krusty, Lisa’s Pony and Homer Alone. After returning to CalArts to further develop his skills, he was discovered by Pixar, where he became one of the studio’s earliest animators on Toy Story. He later returned as a story artist for Toy Story 2 before progressing to Story Supervisor, helping develop celebrated films including Monsters, Inc., Finding Nemo, Cars, Ratatouille, Up, Toy Story 3, Monsters University and Onward.
Beyond filmmaking, Matthew has built an impressive reputation as an author, educator and thought leader. He is the author of ‘The Best Story Wins: How to Leverage Hollywood Storytelling in Business & Beyond’ and the children’s book ‘Santa Yeti’. His expertise has been featured in leading publications including Forbes, Inc., The Financial Brand, Indeed and City Buzz. He has also spent years teaching storytelling through the California College of the Arts and as a VanArts Story Masterclass presenter, inspiring the next generation of creative talent.
Today, Matthew continues to bridge the worlds of entertainment and business through consulting, writing and speaking. His widely viewed TEDx talk, Creating a Feeling, explores the emotional foundations of great storytelling, while his consultancy work demonstrates how compelling narratives strengthen brands, inspire teams and drive innovation. Combining decades of Hollywood experience with practical business insight, Matthew equips audiences with creative tools to communicate more effectively, build stronger connections and inspire lasting change.
Why Hire Matthew Luhn?
Matthew Luhn demonstrates how the storytelling techniques behind some of the world’s most successful films can transform leadership, marketing, innovation and organisational culture. Drawing on decades at Pixar and collaborations with global brands, he delivers engaging, highly practical keynotes packed with memorable examples and actionable insights. His widely viewed TEDx talk, Creating a Feeling, showcases his ability to inspire audiences while explaining how emotional storytelling builds trust, strengthens brands and encourages creative thinking.
Matthew Luhn’s Career Highlights:
Here are some of the key milestones that define Matthew Luhn’s remarkable career:
- 2023 – Published the children’s book ‘Santa Yeti’, expanding his work as an author.
- 2021 – Wrote and directed the animated short film Sprite Fright for Blender.
- 2020 – Credited as a story artist on Pixar’s animated feature Onward.
- 2018 – Delivered the widely viewed TEDx talk Creating a Feeling and published ‘The Best Story Wins: How to Leverage Hollywood Storytelling in Business & Beyond’.
- 2016 – Served as Story Consultant for Adidas, applying storytelling principles to global brand strategy.
- 2013 – Contributed to the development and release of Pixar’s Monsters University.
- 2010 – Helped create Pixar’s Toy Story 3, continuing his work on one of the studio’s flagship franchises.
- 2009 – Contributed to the Academy Award-winning film Up and became a VanArts Story Masterclass presenter.
- 1999 – Re-joined Pixar as a story artist on Toy Story 2, beginning a new chapter creating many of the studio’s most successful films.
- 1992 – Became the youngest animator on The Simpsons, launching his professional animation career while studying at the California Institute of the Arts.
Videos
Matthew Luhn’s Official Keynote Speaking Videos & Showreel:
Testimonials
“Matthew is a born storyteller and mentor. As a teacher, he demonstrates a true passion, drive, and expertise that is world class. Matthew is a true master of the craft of story.” – Emily, Director, Sony Animation
“Matthew Luhn has an incredible ability to captivate an audience through the art of storytelling. Unveiling some of the most insightful techniques used in Pixar films, he can effortlessly simplify complex ideas into concise messages – a valued skill in business. Matthew highlighted actionable tactics that sharpened my team’s storytelling skills right away.” – John, President, VRBO
“Working with Matthew has been great! Whether running a workshop or speaking at Dreamforce, his brainstorming techniques and boundless creativity have inspired many at Salesforce. With his guidance, we have found fun new ways to tell a richer and more meaningful story. Matthew’s journey and methods for creating story and memorable characters continue to resonate with me. I look forward to working with him again!” – Domenique, Senior Creative Director, Trailhead | Salesforce
“Matthew inspires passion for storytelling. He brings it full circle with an amazing ability to teach the art form to others.” – Stacey, VP Brand & Marketing Strategy, The Clorox Company
“Matthew Luhn is not only a master of story himself, but a brilliant educator. In an enjoyable and understandable way, he helps his students understand the links between story and business, and how story is invaluable in making smart, mission-driven, business decisions.” – Ericka, Faculty, Haas School of Business, UC Berkeley
“Thank you Matthew for teaching our staff how to give oral presentations with strong structure that can change the beliefs of the world. In a nutshell, if we take a story — one of our success stories, for example —back it up with data and make people feel something, people will remember it. Big thumbs “Up” for edutainment value!” – Lise, Team Lead, HR Services & Programs, Canadian Institute for Health Information
Speaking Topics
Matthew Luhn’s Official Keynote Topics:
- Storytelling for Business
- Storytelling & New Technology
- To Innovation & Beyond
- Inspiring Creativity in the Workplace
- Effective Leadership as Told by Movie Heroes
How Much Does Matthew Luhn Cost to Hire?
How Much Does it Cost to Hire Matthew Luhn?
Matthew Luhn’s speaking fees typically reflect their exceptional career and international demand. Engagements vary depending on location, format, and duration; keynote appearances, conferences, and international events may command higher fees due to travel and preparation requirements.
