Editing Steve Purcell (section)

===Pixar and Telltale Games===
After a brief stint at ILM, Purcell moved to [[Pixar]].<ref name="Gamasutra"/> Although he worked at Pixar, Purcell acted as an advisor in the development of ''[[Sam & Max: Freelance Police]]'', a sequel to ''Sam & Max Hit the Road'' which began development in 2002 under LucasArts. Purcell provided [[Michael Stemmle]]'s development team with concept art and assisted in the creation of the game's plot.<ref name="Telltale 4">{{cite web|url=http://www.telltalegames.com/summerofsamandmax/history/history4b |title=After Darkness Comes Light |publisher=[[Telltale Games]] |work=The History of Sam & Max |date=2007-07-24 |access-date=2009-02-10 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071231125906/http://www.telltalegames.com/summerofsamandmax/history/history4b |archive-date=2007-12-31 }}</ref> Despite its smoothly proceeding development, LucasArts abruptly canceled the project in March 2004. Purcell was unable to understand why development halted; he described himself as "frustrated and disappointed" at the decision.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.adventuregamers.com/newsitem.php?id=463|title=Steve Purcell comments on ''Sam & Max 2''{{'}}s cancellation|publisher=[[Adventure Gamers]]|first=Jake|last=Rodkin|date=2004-03-05|access-date=2008-12-22}}</ref>

In 2005, LucasArts' license with Purcell which gave them the right to produce games based on the ''Sam & Max'' franchise expired. That allowed Purcell to take the franchise to [[Telltale Games]] in [[San Rafael, California]], a new company formed by members of Stemmle's development team. A new [[Episodic video game|episodic]] series of ''Sam & Max'' games, ''[[Sam & Max Save the World]]'', was announced.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://uk.gamespot.com/pc/adventure/sammaxep1/news.html?sid=6133326&mode=all|title=''Sam & Max'' resurrected|website=[[GameSpot]]|first=Brendan|last=Sinclair|date=2005-11-15|access-date=2008-12-06|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120717221302/http://uk.gamespot.com/pc/adventure/sammaxep1/news.html?sid=6133326&mode=all|archive-date=2012-07-17}}</ref> Purcell's work on the new game series encompassed design and writing, as well as the design of the game's cover art; despite his work, Purcell described it as "minimal" due to the effectiveness of the team.<ref name="Joystiq">{{cite web|url=http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/06/joystiq-interviews-sam-and-max-creator-steve-purcell/|title=Joystiq interviews Sam & Max creator, Steve Purcell|publisher=[[Joystiq]]|first=Ludwig|last=Kietzmann|date=2007-03-06|access-date=2009-02-10}}</ref> At the same time, he began a ''Sam & Max'' [[webcomic]] hosted on the Telltale Games website. The webcomic ran for twelve issues, and it earned him an [[Eisner Award]] for "Best Digital Comic" when the comic finished its run in 2007.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.comic-con.org/cci/cci_eisners_07win.shtml |title=2007 Eisner Awards Shine Spotlight on Comic Industry's Best |publisher=[[Comic-Con International]] |access-date=2008-12-04 |year=2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100626060301/http://www.comic-con.org/cci/cci_eisners_07win.shtml |archive-date=June 26, 2010 }}</ref> Purcell assisted with design and writing when ''[[Sam & Max Beyond Time and Space]]'' began development in 2007. Through Telltale Games, he released two [[sketchbook]]s of his ''Sam & Max'' work and a 20th anniversary edition of ''Sam & Max: Surfin' the Highway'' in 2008.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ve3d.ign.com/articles/news/36538/Sam-Max-Comic-Book-Series-to-be-Re-issued|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080404104206/http://ve3d.ign.com/articles/news/36538/Sam-Max-Comic-Book-Series-to-be-Re-issued|url-status=dead|archive-date=April 4, 2008|title=''Sam & Max'' Comic Book Series to be Re-issued|first=Gary|last=McLean|publisher=[[IGN]]|work=Voodoo Extreme|date=2008-02-08|access-date=2009-02-10}}</ref> He later painted the cover art for Telltale's ''[[Tales of Monkey Island]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.1up.com/do/newsStory?cId=3174530|title=Telltale Announces ''Tales of Monkey Island'' Pre-Order Bonus|website=[[1UP.com]]|date=2009-06-02|first=Kat|last=Bailey|access-date=2009-06-02}}</ref>

[[File:Mater-Banshee.JPG|thumb|right|Purcell's work at Pixar has included character design, such as the "Screamin' Banshee" from the short ''[[Mater and the Ghostlight]]''.|alt=An anthropomorphic monster truck with a large exractor bucket and bulldozer blade glares maliciously at a quivering, rusty tow truck.]]

At Pixar's story development department, Purcell contributed screenplay material and voice work for the 2006 film ''[[Cars (film)|Cars]]'', and designed the character of the Screamin' Banshee in the short ''[[Mater and the Ghostlight]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.allmovie.com/work/290414|title=''Cars'' Overview|publisher=[[Allmovie]]|first=Jason|last=Buchanan|access-date=2009-02-10}}</ref><ref>{{cite video |people=Crystal, Billy; Goodman, John|date=2004 |title=Pixar Short Films Collection – Volume 1 |medium=DVD |publisher=[[Pixar]] |location=United States}}</ref> Providing scripts and voice work for three games based on ''Cars'', Purcell became involved with [[THQ|THQ's]] video game adaptations of Pixar films.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=49405|title=''Cars'': Credits|publisher=[[Allgame]]|first=Gracie|last=Leach|access-date=2009-02-10|archive-date=2014-12-10|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141210202233/http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=49405|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=49345|title=''Cars: Radiator Springs Adventures'': Credits|publisher=[[Allgame]]|first=Gracie|last=Leach|access-date=2009-02-10|archive-date=2010-12-13|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101213004426/http://allgame.com/game.php?id=49345|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mobygames.com/game/ps3/disneypixar-cars-mater-national-championship/credits|title=Game Credits for Disney/Pixar ''Cars: Mater-National Championship''|publisher=[[MobyGames]]|access-date=2009-02-10}}</ref> Purcell was credited for involvement with Pixar's 2007 film ''[[Ratatouille (film)|Ratatouille]]'';<ref>{{cite web|url=https://movies.yahoo.com/movie/1808490293/cast|title=''Ratatouille'' (2007) – Cast and Credits|publisher=[[Yahoo! Movies]]|access-date=2008-02-11}}</ref> he provided the voice for the character of Carl in ''[[George & A.J.]]''—a 2009 short based on the film ''[[Up (2009 film)|Up]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.pixartalk.com/2009/11/11/george-aj/|title=iTunes Version of ''Up'' Includes Exclusive Short: ''George and A.J.''!|publisher=Pixar Talk|first=Greg|last=Mariotti|date=2009-11-11|access-date=2010-01-21|archive-date=2016-03-04|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304222134/http://www.pixartalk.com/2009/11/george-aj/|url-status=dead}}</ref> Purcell was key for Pixar's 2012 film ''[[Brave (2012 film)|Brave]]'', co-directing the film alongside [[Brenda Chapman]] and [[Mark Andrews (filmmaker)|Mark Andrews]] in addition to providing work for the screenplay; ''Brave'' constituted Purcell's biggest role in a Pixar project to date.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://pixartimes.com/2012/05/04/sam-max-creator-steve-purcell-co-directing-brave/|title=''Sam & Max'' Creator Steve Purcell Credited As Co-Director Of ''Brave''|publisher=Pixaar Times|first=Samad|last=Rizvi|date=2012-05-04|access-date=2012-06-30|archive-date=2016-04-11|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160411001344/http://pixartimes.com/2012/05/04/sam-max-creator-steve-purcell-co-directing-brave/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

In 2014, Purcell wrote and directed the Pixar [[Christmas]] special ''[[Toy Story That Time Forgot]]'' which aired on [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]] on December 2, 2014.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/jim-hill/-galyn-susman-talks-about-pixars-first-ever-christmas-special_b_6258438.html|title=Galyn Susman Talks About Pixar's First Ever Christmas Special, "Toy Story That Time Forgot"|publisher=huffingtonpost.com|first=Jim|last=Hill|date=2014-12-02|access-date=2014-12-04}}</ref> Purcell was not considering the possibility of Pixar adapting ''Sam & Max'' into a film, as the characters' moral ambiguity is inconsistent with traditional Pixar stories.<ref>{{cite magazine|first=Ashley|last=Day|title=Tales from ''Monkey Island''|magazine=[[Retro Gamer]]|issue=70|year=2009|publisher=[[Imagine Publishing]]|page=32}}</ref> In 2023, Purcell was among 75 Pixar employees laid off by [[The Walt Disney Company]] as part of an ongoing company-wide restructuring.<ref name=layoffs>{{Cite web|last=Taylor|first=Drew|date=July 5, 2023|title=Inside Pixar's Existential Crisis and How It Can Bounce Back After Disney+ Stole Its Mojo|url=https://www.thewrap.com/pixar-existential-crisis-elemental-lightyear/|access-date=July 24, 2023|website=[[TheWrap]]|language=en-US}}</ref>