"Less is more" is also a driver of progress | Gianluca Fratellini | TEDxPolignano a Mare
The expression "less is more" is often associated with concepts of simplicity and minimalism, but it is also a motivational principle: the idea of reducing excess, focusing on the essentials, and simplifying can serve as a catalyst for progress. When distractions are minimized, the superfluous is eliminated, and attention is focused on what truly matters, greater mental clarity can emerge. Instead of constantly seeking more things, results, or validation, the pursuit of quality and what is truly useful can lead to significant improvement. In this sense, "less" becomes not only an aesthetic principle but also a resource for strengthening one’s personal growth journey. Born in 1980 in Bari, he began his career at Ubisoft Montreal as a 3D Senior Animator, working on major titles like *Assassin’s Creed* and *Far Cry*. He later joined Animal Logic in Sydney to animate the main character "Mumble" in *Happy Feet*, directed by George Miller, which won the Oscar for Best Animated Feature in 2006. He then worked at Sony Pictures Imageworks on *Hotel Transylvania*, and at Blue Sky Studios on *Epic*, *Rio 2*, *The Peanuts Movie*, and *Ice Age 5*.
After three years in the U.S., he moved to London, contributing to *Beauty and the Beast* and *Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2* with Framestore, and later to Disney’s *Dumbo*, *The Lion King*, and *Maleficent 2* as Lead Animator at MPC. He also worked on *Pinocchio* (Zemeckis), music videos, and ads for brands like Coca-Cola and PETA. Recently, he animated the Howler in *Star Wars: Ahsoka* and is currently working on *Fortnite Lego* at Epic Games. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx
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