Tuesday, January 24, 2006

Disney Buys Pixar

WOW!!! I'm surprised just like everyone else. At first I was skeptical about the merge, but now that Catmull and Lasseter are given creative power status over animated projects, this seems to be like a real good deal, .. for EVERYONE!!!!

"Pixar President Ed Catmull will serve as President of the new Pixar and Disney animation studios, reporting to Iger and Dick Cook, Chairman of The Walt Disney Studios. In addition, Pixar Executive Vice President John Lasseter will be Chief Creative Officer of the animation studios, as well as Principal Creative Advisor at Walt Disney Imagineering, where he will provide his expertise in the design of new attractions for Disney theme parks around the world, reporting directly to Iger. Pixar Chairman and CEO Steve Jobs will be appointed to Disney's Board of Directors as a non-independent member. With the addition of Jobs, 11 of Disney's 14 directors will be independent. Both Disney and Pixar animation units will retain their current operations and locations."
(Source: http://corporate.disney.go.com/news/corporate/2006/2006_0124_pixar.html)

Can't wait to see what unfolds.

10 comments:

Dave James said...

John:

This is GREAT for you! I hope to see your name credit on the next PIXAR film.

Regards,

Dave

James Dylan said...

Hey John.. There is a lot of amazing new happenings in animation.. we got Disney/Pixar.. Orphanage starting up.. Sony is gonna release some cool 3d stuff.. A lot of opportunity for everyone to shine!

Exciting times my friend!

John S. said...

I'm with you JOhn!!! The only loser seems to be David Stainton, which is as it should be.

Gulzar said...

Honestly I feel that Pixar should have been left alone... :)
I mean, yes its great that Disney has merged up...
but I truly feel that two different cultures of these two studios should have grown independently...
there could have been more competition...
But who knows this might works wonders too...

I wish the idustry and all you folks who are part of it, my heartiest wishes...

Regards.
Gulzar

Anonymous said...

Is this why you haven't posted anything in a while???


-sadened by your absense

danG said...

does it frighten anyone else that steve jobs is going to be an employee of disney?

Justin Rodrigues said...

I think this could be very exciting and a new begining for disney animation i hadn't heard this yet John thanks for bringing it to my attention.

Jennifer Llewellyn said...

I am also curious as to what is going to come out of this!

Jeremy Spears said...

John Lasseter IN CONTROL!!! YIPPIE!!! Sounds good to me! It is so awesome that he will be filling Walt's shoes and will be the Creative Mind behind decisions. How could this move be bad?

I've been a fan of your blog for awhile, I'm working on storyboarding a project right now and your thumbnails are really inspirational...thanks for posting up your artwork!

-Jerm

Hans said...

Hey John,

I was like you a little skeptical in the beginning, but I honestly think Disney and Pixar is good for eachother. Don't think there's anything to worry about. If you can't beat 'em, buy 'em right?! In my opinion the first good thing has already happened, when Lasseter stopped production of Toy Story 3! Hope everything's well and am looking forward to seeing more of your work:)

Hans