Disney buys Pixar

[Lorien]

Disney buys Pixar
House of Mouse is teaming up with Pixar in a $7.4 billion deal. Steve Jobs to become board member at Disney.


"Disney and Pixar can now collaborate without the barriers that come from two different companies with two different sets of shareholders," said Jobs in a statement. "Now, everyone can focus on what is most important, creating innovative stories, characters and films that delight millions of people around the world."

As part of the deal, Jobs will become a board member of Disney, the companies said. And John Lasseter, the highly respected creative director at Pixar who had previously worked for Disney, will rejoin the House of Mouse as chief creative officer for the company's combined animated studios and will also help oversee the design for new attractions at Disney theme parks.

"The addition of Pixar significantly enhances Disney animation, which is a critical creative engine for driving growth across our businesses," said Disney CEO Robert Iger in a written statement.

(snip)

Cuggino said the addition of Jobs, who will also become Disney's largest individual shareholder, to Disney's board could mean that more innovative digital deals could be in the works. "Jobs is a dynamic personality who knows consumer electronics. It's an opportunity to bring some youthful energetic thinking to Disney's board."

(snip)

http://money.cnn.com/2006/01/24/news/companies/disney_pixar_deal/index.htm?cnn=yes


I know that many around here despise Disney, but as a 16 year veteran artist of the company I, for one, think this is terrific news. Jobs has a much more innate sense of what good family entertainment is than Eisner ever did, and Lasseter respects traditional animation enough to give us traditional animators another shot (it's the story after all, not the medium-and traditional animation takes less time and money. The two mediums can easily co-exist in the same studio). Disney has stagnated and slowly declined for years now, so I think this will be the creative shot in the arm that we've been needing!

edited to add the line about Jobs as majority stockholder; I think the integrity of Pixar's films will be safe.

[madeline_con]

1. Will the Moms continue to be deceased in all the flicks? n/t

[fishwax]

16. in what flicks were the moms deceased?

Other than Finding Nemo, I can't think of one ...

[Lorien]

19. I think they were referring to Disney films in general

Bambi, Snow White, Cinderella, The Little Mermaid, etc. But there are mothers in Dumbo, Sleeping Beauty, the Lion King and others...

[fishwax]

20. that makes sense, thanks n/t

[evlbstrd]

2. I like your take on this.

I hope you're right.

[Lorien]

4. Just added one other snippet

Jobs will be the majority stockholder, which means that Pixar won't be tampered with creatively.

[evlbstrd]

5. I'd seen that.

That's a very good thing.

[FreedomAngel82]

10. Yes it is

He can still have his freedom to do stories how he wants and everything. :)
I loved the animation in "Toy Story."

[evlbstrd]

11. He says it's Lassiter and his people that make it work.

It seems he's learned some lessons since he was booted out of Apple and founded NeXT. Apple ain't doin' bad since he came back.

[Sydnie]

3. I'd go further to say

if it wasn't for Pixar, Disney wouldn't be where they are today, at least not in films. It was only the deals that they had with Pixar that kept them in the front of animation lines. I was wondering what would happen as soon as their (was it 6?) movie deal ran out. Now I know. Jobs will be a welcome addition to the board, as far as I am concerned. He has more insight into what Walt envisioned than Eisner ever did. With that kind of magic, you have it or your don't. Jobs has it. And he knows how to attract and employ others that have it too.

[Lorien]

6. Amen! The artists at Pixar often say that what he does best

is get the best talent available, then he leaves them alone to do their work. He only micro-manages where such management is genuinely needed-quite unlike Eisner.

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

7. I hope it goes well for Lassiter

I emc'd some private events for him...real nice guy ...very humble and unassuming..and I love his work and his imagination...I really liked what he accomplished on his own...as to your edit, that was my concern

[Lorien]

9. John is indeed a really great guy-the sort of person I always wished we'd

had running the animation department. There will be a few hundred artists waking up tomorrow to some very good news! :bounce:

[FreedomAngel82]

15. What are some films he's done?

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

17. Toy Story, A Bug's Life, Monster

[KitchenWitch]

8. This is good news for Disney

Pixar has MADE Disney this past 10 years or so. I am glad Jobs is staying on, so creative control will not be lost!

I have enjoyed all of the Pixar films I have seen.

[Greyhound]

12. Ha ha ha, you sound just like a friend of mine that is also indentured

to the mouse. This is the death knell for Pixar a brave company that has fought off the advances of dizney since its inception. But hey, who gives a fuck if the product is to become another pile of second rate schlock, Jobs is going to get another billion of so.
That's a wrap. Next.

[Lorien]

13. Guess you didn't read the article.

Jobs will be the majority stockholder, Lasseter will run animation and imagineering, and Iger is not Eisner.

I'm not "indentured", either. We've had a great working relationship for many years (I'm my own boss, BTW).

[Greyhound]

14. Ah talent, my apologies. As for the rest, we'll see. n/t

[Lorien]

18. Kick for the morning folk. n/t