Xixax Film Forum

This NY Times article (http://www.nytimes.com/2003/02/10/business/media/10DRAW.html?8hpib) talks about the animation war, but this is one part I found particularily interesting.

Pixar's chief executive, Steven P. Jobs, has clashed with Mr. Eisner, and the two men now rarely speak. Mr. Jobs deals largely with Mr. Cook. And it may have been mainly a negotiating ploy, but Mr. Jobs said in a conference call with analysts last week that he was meeting with other studios in the event that Disney did not agree to a pact more favorable to Pixar in the future.

Since Steve Jobs is the co-founder and CEO of Apple, and Pixar is poised to usurp Disney's animation market, I ask, is the world a good place after all?  :)

Pixar's contract with Disney runs out in 2 years...

From my understanding is that Pixar and Disney agreed to do a certain ammount of movies together, Eisner says a sequel doesnt count as an additional movie, Pixar does. Im siding with Pixar. I think they have all the talent and Disney is lucky to have them. Look at Disney's current animation dept. I also hear that Disney is threatening to do a Toy Story 3 with or without pixar since they own the character rights. Hopefully everything gets resolved before Disney ruins something else, but it would be great to have Pixar get more for their hard work and also up their output.

Quote from: Duck SauceEisner says a sequel doesnt count as an additional movie

Try telling that to the people who made the sequel.

Pixar Looking For A New Deal

Pixar's deal with Disney is up after Finding Nemo and they're looking for a new financial arrangement with a studio. Reuters reports:

The studio is free to sign a new deal once after it delivers "Finding Nemo," an underwater adventure, due out in theaters on May 30.

Investors have been waiting for signs of a new accord, since Pixar said in February it had held informal talks with a number of studios, including Disney.

But in a presentation by chief financial officer Ann Mather at a conference hosted by A.G. Edwards on Wednesday, Pixar said it was not under pressure to sign a new distribution deal before 2004, allowing about two years to ready the first movie under the new deal and prepare for its marketing.

Pixar held up as a possible model the deal made by George Lucas with the 20th Century Fox studio. The deal with the "Star Wars" creator is one of the richest for a film maker.

Lucas pays a reported 7 percent of film gross to Fox for distribution, while Pixar currently pays Disney a fee within a range of 10 to 15 percent of gross and then splits profits.

Lucas also generally pays for theatrical and video distribution only, meaning that he retains the rights for toys and other consumer spin-offs, and has the sole right to make sequels, Pixar said.

By contrast, Disney has the right to make sequels to the films produced under its current deal with Pixar, including the popular "Toy Story" series.

Its an interesting to see where Pixar, clearly the company making the smarter and better entertainment movies than Disney, will end up. Hopefully Pixar can find indepedence and a chance to grow and make more movies with more freedom. Though it seems unlikely they will ever compete with the artistry of master Hayao Miyazaki ever, they can make some great entertainment movies.

~rougerum

Pixar's 2006 Project is Ratatouille
Source: Los Angeles Times

A new Los Angeles Times article has revealed the name of the new Pixar film scheduled for 2006. The article discusses the ongoing talks between Disney and Pixar about a new distribution deal.

After delivering "Finding Nemo" to Disney this spring, Jobs was contractually free to enter into a new distribution arrangement with another studio, although any new deal wouldn't take effect until after the release of "Cars" in 2005. The huge success of "Nemo" -- it has taken in $334 million at the U.S. box office and become the highest-grossing animated film in history -- only boosted a bargaining position that was already strong.

Flush with cash, Pixar last February approved production on what is intended to become the first movie outside the existing Disney deal. Jobs has tried to keep details of this so-called "Project 2006" under wraps, though details have leaked in various news reports.

The new film has been said to be about a rat named "Ratatouille," who lives in a fancy Parisian restaurant. The picture is being directed by Jan Pinkava, who made Pixar's 1998 Oscar-winning short, "Geri's Game."

Pixar will be sole owner of "Ratatouille," and which studio serves it to the marketplace remains to be seen.

So, is this right?

2004 -- The Incredibles
2005 -- Cars
2006 -- Ratatouille

Nothing else in the works? (Not that that's not a juicy lineup...)

Pixar to End Talks with Disney
Source: Pixar Animation Studios Thursday, January 29, 2004

Pixar today said that it is ending its discussions with The Walt Disney Company to extend their existing five-picture deal, and will begin discussions with other studios to distribute its films beginning in 2006. After completing the final two films under the current agreement with Disney, The Incredibles in 2004 and Cars in 2005, Pixar intends to retain full ownership of its future productions.

"After ten months of trying to strike a deal with Disney, we're moving on," said Pixar CEO Steve Jobs. "We've had a great run together -- one of the most successful in Hollywood history -- and it's a shame that Disney won't be participating in Pixar's future successes."

Under the terms of the existing agreement, Disney will retain the rights to distribute Pixar's first seven films, with Pixar continuing to receive its current share of the profits in perpetuity; and Disney will have the rights to solely finance and produce sequels to the films if Pixar declines to co-finance and produce them under the terms of the current agreement.

To date, Pixar's five films have earned more than $2.5 billion at the worldwide box office and sold over 150 million DVDs and videos.

Pixar Dumps Disney
Studio headed by Steve Jobs says it will seek other distributors for its films starting in 2006.
January 29, 2004: 5:01 PM EST


NEW YORK (CNN/Money) - Pixar Animation Studios Inc. said Thursday it ended talks with Walt Disney Co. to extend a five-picture deal for Disney to distribute Pixar films.


Pixar said it would begin talks with other companies to distribute its films starting in 2006.

"After ten months of trying to strike a deal with Disney, we're moving on," Pixar CEO Steve Jobs said in a statement. "We've had a great run together -- one of the most successful in Hollywood history -- and it's a shame that Disney won't be participating in Pixar's future successes."


The move was a clear setback to Disney, which reaped a financial and critical bonanza from the partnership and has struggled with its own strategy for animation.

Disney said it could not accept Pixar's final offer for a new deal, which would have cost Disney hundreds of millions of dollars, Reuters reported. Officials at Disney were not immediately available for further comment.

Pixar (PIXR: Research, Estimates) stock jumped in after-hours trading, according to Reuters, while Disney (DIS: Research, Estimates) stock sank more than 4 percent.

Pixar said its five films so far -- including "Toy Story", "Monsters Inc." and "Finding Nemo" -- have taken in $2.5 billion at the worldwide box office and sold more than 150 million DVDs and videos.

Disney can distribute two additional films under the existing pact, with Pixar getting its share of the profits. Disney also has the right to finance and produce sequels to the films if Pixar declines to co-finance and produce them under the current agreement.

Awesome. Fuck Eisner. Let Pixar thrive somewhere else where it will be appreciated.

Disney gave up on 2d animation. Now they are losing the 3d....can you say "fucked"?

YES!

Quote from: A Matter Of ChanceDisney said it could not accept Pixar's final offer for a new deal, which would have cost Disney hundreds of millions of dollars

Bwahaha! Are they serious? That's like three days of ticket sales at Disney World.

It seems that Eisner's Scroogy way of protecting his coffers has finally let to his demise.

2 comments


1. Steve Jobs is fucking illmatic

2. Prepare for inferior Toy Story 3

Quote from: Duck Sauce2. Prepare for inferior Toy Story 3

"Disney to push ahead with Toy Story 3 without Pixar?"

Following Steve Jobs' announcement, Disney.com's Corporate Press released a statement, which has ended up on the Animation Nation boards. The first half of the statement features the quotes we're reading in other stories, but towards the end, Disney reminds us (and Pixar) that they own all rights to the existing Pixar films, as well as the right to explore them through merchandise and sequel potential. The statement continues to play up Disney's own move into 3D CGI pictures, with mentions of Vanguard's Valiant and Core's The Wild as well as WDFA's upcoming features. Each gets a quick mention and a line of info, except for the last one, which is simply titled Toy Story 3. Read this section of the statement here:

"Tom Staggs, Disney senior executive vice president and chief financial officer, said Disney management could not accept Pixar's final offer because it would have cost Disney hundreds of millions of dollars it is already entitled to under the existing agreement, while not providing sufficient incremental returns on new collaborations to justify the changes to the existing deal.

In addition to Pixar's delivery of two more feature films, under the current agreement, Disney maintains the rights to develop and produce sequels to all films created through this partnership, including direct to video presentations, television series and specials; and to exploit all characters and content throughout Disney's theme park and consumer products units, thereby allowing Disney to continue to nurture and grow these successful franchises while benefiting Disney shareholders into the foreseeable future. Disney also owns the entire Disney/Pixar film library, which includes Toy Story, Toy Story 2, A Bug's Life, Monsters Inc., and Finding Nemo, in addition to the two pictures yet to be completed."

In addition to Pixar, the Walt Disney Studios has relationships with other emerging animation producing partners including Vanguard Films, currently producing Valiant, and San Francisco-based Complete Pandemonium, producing The Wild in conjunction with CORE Technologies of Toronto.

Walt Disney Feature Animation will release Home on the Range on April 2, featuring songs performed by Tim McGraw, Bonnie Raitt and k.d. lang. Currently in production is Chicken Little, the Studio's first all-CG effort, which is scheduled for release in Summer 2005. For Summer 2006 and beyond, Walt Disney Feature Animation is producing a series of 3D motion pictures: A Day With Wilbur Robinson, based on the beloved William Joyce book; American Dog, directed by Chris Sanders (Lilo and Stitch); Rapunzel Unbraided, directed by legendary Disney animator Glen Keane; and Toy Story 3. These movies are all anticipated to break new ground in CG movie-making. The Studio has an additional 20 animated features in active development".

Quote from: MacGuffinIn addition to Pixar's delivery of two more feature films, under the current agreement, Disney maintains the rights to develop and produce sequels to all films created through this partnership, including direct to video presentations, television series and specials; and to exploit all characters and content throughout Disney's theme park and consumer products units, thereby allowing Disney to continue to nurture and grow these successful franchises while benefiting Disney shareholders into the foreseeable future. Disney also owns the entire Disney/Pixar film library, which includes Toy Story, Toy Story 2, A Bug's Life, Monsters Inc., and Finding Nemo, in addition to the two pictures yet to be completed."

the key word being exploit.  i hope that hanks and allen dont go along with this.  i can already see it now, the scores of straight to video badly animated TERRIBLY written 'sequels' disney will start pumping out.  i think i ban TS3, i hope allen/hanks do too.

Quote from: MacGuffin
Walt Disney Feature Animation will release Home on the Range on April 2, featuring songs performed by Tim McGraw, Bonnie Raitt and k.d. lang.

What a horrid soundtrack.

Would Pixar Bring Marvel's Characters to Life?
Source: The Hollywood Reporter Tuesday, February 3, 2004

The Hollywood Reporter has up an interesting interview with Marvel vice chairman Peter Cunio who says they have met with Pixar. Pixar will only work with Disney on two more films, The Incredibles and "Cars". After that they will be looking to other companies to make films with.

In terms of Pixar -- which announced last week that it was talking to other studios after breaking off negotiations to re-up with Disney -- Cunio said it was too early to tell whether the company might do business with Marvel.

"Pixar until very recently has been committed to creating their own characters," Cunio said. "Will their strategy change now? I don't know. It's possible."

The goal for Marvel is to have 15 "James Bond-type" franchises going at any given time in filmed entertainment and in licensing, Cunio said. He said that with that many longterm franchises active at once with various studios, there would be a "cushion" for those years when there wasn't a big hit film based on a Marvel character.

Pixar to Start Talks with Studios in March
Source: Reuters

While Pixar Animation Studios said in an official statement that the company would not begin discussions with other studios to distribute its films until 2006, Chief Executive Officer Steve Jobs said today that deal will happen much sooner.

He said Pixar would begin looking for a new film distribution partner in March with the hope of getting a deal in place by fall 2004. In a teleconference with analysts and reporters following Pixar's fourth-quarter earnings release, Jobs said that at least four other studios could successfully distribute its films and that renewed talks were "very unlikely."

Jobs said Pixar could easily fund production of its movies in the future. It has over $520 million in cash and cash equivalents currently, expects to have $650 million by this summer, and as much as $800 million to $1 billion by 2006, Jobs said.

Disney Studio Chief Sees Big-Screen 'Toy Story 3'

SAN ANTONIO, Texas (Reuters) - "Toy Story 3" will be big.
Walt Disney Co. studio chief Dick Cook said on Friday he was leaning toward making the third installment of "Toy Story," Pixar Animation Studios Inc. 's 1995 hit, as a feature movie rather than a straight-to-home video project in a few years.

Pixar and Disney plan to part ways after two more films together, but Disney retains the rights to make the sequels to the movies they have already produced, including the two "Toy Story" movies.

Pixar, which has said sequel rights were a sore point that helped torpedo contract extension talks, could take part in "Toy Story 3" but has said it was unlikely to do so.

"My hunch is big screen," Dick Cook, the studio chairman, told Reuters in an interview. But he said that no decision had been made and that the movie was a few years or more away.

"We are nowhere on it right now," he said.

Disney's sequel to its own hit "The Lion King" went straight to video and DVD this year. DVD sequels work well for studios that can build on a household name without major investments, but Cook said the "Toy Story" sequel was worth a bigger release.

"I think it deserves it. These are two of the most beloved characters in the last generation. Buzz and Woody are fantastic characters, and I think that is something that would fit on the big screen nicely."

Quote from: MacGuffin"I think it deserves it. These are two of the most beloved characters in the last generation and we cant wait to rape their legacy with an awful theatrical release of a straight-to-video quality film."

if/when this happens, i WILL NEVER SEE IT.  i'm banning a non-pixar sequel.  i hope Hanks and Allen refuse to come back and they're forced to use like, teenage mutant ninja turtle voice actors in their places and everyone catches on that something is fishy and  the disney empire crumbles for this evil.

Is this going to be 2d or 3d? I remember Disney releasing some straight to video movies about Buzz that were 2d. I think that making it 2d would be the only feasible to make this without Pixar, especially if Pixar holds all of the character files that can only be opened by their own software. If it is 3d, Disney will definitely make it a feature because they'd be investing too much work into it to send it straight to video.

Quote from: themodernage02

Quote from: MacGuffin"I think it deserves it. These are two of the most beloved characters in the last generation and we cant wait to rape their legacy with an awful theatrical release of a straight-to-video quality film."

if/when this happens, i WILL NEVER SEE IT.  i'm banning a non-pixar sequel.  i hope Hanks and Allen refuse to come back and they're forced to use like, teenage mutant ninja turtle voice actors in their places and everyone catches on that something is fishy and  the disney empire crumbles for this evil.

I'm Crossing my Fingers on that as well, hoping that the disney empire will distergrate to rubble Muhahahahahahahahahahaha.....God, am I a dork

Quote from: SiliasRubyI'm Crossing my Fingers on that as well, hoping that the disney empire will distergrate to rubble Muhahahahahahahahahahaha.....God, am I a dork

hey, come on! what's wrong with you people?! are you not aware that disney is the studio that produces all of wes anderson's movies? i'm sure there are more that i can't think of now (sorority boys, anybody?), but disney does a lot of good.

Wes could make his movies elsewhere. All Disney does is squeeze every drop of money it can.

Quote from: bonanzatazdisney does a lot of good.

Hitler was a painter.

Boy, is that a typical JB response.

Quote from: Jeremy Blackman

Quote from: bonanzatazdisney does a lot of good.

Hitler was a painter.

Must be why the animators call Disney, Mouschwitz.

Quote from: bonanzataz

Quote from: SiliasRubyI'm Crossing my Fingers on that as well, hoping that the disney empire will distergrate to rubble Muhahahahahahahahahahaha.....God, am I a dork

hey, come on! what's wrong with you people?! are you not aware that disney is the studio that produces all of wes anderson's movies? i'm sure there are more that i can't think of now (sorority boys, anybody?), but disney does a lot of good.

I was mildly joking that remark. Disney movies and theme parks brings alot of joy to alot of kids. I am just frusterated that they are going ahead and doing a Toy Story 3, without pixar. Other than that I like disney movies. But I think paying 6 dollars for a cheesburger and and 2 dollars for a drink at Disneyland is insane.

Disney Building a Unit to Make Pixar Sequel Movies

The Walt Disney Co. is building a new animation unit to create feature film sequels to the hits it made with Pixar Animation Studios, starting with a "Toy Story 3" feature film due by 2008, studio Chairman Dick Cook told Reuters on Tuesday.

Fans have wondered for years whether Disney would make the next "Toy Story" as a straight-to-DVD project, like follow-ups to Disney hits such as "Lion King."

But Cook said it would be a theatrical release.

Disney has the right to make sequels to films from the Pixar relationship, with which Pixar could cooperate or not.

Pixar has not shown interest thus far, but Disney is moving ahead with plans of its own.

Disney's "Toy Story" sequel will be built at a new division in Glendale, California, near the feature animation division's headquarters in Burbank, Cook said.

"It would be another unit," he said, adding that Disney was still deciding how many animators it would hire.

"They'll have individual projects in there, using the same technology and the same infrastructure that we have at the main location in feature animation, and it will primarily be doing sequels to Disney/Pixar films," he said.

Speaking to Wall Street analysts who were meeting with company executives at Walt Disney World, Cook said that feature animation planned to produce one major film each year, for release around summer or winter holidays.

Cook said the Pixar sequel planned for 2008 would not be the main Disney animated feature for that year.

Disney, best known for its hand-drawn style films, also showed analysts previews of "Chicken Little," it's first computer-animated feature.

Disney's feature animation division has been under fire in recent years as Disney cut jobs and restructured, turning to computer animation in the shadow of Pixar. The two studios will part ways after one more jointly produced film, "Cars."

"We're not falling on our swords anymore," Cook told analysts. "This is a new beginning for feature animation."

One investor gave Disney credit for putting feature animation back on its feet with "Chicken Little" and other original work that was previewed at the meeting.

"Not everything is going to be wonderful, but my guess is this will be a credible departure from dependence on the Pixar situation," media investor Hal Vogel told Reuters at the conference.

Tom Hanks is cool. He's right not to come back for a Toy Story 3 without Pixar attached.

Quote from: MacGuffinDisney Building a Unit to Make Pixar Sequel Movies

Mind you, Disney thinks Home On The Range only bombed because it was in 2D.

:roll:

2LB

(Mac never fails...)

Disney, Pixar Talks Seen Likely After Eisner Exit

Mon Mar 14, 4:39 PM ET Entertainment - Reuters

By Gina Keating

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Pixar Animation Studios Inc. likely will reopen talks on a distribution deal with the Walt Disney Co. now that Disney CEO Michael Eisner is set to depart in September, analysts said on Monday.

Eisner, who will be replaced by Disney President Robert Iger, was seen as the main stumbling block for Disney to renew its lucrative partnership with Pixar because of his turbulent relationship with Pixar Chief Executive Steve Jobs (news - web sites).

Pixar, which produced such blockbuster films as "Toy Story," "Finding Nemo" and "The Incredibles" in its partnership with Disney, was also seen as holding a better bargaining position with Iger at Disney's helm.

"I just think this puts a lot of pressure on the Walt Disney Company," Fulcrum Global Partners analyst Rich Greenfield said. "Bob Iger, once he takes over, will be faced with this negotiation as one of his first acts as CEO ... Disney needs (Pixar) very badly."

Greenfield said Jobs would likely press his advantage to get better terms than he could have squeezed from Eisner. Pixar films have taken in about $3 billion at the box office worldwide, and Disney has had the bigger share of profit.

"The pressure is on Disney, not Pixar," Greenfield said.

Last month, Jobs told analysts that Pixar "likely ... will not forge a new relationship with Disney beyond our current deal," but did not elaborate about how far talks with Disney had progressed or where else Pixar might look for a partner.

Pixar has pushed back its target date for finding a new distributor a number of times and said that "musical chairs" in Hollywood was part of the reason, giving some hopes that a new Disney deal was possible.

Anthony Sabino, a business and law professor at St. John's University in New York, warned that Pixar would play an important part in helping Iger win the board's confidence.

"One of his top priorities and maybe his top priority has got to be to reach out to Pixar and negotiate with them again," Sabino said.

Lehman Brothers analyst Anthony DiClemente called the development at Disney "not ... a huge surprise to Pixar investors" and in a research note said a deal was "less likely" between the two companies.

Pixar's partnership with Disney expires with the June 9, 2006, release of its seventh film, "Cars," and it must have a new distributor in place before its eighth film is released in summer of 2007.

Pixar spokesman Tom Sarris on Monday said the company had no further comment on the distributor search or about developments at Disney. Sarris would not say whether Jobs and Iger had ever met.

Shares of Pixar closed up $1.98, or 2.2 percent, at $90.96 on Nasdaq.

Pixar's Ranft dies in crash

By Sheigh Crabtree
Joe Ranft, Pixar Animation Studios' head of story for more than a decade and a cornerstone of the company's creative team, died Tuesday when the car he was riding in plunged into the ocean after running off the road in Mendocino County, Calif. He was 45.

A spokeswoman for the Mendocino County Sheriff-Coroner's Office confirmed Wednesday that Ranft was one of two people who died when the 2004 Honda Element they were traveling in veered off the road while heading north on Highway 1.

The California Highway Patrol said the crash occurred at about 3 p.m. Tuesday as the driver tried to regain control of the car after swerving when he headed into a tight left curve. The car fell 130 feet over the side of the road, overturning twice before it landed in the water near the mouth of the Navarro River where it meets the Pacific Ocean, the CHP said.

The driver, identified by the Coroner's Office as Elegba Earl, 32, of Los Angeles, also was killed in the crash. The third person in the car, whom the CHP identified as Eric Frierson, 39, of Los Angeles, survived by climbing through the sun roof. He was hospitalized with moderate injuries at Mendocino Coast Hospital, according to officer Robert Simas of the CHP office in Ukiah.

Ranft was a co-writer on 1995's "Toy Story," for which he earned an Oscar nomination, and 1998's "A Bug's Life." Before Pixar, he was a leading member of the story department at Walt Disney Feature Animation, where he was a writer on 1991's "Beauty and the Beast" and 1994's "The Lion King."

"Joe was an important and beloved member of the Pixar family, and his loss is of great sorrow to all of us and to the animation industry as a whole," the Emeryville, Calif.-based company said Wednesday. In addition to his work as a writer, Ranft performed the voices for numerous characters in Pixar features.

Director Henry Selick, Ranft's friend and longtime collaborator, called him "the story giant of our generation."

Before joining Pixar, Ranft worked with Selick as a storyboard supervisor on 1993's "Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas." Selick met Ranft at Disney in the early 1980s, and his first impression of Ranft was that he was "a huge guy" who was well over 6 feet tall.

"His drawing at the time was really crude, but he was the sweetest, funniest guy," Selick said. "I've never seen anyone try to improve himself as much as Joe did over the years."

He also was highly versatile, Selick recalled.

"He could do these beautiful sweet gags for a family film and then do these weird, depraved cartoons of anyone who needed to be skewered," Selick said. "We'd do hundreds of drawings, and Joe was always the guy who was able to go back in and say, 'This is about the process; let's try it again.' "

Ranft's voice-over work for Pixar included such characters as Heimlich in "A Bug's Life" and Wheezy the Penguin in "Toy Story 2."

Born in Pasadena in 1960, Ranft was raised in Whittier, Calif., where as a child he developed a fondness for performing magic tricks. He was a classmate of Pixar's John Lasseter at the California Institute of the Arts in the 1970s.

After two years at CalArts, Ranft joined Disney in 1980. In 1992, he reunited with Lasseter at Pixar, where his early work included pitching and storyboarding the first sequence for "Toy Story," the Green Army Men sketch.

"Every film Joe's name was on was successful artistically and financially," Selick said. "Sometimes he contributed small details, sometimes the whole thing. He was a story giant of our generation."

That's fascinating

http://www.videobusiness.com/article/CA6282604.html

Pixar back in talks with Disney
FROM VARIETY: Jobs says deal could be cemented by end of year
By Ben Fritz 11/9/2005

NOV. 9 | In a third-quarter earnings call, Pixar CEO Steve Jobs said Pixar is "in deep discussions" with Disney about renewing a deal, and said he hopes the two companies will stay together.

"If we go with Disney, then we'll be done by the end of the year, but if we don't, it might be later," Jobs said. "The timing is not our first choice, but it's worth investing an extra few months to determine whether we continue with Disney or not. It would be our first choice to continue with them."

Jobs reiterated he is getting along with Disney's new chief executive Bob Iger, a shift from a contentious relationship with Michael Eisner that contributed to tension a year ago, when a renewal looked unlikely.

In the quarter ended Sept. 30, Pixar reported a profit of $27.4 million on revenue of $45.8 million, up 22% and 3%, respectively, from a year ago.

Performance was driven largely by sales of its library titles, including the re-release of Toy Story on DVD and particularly strong interest for Finding Nemo on various platforms, as well as consumer products.

The Incredibles, the studio's most recent release, contributed relatively little as Pixar experienced higher-than-expected home video returns last spring after the movie hit DVD in March.

A Toy Story 2 special edition DVD will be released domestically Dec. 26, with the company hoping to benefit from post-Christmas sales and gift card shopping.

Disney Said in Talks to Purchase Pixar

The Walt Disney Co. is in serious talks to buy Pixar Animation Studios Inc., the maker of the hit movies "Toy Story" and "Finding Nemo" among others, following months of exploring how to continue their profitable film distribution partnership, The Wall Street Journal reported Thursday.

Citing unnamed people familiar with the plan, the Journal said Disney would pay a nominal premium to Pixar's current market value of $6.7 billion under the deal being discussed in a stock transaction that would make Pixar chief executive Steve Jobs the largest individual shareholder in Disney.

The Journal said the outcome of the talks isn't certain, and that other options are possible.

Telephone messages left Thursday morning for Disney spokeswoman Michelle Bergman in Burbank, Calif., and Pixar's Michele Clarke in New York were not immediately returned.

Pixar shares rose $2.10, or 3.7 percent, to $59.36 in midday trading on the Nasdaq Stock Market while Disney shares gained 85 cents, or 3.4 percent, to $26.05 on the New York Stock Exchange.

Jobs is the largest shareholder in Pixar, with more than 60 million shares, or 50.6 percent, according to Pixar's filings with securities regulators last year. At its current share price, his stake is worth about $3.44 billion.

Jobs is already a force in the media business as he also heads Apple Computer Inc., which reported Wednesday that first-quarter income nearly doubled on record revenue and big demand for its iPod music players.

Disney and Pixar have been partners for more than 12 years, allowing Disney to distribute and co-finance popular and profitable Pixar movies that have also included "The Incredibles." But Jobs said two years ago, amid squabbles with then-Disney CEO Michael Eisner, that he would end that relationship when it expires later this year and seek a new distribution partner.

Disney's current CEO Robert Iger, who took over last October, has reportedly made continuing the companies' relationship a priority. Iger last fall allowed Disney TV shows like "Desperate Housewives" and "Lost" to be made available in a format that could be downloaded and played on iPods.

There has been weeks of speculation that Disney might try to take a stake in Pixar or buy it outright.

The Journal said the companies are still haggling over a price, and any major moves in Pixar's stock price could disrupt negotiations. The newspaper said the two sides could decide on a less-ambitious plan, including an agreement for Disney to distribute movies that Pixar finances and makes.

i dont want disney meddling in pixar's creative.  let them market and let that be all.

the thing is that if pixar is part of disney, and they will buy this with stocks... steve jobs will become the most powerful person inside disney... and the biggest shareholder... which means he will control disney and then i dont see how anybody will stop apple!

its kinda interesting...

Interesting point, but it still seems unavoidable that this would damage Pixar in some irreparable way.

Quote from: kal on January 19, 2006, 03:07:13 PM
the thing is that if pixar is part of disney, and they will buy this with stocks... steve jobs will become the most powerful person inside disney... and the biggest shareholder... which means he will control disney and then i dont see how anybody will stop apple!

its kinda interesting...

That doesn't necessarily mean anything.  Being the major stockholder doesn't mean that he will run the company.  Disney already has an appointed CEO that answers to the board. 

Quote from: Jeremy Blackman on January 20, 2006, 11:31:35 AM
Interesting point, but it still seems unavoidable that this would damage Pixar in some irreparable way.

Disney would be idiotic to tamper with Pixar.  They've produced their biggest hits in the 90s.

yes, but all it would take is 1 or 2 films to underperform before stockholders and bosses start trying to weasel in and pinpoint what could be wrong.

I didn't say that Disney wouldn't mess with them, just that they'd be stupid to do so.  Never underestimate these people to do something dumb.

"You need more parodies and references, you know, like the PDI guys do."

Quote from: Pwaybloe on January 20, 2006, 03:28:43 PM

Quote from: kal on January 19, 2006, 03:07:13 PM
the thing is that if pixar is part of disney, and they will buy this with stocks... steve jobs will become the most powerful person inside disney... and the biggest shareholder... which means he will control disney and then i dont see how anybody will stop apple!

its kinda interesting...

That doesn't necessarily mean anything.  Being the major stockholder doesn't mean that he will run the company.  Disney already has an appointed CEO that answers to the board. 

CEO or no CEO... Steve Jobs is today one of the most powerfull men in Hollywood... and if he owns a big stock and control in Disney he will be even more powerfull. The CEO is the person appointed by the Board to run the company and speak their mind... the Board is controlled by the shareholders... if there is a major shareholder that controls majority of the Board, that person also controls the CEO and the company. Trust me, if this happens Jobs is going to be the biggest fish in the business. And with the success of iTunes selling Video and the new Macs, it will be huge.

what's the problem with that?

i like steve jobs. i think his input will be good for disney. apple= good for independent filmmakers. maybe disney will be come more independent friendly too.

yep... steve jobs is a genius... innovator... liberator... whatever you want

but he is also too arrogant... and that can be bad if he has more power.

he's made so much money by letting other people use his products to express themselves. i don't think it's likely that he'll do any worse for disney than disney would do without him.

Well its official...7.4 Billion in stock later Steve Jobs now rules the world.


LOS ANGELES - The Walt Disney Co. said Tuesday it is buying longtime partner Pixar Animation Studios Inc. for $7.4 billion in stock in a deal that could restore Disney's clout in animation while vaulting Pixar CEO Steve Jobs into a powerful role at the media conglomerate.

Disney's purchase of the maker of the blockbuster films "Toy Story and "Finding Nemo" would make Jobs Disney's largest shareholder. Jobs, who owns more than half of Pixar's shares and also heads Apple Computer Inc., will also join Disney's board.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/11003466/

A year ago, my best friend was awarded an internship at Pixar. He's a digital cinema major with an emphesis on animation. The internship was to begin in 2007. Then 4 months ago he got a personal phone call from Brad Bird (dir. of Incredibles) saying after the year long internship he was already guranteed a job that would start him at $270,000 a year. He was estatic and kept telling me how crazy Bird was on the phone.

When Disney bought out Pixar, he was told all promises made to him by Pixar were now down the drain because of the buy out. He was told he had to re-apply but he couldn't use any of his projects because they were now the property of Pixar. They were made property of Pixar because when he first applied for the internship he had to sign them over to Pixar.

Now he's basically in the gutter and forced to start over.

That.  Really sucks balls.

Give your friend a hug for me.  Jesus.  The $270,000 phone call from Brad Bird... and now it's gone.

Is that application the only way to get hired as an intern?  I mean, if Brad Bird or anyone else at Pixar (which still owns and can witness his, I'm sure, impressive work) remembers him... I dunno, I just hope for the best for him, because he sounds extremely talented and deserving of it.

Disney-Pixar to Adapt "The Bicycle Thief"

Set in 2007, this new spin on the time-honored Italian classic will follow the life of an intern-to-be in a modern world of broken promises.  No details have yet been confirmed, though intial buzz indicated that Brad Bird had signed on. Stay tuned for updates.

Quote from: matt35mm on February 07, 2006, 04:30:56 AM
That.  Really sucks balls.

Give your friend a hug for me.  Jesus.  The $270,000 phone call from Brad Bird... and now it's gone.

Is that application the only way to get hired as an intern?  I mean, if Brad Bird or anyone else at Pixar (which still owns and can witness his, I'm sure, impressive work) remembers him... I dunno, I just hope for the best for him, because he sounds extremely talented and deserving of it.

They obviously realize his predicament. Its just contracts and legalities of the situation overrule any chance for reconsideration.

He does have one small glimmer of hope. He works at a television station and Disney lately has been buying out a lot of television stations. Representatives for Disney visited his TV station last week in consideration to buy it. If they did buy it he'd be an employee of Disney and in better standing for a potential reconsideration.

hey gt, any news on your friend?

Quote from: Xidentity Crixax on February 24, 2006, 07:51:27 PM
hey gt, any news on your friend?

Sorry I missed this. Anyways, news is he's stuck without a rope to cling to. He still has to submit an entire new batch of projects to Pixar and is in the middle of being expelled from the university he was attending for digital cinema. The expulsion is not related to performance. The explusion fucks him though because the unversity provided the equipment and trainining necessary to make the projects. He has a littany of excuses that keeps him from really trying and has accepted the idea he may be stuck in television for life. The TV station he does work for has connections to ESPN so he can somewhat still move up.

Quote from: The Gold Trumpet on March 13, 2006, 05:32:24 AM

Quote from: Xidentity Crixax on February 24, 2006, 07:51:27 PM
hey gt, any news on your friend?

Sorry I missed this. Anyways, news is he's stuck without a rope to cling to. He still has to submit an entire new batch of projects to Pixar and is in the middle of being expelled from the university he was attending for digital cinema. The expulsion is not related to performance. The explusion fucks him though because the unversity provided the equipment and trainining necessary to make the projects. He has a littany of excuses that keeps him from really trying and has accepted the idea he may be stuck in television for life. The TV station he does work for has connections to ESPN so he can somewhat still move up.

he should get in touch with steve Jobs directly... and do something ballsy, like digitally animating a video of him having a conversation with steve Jobs in which they make a wager that if Jobs gives him a job, he'll guarantee that he'll earn his salary back for Jobs, and if he doesn't, he'll work for free until he does. but if he does turn a profit for Jobs, he gets a contract to stay.

The story continues...............


OK, more news. Very good news.

So, lately he has been working at the television station and just trying to get his life back in order. He was recently promoted to the job of a director at the TV station so now is making enough money where he doesn't have to go back to school. But, he got another call from Brad Bird. I guess Brad Bird really went to bat for him at a committee meeting with Pixar and forced the studio to offer him a job. Its very stunning because Bird already had all these other potential animators under his wing but yet went to bat for my friend because he was stuck without a rope to cling to. Thing is, it worked. Bird called him up and offered him a guranteed job of a 6 figure paycheck and all these other amenities.

The shocking part is my friend declined. He has two little girls and is trying to raise them while going through a divorce right now. The mother is very manipulative (she also hates me!!!) and he knows if he bails for California now that his girls will resent him for the rest of their lives. Plus, he has other things going for him. He recently directed a video for an unsigned punk band who's likely going to get airplay on Fuse TV if they win a contest. (they're already in the lead and name of band is Sore for Sunday) Also, for his original Pixar deal, he had to write an essay on his favorite animator. He chose Hayao Miyazaki and gave it to Pixar. Brad Bird sent that essay in to the New Yorker for an issue where they publish student essays. New Yorker actually chose to print his in an issue to be released later this year.

The great thing is he never wrote for anything before and I have some mutual friends who themselves are aspiring writers and know Tom and cannot believe the holiest of grails The New Yorker is publishing him. They know he's a first time writer and are crying injustice. I love it though! Even writing right now I am still giddy and happy for him. Then they also wonder how I can be so happy because he's getting published first and I'm not and everyone knows I sorta directed him to all his favorite filmmakers. I just think "Hell, if he's getting published for a filmmaker I introduced him to, all the more compliment to me."

But, my friend didn't completely turn down Bird. He said once his children are in school full time in 5 years he'll reconsider the offer. Bird told him to stay in touch and by that time Studio Ghibli may be looking for 3-D animators (I guess the company might be making a shift in animation output *hint hint*) for post production work and he should be at the front door for an excellent opportunity then. A job for Studio Ghibli would be a dream come true and I am nearly certain he won't pass that up when the time comes.

Pixar's Got Spirit?     
Thursday, 02 February 2006

Now that they are masters of all they survey at Disney, the Pixar boys can pretty much do what they want with their movies. Well, they were doing that already, actually, but now they have the resources of the super-corporation that is Disney fully at their disposal. And some are speculating that could lead to an animated film version of the classic comic strip The Spirit, to be directed by The Incredibles helmer Brad Bird.

Kung Fu Rodeo is relaying an article by Time this week which hints at what's to come for Pixar beyond its next two films, Cars and Ratatouille. Speculation – and that's often all we fanboys have to go on – has it that Will Eisner's seminal comic could become a Pixar property.

"Little is known of future projects, but Incredibles auteur Brad Bird has long wanted to direct a noir-style film, possibly based on Will Eisner's comic The Spirit," the Time article says.

The story does not mention, however, the fact that comics writer Jeph Loeb was hired to write a feature film version of the strip last April. So Rumor Patrol will have to file this particular report under "wait and see" until less ghostly evidence appears on the matter.

Quote from: MacGuffin on June 09, 2006, 02:29:33 PM
an animated film version of the classic comic strip The Spirit, to be directed by The Incredibles helmer Brad Bird.

:shock:
Oh, dear lord.  I just stopped breathing.

That's the greatest thing I've ever heard.

Disney/Pixar on mission for 'Mars' rights
Source: Hollywood Reporter

Disney/Pixar is in final negotiations to acquire the film rights to Edgar Rice Burroughs' novels known collectively as the "John Carter of Mars" series.

The 11-volume series began with the story titled "A Princess of Mars," published serially in All-Story magazine in 1912 and in novel form in 1916. Burroughs wrote it in longhand, and the original manuscript lies in a vault at a Bank of America in Tarzana, Calif., the town that takes its name from Burroughs' more famous creation, Tarzan.

The series told of a Civil War officer named John Carter who is transported to Mars and finds himself a captive of the savage green men from Thark. Carter eventually rises to become a great warrior, marries a princess, raises a family and embarks on numerous adventures.

Disney had the rights to the series through most of the 1990s, when Jeffrey Katzenberg wanted to adapt it as an animated feature. At one point, the project morphed into live action, and John McTiernan was involved as a director.

Paramount Pictures nabbed the rights to the series in 2002 with Jim Jacks and Sean Daniel as producers. The project was a revolving door for directors: Robert Rodriguez was going to do it before he resigned from the DGA over "Sin City," Kerry Conrad made a notable presentation when he was eyeing it as his follow-up to "Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow," and Jon Favreau was attached before going off to do "Iron Man."

Sources said Paramount let go of "Mars" about a year ago, and it was without a home until about a month ago, when Pixar, under John Lasseter's direction, came calling out of the blue.

A representative of the Burroughs estate said the studio was acquiring the live-action rights for a possible tentpole franchise. However, sources at Disney believed "Mars" to be headed for animated adaptation.

Disney declined comment.

(https://xixax.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fgraphics8.nytimes.com%2Fimages%2F2007%2F03%2F04%2Farts%2F04hols600.1.jpg&hash=5f84f2483c256ee4b6840b6edd672438c91798f1)

He Runs That Mickey Mouse Outfit
Source: New York Times

IT wasn't the first time John Lasseter, the director of "Toy Story" and "Cars," had sat through the screening of a not-quite-ready animated film. But when he saw an early cut of Disney's "Meet the Robinsons" last March, he watched it with a new eye. He wasn't just a fellow director, and a founder of Pixar Animation Studios. This time he was the boss, the chief creative officer of animation for the Walt Disney Company, which had agreed to acquire Pixar two months before.

As he sat in a dark theater on the first floor of Disney's animation studio here, something bothered him about the villain. Almost all of Pixar's animated movies had an evil foil. In "Toy Story" Buzz Lightyear and Woody escaped a cruel neighborhood bully. In "A Bug's Life" an ant saved his colony from a menacing grasshopper and his thuggish crew. By contrast the lanky villain in "Robinsons," the story of an orphan who builds a time machine in order to find his mother, was neither threatening enough nor scary.

After the screening Mr. Lasseter and his colleagues from Pixar and Disney met with the director, Stephen Anderson, and told him so. For six hours.

Ten months later Mr. Lasseter was back in the screening room, watching Mr. Anderson's new version of "Meet the Robinsons," which is set for release on March 30. Nearly 60 percent of the original film had been cut. A diabolical sidekick had been added. And in one thrilling scene the orphan, Lewis, is chased by an oversize dinosaur. Later, when asked about the movie's ending, Mr. Lasseter's rubbery smile turned upside down and he pretended to cry.

"The audience is going to be sobbing," he said, dragging his index fingers down his cheeks. "It is really going to get them."

A Hollywood outsider whose independent shop popularized computer animation, Mr. Lasseter, 50, might seem an odd fit for a studio built on old-school cartoons and the mythology of Snow White and Cinderella. But since Pixar was acquired, Mr. Lasseter has been heralded as a latter-day Walt Disney, a cultural arbiter who can rekindle the spirit of Disney's famous animation at its theme parks, on store shelves and in a theater near you.

Since the days of the 1928 Mickey Mouse classic "Steamboat Willie," animation was Disney's undisputed long suit. But after a recent decade-long parade of disappointments, most famously the 2002 bomb "Treasure Planet," the studio was desperate for a change of fortune. It abandoned its hand-drawn tradition in favor of computer-generated fare. In the process the keepers of the Magic Kingdom lost much of their cultural cachet.

Enter Mr. Lasseter who, along with a close team of handpicked animators had made Pixar this generation's premier storyteller with an unbroken string of hits including "Monsters, Inc.," "Finding Nemo" and "The Incredibles." The first filmmaker to run Disney's animation operations since Walt Disney died in 1966, he said he wants to reclaim the studio's golden era.

Since those early days, though, almost everything has changed. On the Disney campus, the creative culture is tattered still from years of cost-cutting and political infighting. And in the world at large audiences have moved on. The sweet wholesome tales of Mickey Mouse and friends don't have the same relevance for a generation raised on violent video games, distracted by 500 cable channels and preoccupied with Web diversions like MySpace.

"I'm not sure it's a trivial challenge," said Jim Morris, a Pixar producer who is working on the forthcoming "Wall-E." "As charismatic as John is, he can't do everything."

Long-time colleagues say the force that will guide the coming changes — to the studio's offices, to the films at the multiplex, to Christmas toys and rides that can make vacationing families queasy — is Mr. Lasseter's own unique sensibility. He gets his inspiration from real life — his own. "Cars," which lost the animated feature prize to "Happy Feet" at last Sunday's Oscars, was the byproduct of a cross-country road trip he took with his wife and five sons. The idea for "Toy Story 2" was hatched when his children sought to play with toys he stored in boxes. And the die-cast collectibles he had issued for "Cars" were similar to the Hot Wheels he played with growing up in Whittier, Calif., in the 1960s.

That said, his greatest test may be getting Disney's battle-worn animators to embrace the new culture he is trying to create while at the same time churning out a movie a year. "John doesn't really change," said Andrew Stanton, the director of Pixar's "Finding Nemo," who is a close friend and frequent collaborator. "People change around him."

MR. LASSETER rarely sits still. His hands dance and wave in the air in front of him as he rattles off ideas, a sometimes artful stream of consciousness that can range from the shape of a tree he saw that morning to the laws governing wheelchair ramps under the Americans With Disabilities Act. Even during a lunch interview at Disney's studios after several days of being shuttled between hourly meetings and nightly screenings, he is alert and focused.

How then, he was asked, did he plan to restore Disney animation's cultural prominence?

He seemed almost dumbstruck by the question. He sat mute for a moment then turned to two attentive publicists sitting close by, searching their faces for an answer.

"I don't know what to say," he uttered, sounding mildly annoyed. "I don't think like that. I trust in my instincts. I'm a product of what this company has created. I do what I do because of Walt Disney. Goofy. Mickey Mouse. I never forgot how their films entertained me. I also love my toys. My Hot Wheels, my G.I. Joes."

But of course he has a plan.

Mr. Lasseter and Edwin Catmull, a Pixar founder who was named president of the combined animation groups of Disney and Pixar and who oversees operations, have designs for a new headquarters in nearby Glendale. While the building will have Silicon Valley-style comfy couches, coffee stands and open spaces for animators to gather, it won't be a replica of Pixar's 16-acre campus in Emeryville, Calif., where artists play afternoon badminton games and executives zip between in-house meetings on scooters. "When we came to work here, we said Pixar is Pixar, Disney is Disney," Mr. Lasseter said. "We did not want to come here and turn it into Pixar."

Still, the cultural shift they are devising seems more like Pixar than not. For one thing, Mr. Lasseter and Mr. Catmull are encouraging animators to experiment more with their craft. For another, they hope to reintroduce hand-drawn movies. Simply put, the two do not want to see the art form lost. "One of the things I find distressing is that when money gets tight, the money for drawing dries up," Mr. Catmull said. "When people draw, they are learning to see."

Since taking over, Mr. Lasseter and Mr. Catmull have instituted a program to revive the hand-drawn animated short. "The whole purpose is to get these artists ready for feature films," Mr. Lasseter said.

The day after he won a Golden Globe for "Cars," Mr. Lasseter and 13 animation executives gathered in Story Room 1 on the second floor of the studio in Burbank to hear an art direction pitch for a new short film featuring Goofy titled "How to Hook Up Your Home Theater." On one wall were nine boards with images of Goofy drawn by Disney artists between 1942 and 1948. Looking at one image, Mr. Lasseter said: "What I love about Goofy is the flesh on his cheeks. You can almost feel it. That is something to make sure you have. Do the pupils have different shapes for expression?"

"Sometimes they change size," answered Dale Baer, an animator.

"I like it when they are a little bigger," Mr. Lasseter said.

"I love this stuff," he said later, reflecting on the 60-year-old Goofy drawings and the animation division's new logo, a short scene from "Steamboat Willie." "We want to look back and look forward at the same time. This stuff lasts forever, every single movie. 'Dumbo' gets me every time. That moment when, at the same time, their trunks are touching? Long after I am gone they will make audiences cry."

Mr. Lasseter talks a lot about making audiences cry. "John will go straight to as much emotion as possible," said Lee Unkrich, the director of the recently announced "Toy Story 3" from Pixar. "It can become sappy."

But as much as Buzz Lightyear had Woody, Mr. Lasseter has a creative foil in Andrew Stanton, whom Mr. Unkrich described as having "a more biting way." Mr. Unkrich said, "You never felt them slip sliding into something emotionally shallow." (Mr. Stanton has stepped into a leadership role at Pixar now that Mr. Lasseter spends two days a week in Burbank.)

"I am, by nature, an honest person," Mr. Lasseter said. "I wear my emotions on my sleeve. There is no 'behind closed doors' with me. It's the nature of Hollywood that there are the people in power and the people who tell them what they want them to hear. We choose to be honest and open."

So much so that Mr. Lasseter established a "story trust" at Disney, a mirror of the "brain trust" at Pixar where directors and story editors criticize a movie's flaws more than any filmgoer might. "They are not back-patting sessions," Mr. Catmull said. The six-hour meeting about "Meet the Robinsons" was one such session. Mr. Anderson later called it "one of the hardest days of my life."

Harder still for those animators who don't adapt. Chris Sanders, a longtime Disney animator who was a director and writer of the hit "Lilo and Stitch," had developed a movie called "American Dog," the tale of a Hollywood dog star who gets lost in the desert. Last year Mr. Lasseter and directors from both Pixar and Disney attended two screenings of the movie and gave Mr. Sanders notes on how he might improve the story, Mr. Unkrich said. Mr. Sanders resisted the suggestions, Mr. Lasseter said. So in January he was replaced by another director.

Asked about the episode, Mr. Lasseter abruptly interrupted an interview to confer with publicists, asking "What can I say here?"

After a brief discussion Mr. Lasseter explained that Pixar often added or replaced a director if a film needed help. "Chris Sanders is extremely talented, but he couldn't take it to the place it had to be," he said carefully.

Mr. Sanders, who is negotiating his exit from Disney, declined to comment. "John doesn't force his solutions on you," said Brad Bird, who directed "The Incredibles" and is close to Mr. Lasseter. "But that doesn't mean he is going to go quietly."

MR. LASSETER was born in Hollywood in 1957 and raised in nearby Whittier. His mother was an art teacher and his father a parts manager at a car dealership. After graduating from the prestigious California Institute of the Arts in 1979, Mr. Lasseter became a Disney animator for five years before joining Pixar in 1986. As a youth he was a ride operator on the Jungle Cruise at Disneyland. It remains a favorite.

In the early 2000s Disney's theme parks were derided for being shabbily maintained, and when Mr. Lasseter joined Disney, the chief executive, Robert Iger, made him a creative adviser to the theme parks, in part to oversee the quality of Disney's attractions.

"No jokes today," Mr. Lasseter said as he suppressed a smile halfway through a recent 8 a.m. meeting with a design team from Walt Disney Imagineering that was showing him a prototype of the new Toy Story Mania theme park ride based on "Toy Story." "I want to play!"

Toy Story Mania is a video-game-style attraction designed by Disney in which riders seated in moving cars earn points when they shoot targets on a 3D screen. Mr. Lasseter climbed into a makeshift seat propped up on a plywood platform and hunkered down, ready for a test run. As the design team yelled, "Go! Go! Go!," he concentrated, his tongue darting out the side of his mouth while his finger quickly grazed the trigger.

"I got a little confused as to which color was mine," said Mr. Lasseter as he climbed out of his seat after earning 32,500 points, 1,700 more than his opponent. When one executive suggested rewarding high scorers by having a treat like an ice cream cone or a cookie show up onscreen, he said, "I have a diabetic son, and I don't think we want to give food as a reward."

But what concerned him more was when he was told that an outsider had been hired to animate some of the characters on the screen, including Woody.

"Are we making the right decision to have the characters animated by another company?" he asked the game's designer, Sue Bryan. "I'm not comfortable with these people animating the characters, especially if we are dealing with Buzz Lightyear and that clear helmet and the reflection. We want to that to be right."

"We've got the groundwork laid," she replied.

Mr. Lasseter remained firm. He instructed a Pixar colleague, Roger Gould, to talk to the outside company. "I really want to control quality," he said. "I don't want outsiders rendering the characters."

Mr. Lasseter has an executive from Disney's consumer products division, Mary Beech, assigned to work with him on merchandising ideas.In addition to toys, he wants to expand Disney's offerings for adults. Pixar's coming film "Ratatouille" is about a rat named Remy who lives in a French restaurant and adores good food. That gave Mr. Lasseter an idea. "We had our people over to the kitchen of Thomas Keller at the French Laundry restaurant and we camcorded him cooking ratatouille," he told Ms. Beech when she stopped by the Burbank office recently. "Thomas Keller went nuts for Hanley china," he said, referring to the British china maker. "That got me thinking about the high end. It's really elegant, but slightly cartoony. Maybe we could do the same idea for china."

"Sur La Table is talking a real soup pot and ladle," Ms. Beech said, referring to the upscale gourmet cooking store.

"One of our favorite gifts we've given out at Christmas is the cheese of the month club," Mr. Lasseter said of himself and his wife, Nancy. "What if we used 'Ratatouille' to do that? What if we did with Costco the cheese of the month club? We could have Remy writing about cheeses. We could have an in-store display."

Ms. Beech smiled as two onlookers in the office laughed. Mr. Lasseter's notions about cheese and china sounded a little un-Disney-like.

But then again, maybe not. Disney recently announced a new line of wedding gowns inspired by Sleeping Beauty and Cinderella that sell for as much $2,900. And, as every wedding-goer knows, brides want new china too.

Pixar's 'Toy Story 3,' 'Frog Princess' on tap
'TS3' script is by 'Sunshine' Oscar winner Michael Arndt
Source: Hollywood Reporter

NEW YORK - The Walt Disney Co.'s Pixar Animation Studios arm is in production on "Toy Story 3" and its fist hand-drawn animation project in years, "The Frog Princess," John Lasseter, chief creative officer, Pixar and Disney Animation Studios, said Thursday.

In an appearance during Disney's annual shareholder meeting in New Orleans, Lasseter said: "We are finally in production on 'Toy Story 3'," adding the film is scheduled to come out in 2010. Tom Hanks and Tim Allen are back on board to voice Buzz Lightyear and Woody.

The screenplay is by Michael Arndt, who just won the original screenplay Academy Award for "Little Miss Sunshine," according to Lasseter, who said: "We got a great story."

He also announced - to much applause - that Disney Animation has started production on "Frog Princess," which goes back to hand-drawn animation and classic Disney fairytales. "Aladdin" and "Little Mermaid" creators Ron Clements and John Musker are the creative forces behind the animated musical, which "takes place entirely in New Orleans," features "the very first African American Disney princess" and includes a "soulful singing alligator," Lasseter said.

In a special surprise, Randy Newman, who spent his childhood in New Orleans and is writing the music for the film, performed a song from "Frog Princess" to big applause. 

Discussing other animation projects that his team is currently working on, Lasseter mentioned Pixar's "Wall-E," written and directed by Andrew Stanton, the man behind "Finding Nemo." The film plays 700 years in the future when Wally is a little robot on Earth cleaning the trash-covered planet after the humans evacuated it.

Lasseter also plugged Disney Animation's "American Dog," directed by Chris Williams, about a dog with superpowers who suddenly realizes he is only a TV character and must learn to live in the real world.

Up (June 12, 2009)

Pete Docter, the Pixar lifer who made "Monsters Inc.," and co-director Bob Peterson are preparing this "coming-of-old-age story" about a seventysomething guy who lives in a house that "looks like your grandparents' house smelled." He befriends a clueless young Wilderness Ranger and gets into lots of alter kocker altercations. Says Pixar: "Our hero travels the globe, fights beasts and villains and eats dinner at 3:30 in the afternoon."

Toy Story 3 (2010)

Originality is a Pixar hallmark. None of the company's films have been based on fairy tales or novels, and only "Toy Story" has spawned sequels. Why a third adventure for Woody (Tom Hanks) and Buzz (Tim Allen)? "We got an idea we thought would be really great," says Lee Unkrich, who co-directed "Toy Story 2" and "Finding Nemo" and graduates to full director status here. "We're just starting to write the story," he confides, adding, "I wake up every morning hoping for a eureka moment." He and the Brain Trust have already had one inspiration: they've asked Randy Newman to write the score. Or was that a no-brainer?

Quote from: MacGuffin on June 10, 2007, 10:58:59 AM
Pete Docter, the Pixar lifer who made "Monsters Inc.," and co-director Bob Peterson are preparing this "coming-of-old-age story" about a seventysomething guy who lives in a house that "looks like your grandparents' house smelled." He befriends a clueless young Wilderness Ranger and gets into lots of alter kocker altercations. Says Pixar: "Our hero travels the globe, fights beasts and villains and eats dinner at 3:30 in the afternoon."

that sounds great!  as i was saying...

Quote from: modage on June 10, 2007, 09:22:54 AM
pixar are NOT playing it safe.  its almost as if their story department came up with pitches for a movie that nobody would want to see and as a challenge they have to make people want to see them.  i • pixar.

so FUCK YOU penguins and other cute animals.  now Toy Story 3 can be their Oceans 13 if their 3 riskier movies flop in the meantime!

Bird on Toy Story 3 & Incredibles 2

ComingSoon.net got a chance to chat on Friday with director Brad Bird at the press day for his new animated-adventure, Rataouille. Naturally, we asked him about Toy Story 3 and a possible sequel to The Incredibles.

"It's going to be good," Bird said about the third "Toy Story." "We wouldn't do it if we didn't think it could be good." The third film, to be voiced again by Tom Hanks and Tim Allen, is coming to theaters in 2010.

But would he do another "Incredibles"? "I do if I can come up with a story that is as good or better than the first one. If I can come up with a "Toy Story 2" with "The Incredibles," then I would do it in a second. I have pieces that I think are good, but I don't have them all together."

Bird said sequels aren't part of Pixar's business plan. "We've made one and we're going to make another... We don't make it for any reason other than if it's a movie we want to see and a story we're excited to tell, we will go after it. We don't do it for money. Walt Disney once said that he doesn't make films to make money, he makes money to make films. That's very much Pixar's philosophy. It's why we're in the game."

Cars 2 to be released after TS3!
Source: jvpixarnews

According to a very reliable anonymous source Cars 2 will be released after Toy Story 3! So it looks like the rumors are true! We are still waiting for an official announcement from Pixar though. Maybe this could be Brad Lewis' unannounced project that he has been talking about?

So Pixar is going to put out 2 sequels in a row. Pixar always likes a good challenge.

One question I have is that Paul Newman has retried, In the rumor about a Cars 2 in early June of this year Paul Newman said that Pixar was making a Cars 2, so how would he know about a Cars 2 unless someone has told him or he has signed up for it, or maybe he's already done some voice work, but I doubt it.

I expect Cars 2 to be Pixar's 2011 release and John Carter of Mars to be Pixar 2012 release.

i hope the whole movie is cars jumping over sharks.

Cars 2: Shark Tale 2

maybe its time to change the title of this thread... considering Disney bought Jobs and Pixar??

I just got back from a Dali exhibition where they were playing his Disney collaboration called Destino. It was one of the most beautiful animated shorts I've ever seen.

All I can find about a DVD release is a rumour of 2007. Just wondering if anyone here hasheard anything else about it.

http://www.animationartconservation.com/destiny_of_dali_destino.html

Quote from: Pubrick on July 11, 2007, 11:23:10 PM
i hope the whole movie is cars jumping over sharks.

Cars 2: Shark Tale 2

That would end up looking like another Finding Nemo.

Quote from: Redlum on September 02, 2007, 09:39:32 AM
Just wondering if anyone here hasheard anything else about it.

Big surprise to me that Dali had worked with Disney.

Quote from: Redlum on September 02, 2007, 09:39:32 AM
Just wondering if anyone here hasheard anything else about it.

It was played before prints of Triplets of Belleville when that was screening a few years ago.  I totally forgot about it until now, I remember really enjoying it, though.

I found some clips from Destino on Youtube and  they are pretty amazing, kinda remind me of Peter Chung's early animation

Documentary brings "Pixar" struggles to life
Source: Hollywood Reporter

The "overnight" success of Pixar Animation Studios seemed like a smooth rocket ride, but Leslie Iwerks' documentary about the cartoon behemoth is a jolting reminder that it was a risky business venture.

An unstable combination of sheer determination, unending struggle, initial failures and gut instinct, it took an almost karmic combination of talent and fortuitous events to get that baby off the ground. Many people participated, but "The Pixar Story" rightly zeroes in on John Lasseter, Ed Catmull and their entrepreneurial godfather and backer, Steve Jobs, who all but willed the Pixar success into reality.

Having the run of the studios' archival footage, going back to before Pixar existed, and unparalleled access to just about everybody she needed to interview, Iwerks -- who previously made "The Hand Behind the Mouse," a documentary about her famous animator grandfather, Ub Iwerks -- delivers an incisive and often inspiring story of a group of super talents for whom failure was not an option.

After its world premiere at the Mill Valley Film Festival, Iwerks says she means to qualify the film for Oscar consideration. She then hopes to secure a theatrical release. But its real value will undoubtedly be as a DVD with expanded footage of the interviews and behind-the-scenes peeks that didn't make it into the 86-minute feature. This film will be an invaluable resource for film and animation historians, as well as multitudes of Pixar fans, from here to infinity and beyond.

Iwerks counts herself among those fans. So her portrait, narrated by Stacy Keach, is admiring, not journalistic. Even so, the most hard-bitten investigator would be hard-pressed not experience wonder at such a rousing story.

Computer animation was around long before Pixar. Animators in Europe and North America were experimenting with this combination of art and science in shorts dating back to the '70s. Yet there was often a lack of warmth in the designs, and representing humans, even cartoony ones, was a challenge. Features were out of the question.

Lasseter and Catmull were among the first to see the future so clearly. Lasseter came out of Cal Arts with training in Disney animation. He worked at Disneyland in Anaheim and eventually landed a job in Disney's Burbank studios. When "Tron," one of the first features to mix computer-generated action with live-action, came out of Walt Disney Pictures in 1982, Lasseter pushed for and got a unit that experimented with 3-D animation.

But such was the fear of the computer -- that somehow the computer would replace humans rather than becoming a new tool for animators -- that Lasseter was actually fired by Disney when he completed his project.

He joined the computer division of Lucasfilm, where he met Catmull, a computer scientist trained at the University of Utah, who helped develop digital image compositing technology.

In 1986, Jobs bought Lucasfilms' digital division and founded Pixar with Lasseter and Catmull as his key men.

After losing $1 million a year for five years, Jobs needed to see a return on his investment. So Pixar put "Toy Story," the first feature-length computer-animated film ever, into production.

"Some of us had never even worked on a movie," Lasseter notes.

Initially, Disney, which was to release "Toy Story," imposed its ideas on the production, to disastrous results. The first trial reel was awful, former vice chairman Roy Disney recalls.

Only when Pixar animators tore up those notes and went with gut instincts did the production take off. The worldwide gross of $350 million by "Toy Story" (1995) led Jobs to Wall Street, where he raised $132 million through an IPO. That put Pixar on a firm footing and led to a string of hits.

The company has never experienced either a critical or box office failure, though the film makes clear that "Toy Story 2," which had to start all over with nine months to go, was a close call.

What has made each film successful, Lasseter insists, is "not the idea but the people." The Pixar staff, working with new directors hired either from within the company -- such as Andrew Stanton and Pete Docter -- or, in the case of Brad Bird, from outside, has been up to the challenge to stretch the digital envelope as each new story drives the need for innovation.

After Disney, under CEO Bob Iger, acquired Pixar in January 2006, Lasseter and Catmull were put in charge of reinvigorating the Burbank studio. They have given directors more creative control of their projects and will return to traditional animation techniques instead of relying solely on computer animation, a reversal of a decision made by former chairman and CEO Michael Eisner.

The film, with its talking-heads interviews, does pile on the tech talk pretty heavily at times. But Iwerks more than makes up for this with home movies by the various Pixar pixies at work and play -- it's often hard to tell the difference -- and even Lasseter's own Student Academy Award-winning shorts. And the many interviewees -- from Tom Hanks, Tim Allen and Billy Crystal to George Lucas and Pixar animators -- do extremely lucid jobs of explaining that technology in terms of the artistic impact on each film.

It took Iwerks six years to make this film because the Pixar story kept evolving even as she worked. One suspects a sequel, were she so inclined, might be even more fascinating.

Moved here from Ratatouille thread after I fucked up splitting the topic  :oops:

Quote from: Ravi on November 05, 2007, 01:06:59 PM
http://jimhillmedia.com/blogs/jim_hill/archive/2007/11/02/a-special-toon-much-of-a-good-thing-edition-of-why-for.aspx

A special "Toon Much of a Good Thing" edition of Why For

Jim Hill's back with even more answers to your Disney-related questions. This time around, Jim talks about why Walt Disney Home Entertainment stopped producing 2-disc versions of those new Disney / Pixar DVDs as well as revealing that Walt Disney Animation Studios may already have a second traditionally animated feature in the works
Print Article

First up, Danny writes in to ask:

    Jim,

    Any reason that you know of why Pixar started skimping on their DVD packages? Up to and including "The Incredibles," no company did the medium justice better than Pixar. But the discs for "Cars" and "Rataouille" (which I have an advanced copy of) are pathetic in comparison. Most notably absent are audio commentaries from Lasseter and Bird and little to no coverage of the Pixar artists.

    Are there fully-loaded versions on the horizon, or some other reason to why Pixar DVDs have become so run-of-the-mill?

    Thanks for the great site!

    Danny

Dear Danny --

Given that I am regularly accused by JHM readers of being far too tough on that Emeryville-based animation studio, let me say -- right from the get-go here -- that this single disc thing isn't Pixar's fault.

If John Lasseter & Brad Bird had their way, the theatrical release of every new Pixar film would immediately be followed by a multi-disc edition of that same movie. We're talking about a DVD that would then walk you through every phase of production, that would go into great detail about how that particular picture was made.

Which I know is just what all you Pixar and/or animation fans would really like to see ... But here's the harsh reality, kids: 95% of the people who actually purchase these new Disney / Pixar titles (at least during the first two weeks that these films are out on store shelves) aren't actually animation fans. But -- rather -- they're parents who just want something new that they can then drop into the family DVD player. Which will hopefully keep the kiddies quiet for an hour or so, so Mommy & Daddy can then get some work done.

Seriously, folks. That's what Walt Disney Home Entertainment has learned over the past 5 years through extensive survey work and consumer products testing. That the group that buys the largest number of new Disney / Pixar DVDs (i.e. parents of small children) just don't care for the two disc editions of these films.

Why For? Would you believe that it's because Mom & Dad are concerned that -- in their rush to load this new DVD into the player -- that they might accidentally drop the wrong disc into the machine? Which will then cause their kid to complain about how they're not able to see the movie. Which now negates the whole point of buying this new Disney / Pixar film in the first place. Which was to provide these parents with something that can then entertain and/or distract their children for a few hours.

Look, I know that that sounds a little cold-hearted. But the way I hear it, that's actually why WDHE opted to go with single disk editions of all of the new Disney / Pixar releases. Because that's what parents really wanted.

In fact, to address the ease-of-use concerns that some parents have with the DVD format ... Well, that's why Walt Disney Home Entertainment invented the FastPlay system. Which effectively allows Mom or Dad to just drop the newest Disney DVD into the family player and then walk away. All on its own, without anyone having to navigate through any menus, this disc will begin to play.

Mind you, before this DVD starts showing the main feature, it will first run coming attractions for every soon-to-be-released Disney / Pixar theatrical film and/or DVD. Which means that any child who's actually watched this disc will be well indoctrinated about what new movies they should be asking Mommy & Daddy to take them to and/or which DVD to ask for next. But for some parents ... That's a relatively small price to pay for a little peace and quiet.

As for us hardcore animation fans ... Not to worry: WDHE's business plan does eventually call for two disc editions of these new Disney / Pixar films to hit store shelves. But usually two to three years after the release of the original DVD versions of that same movie. More to the point, the multi-disc editions of these films will deliberately be sold at a much higher price point. So that the Mouse gets the maximum amount of return off of what is then basically a library title.

Of course, another reason that Walt Disney Home Entertainment has been stinting on the Extra Features that it's been folding into its DVDs lately is that they now want consumers to start buying their new Disney / Pixar titles in the Blu-Ray format. Take -- for example -- the Disney Blu-Ray version of "Cars" that hits store shelves next Tuesday. This Hi Def disc features a never-before-seen deleted scene from that John Lasseter film. Plus -- if you take advantage of this Blu-Ray DVD's "Cine-Explore" option -- Lasseter himself will walk you through the making of this movie. All this, plus the "Car Finder" game. Which then allows you to hunt for the 200 different makes & models that Pixar created for this road picture.

"And will those Extra Features be offered on a non-Blu-Ray DVD version of 'Cars' ?," you ask. Well, the way I hear it, WDHE doesn't have any plans to release a disc like that anytime soon. So if you want to hear John Lasseter's insights about how "Cars" actually came together ... You're going to have to get yourself a Blu-Ray player.

Sorry about that.

Quote from: pete on November 06, 2007, 02:07:43 AM
I saw a mouse in my house and stopped loving this film.

Quote from: modage on November 06, 2007, 07:51:31 AM
thanks for the article, Ravi. 

this sucks ass.  i really wish with Lasseter in charge at Disney they would be able to do something about this.  looks like i'll be waiting a few years to buy this one...

Toy Story Trio Goes 3-D!
Source: Walt Disney Studios

The Walt Disney Studios is taking the latest advances in digital 3-D technology "to infinity and beyond" with ambitious plans to debut new Disney Digital 3-D(TM) versions of Disney-Pixar's Toy Story on October 2nd, 2009, and Toy Story 2 on February 12th, 2010, it was announced by Dick Cook, chairman of The Walt Disney Studios. Both of these beloved animated features are being newly converted to 3-D in advance of the June 18th, 2010 release of Disney-Pixar's Toy Story 3, which is being produced as a 3-D motion picture and will represent the state-of-the-art for the genre. Veteran Pixar filmmaker Lee Unkrich (co-director Toy Story 2) is directing.

Academy Award®-winning filmmaker John Lasseter (director of the first two "Toy Story" films and chief creative officer for Disney and Pixar Animation Studios) will personally oversee the creative side of the 3-D conversions for Toy Story and Toy Story 2 with his acclaimed team of technical wizards handling all the necessary steps in the conversion process.

Commenting on the announcement, Cook said, "We are committed to bringing moviegoers the best and most exciting 3-D movie experience, and we think they're going to love seeing Buzz Lightyear, Woody, and all the wonderful 'Toy Story' cast of characters in an eye popping and dazzling way. John Lasseter and the animation team are putting all their passion and hard work into making this the greatest 3-D experience yet, and we're excited to share their efforts with audiences everywhere."

Lasseter added, "The 'Toy Story' films and characters will always hold a very special place in our hearts and we're so excited to be bringing this landmark film back for audiences to enjoy in a whole new way thanks to the latest in 3-D technology. I am sure that this is going to be nothing short of fantastic and people are going to be blown away by the experience. With 'Toy Story 3' shaping up to be another great adventure for Buzz, Woody and the gang from Andy's room, we thought it would be great to let audiences experience the first two films all over again and in a brand new way. 3-D offers lots of great new possibilities for the art of animation and we will continue to use this new technology to tell our stories in the best possible way."

In converting Toy Story and Toy Story 2 to state-of-the-art 3-D films, the technical team is retrieving all of the original digital elements and rebuilding them in 3-D.

Originally released by Walt Disney Pictures in 1995, Toy Story was the first feature film from Pixar Animation Studios and director John Lasseter. The film went on to receive Oscar® nominations for Original Score, Original Song, and Screenplay, and earned Lasseter a Special Achievement Award "for the development and inspired application of techniques that have made possible the first feature-length computer-animated film." Toy Story 2 was released in 1999, and reunited voice talents Tom Hanks and Tim Allen, in their roles as Woody and Buzz. The film became one of the most popular animated features of all time, and received an Academy Award® nomination for Original Song.

BREAKING: Disney/Pixar Announce Upcoming Slate!

This just in: Today in New York City, our Moviefone colleague Kevin Polowy attended the Disney/Pixar Animation Presentation hosted by Dick Cook and John Lasseter. Apparently, a whole handful of new, upcoming titles were announced -- some of which we've known about and some brand new. Additionally, they screened 30 minutes of WALL-E footage and announced that Sigourney Weaver would do a voice in the film. Kevin reported back, saying the footage "looked really strong, and turned this skeptic into a believer." (I don't know how Kevin was worried about this one; it's just too damn adorable.) Aside from WALL-E, here are highlights of what else was announced:

Up will follow WALL-E for Pixar, featuring the voices of Ed Asner, Christopher Plummer, John Ratzenberger and Jordan Nagai.

Tinkerbell will go direct-to-DVD, followed by three sequels. So four Tinkerbell films all together.

Rapunzel is back! Not only that, but Rapunzel will become the first classic Disney story being done in CGI.
King of the Elves is another film coming from Disney animation in 2012, and it's based on a Phillip K. Dick story.

Toy Story and Toy Story 2 to be released in 3-D in 2009 and 2010.
Toy Story 3 hits theaters on June 18, 2010
Newt will be Pixar's film in 2011, and it comes with this description: "What happens when the last remaining male and female blue-footed newts on the planet are forced together by science to save the species, and they can't stand each other?
Cars 2 coming in 2012!

UPDATE: Full press release after the jump, including more titles from Disney animation ...

DISNEY'S 'FAIRIES' DIRECT-TO-DVD FRANCHISE WILL ALSO DEBUT

NEW YORK, April 8, 2008 /PRNewswire/ -- The Walt Disney Studios unveiled a diverse and ambitious slate of 10 new animated feature films from Walt Disney and Pixar Animation Studios to be released through the year 2012 at a New York press conference held today by Dick Cook, chairman of The Walt Disney Studios, and John Lasseter, chief creative officer for Walt Disney and Pixar Animation Studios.

The line-up includes new films from Disney and Pixar's accomplished team of filmmakers, and features vocal performances by such top celebrity talents as John Travolta and Miley Cyrus ("Bolt"), Reese Witherspoon, Billy Connolly and Emma Thompson ("The Bear and the Bow"), Anika Noni Rose and John Goodman ("The Princess and the Frog"), as well as return engagements by Tom Hanks, Tim Allen and the rest of the "Toy Story" vocal ensemble ("Toy Story 3"). The roster of new animated features includes six new films from Pixar Animation Studios, four from Walt Disney Animation Studios, and the first four in a series of direct-to-DVD films featuring Disney Fairies from DisneyToon Studios. Starting later this year with the release of Disney's "Bolt," all Disney and Pixar animated features will be presented in state-of-the-art Disney Digital 3-D(TM). Additionally, newly converted 3-D versions of the beloved classics, "Toy Story" and "Toy Story 2," are set to debut in 2009 and 2010 respectively.

Among the upcoming animated films on the 2008 release schedule are "WALL*E" (Pixar) from Academy Award(R)-winning director/writer Andrew Stanton ("Finding Nemo") opening nationwide June 27th; "Bolt" (Disney) from the talented new directing team of Chris Williams and Byron Howard, due in theatres on November 26th; and the Disney DVD and Blu-ray release of "Tinker Bell," the first in a new franchise of original entertainment set in the world of Fairies, on October 28th. The Studio's 2009 animated slate includes the summer release of Pixar's first 3-D feature, "Up," from director Pete Docter ("Monsters, Inc.") and co-director Bob Peterson, the Christmas Day release of Disney's original animated fairy tale "The Princess and the Frog" from acclaimed veteran Disney directors John Musker and Ron Clements ("The Little Mermaid," "Aladdin," "Hercules,") and the Disney DVD and Blu-ray release of "Tinker Bell North of Never Land" (working title). 2010 brings the highly anticipated return of Buzz and Woody in the Disney Digital(TM) 3D summer release of Pixar's "Toy Story 3" directed by Lee Unkrich ("Finding Nemo," "Monsters, Inc."); followed by the Christmas arrival of Disney's version of the classic fairy tale, "Rapunzel," featuring the directing debuts of animation legend Glen Keane and directing partner Dean Wellins, and the Disney DVD and Blu-ray release of "Tinker Bell A Midsummer Storm" (working title).

In the summer of 2011, Pixar's "newt" marks the directing debut of multiple Oscar(R)-winning sound designer Gary Rydstrom. Christmas 2011 brings Pixar's first fairy tale, "The Bear and the Bow," from acclaimed filmmaker/writer Brenda Chapman ("The Prince of Egypt"). The Disney DVD and Blu-ray release of "Tinker Bell A Winter Story" (working title) also debuts in 2011. The year 2012 will mark the return of Lightning McQueen, Mater the tow truck, and an international cast of favorite and new car characters in Pixar's "Cars 2," directed by Brad Lewis (producer of "Ratatouille"). Scheduled for Christmas 2012 from Walt Disney Animation Studios is "King of the Elves," an adaptation of a Philip K. Dick short story, directed by Aaron Blaise and Robert Walker ("Brother Bear").

Commenting on the announcement, Cook said, "We couldn't be more proud and excited about our upcoming line-up of feature projects. With so many great films literally on the drawing boards and computer screens, we felt that now was the perfect time to give moviegoers all over the world an update on the state of our art. In a year when our Studio is marking the 80th anniversary of Mickey Mouse, the character that started it all for us, it seems especially timely to share our plans for the future of animation. With John Lasseter and Ed Catmull guiding our creative efforts both at Emeryville and in Burbank, this is as exciting a time as any in our history."

Lasseter added, "This is an amazing time for animation at Disney and Pixar, and it's a thrill to be working on such a diverse and original group of films with such an all-star team of filmmakers. The thing I love best about my job is that I get to work at both Disney and Pixar with filmmakers who are passionate about their projects and who are the absolute best in the business. We're excited to be pushing the boundaries of 3-D and computer technology to tell our stories in the best possible way. At the same time, we're drawing on our past to emphasize memorable characters, original edge-of-your-seat stories, and believable worlds. Walt Disney and his creative team taught us how to blend comedy, powerful emotion, and action-filled excitement in our films, and this group of incredible filmmakers is bringing their own originality and sensibilities to the
process."

WALT DISNEY ANIMATION STUDIOS/ PIXAR ANIMATION STUDIOS RELEASE SCHEDULE
2008 -- 2012:

2008:

WALL*E (Domestic Release Date: June 27th, 2008)
Pixar Animation Studios
Director/Screenwriter: Andrew Stanton
Producer: Jim Morris
Co-Producer: Lindsey Collins
Sound and Character Voice Designer: Ben Burtt
Composer: Thomas Newman, with an Original Song Performed by Peter Gabriel Voice Talent: Fred Willard, Jeff Garlin, Sigourney Weaver, John
Ratzenberger, Kathy Najimy

What if mankind had to leave Earth and somebody forgot to turn off the
last robot?

Academy Award(R)-winning writer-director Andrew Stanton ("Finding
Nemo") and the inventive storytellers and technical geniuses at Pixar
Animation Studios transport moviegoers to a galaxy not so very far away for
a new computer-animated cosmic comedy about a determined robot named
WALL*E.

After hundreds of lonely years doing what he was built for, WALL*E
(short for Waste Allocation Load Lifter Earth-Class) discovers a new
purpose in life (besides collecting knick-knacks) when he meets a sleek
search robot named EVE. EVE comes to realize that WALL*E has inadvertently
stumbled upon the key to the planet's future, and races back to space to
report her findings to the humans (who have been eagerly awaiting word that
it is safe to return home). Meanwhile, WALL*E chases EVE across the galaxy
and sets into motion one of the most incredible comedy adventures ever
brought to the big screen.

Joining WALL*E on his fantastic journey across a universe of
never-before-imagined visions of the future is a hilarious cast of
characters including a pet cockroach, and a heroic team of malfunctioning
misfit robots.



BOLT (Domestic Release Date: November 26th, 2008, Disney Digital 3-D(TM))
Walt Disney Animation Studios
Directors: Chris Williams, Byron Howard
Producer: Clark Spencer
Voice Talent: John Travolta, Miley Cyrus, Susie Essman
For super-dog Bolt (voiced by John Travolta), every day is filled with
adventure, danger and intrigue -- at least until the cameras stop rolling.
When the canine star of a hit TV show is accidentally shipped from his
Hollywood soundstage to New York City, he begins his biggest adventure yet
-- a cross-country journey through the real world. Armed only with the
delusions that all his amazing feats and powers are real, and with the help
of two unlikely traveling companions -- a jaded, abandoned housecat named
Mittens (voiced by Susie Essman), and TV-obsessed hamster in a plastic ball
named Rhino -- Bolt discovers he doesn't need superpowers to be a hero.
Miley Cyrus ("Hannah Montana") brings her vocal talents to the role of
Penny, Bolt's human co-star on the television series.



TINKER BELL (Disney DVD and Blu-ray Release Date: October 28th, 2008)
DisneyToon Studios
Director: Bradley Raymond
Producer: Jeannine Roussel
Enter the magical world of fairies and meet the enchanting creatures of
Pixie Hollow, who "nurture nature" and bring about the change of the
seasons. Changing the colors of the leaves, moving a sunbeam to melt snow,
waking animals from their winter slumber, or giving a patch of sproutlings
a sprinkle of water are all within the realm of these seasonal specialists.
Tinker Bell thinks her fairy talent as a "tinker" isn't as special or
important as the other fairies' talents. But when Tink tries to change who
she is, she creates nothing but disaster! With encouragement from her
friends Rosetta, Silvermist, Fawn and Iridessa, Tink learns the key to
solving her problems lies in her unique tinker abilities ... and discovers
that when she's true to herself, magical things can happen.



2009:

UP (Domestic Release Date: May 29th, 2009, Disney Digital 3-D(TM))
Pixar Animation Studios
Director: Pete Docter
Co-Director: Bob Peterson
Producer: Jonas Rivera
Writer: Bob Peterson Voice Talent: Ed Asner, Christopher Plummer, John Ratzenberger, Jordan
Nagai

From the Academy Award(R)-nominated team of director Pete Docter
("Monsters, Inc.") and co-director Bob Peterson comes "Up," a comedic
adventure taking off (and lifting spirits) in summer 2009. Carl Fredricksen
spent his entire life dreaming of exploring the globe and experiencing life
to its fullest. But at age 78, life seems to have passed him by, until a
twist of fate (and a persistent 8-year old Wilderness Explorer named
Russell) gives him a new lease on life. "Up" takes audiences on a thrilling
journey where the unlikely pair encounter wild terrain, unexpected villains
and jungle creatures. When seeking adventure next summer -- look "Up."



TOY STORY in 3-D (Domestic Release Date: October 2nd, 2009)
Pixar Animation Studios
Director: John Lasseter
Producers: Ralph Guggenheim, Bonnie Arnold
Composer: Randy Newman Voice Talent: Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, Don Rickles, Jim Varney, Wallace
Shawn, John Ratzenberger

Originally released by Walt Disney Pictures in 1995, "Toy Story" was
the first feature film from Pixar Animation Studios and director John
Lasseter. The film went on to receive Oscar(R) nominations for Best
Original Score, Best Original Song, and Best Original Screenplay, and
earned Lasseter a Special Achievement Award (Oscar(R)) "for the development
and inspired application of techniques that have made possible the first
feature-length computer-animated film." The 3-D version of this landmark
film is being personally overseen by Lasseter with his acclaimed team of
technical wizards handling all the necessary steps in the conversion
process.



THE PRINCESS AND THE FROG (Domestic Release Date: Christmas 2009)
Walt Disney Animation Studios
Directors: John Musker, Ron Clements
Producer: Peter Del Vecho
Composer: Randy Newman
Voice Talent: Anika Noni Rose, Keith David, Jenifer Lewis, John Goodman
A musical set in the greatest city of them all, New Orleans, "The
Princess and the Frog" marks Disney's return to the timeless art form of
traditional animation. The film teams Ron Clements and John Musker,
creators of "The Little Mermaid" and "Aladdin," with Oscar(R)-winning
composer Randy Newman to tell the most beautiful love story ever told ...
with frogs, voodoo, and a singing alligator.

TINKER BELL NORTH OF NEVER LAND - working title (Disney DVD and Blu-ray
Release Date: 2009)


DisneyToon Studios
Director: Klay Hall
Producer: Sean Lurie
In autumn, Tinker Bell is entrusted with crafting a great treasure that
can rejuvenate the Pixie Dust Tree. But when her friend Terence offers to
help, Tink's temper and stubbornness get the better of her, shattering both
her creation and her friendship with Terence. To set things right again,
she must embark on a journey far North of Never Land ... and along the way,
she will discover an even greater treasure.



2010:

TOY STORY 2 in 3-D (Domestic Release Date: February 12th, 2010)
Pixar Animation Studios
Director: John Lasseter
Co-Directors: Lee Unkrich, Ash Brannon
Producers: Helene Plotkin, Karen Robert Jackson
Composer: Randy Newman Voice Talent: Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, Joan Cusack, Kelsey Grammer, Don
Rickles, Estelle Harris, Jim Varney, Wallace Shawn, John Ratzenberger

Originally released in 1999, "Toy Story 2" went on to become one of the
most popular animated features of all time. The film picks up as Andy is
heading off to Cowboy Camp and the toys are left to their own devices. When
an obsessive toy collector named Al McWhiggin (owner of Al's Toy Barn)
kidnaps Woody, and Woody learns that he's a highly valued collectable from
a 1950s TV show called "Woody's Roundup," the stage is set for a daring
rescue attempt by the gang from Andy's room. The film introduced such other
memorable characters from "Woody's Roundup" as Jessie the cowgirl, Bullseye
the horse, and the Prospector.

TOY STORY 3 (Domestic Release Date: June 18th, 2010, Disney Digital
3-D(TM))


Pixar Animation Studios
Director: Lee Unkrich
Producer: Darla K. Anderson
Writer: Michael Arndt
Composer: Randy Newman Voice Talent: Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, Joan Cusack, Don Rickles, Wallace
Shawn, Estelle Harris, John Ratzenberger, Ned Beatty

The creators of the beloved "Toy Story" films re-open the toy box and
bring moviegoers back to the delightful world of Woody, Buzz and our
favorite gang of toy characters in "Toy Story 3." Lee Unkrich (co-director
of "Toy Story 2" and "Finding Nemo") directs this highly anticipated film,
and Michael Arndt, the Academy Award(R)-winning screenwriter of "Little
Miss Sunshine," brings his unique talents and comedic sensibilities to the
proceedings.



RAPUNZEL (Domestic Release Date: Christmas 2010, Disney Digital 3-D(TM))
Walt Disney Animation Studios
Directors: Glen Keane, Dean Wellins
Producer: Roy Conli
In this new telling of the classic fairy tale, "Rapunzel," audiences
will be transported to a stunning CG fantasy world complete with the iconic
tower, an evil witch, a gallant hero and, of course, the mysterious girl
with the long golden tresses. Expect adventure, heart, humor, and hair ...
lots of hair, when Rapunzel unleashes her locks in theaters for the 2010
holiday.

TINKER BELL A MIDSUMMER STORM - working title (Disney DVD and Blu-ray
Release Date: 2010)


DisneyToon Studios
Director: Carolyn Gair
Producer: Margot Pipkin
After being confronted by her antagonist Vidia, an irritated Tinker
Bell retaliates by taking a photograph of Vidia ... without considering the
consequences. Now, the two must set aside their differences and cooperate
to prevent evidence of the existence of fairies from falling into human
hands.



2011:

NEWT (Domestic Release Date: Summer 2011, Disney Digital 3-D(TM))
Pixar Animation Studios
Director: Gary Rydstrom
Producer: Richard Hollander
Writers: Gary Rydstrom, Leslie Caveny
What happens when the last remaining male and female blue-footed newts
on the planet are forced together by science to save the species, and they
can't stand each other? That's the problem facing Newt and Brooke, heroes
of "newt," the Pixar film by seven-time Academy Award(R) winner for sound
Gary Rydstrom, and director of Pixar's Oscar-nominated short, "Lifted."
Newt and Brooke embark on a perilous, unpredictable adventure and discover
that finding a mate never goes as planned, even when you only have one
choice. Love, it turns out, is not a science.

THE BEAR AND THE BOW (Domestic Release Date: Christmas 2011, Disney
Digital 3-D(TM))


Pixar Animation Studios
Director: Brenda Chapman
Producer: Katherine Sarafian
Voice Talent: Reese Witherspoon, Billy Connolly, Emma Thompson
A rugged and mythic Scotland is the setting for Pixar's
action-adventure "The Bear and the Bow." The impetuous, tangle-haired
Merida, though a daughter of royalty, would prefer to make her mark as a
great archer. A clash of wills with her mother compels Merida to make a
reckless choice, which unleashes unintended peril on her father's kingdom
and her mother's life. Merida struggles with the unpredictable forces of
nature, magic and a dark, ancient curse to set things right. Director
Brenda Chapman ("The Prince of Egypt," "The Lion King") and the
storytelling wizards of Pixar conjure humor, fantasy and excitement in this
rich Highland tale.

TINKER BELL A WINTER STORY - working title (Disney DVD and Blu-ray
Release Date: 2011)

DisneyToon Studios

Producer: Sean Lurie

The fourth, as-yet-untold story of Tinker Bell and her fairy friends
will take place in winter, completing the cycle of the seasons.



2012:

CARS 2 (Domestic Release Date: Summer 2012, Disney Digital 3-D(TM))
Pixar Animation Studios
Director: Brad Lewis
All the world's a racetrack as racing superstar Lightning McQueen zooms
back into action, with his best friend Mater in tow, to take on the globe's
fastest and finest in this thrilling high-octane new installment of the
"Cars" saga. Mater and McQueen will need their passports as they find
themselves in a new world of intrigue, thrills and fast-paced comedic
escapades around the globe. "Cars 2" is being directed by Brad Lewis,
producer of the Oscar(R)- winning film "Ratatouille."

KING OF THE ELVES (Domestic Release Date: Christmas 2012, Disney
Digital 3-D(TM))


Walt Disney Animation Studios
Directors: Aaron Blaise, Robert Walker
Producer: Chuck Williams
Legendary storyteller Phillip K. Dick's short story (his only
experiment in the fantasy genre) becomes the basis for this fantastic and
imaginative tale about an average man living in the Mississippi Delta,
whose reluctant actions to help a desperate band of elves leads them to
name him their new king. Joining the innocent and endangered elves as they
attempt to escape from an evil and menacing troll, their unlikely new
leader finds himself caught on a journey filled with unimaginable dangers
and a chance to bring real meaning back to his own life.

Disney, Depp return to 'Caribbean'
Actor also signs on for 'Ranger,' 'Wonderland'
Source: Variety

Johnny Depp is the main man at the Mouse House.

Depp has agreed to reprise his role as Captain Jack Sparrow in a fourth "Pirates of the Caribbean" pic and play Tonto in a bigscreen adaptation of "The Lone Ranger," both produced by Jerry Bruckheimer. He will also star as the Mad Hatter in Tim Burton's version of "Alice in Wonderland."

The roles come after Depp helped Disney earn a combined $2.6 billion at the box office with the three pics in the "Pirates" franchise, also produced by Bruckheimer.

"Alice in Wonderland," skedded for 2010, will be shot using 3-D and performance capture technology similar to that used for "Beowulf."

Depp's casting deals closed a full day Wednesday at the Kodak Theater, where Walt Disney Studios chairman Dick Cook touted the Mouse's upcoming slate of pics during a showcase event for exhibitors, media and other industry insiders.

Toons provided the company's other big news.

Disney-Pixar's "Cars" has proved such a major moneymaker for the Mouse House that Disney is moving the release of the sequel up a year to summer 2011.

In addition to shifting the date for "Cars 2," studio also announced that it will produce a series of animated short films starring Mater and other characters from the first feature.

Shorts will air on TV, including the Disney Channel, and in theaters in front of films.

"You'll see them everywhere," Cook said. "We're going to keep this 'Cars' thing going."

"Cars," which was released in 2006 and went on to earn $462 million worldwide, has become a runaway hit in merchandise sales for the studio. Pic will also be prominently featured at a revamped California Adventure in Anaheim; "Cars Land," a 12-acre section of the park, opens in 2011. Move of the sequel from 2012 now times it to coincide with the attraction's launch.

Before a full screening of Disney's upcoming toon "Bolt," Cook also touted the studio's commitment to 3-D animation, saying the company has released more pics in the format than any other studio.

Cook even managed a playful jab at DreamWorks Animation's Jeffrey Katzenberg, who has long championed the format and is readying to roll out a slate of 3-D toons.

"I heard that Jeffrey may finally release his first 3-D movie next year," Cook quipped.

Disney has five live-action and animated pics set to unspool in 3-D next year and a slate of 16 in development.

Although several sequences in "Bolt" weren't yet completed, the fast-paced pic, produced by Walt Disney Animation Studios but showing off considerable Pixar touches, played extremely well with the Kodak crowd, with Rhino, a hamster going around on a wheel, generating considerable laughs.

The Walt Disney Studios Showcase has essentially turned into a splashy, ShoWest-like event in Hollywood for the company to parade out stars and screen extended clips for a couple thousand attendees in various sectors of the biz to promote its future projects. Last time it held the showcase was in 2005, also at the Kodak.

In addition to Depp, who took the stage dressed as Jack Sparrow while wearing the Lone Ranger mask, this year's event also featured the cast of "High School Musical" plus Dwayne Johnson, Miley Cyrus, John Travolta and Robin Williams. Adam Sandler appeared in a pretaped sequence with the studio chairman. And Cook even had a conversation with the four-legged star of "Beverly Hills Chihuahua."

Bruckheimer and Nicolas Cage announced a third 'National Treasure.' Although talkshow queen Oprah Winfrey wasn't present, it was announced that she will voice the mother of the princess in hand-drawn toon "The Princess and the Frog," set in New Orleans.

Cook called the upcoming pics for the rest of this year and 2009 "the most creative slate of films in Disney history" and showed sequences from "High School Musical 3: Senior Year," "Bedtime Stories," "Race to Witch Mountain," "Hannah Montana: The Movie," "Old Dogs," "The Princess and the Frog," Robert Zemeckis' "A Christmas Carol" and Pixar's next pic, "Up."

During an intro for "HSM 3," Cook teased that he would sing a song from the first bigscreen installment of the runaway Disney Channel franchise but quickly backtracked.

Disney doubles up on 3-D 'Toy Story'
Animated film, sequel getting released as double feature
Source: Hollywood Reporter

LAS VEGAS -- Disney will release Pixar Animation Studios' "Toy Story" and "Toy Story 2" as a digital 3-D double feature for a two-week engagement starting Oct. 2.

On Tuesday at ShoWest, the studio also wowed show delegates with a preview of "Up" -- which looks poised to be another big hit for Pixar on the heels of its animated feature Oscar for "WALL-E" last month -- and an enthusiastically received new 3-D conversion of 1991 classic "Beauty and the Beast," the only animated feature to receive an Academy Award nomination for best picture.

During a 3-D slate presentation, Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures Group president Mark Zoradi asserted that "3-D is here to stay" and restated the studio's commitment to making quality, commercial 3-D films.

Seventeen Disney-announced titles are scheduled for release in the format, and the studio previously has stated plans to produce all CG animated movies in 3-D.

The 3-D "Toy Story" double feature will include an extra-dimensional trailer for the new "Toy Story 3," which opens June 18, 2010. The 1995 "Toy Story" -- the first computer-animated feature -- and its 1999 sequel have been remastered for the format.

Opening May 29, "Up" is Pixar's 10th animated feature and the first to be released in 3-D. Director Pete Docter introduced a 47-minute preview, which features elderly Carl Fredricksen, voiced by Ed Asner, who ties thousands of helium balloons to his house in order to lift it into the air and journey to South America for retirement. What he doesn't anticipate is that a young Wilderness Explorer named Russell ends up on the trip, which includes such characters as a colorful bird and talking dogs. A second, shorter clip featured Fredricksen and Russell and the hovering house fleeing from the dogs.

During the presentation, Zoradi revealed that Tim Burton's "Alice in Wonderland" will be released in Imax 3-D, as well as standard digital 3-D, when it opens March 5. It is the third film confirmed from a previously announced five-picture deal between Disney and Imax.

Burton's retelling of the Disney classic will combine motion capture, live action and animation. Zoradi presented some concept art, including the look of Johnny Depp's Mad Hatter, who wore an oversized top hat, covering his face; Anne Hathaway's dramatic White Queen; and additional characters including a mischievous gray-and-blue Cheshire Cat.

Disney previewed the just-completed first scene for the converted version of "Beauty," which opens Feb. 12. The clip featured the sequence where Belle goes to town and the villagers join her in the song "Belle." Disney also showed its 3-D conversion of the classic shot of Belle and the Beast dancing beneath the ballroom chandelier.

Next up was a 2-D in-production reel of the Robert Zemeckis' performance-capture retelling of Charles Dickens' "A Christmas Carol," starring Jim Carrey as Ebenezer Scrooge and the three ghosts. It opens Nov. 6. The footage included Scrooge, in CG versions as a young and then aged man; some of the ghosts; and London's streets and such sites as Big Ben.

Presenting a test sequence of "Tron 2.0," Zoradi said the 3-D retelling of the 1982 sci-fi film would enter production in the coming weeks.

As has been widely reported, the economic crisis has stalled the transition to digital cinema, which enables 3-D. But Zoradi said that scenario has not altered his company's plans to produce in the format.

"We are nearly at a critical mass," he said. "We hope we soon will be able to have a 3-D-only (wide) release."

Disney/Pixar launching new studio
Vancouver outfit to draw on existing characters
Source: Hollywood Reporter

Woody and Buzz are heading north.

To accommodate a growing slate of nonfeature projects, Disney and Pixar will launch an animation studio in the fall in Vancouver.

The focus will be on Pixar's legacy characters, including Buzz and Woody from the "Toy Story" films and Lightning McQueen and Mater from "Cars."

"The operation will be small in size and dedicated to producing short-form quality computer animation for theme parks, DVDs, television and theatrical exhibition ... for several different divisions of the Walt Disney Co.," Disney/Pixar president Ed Catmull said.

Amir Nasrabadi, vp operations and finance at DisneyToon Studio, has been tapped as GM of the new facility, and Dylan Brown -- previously a supervising animation director at Pixar, with credits including "Ratatouille" and "Finding Nemo" -- will serve as creative director. Darwyn Peachey moves from technical lead on the 3-D versions of "Toy Story" and "Toy Story 2" to chief technology officer at the Vancouver location.

The trio will report to Ali Rowghani, Disney/Pixar's CFO and senior vp strategic planning.

Pixar GM Jim Morris said he expects the staff to reach 75-100. He added that feature work and all stereoscopic 3-D work will still be done at Pixar's headquarters in Emeryville, Calif.

The move marks the latest company to open a VFX or animation facility in Vancouver. Other residents include Rainmaker, an animation company; CIS Vancouver, a Deluxe-owned VFX business; and Moving Picture Co., a Technicolor-owned VFX facility.

Tax incentives, a local talent base and proximity to Pixar contributed to the decision. Pixar will receive incentives offered for animation production and research and development.

"Canada, and Vancouver specifically, has had terrific tax incentives for this type of work," Morris said. "I think they have a desire to grow this sort of business activity and get a critical mass. This will allow us to do more with the budgets that we have."

He said the intent is to build the studio as a start-up with local talent. "There is a great animation community in Vancouver, as well as postproduction, visual effects and good schools," he added.

Morris said Pixar would step up production of its character-based ancillary content at the new venue.

"We have a somewhat unfulfilled demand," he said. "We wanted to do various things with 'Toy Story' to keep the characters alive. People like to see them somewhat regularly." He pointed to Pixar chief creative officer John Lasseter, who would like to do more with the "Cars" characters.

Pixar has a full slate of upcoming titles -- some sequels and some introducing new characters. "Up," the studio's 10th computer-animated feature and first to release in digital 3-D, opens May 29 and introduces new characters, including elderly Carl Fredricksen and young wilderness explorer Russell.

The 3-D releases of "Toy Story" and "Toy Story 2" bring Woody, Buzz and the toys back to theaters Oct. 2.

Current film projects at Pixar, which employees about 1,000, are the 3-D features "Toy Story 3," "Cars 2," "The Bear and the Bow" and "Newt." The studio also is developing a series of shorts based on the Mater character from "Cars" as well as theme park projects.

We'd Like To See Some Girl Leads, Pixar!
by MTV News

Over at NPR, Linda Holmes wrote an excellent open letter to Pixar asking the esteemed animation studio to make a film about a girl. And not just that, a girl who isn't a princess. Pixar, whose latest flick "UP" is a smash success and possibly surpasses last year's "WALL-E" for sheer awesomeness, is known for its storylines that are equally appealing as family outings or date movies (hey, was that you crying during "WALL-E"? Thought so!). But so far, none of them have a female anything as the lead protagonist — not a robot, not a fish, and certainly not any "girls in Band-Aids," as Holmes described them.

Other sites have responded to her letter with kudos and criticism in equal parts. Cartoon Brew posted an excerpt from Holmes' letter under the header "Dear Pixar, How About a Chick Flick...?" (note the condescending use of "chick flick") and then let its readers go to town tearing apart Holmes and anyone who stuck his or her neck out for non-princess 'toons. (By the way, what's wrong with the occasional chick flick?!)

Dawn Taylor at Cinematical wrote a great response. "Why is it that when women — who make up over half of the species, by the way — respectfully point out that they're underrepresented in movies, it's seen as some sort of angry feminist screed?" It's true! If anything, Holmes was too polite. Why? Because she loves Pixar. And who doesn't? They can't make a bad movie, so it only makes sense to trust them to come up with a great girl-centric flick rather than, say, another Tinkerbell.

So while the haters are off mumbling to themselves in the corner, how about we come up with some ideas for Pixar's next flick? We won't even ask for a consulting fee!

1. The Magnificent Adventures of Weetzie Bat: An adaptation of Francesca Lia Block's first book in the Weetzie Bat series about a fabulously glam gal and her best friend Dirk. A glittery punk rock fairy tale with a complicated heroine would appeal to both the princesses and the punk rockers inside girls of all ages.

2. The Lion-Tamer and the Magician: The world-famous lion tamer Ms. Angela's most prized lioness goes missing when they decamp for a show in Florida, and the only person who can help find her is the psychic (and dreamy!) magician, Mr. Honeybuzzard. They have to search the swamps — watch out for the alligators! (Perfect opportunity for IMAX 3D here, people.)

http://www.npr.org/blogs/monkeysee/2009/06/dear_pixar_from_all_the_girls.html

fucking disgusting.

what's disgusting?

How about some sex and violence pixar?

it's just an attempt at something i'm not a fan of; distracting non-issue bullshit.  it's kind of what i was wanting to talk about regarding to advertising.  Something like this holds zero weight, especially if we're conscience and what the fuck? Every pixar film is pretty rockin'. So, this is all the sudden a misrepresentation or underrepresentation of women?  I mean christ, do we really need pixar raising our children, sure many cartoons contain great morals, but just raise your own fucking children.  Don't let a pixar film dictate something related to reality? I mean, i don't really care. this sounds like something from the npr, it's just I'm not sure where this becomes an issue? Grow "Up"


did i over react?

i don't think mis/under-representation of women is a non-issue. it's fucked up to pretend like our media culture has moved beyond the outmoded gender constructs that comprise patriarchal society. that lady is right: even pixar ain't above it. the female character is usually the 'love interest' or the sidekick - an accessory to the male protagonist. (The Incredibles avoids this trapping to some extent.) i agree that not every movie has to focus on women and i thought it was ridiculous when people/ebert criticized TWBB for its shortage of women. but you can't deny that films, especially "children's films", reflect our cultural notions of gender (and race and class, and lots of other things) in a serious way, and so i think it's certainly an issue worth talking about. 

i think you're overreacting. it's not "disgusting" to critique this sort of thing. nobody slammed Pixar. anyway, a female protagonist in a pixar movie would be awesome. i'm tired of dudes.

Quote from: Björk Guðmundsdóttir beat the shit out of me on June 13, 2009, 08:51:07 AM
i don't think mis/under-representation of women is a non-issue. it's fucked up to pretend like our media culture has moved beyond the outmoded gender constructs that comprise patriarchal society. that lady is right: even pixar ain't above it. the female character is usually the 'love interest' or the sidekick - an accessory to the male protagonist. (The Incredibles avoids this trapping to some extent.) i agree that not every movie has to focus on women and i thought it was ridiculous when people/ebert criticized TWBB for its shortage of women. but you can't deny that films, especially "children's films", reflect our cultural notions of gender (and race and class, and lots of other things) in a serious way, and so i think it's certainly an issue worth talking about. 

i think you're overreacting. it's not "disgusting" to critique this sort of thing. nobody slammed Pixar. anyway, a female protagonist in a pixar movie would be awesome. i'm tired of dudes.

Agreed on all fronts.  Well put.

I am not denying anything about what films have in them.  Talk about it all you like, I just think there is no issue.  I realize it is just an observation, not an attack but as far as this being some sort of "statement" that pertains to real life or society, come on... It is not reality, but Yeah, that's fine, once pixar delivers that female protagonist that is "normal" we shall over come and have equality for all!  That's what the planet is missing, more "average" women protagonists in cartoons.  Baby steps.  My whole life views and belief systems were built from the ideas presented to me in cartoons.  As far as taking this seriously, give me a break. Sit your fucking kids down and have them watch aurthur or something, there is a morally sound show.

I still think your overreacting. The social role aspect of her argument is just an extension of it. Nobody is deploring Pixar at all for their characterizations or even thinking that they have an obligation to better portray women. That would happen if Pixar continually depicted female characters as weak, but they don't at all. In fact, they are the opposite of that. I think the context of the author wanting leading female characters in Pixar movies is akin to someone wanting a specific villian to be the star of a comic book film. The person criticizing the series still loves it and follows every movie with interest, but their one hope is to see a certain villian highlighted. That would make everything perfect for them. I think the author's wish for a leading female would make Pixar perfect to her. It's a personal wish so it isn't a PC grab on her part at all.

This actually makes sense. You're probably right, this woman wants to see this in a Pixar film.  I believe she made that evident, however taking it from a fan boy perspective like you have presented it, I see no reason for the npr to print such a thing. I believe the claim is to "respectfully point out that they're [women] underrepresented in movies" AND it comes off as a femist rant according to one of the womem. i'm trying to say, put as much worth into this kind of idea as you want.  it's clown shoes. In everyone else's defense I'm often  presented with "Awareness doesn't dictate Attitude"  So, i'm still not sure of the whole thing, but i just can't take it seriously. Let me just start over and instead of saying "disgusting" i'll go with "lol" 

This left handed piece glows with a little more assertion than you two are letting on.  An obvious stance can be found here, and like i said the tone isn't exactly neutral, I'm under the impression she's trading a little hostility for attempted humor. Oh well. this whatever is over with.  Personal wish lists published on npr, this is what we're discussing?

Quote from: Neil on June 16, 2009, 09:21:25 AM
AND it comes off as a femist rant according to one of the womem.

what's your beef with feminism?

I'm quoting said article

Quote from: Madonna is a stupid bitch on June 12, 2009, 02:33:56 AM
We'd Like To See Some Girl Leads, Pixar!

"Why is it that when women — who make up over half of the species, by the way — respectfully point out that they're underrepresented in movies, it's seen as some sort of angry feminist screed?"

http://www.npr.org/blogs/monkeysee/2009/06/dear_pixar_from_all_the_girls.html

no problem with feminism, just quoting.

Quote from: Neil on June 16, 2009, 10:00:09 AM
I'm quoting said article

Quote from: Madonna is a stupid bitch on June 12, 2009, 02:33:56 AM
We'd Like To See Some Girl Leads, Pixar!

"Why is it that when women — who make up over half of the species, by the way — respectfully point out that they're underrepresented in movies, it's seen as some sort of angry feminist screed?"

http://www.npr.org/blogs/monkeysee/2009/06/dear_pixar_from_all_the_girls.html

no problem with feminism, just quoting.

haha... you're pointing out a quote that is talking about exactly what you're doing... was this an overly-long meta joke?

are you guys slow?

stop getting so anxious to post a reply and actually read some posts.

no need to be rude, neil. i read your post carefully and i still felt confused by your explanation.

what does this mean?
I believe the claim is to "respectfully point out that they're [women] underrepresented in movies" AND it comes off as a femist rant according to one of the womem.

i didn't agree with GT's position, so i don't know what you mean when you say "this left handed piece glows with a little more assertion than you two are letting on." did you read MY post? i was obviously not just chalking this up to a fanboyish desire to see chicks in Pixar movies. :yabbse-undecided:

Fair enough hedwig.  I am sorry.  Rude was not needed.  I was quoting the piece with the first sentence you give, i just kind of tied them together, those are all the words found in the article, i should have used the quote function.  You are correct though, you and GT weren't saying the same thing at all...I don't really disagree with either, I mean these things exist, but i'm just speaking of the actual importance of them, i believe it is as harmful as one allows it to be, maybe this is my adolescence  speaking though.

Also with the lefty comment, i consider npr to be more leaning towards the liberal side of things. doesn't mean it's accurate, but at any rate i should not have lumped you in there..  I was just frustrated. It happens. Sorry man.

Quote from: MacGuffin on January 24, 2008, 10:22:12 AM
Toy Story Trio Goes 3-D!
Source: Walt Disney Studios

The Walt Disney Studios is taking the latest advances in digital 3-D technology "to infinity and beyond" with ambitious plans to debut new Disney Digital 3-D(TM) versions of Disney-Pixar's Toy Story on October 2nd, 2009, and Toy Story 2 on February 12th, 2010, it was announced by Dick Cook, chairman of The Walt Disney Studios. Both of these beloved animated features are being newly converted to 3-D in advance of the June 18th, 2010 release of Disney-Pixar's Toy Story 3, which is being produced as a 3-D motion picture and will represent the state-of-the-art for the genre. Veteran Pixar filmmaker Lee Unkrich (co-director Toy Story 2) is directing.

Academy Award®-winning filmmaker John Lasseter (director of the first two "Toy Story" films and chief creative officer for Disney and Pixar Animation Studios) will personally oversee the creative side of the 3-D conversions for Toy Story and Toy Story 2 with his acclaimed team of technical wizards handling all the necessary steps in the conversion process.

Commenting on the announcement, Cook said, "We are committed to bringing moviegoers the best and most exciting 3-D movie experience, and we think they're going to love seeing Buzz Lightyear, Woody, and all the wonderful 'Toy Story' cast of characters in an eye popping and dazzling way. John Lasseter and the animation team are putting all their passion and hard work into making this the greatest 3-D experience yet, and we're excited to share their efforts with audiences everywhere."

Lasseter added, "The 'Toy Story' films and characters will always hold a very special place in our hearts and we're so excited to be bringing this landmark film back for audiences to enjoy in a whole new way thanks to the latest in 3-D technology. I am sure that this is going to be nothing short of fantastic and people are going to be blown away by the experience. With 'Toy Story 3' shaping up to be another great adventure for Buzz, Woody and the gang from Andy's room, we thought it would be great to let audiences experience the first two films all over again and in a brand new way. 3-D offers lots of great new possibilities for the art of animation and we will continue to use this new technology to tell our stories in the best possible way."

In converting Toy Story and Toy Story 2 to state-of-the-art 3-D films, the technical team is retrieving all of the original digital elements and rebuilding them in 3-D.

Originally released by Walt Disney Pictures in 1995, Toy Story was the first feature film from Pixar Animation Studios and director John Lasseter. The film went on to receive Oscar® nominations for Original Score, Original Song, and Screenplay, and earned Lasseter a Special Achievement Award "for the development and inspired application of techniques that have made possible the first feature-length computer-animated film." Toy Story 2 was released in 1999, and reunited voice talents Tom Hanks and Tim Allen, in their roles as Woody and Buzz. The film became one of the most popular animated features of all time, and received an Academy Award® nomination for Original Song.

Trailer here. (http://movies.yahoo.com/movie/1800247298/video/14761184)

Disney to buy Marvel for $4 billion
Stock and cash deal to combine character library
Source: Hollywood Reporter

Mickey and Donald, meet Spider-Man!

Disney is purchasing Marvel for $4 billion. Disney said Monday that it will acquire the superhero factory in a cash and stock transaction that values each share of Marvel at $50, a 29% premium to where the stock closed Friday.

Disney will discuss the proposed transaction, which still needs regulatory approval, later Monday, when the companies will detail the fallout -- if any -- the merger will have on several films that Marvel's own studio has in the works based on characters such as Iron Man, Thor and Captain America.

"We'll take a look and see, but the bottom line is we like what they've been doing so far," Disney CFO Tom Staggs told The Hollywood Reporter.

Disney said it will pay $30 in cash plus about three-quarters of a Disney share for each share of Marvel. The payment consideration will fluctuate depending on the price of Disney shares so that not less than 40% of the price tag will consist of Disney stock.

"Disney stock is attractively priced and that's why it's important to Marvel," said Staggs.

Disney acquires ownership of 5,000 Marvel characters to be overseen by Marvel CEO Ike Perlmutter, who is charged with cherry-picking when and where they'll show up within Disney's vast empire, including online and in video games.

The move marks the second largest acquisition since Bob Iger replaced Michael Eisner as CEO of Disney and quickly purchased Pixar for $7 billion.

"We believe that adding Marvel to Disney's unique portfolio of brands provides significant opportunities for long-term growth and value creation," Iger said.

"Disney is the perfect home for Marvel's fantastic library of characters given its proven ability to expand content creation and licensing businesses," Perlmutter said. "This is an unparalleled opportunity for Marvel to build upon its vibrant brand and character properties by accessing Disney's tremendous global organization and infrastructure around the world."

In a conference call Monday morning, Iger said the deal should close by year's end.

He called the Marvel integration an opportunity similar to the $7 billion acquisition of Pixar a few years ago, saying the combined assets will be more valuable than its separate parts. And Iger pointed to the global and cross-platform appeal of Marvel's characters as key opportunities in his second-biggest acquisition at Disney that are even more important in "a world of increasing consumer choice."

Iger said though that longer-term Disney wants to be the exclusive distributor of Marvel films. While the company respects and will honor Marvel's third-party licensing deals with Paramount, Fox and Sony, "it clearly would be in our best interest if we ended up as the sole distributor," he said. "When you distribute your own films, the opportunity is even better."

The Paramount deal, for example, contemplates another five more pictures and will then be reviewed, Staggs said.

Asked about potential Pixar-Marvel synergies, Iger said Disney executives have had some conversations internally, and Pixar creative guru John Lasseter has met with Marvel folks as well. "The group got pretty excited pretty fast," Iger said, adding he expects exciting collaboration opportunities. "Sparks will fly," he said.

Staggs said the Marvel deal will dilute Disney's earnings in the mid-single-digit range in fiscal 2010. He projected it should add to earnings by fiscal 2012.

Miller Tabak analyst David Joyce called the deal a "good move" for Disney, even though it "should put some near-term risk arbitration pressure on it."

He pointed out that the Pixar acquisition a few years ago worked out well for Disney under Iger's leadership.

"Disney already knows how to monetize characters across multiple platforms, and now it has 5,000 (Marvel) characters to apply its success to," Joyce said. "It helps give Disney a new, rational area to expand its exposure to younger audiences, especially boys, in which Disney had lost some balance in recent years." Iger said more Marvel content will, for example, be seen on the boys-centric Disney XD channel.

does this mean we won't see anymore movies as wonderfully violent as The Punisher: War Zone?

Quote from: squints on August 31, 2009, 04:36:10 PM
does this mean we won't see anymore movies as wonderfully violent as The Punisher: War Zone?

No, it means that we're going to see wonderfully violent new titles like Toy Story 4: War Zone.

Quote from: Reinhold on August 31, 2009, 07:29:02 PM

Quote from: squints on August 31, 2009, 04:36:10 PM
does this mean we won't see anymore movies as wonderfully violent as The Punisher: War Zone?

No, it means that we're going to see wonderfully violent new titles like Toy Story 4: War Zone.

(https://xixax.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.blogcdn.com%2Fwww.cinematical.com%2Fmedia%2F2009%2F09%2Fwolviemickey2.jpg&hash=72497bba1c383542b2fd1e1aeb3a4bc531f7549d)

^^ haha, that was fast.

Quote from: Fernando on September 01, 2009, 03:48:33 PM

Quote from: MacGuffin on September 01, 2009, 12:07:45 PM
(https://xixax.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.blogcdn.com%2Fwww.cinematical.com%2Fmedia%2F2009%2F09%2Fwolviemickey2.jpg&hash=72497bba1c383542b2fd1e1aeb3a4bc531f7549d)

^^ haha, that was fast.

No, it was drawn a long time ago and stored in The Fortress of Inevitability.

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With Cook Gone Is "Pirates 4" In Jeopardy?
By Garth Franklin
Source: Dark Horizons
Monday September 21st 2009


With Dick Cook's shock departure on Friday after seven years as chairman of The Walt Disney Studios, the lingering aftershocks have yet to really have an impact though rumors have been running rampant even as the juicy details have yet to really emerge.

The news broke on Friday afternoon and was quickly followed by official statements from both Cook and Disney President and CEO Bob Iger which essentially said nothing beyond PR-approved empty platitudes.

Earlier this year it was reported that Iger blamed Disney's film division, specifically it's live-action efforts, for the company's severe drop in operating income due to less than expected returns on Disney's disappointing Holiday 2008/Early 2009 film line-up. That line-up included such low-to-moderate performing titles as "Bedtime Stories," "Race to Witch Mountain," "Confessions of a Shopaholic," "Earth" and the Jonas Brothers 3D concert movie. The studio has had success since with "Up," "The Proposal" and the "Hannah Montana" movie all doing well above expectations.

The loss of Cook however, generally considered of the most popular executives in the industry and a veteran with nearly four decades of experience at the studio, has not played well. In fact speculation has quickly begun to spread that many of the studio's upcoming projects and promising relationships are now on questionable, if not outright shaky ground.

For example is an LA Times interview with Johnny Depp about Cook's departure. Depp says his enthusiasm to be a part of a fourth "Pirates" movie has waned with the news of Cook's exit. "There's a fissure, a crack in my enthusiasm at the moment" says Depp who claims one of the big reasons he committed to the film was Cook's involvement.

Cook himself was one of the key reasons why Depp's Jack Sparrow performance in the first 'Pirates' remained intact as many in the studio expected a more toned down and atypical pirate-like interpretation. Cook is also allegedly one of the big reasons behind Steven Spielberg and Stacey Snider's Dreamworks/Disney deal and so Iger will likely fill Cook's now empty position with someone who'll try to keep the Dreamworks relationship strong.

first of all, fuck pirates of the carribean.

secondly, i'm sure johnny "needs a new pair of diamond shoes" depp is just using this old fart as an excuse to get out of this soul-destroying franchise. isn't verbinski out already? i can't wait for all franchises to end.

anyway, those pics above are amazing. the best one is Carl Fredricksen hulking out.