Disney Buys Pixar
 

Whoa... one of my animation posse just sent me an email...

"It's beginning to look official. Britain's TELEGRAPH is reporting today that Pixar's board will meet on Monday to approve Disney's $7 billion takeover bid. The deal would make Steve Jobs the single largest Disney shareholder. It's a little too early to begin discussing the implications of what all this means, but this is truly as massive a shakeup in the animation world as could be imagined. At this point, it's easy to see it going either way: either Lasseter and company will shine their creative light upon Disney helping to revitalize the Mouse's slumbering animation division or Disney's corporate bureaucracy will drag down Pixar with it and we'll enter a new era of films like THE INCREDIBLES MEET WOODY AND BUZZ. One thing is for certain: there's going to be a hell of a lot to talk about on the Brew here in 2006."

taken from http://www.cartoonbrew.com/

You can read more about the situation here.

EDIT:
It's kinda interesting, the thing btwn Disney and Pixar. My impression, hearing from Mr. Ranft, was that most people at Pixar like Disney because of its distribution powers. At least he was hoping that Pixar would stay hookd up with the Mouse. I think the main scuffle was over money. And possibly Eisner. But yeah... other than that, Disney is not a bad partner to have for marketing and distribution of films.

Oh dear... I thought that Pixar didn't want anything to DO with Disney... tho I kinda figured it was a thing against Eisner.

*shakes head* Walt must be rolling in his grave by now...

More like somersaulting.:ohwell:

Anyway, I guess this is a good deal as long as they make the right choices.

I just hope Pixar can maintain quality, and just kinda "use" Disney for their distribution.

I'd love to see Pixar actually influence Disney's writers after the merge. I mean pixars CGI is amazing but what really stands out to me about their movies is the story. Hopefully the guys from Pixar can influence Disney to stop making retarded sequels to movies that were never intended to have a sequel and come up w/ something original. Disney's storytelling and character creation is what got them to where they are today and they really need to return to their roots. With good classic writing behind their movies.

Ew, this news is absolutely awful. I hate Disney, and Pixar will never really get to do a more mature movie like I thought they were going to do. I was so excited when they said they were gonna break free of Disney.:x

Every time I watch the "Cars" trailer I have my doubts about that... :|

Well... Joe Ranft seemed genuinely proud of the latest project, even given the Chevron-esque subject matter. It won't be just about cars and racing, more like hot new whippersnapper shining red car ends up stranded with a bunch of "uncool" jalopies -- it's probably going to adress something profound. I thought Monsters Inc and Finding Nemo were going to be flops, judging by their trailers. What matters most is how they handle that subject matter.

Since Steve Jobs will become the largest shareholder, and he seems to make fairly wise decisions in management, maybe he'll have more say in the traditional animation department -- like with Pixar, he could help recruit people with real talent, or at least give creative authority to those who deserve it.:)

IT'S OFFICIAL!!!!

You can read the details here

OR here is a smaller version with some of my favorite bits of info:D :



* Ed Catmull Named President of the Combined Pixar and Disney Animation Studios and John Lasseter Named Chief Creative Officer; Steve Jobs to Join Disney's Board of Directors
* Disney Increases Stock Repurchase Authorization

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

"Pixar's culture of collaboration and innovation has its roots in Disney Animation. Our story and production processes are derivatives of the Walt Disney `school' of animated filmmaking," said Dr. Catmull. "Just like the Disney classics, Pixar's films are made for family audiences the world over and, most importantly, for the child in everyone. We can think of nothing better for us than to continue to make great movies with Disney."

The acquisition brings to Disney the talented creative teams behind the tremendously popular original Pixar blockbusters, who will now be involved in the nurturing and future development of these properties, including potential feature animation sequels. Pixar's 20-year unrivaled creative track record includes the hits Toy Story, Toy Story 2, A Bug's Life, Monsters, Inc., Finding Nemo and The Incredibles. Disney will also have increased ability to fully capitalize on Pixar-created characters and franchises on high-growth digital platforms such as video games, broadband and wireless, as well as traditional media outlets, including theme parks, consumer products and live stage plays.

"For many of us at Pixar, it was the magic of Disney that influenced us to pursue our dreams of becoming animators, artists, storytellers and filmmakers," said Lasseter. "For 20 years we have created our films in the manner inspired by Walt Disney and the great Disney animators -- great stories and characters in an environment made richer by technical advances. It is exciting to continue in this tradition with Disney, the studio that started it all."



YE-HE-HESSSS!!!!! *peanutbutterjelly dance!!*

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!

Farewell quality Pixar animation. Hello whored out Mickey Mouse movies. Disney now has the ability to basically force them to develop sh*t off of their established properties. Thus marks the end of original ideas, something Pixar was known for, and one of the few left who cared.

Also, now there is nothing between them and the dreaded illness we call "Disney Sequel-itis".

Here come the mindless sequels. Ladies and gentlemen, Pixar is dead. Fu*k you Disney.

Criminy...:blanksta:

This is relatively GOOD news.

Did you even read the article?

*wonders if there's the slightest chance of Hand-drawn animation possibly making a return*


I guess I'll just have to wish upon a star... ;)

Yeah, I read the PR crap they put in the statement.

In other words, Pixar is going to be making Disney based movies rather than original creations, and you can kiss the Pixar name goodbye as Disney loved to permote themselves. As I said, it sucks ass. The pixar I knew just died and became another branch to farm out Disney sequels. Now they're just going to be really pretty sequels. This sh*t happens in the gaming industry all the time. They're doomed.

...Except that John Lasseter is gonna be "chief of animation" at Disney. And some other high-ups are taking important postions.
So really... the head guys of Pixar are gonna be running the animation unit. And there's talk that they want to do something in 2D, eventually.

I think life is good. :cool:

"Read" -- but taken way out of context.:roll:

EXACTLY. The point that a few are missing is that PIXAR COULD RESTORE TO DISNEY the very elements that have been lacking for several years now. I think the people over at Disney are a mite concerned about the quality of their films -- on the other hand, PIXAR has obviously been doing something right, namely in... just about everything. Yeah, money's a part of it. But I have a feeling they're plenty sick of the over-marketing low-quality bull feces that has been excreted over the past years. Deep down, enough of the guys in charge probably do care about the integrity of Disney and the hand-drawn animated feature. Pixar can help revive it. From what I can see, these are the first steps towards sanity, and possibly, a restoration of one of the most beautiful art forms in existence.

As much as I like Pixers movies and enjoyed Disney, I feel Disney is buying them because thelack of movies they themselves are making. I mean all disney is making is sequels and trilogies, Well more power to Disney then. Pretty soon Disney will own everything and become owned by owning Walmart:lol:

Still it's a good move I guess.

Well, if Jobs becomes/is the majority share holder, depending on his percentage, he can basically have his say with Disney.

Too bad the guy who came up with all of the original concepts for the Pixar movies recently died.

And only two weeks after I met him...:o :( He was so awesome...

Actually, Joe didn't come up with ALL of the ideas, definitely not single-handedly. Teamwork and the input of many others has long been the formula at Pixar (until Brad Bird... who was much more, assertive in how things should be). Joe was definitely part of that original "rat pack" at Pixar. He is an amazing story-board artist. Crazy. He looked like a cross between my dad and George Lucas. And he was really, really tall. And really, really nice. ... :cry: Had a wife and kid and... ARGH. Heimlech! Wheezy! WHY? WHY??!!

...:( But you're right. He was father to many of the brilliant, creative gags we love so much in those movies.

I did not take it out of context. Quit acting like my opinion is retarded or something Fledermaus.