Talks between Pixar Animation Studios and The Walt Disney Company to extend their partnership failed today in what must be a real bummer for Disney stockholders, and yet another glaring indication that Disney CEO Michael Eisner is mismanaging the company into the ground. Pixar Animation Studios are the guys responsible for such computer-generated animation blockbusters as Toy Story, Toy Story 2, A Bug’s Life, Monsters Inc, and Finding Nemo (the number one animated film of all time). Pixar’s five films combined collected a sweet $2.5 billion in box office sales with a staggering 150 million DVDs/videos sold.
Pixar is currently working on 2 films it owes Disney in their contract. but is also working on other films such as the highly anticipated Toy Story 3.
Disney, who just closed their Orlando, Florida animation studio is not currently working on any traditionally animated films. They plan to bring a few in-house computer-animated films to the screen in 2005 and 2006 and also announced plans to make a third Toy Story movie without Pixar.
It seems to be that Disney, who long held the monopoly on animated feature films, is about to become taken by force, as Pixar, DreamWorks, Blue Sky Studios and Warner Bros. are about to declare Disney “the weakest link.”
Yahoo! News: Pixar, Disney Partnership Talks Collapse
CNNmoney: Pixar dumps Disney
(Thanks to CTH for the heads up. edit: and for clearing up who is making Toy Story 3. For some reason I saw “the company” in the article and thought Pixar. Of course Disney will retain all rights to Toy Story. )
That is truly unfortunate. I know the quality films that Pixar produces and completely trust them to be family friendly. They have a perfect batting record so far and there is no indication that things are going to change.
Disney, on the other hand, is a company whose reputation is in free-fall. It is unfortunate for Pixar that Disney will make TS3 without them – because most people feel it is really a Pixar franchise.
If I were Pixar, I would advertise heavily that TS3 is not their product near the time it finally comes out. I’m anticipating good initial numbers based on Pixar’s reputation but the film will eventually bomb.
It really is unfortunate. Kids see that little bouncy lamp logo/intro on Pixar movies and immediately know what they’re in for. Even very little kids see it and go “That’s the Buzz Lightyear one!” They have become known very quickly for the high quality of their productions, and for the lovability of their characters. Most of their films have had cameos of characters for their earlier films. But from 2005 on, they are going to have to start anew.
I really think Pixar did a lot to bring Disney up, not just in terms of stock prices, but in terms of artistic and moral quality. Without Pixar, Disney really has nothing to offer in terms of quality family entertainment. Sure, they’re going to have their in-house computer animated films, but if their recent animated track record is any indication, these are neither going to be “quality” nor “family friendly.”