LOS ANGELES, Nov. 16 (Xinhuanet) -- The Walt Disney Studios is proceeding with a project to make "Toy Story 3," a move tha could degenerate its already rocky relationship with Pixar Animation Studios, the Hollywood Reporter reported Tuesday. Disney is in the process of setting up a digital animation facility in Los Angeles that will be used for the production of "Toy Story 3," the report said.
Under the old deal between Disney and Pixar, Disney has the right to do sequels to "Toy Story." Disney has held off from doing so in the past, in part in deference to Pixar CEO Steve Jobs and executive Vice President John Lasseter, both of whom refused to lose control of the characters.
But with Pixar announcing earlier this year that it would end its distribution relationship with Disney following the 2005 release of the Lasseter-directed "Cars," Disney CEO Michael Eisner and studio head ________ Cook have signaled their determination to make the second sequel to "Toy Story" franchise.
Pixar decided to terminate its partnership with Disney after itfailed to persuade the latter to share more benefits from future animation projects.
The "Toy Story 3" project was led by David Stainton, president of Walt Disney Feature Animation. Andrew Millstein, who headed thecompany's now-shuttered animation facility in Orlando in Florida, has begun the process of recruiting animation heavyweights from rival animation studios and effects shops.
The Disney-Pixar partnership has been the most successful in Hollywood history of animation movie-making, which has produced two "Toy Story" movies, "A Bug's Life," "Monsters Inc.," "FindingNemo" and the latest hit "The Incredibles," all of them has achieved huge box office success.
I find this rather underhanded. Disney didn't come up with Toy Story. And while I understand that their agreement allows Disney the discretion to make sequels to Pixar properties, it's still really, really dirty.Under the old deal between Disney and Pixar, Disney has the right to do sequels to "Toy Story." Disney has held off from doing so in the past, in part in deference to Pixar CEO Steve Jobs and executive Vice President John Lasseter, both of whom refused to lose control of the characters.
But with Pixar announcing earlier this year that it would end its distribution relationship with Disney following the 2005 release of the Lasseter-directed "Cars," Disney CEO Michael Eisner and studio head ________ Cook have signaled their determination to make the second sequel to "Toy Story" franchise.
Pixar decided to terminate its partnership with Disney after itfailed to persuade the latter to share more benefits from future animation projects.
The "Toy Story 3" project was led by David Stainton, president of Walt Disney Feature Animation. Andrew Millstein, who headed thecompany's now-shuttered animation facility in Orlando in Florida, has begun the process of recruiting animation heavyweights from rival animation studios and effects shops.
The Disney-Pixar partnership has been the most successful in Hollywood history of animation movie-making, which has produced two "Toy Story" movies, "A Bug's Life," "Monsters Inc.," "FindingNemo" and the latest hit "The Incredibles," all of them has achieved huge box office success.
Disney to proceed without Pixar
Weeks after Tom Hanks said he would consider doing Toy Story 3 for Disney without Pixar depending on the creative team, Tim Allen came right out and said he absolutely would do Toy Story 3 under those circumstances, assuming Disney finds a replacement as good as the Pixar team. Should Disney and Pixar split, Disney would own the franchises Pixar created under their distribution deal, including Toy Story and The Incredibles. “I think I’m totally reliant on whether they have a script, because I’m not really beholden to anybody on that [issue],” Allen said. “I would trust them to do it mechanically, they can recreate those characters. But if they can get the magic that Pixar had, then I don't think anybody’s going to complain about it.”
Pixar board of directors member, and Allen’s Christmas with the Kranks director Joe Roth does not think it’s possible to maintain the integrity of Toy Story without Pixar. <script>zSB(3,3);if(!z336){var zIsb=gEI("adsb");if(zIsb){zIsb.style.display="inline";zIsb.style.height="0px";zIsb.style.width="0px";}var zIss=gEI("adss");if(zIss){zIss.style.display="inline";zIss.style.height="0px";zIss.style.width="0px";}}</script>
“They don’t have people that are nearly talented enough to do them,” Roth said. “I wouldn’t call that compromise. If I put you up against a 300 lb. Lineman from the New York Giants, I wouldn’t call that compromise, I’d call that slaughter. So comparing John Lasseter, Brad Bird and Pete Doctor to somebody being farmed out of Toronto doing a made for video… these are things that are not made by legions of people. These things are made by artists. Four or five people at Pixar up there who are the creative heads are Picasso to Wal Mart. So I think it’s more than an accident that these movies are as good as they are and as successful as they are. So no, I don't think a machine shop can do work on the Cistene Chapel.’ And Roth is not alone in this assessment. “I think they’re suggesting it,” he continued. “Didn’t Bob Eiger say in an interview in London that Disney was a difficult place for creative people to come to and for creative works to come to the surface? This is not an anti-Disney conversation. This is simply recognizing what Pixar really is, which sometimes it takes people distance to see it. But John Lasseter is as talented as anybody in the storytelling business right now.”
But neither Allen nor Roth have ruled out a reconciliation between Disney and Pixar. “I wouldn’t throw out the reunification of those companies though,” Allen said, “From where I sit, it’s a really good marriage that had a rocky period. I don't think there’s anybody that’s better suited for each other. All the people I still love at Disney, love and admire the bright people of [Pixar]. There’s so much attraction and affection between those two companies.”
Roth concurred. “I wouldn’t rule it out either. Just wait and see who the magic is.” However, Roth implied that Warner Brothers is a strong contender to take over the deal, despite Steve Jobs’ antagonistic comments about The Incredibles beating Warners’ The Polar Express at the box office. “Believe me, I think if Warner Brothers had the opportunity to be the distributor of Pixar in the future, they would probably forgive the statement,” Roth said. “I think they’re considering everything, but I think it’s fair to say Warner Brothers is certainly one of the studios in the forefront.”
I hope that all this nastiness can be overcome. It's no secret that I personally believe the Pixar-Disney marriage has been one of the best collaborations ever. Pixar is amazing and provides Disney with box office hits which creates characters, merchandise and rides. It's win-win. Disney needs to recognize that and give Pixar credit where credit is due.Weeks after Tom Hanks said he would consider doing Toy Story 3 for Disney without Pixar depending on the creative team, Tim Allen came right out and said he absolutely would do Toy Story 3 under those circumstances, assuming Disney finds a replacement as good as the Pixar team. Should Disney and Pixar split, Disney would own the franchises Pixar created under their distribution deal, including Toy Story and The Incredibles. “I think I’m totally reliant on whether they have a script, because I’m not really beholden to anybody on that [issue],” Allen said. “I would trust them to do it mechanically, they can recreate those characters. But if they can get the magic that Pixar had, then I don't think anybody’s going to complain about it.”
Pixar board of directors member, and Allen’s Christmas with the Kranks director Joe Roth does not think it’s possible to maintain the integrity of Toy Story without Pixar. <script>zSB(3,3);if(!z336){var zIsb=gEI("adsb");if(zIsb){zIsb.style.display="inline";zIsb.style.height="0px";zIsb.style.width="0px";}var zIss=gEI("adss");if(zIss){zIss.style.display="inline";zIss.style.height="0px";zIss.style.width="0px";}}</script>
“They don’t have people that are nearly talented enough to do them,” Roth said. “I wouldn’t call that compromise. If I put you up against a 300 lb. Lineman from the New York Giants, I wouldn’t call that compromise, I’d call that slaughter. So comparing John Lasseter, Brad Bird and Pete Doctor to somebody being farmed out of Toronto doing a made for video… these are things that are not made by legions of people. These things are made by artists. Four or five people at Pixar up there who are the creative heads are Picasso to Wal Mart. So I think it’s more than an accident that these movies are as good as they are and as successful as they are. So no, I don't think a machine shop can do work on the Cistene Chapel.’ And Roth is not alone in this assessment. “I think they’re suggesting it,” he continued. “Didn’t Bob Eiger say in an interview in London that Disney was a difficult place for creative people to come to and for creative works to come to the surface? This is not an anti-Disney conversation. This is simply recognizing what Pixar really is, which sometimes it takes people distance to see it. But John Lasseter is as talented as anybody in the storytelling business right now.”
But neither Allen nor Roth have ruled out a reconciliation between Disney and Pixar. “I wouldn’t throw out the reunification of those companies though,” Allen said, “From where I sit, it’s a really good marriage that had a rocky period. I don't think there’s anybody that’s better suited for each other. All the people I still love at Disney, love and admire the bright people of [Pixar]. There’s so much attraction and affection between those two companies.”
Roth concurred. “I wouldn’t rule it out either. Just wait and see who the magic is.” However, Roth implied that Warner Brothers is a strong contender to take over the deal, despite Steve Jobs’ antagonistic comments about The Incredibles beating Warners’ The Polar Express at the box office. “Believe me, I think if Warner Brothers had the opportunity to be the distributor of Pixar in the future, they would probably forgive the statement,” Roth said. “I think they’re considering everything, but I think it’s fair to say Warner Brothers is certainly one of the studios in the forefront.”
-m
