The dynamic duo behind Pixar's big success -- SFGate, 2006-01-29

[Andrew]

The dynamic duo behind Pixar's big success -- SFGate

In buying Pixar Animation Studios last week for $7.4 billion, Walt Disney Co. picked up the dynamic duo of Lasseter and Catmull, a powerful partnership that has thrived for more than two decades and has been the driving force propelling Pixar to infinity and beyond.

Sure, Pixar Chief Executive Officer Steve Jobs, who is also the head of Apple Computer Inc., is widely recognized as the high-tech visionary who pulled off the coup.

But it has largely been Lasseter, the creative spirit behind Pixar, based in Emeryville, and Catmull, Pixar's president and chief technical whiz, who have together led the company to produce six straight blockbusters, including "Toy Story," "Finding Nemo" and "The Incredibles." The films have altogether raked in more than $3.2 billion in ticket sales.

[Opus1guy]

Of course, it's always been Disney all along for Lasseter, who once worked at Disneyland as a sweeper and on the Jungle Book ride.

Gosh, how I miss the old Jungle Book ride.