How a fired Disney animator helped build the world's most successful animation empire
In short: John Lasseter was dismissed from Disney for championing computer animation, a technology the studio deemed unviable. He pivoted to Lucasfilm, where he helped pioneer CGI. His subsequent return to Disney—via its acquisition of Pixar—transformed the industry, leading to a string of billion-dollar hits and a new animation paradigm.
Lasseter’s career began at Disney in 1979, but his enthusiasm for computer-generated imagery (CGI) clashed with the studio's traditional methods. After his project, a test based on Where the Wild Things Are, was canceled, he was fired in 1984. He soon joined the Lucasfilm Computer Graphics Group, where he collaborated with Ed Catmull and Alvy Ray Smith. Their work on the short The Adventures of André & Wally B. proved that character animation could be achieved entirely through computers, a breakthrough that defied contemporary industry skepticism.
The Lucasfilm group was spun off into Pixar in 1986, with Steve Jobs as the majority shareholder. Under Lasseter’s creative leadership, Pixar produced Toy Story in 1995, the first-ever computer-animated feature film. His influence grew significantly when Disney purchased Pixar in 2006. Lasseter was named chief creative officer of both Pixar and Walt Disney Animation Studios, overseeing a massive portfolio that has grossed over US$19 billion. He personally directed major films including Toy Story, A Bug's Life, and Cars, while executive-producing blockbusters like Frozen and Zootopia.
Lasseter’s tenure at Disney ended in 2018 following allegations of sexual misconduct, which he acknowledged as missteps that made colleagues feel uncomfortable. He subsequently joined Skydance Animation in 2019 to lead its creative division. Despite the controversy, his career remains defined by his early recognition of CGI's potential to add depth to animation—a vision he pursued from his days as a CalArts student inspired by Disney’s Nine Old Men to his role as a global industry titan.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: John Lasseter
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