CNN/Money reports here, that Steve Jobs “would be open to a sale of the company at the right price”.
Jobs who owns 50% of Pixar, has given an offer to “two people with knowledge of the talks” now taking place between Disney and Pixar about possibly extending their partnership.
But Disney hasn’t yet accepted the deal. Disney is hoping that their first CG animated film, “Chicken Little”, which opens this weekend in theatres will gain them greater leaverage over Pixar and Jobs. If “Chicken Little” is a hit, it has been said that it will show Disney that they do not need Pixar to create for them CG hits, which Pixar has been giving out since 1995.
“The Times reports that detailed negotiations between Disney and Pixar are likely to begin in mid-November and could be wrapped up by late December or early January, said one of the paper’s sources. The studios have several issues to grapple with, according to the paper, including who would have creative oversight over new Pixar characters at Disney theme parks and how revenue from rides and other attractions would be split.” says CNN/Money.
What are your thoughts on this matter? Use the comments link below to have your say.
Images Courtesy of CNN/Money
Last modified: November 1, 2005
So, from the sounds of things, it seems as if Disney is going to try to use Pixar as a backup plan if they fail.
It seems that Chicken Little will be very successful because Disney is making SURE everyone knows about it. Chicken Little is their ‘Pixar-killer’ but it doesn’t seem like they will have that kind of dedication to all of their films.
When you release a film every 2-3 years, you make sure it is good and you make sure people know about it. This seems not to be the case when it comes to Disney. They released their first CG film, Valiant, but then it was quickly shoved out of the spotlight when Chicken Little was done.
How many ‘Valiants’ will we end up seeing before we see another classic?
What really scares me about this rumor is that it makes a lot of sense. Pixar wants too much money out of a new distribution deal – Disney wants too many rights out of the properties they create. If Pixar is bought out, the money is a non-issue and Disney can crank out character based stuff for the parks and sequels and so on. Steve doesn’t even collect a salary at Pixar, Apple is where all his mojo is. That’s where he’s the rockstar.
I can completely understand this being a valid end game to their long squabble.
But it’s terrifying. Disney today is nowhere close to the Disney everyone associates with the Disney name. Walt. The old classics. Hell, even the early Eisner era successes at the box office. Disney puts the stock price above all else now, just like any old regular company. Creativity, _quality_, and entertaining people take a far back seat. Imagineer budgets and staff continue to get slaughtered; cheap sequels continue to sully the names of the true Disney classics.
As I’m sure you’re aware if you’re here, when Disney tried to provide ‘notes’ on the progressing development of Toy Story (and Pixar listened) they just about destroyed it. It was only after they decided to throw all the ‘advice’ they got from Disney out the window and fix it that it worked.
I hope this rumor isn’t true. Disney will destroy the fun and creativity that fuel the success of Pixar.
Don’t get me wrong, though, I’m not a Disney hater. They’ve gone very far astray lately, but I do hope they come around someday. I do still love the good things they’ve done in the past. I just don’t think where they’re at right now is any good for Pixar at all.