Films/DVD Asylum

Posted by ephemere (A) on May 28, 2004 at 09:52:11

In Reply to: Disney Pixar posted by Bambi B on May 28, 2004 at 07:34:52:

Dreamworks, a private company, bought Pacific Data Images (PDI), another private company, in the 1990s to make 3D CG animated movies for them. So far, Dreamworks/PDI in northern California has made Antz, Shrek, and Shrek 2. Dreamworks is also currently producing Shark Tale, their first 3D CG animated film without PDI. This is happening in southern California. Dreamworks animation is headed up by Jeffrey Katzenberg, who left Disney in the mid-1990s under terms that were not altogether friendly and loving, hence the jabs at Disney in the Shrek franchise and so forth. From what I read in the news, Dreamworks is considering having PDI go public.

Disney, a public company, and Pixar, another public company, have had an evolving business arrangement since the early 1990s in which Pixar will produce and deliver a series of films. So far, Pixar has delivered five films: Toy Story, A Bug's Life, Toy Story 2, Monsters Inc., and Finding Nemo. Pixar is currently working on the final two films under the agreement, The Incredibles and Cars. The economic collaboration between Pixar and Disney is specified in the contract; but creatively, Pixar's films originate and are produced completely within the confines of their studio in northern California. It is interesting that you say Pixar reminds you of the young Lucas, because Pixar was in fact the young Lucas's CG division before he sold it to Steve Jobs in the early 1980s. Pixar had an interesting early history that I won't go into.