Today's Events: Walt Disney Purchases Giant Pixar Animation Studio

Illustration of Walt Disney office (Wikimedia Common)

JAKARTA - On January 24, 2006, history recorded one of the largest purchases of an animation studio by a production house. Pixar is a giant animation studio in the world of animated films that has produced various famous cartoon films such as Toy Story, A Bug's Life, Monster, Inc, Finding Nemo, and The Incredibles. Pixar's trend of success led to the famous production house, the Walt Disney Company, fully purchased the animation studio for 7.4 billion US dollars.

Previously, quoted by History, Disney and Pixar have collaborated in making animated films. Pixar animation alone has won 19 Academy Awards and grossed over $ 3 billion at the box office. The Toy Story film was noted as Pixar's first animated film to apply computer technology and new standards in the world of world animation.

At the same time, Disney with more traditional animated films also celebrating successes including Lilo & Stitch and Home on the Range. Attempts to use computers in animation were only made with the film Chicken Little in 2005. However, the film's success did not come close to the success of The Incredibles, which grossed US $ 200 million domestically and won the Academy Awards.

However, in January 2004, Pixar and Disney's relationship deteriorated after Pixar CEO and Apple founder Steve Jobs clashed with Disney CEO Michael Eisner. As a result of the clash, Michael Eisner lost his position after receiving 45 percent of the distrust vote from Walt Disney Company shareholders.

Eisner resigned in September 2005 and was replaced by company president, Robert Iger. To improve the trust of the board of directors, Iger improved the relationship with Pixar. One of the most successful collaborations that Disney-Pixar has undertaken in the aftermath of its relationship is the creation of an animated film called Cars in 2006.

The collaboration also started the process of incorporating Pixar into Disney's working area. In 2006, Steve Jobs served as a director on the Disney Board. While former Disney animator John Lasseter was chosen as head of animation studio operations. Even though it was bought by Disney, a deal was still underway to keep Disney and Pixar's animation work separate.

This is done to maintain the creative process and the unique work culture of the two companies. Today, Pixar maintains its headquarters in Emeryville, California. Meanwhile, Disney remains based in Burbank, California.