Lasseter will leave Pixar, Disney posts
John Lasseter, the architect of a creative turnaround at Disney’s animation studios, will leave the company at the end of the year, the media company said Friday, several months after the longtime artistic leader of its Pixar division acknowledged “missteps” with fellow employees.
Lasseter, the innovative force behind lauded movies including “Coco” and “Frozen,” announced he would take a sixmonth sabbatical from his job as chief creative officer of the Disney and Pixar studios in a November memo to employees. In the memo, he acknowledged making some colleagues “feel disrespected or uncomfortable.”
“I especially want to apologize to anyone who has ever been on the receiving end of an unwanted hug or any other gesture they felt crossed the line in any way, shape or form,” he said in the memo obtained by The Chronicle. The details about his alleged unwanted behavior toward colleagues remain vague.
Disney said Friday that Lasseter would assume a “consulting role” with the company until Dec. 31, when his employment will end.
Lasseter said in a statement that the past six months have given him the opportunity to “reflect on my life, career and personal priorities.”
“While I remain dedicated to the art of animation and inspired by the creative talent at Pixar and Disney, I have decided the end of this year is the right time to begin focusing on new creative challenges,” he said.
In a separate statement, Robert Iger, chairman and CEO of the Walt Disney Company, praised Lasseter for his “remarkable tenure” at Pixar and Disney Animation. The company credited him with “reinventing the animation business.”
Neither statement mentioned Lasseter’s alleged inappropriate behavior toward employees. The company did not respond to a request for further comment.
Lasseter has been a prominent face of Pixar since the company was founded in the Bay Area in 1986. In 1995, he directed Pixar’s first feature, “Toy Story,” and he has since been the executive producer of five of the 10 all-time highest-grossing animated films, including Disney’s “Frozen” and “Zootopia.”
Pixar has been quiet about Lasseter’s whereabouts since he took the sabbatical in November. His name was left out of acceptance speeches when “Coco” — for which he was an executive producer — won two Academy Awards this year. He was also noticeably absent at this week’s premiere of “Incredibles 2.”
Lasseter is still expected to be listed as an executive producer on the “Incredibles” sequel, whose wide release is scheduled for June 15. Lasseter’s unsettled status threatened to cast a pall over its debut.
The accusations against Lasseter came as a wave of sexual harassment cases were brought to light in the entertainment industry and among Hollywood’s elite. Allegations have been lodged against film producer Harvey Weinstein, who was indicted on rape charges by a grand jury in New York City last month.
Lasseter is among several powerful men who have lost jobs after being accused of sexual misconduct, including Charlie Rose, Matt Lauer and Kevin Spacey. Others facing allegations of inappropriate behavior include Morgan Freeman, Louis C.K. and Casey Affleck. Freeman has denied any impropriety.
Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, a management professor and senior associate dean for leadership studies at Yale University, previously told The Chronicle that Lasseter was integral to the identity and creative success of Pixar and Disney. He said his departure could put the company in a sensitive spot.
“There isn’t one inch of footage that didn’t bear his stamp as an animation genius,” Sonnenfeld said.
But, he added, “the company needs to be prepared to show that they stand for something greater. … You would hope that the ‘creative genius’ extends further than just one person.”