Animation legend Lasseter leaving Walt Disney Co.
Pixar co-founder has been on leave following accusations of misconduct
John Lasseter, once considered the most prominent figure in big-screen animation, will leave the Walt Disney Co. by the end of the year, company officials announced Friday, making him the latest entertainment industry icon whose career has been upended by allegations of improper conduct.
Until his departure, Lasseter, 61, will serve in a consulting role, the company said.
“John had a remarkable tenure at Pixar and Disney Animation, reinventing the animation business, taking breathtaking risks, and telling original, high quality stories that will last forever,” Walt Disney Co. Chairman and Chief Executive Robert Iger said in a statement. “We are profoundly grateful for his contributions, which included a masterful and remarkable turnaround of The Walt Disney Animation Studios.”
Lasseter also issued a statement, saying, “The last six months have provided an 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. I am extremely proud of what two of the most important and prolific animation studios have achieved under my leadership and I’m grateful for all the opportunities to follow my creative passion at Disney.”
Lasseter, a Sonoma Valley resident, was the chief creative officer of Walt Disney Animation Studios and Emeryvillebased Pixar. He has been on a leave of absence since Nov. 21, when he sent a memo to staff apologizing for “missteps.” At the time, female employees told Variety that Lasseter had a reputation for touching women inappropriately in the office, including rubbing their legs and kissing them on the lips.
Lasseter, who is married, was also reprimanded for making out with a subordinate at an Oscar party in 2010, sources told Variety.
Disney did not immediately name replacements, but animators Pete Docter of “Inside Out” and Jennifer Lee of “Frozen” are expected to assume added responsibilities at Pixar and Disney Animation, respectively, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
Lasseter, the co-founder of Pixar Animation Studios, is a leading a pioneer in the digital animation field. In 1995, he made his directorial debut with “Toy Story,” the first feature-length computeranimated film. It was the first feature film produced by Pixar, which was then based in Point Richmond. He went on to preside over a dazzling string of blockbuster hits, including “Finding Nemo,” “The Incredibles” and “A Bug’s Life.”
Disney executives have pondered for months what to do with Lasseter, especially when it became apparent that the allegations against him were more extensive and troublesome than first reported — to the point where, The Hollywood Reporter said, female employees adopted a defensive posture they called “the Lasseter” to avoid his inappropriate touches.
Still, his influence on the company was enormous. When Disney acquired Pixar in 2006 in a $7.4 billion deal, Lasseter added to his duties the Walt Disney Animation Studios, which he is credited with resuscitating after a long period of struggles. He also became the chief creative adviser for Disney’s theme parks, where he oversaw such attractions as Cars Land at Disney California Adventure.
“After Walt Disney, no single person has had a bigger impact on Disney animation than John Lasseter,” Tom Sito, a former Disney animator and professor of animation at the University of Southern California, told the Los Angeles Times. “He basically made the concept of computer generated film viable.”