Biography
Having been a successful animation director with Walt Disney Studios, Lasseter branched out on his own to join Pixar Studios and helped turn the fledgling animation studio into a monster success that churned out hit after hit with "Toy Story," "A Bug's Life" (1998), "Monsters, Inc." (2001) and "Finding Nemo" (2003). Having directed many of Pixar's hits, Lasseter had a direct hand in the company's extraordinary success, while also steering its …
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Career Milestones
| Apprenticed at Disney during summer breaks | ||
| Became the second student accepted into the then new Disney-sponsored animation program at CalArts (an institution started by Walt Disney) | ||
| Co-created with fellow Disney animator Glen Keane, an experimental 30-second test film based on Maurice Sendak's classic children's book, "Where the Wild Things Are," to demonstrate how traditional hand-drawn character animation could be combined with computerized camera movements and environments | ||
| Contributed animation to such films as "The Fox and the Hound" (1981) and "Mickey's Christmas Carol" (1984) | ||
| Made two animated films while at CalArts, "Lady and the Lamp" and "Nitemare" (both won Student Academy Awards) | ||
| While still in high school, wrote to The Walt Disney Studios to express his interest in the field | ||
1979 | Hired by the Disney feature animation department upon graduation | |
1983 | Invited by Pixar founder Ed Catmull to visit the computer graphics unit of Lucasfilm | |
1984 | Left Disney intending to work at Lucasfilm for a month; stayed for 6 months | |
1985 | Worked on the computer animation group of Lucasfilm's Industrial Light & Magic for the feature "Young Sherlock Holmes" | |
1986 | Created the Oscar nominated animated short film, "Luxo Jr" | |
1986 | Joined Pixar, the computer animation company formed by entrepreneur Steven Jobs with his purchase of the computer animation division of Lucasfilm | |
1988 | Gained notice for his Academy Award winning short, "Tin Toy"; credited for directing, scripting, animating and modeling | |
1991 | First TV credit, provided a film for NBC's "Super Bloopers & New Practical Jokes" | |
1995 | Feature directing debut, "Toy Story"; also credited for original story (with three others) and modeling & animation system development | |
1998 | Co-directed the computer-animated "A Bug's Life" | |
2004 | Produced the animated Pixar film, "The Incredibles"; directed and written by Brad Bird | |
2006 | Appointed Chief Creative Officer of both the Pixar and Disney animation studios when the Walt Disney Company purchased Pixar | |
2006 | Directed and co-wrote the animated feature, "Cars"; earned an Oscar nomination for Best Animated feature | |
2007 | Produced the Pixar animated feature, "Ratatouille" | |
2008 | Executive produced the Pixar animated feature, "WALL-E" | |
2009 | Executive produced the Disney animated feature, "The Princess and the Frog" | |
2011 | Returned to directing with "Cars 2" | |
Awards
1986 | Academy Award for Short Film (Animated) in Luxo Jr. |
1987 | Berlin International Film Festival for Jury Prize Silver Bear (Short Film) in Luxo Jr. |
1988 | Academy Award for Short Film (Animated) in Tin Toy |
1989 | Seattle International Film Festival for Best Short Film Golden Space Needle Award in Tin Toy |
1990 | Seattle International Film Festival for Best Short Film Golden Space Needle Award in Knickknack |
1995 | Academy Award for Writing (Screenplay Written Directly For the Screen) in Toy Story |
1995 | Los Angeles Film Critics Association Award for Best Animation in Toy Story |
2001 | Academy Award for Animated Feature Film in Monsters, Inc. |
2006 | Academy Award for Animated Feature Film in Cars |
2006 | BAFTA Award for Animated Feature Film in Cars |
2006 | Los Angeles Film Critics Association Award for Best Animation in Cars |
2010 | Academy Award for Writing (Adapted Screenplay) in Toy Story 3 |
2010 | Critics' Choice Award for Best Screenplay Adaptation in Toy Story 3 |
2010 | Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Animated Program in Disney's Prep & Landing |