Ed Catmull, the president of Walt Disney and Pixar Animation Studios since 2006, is retiring next year. The Walt Disney Company. The 73-year-old Pixar co-founder will remain in an advisory role through July 2019.
Robert Iger, Disney’s chairman and CEO, said in a statement that Catmull’s impact on the entertainment industry is immeasurable. Iger goes on to say.
From the request of George Lucas to bring technology to the film industry, to the vision of Steve Jobs, and the extraordinary freedom provided by Bob Iger, Alan Horn, and Alan Bergman, we continue to dream of stories and ways of making those stories that always surprise. I have the mixed emotions that come with stepping away from a group of people I love, but also with the utmost pride and pleasure that we now have at both Pixar and Disney Animation the most dedicated and imaginative leaders I have worked with.
Catmull was a pioneer in computer animation and technology in film. George Lucas hired him in 1979 to head Lucasfilm’s computer division. Catmull in 1986 co-founded Pixar with Steve Jobs and John Lasseter. He’s overseen films at Disney from Frozen to Up and has been recognized multiple times by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences for advances in technology and computer graphics.
Catmull released a statement of his own.
Never in my wildest imagination could I have conceived of the path or the extraordinary people I have worked with over all of these years – the twists and turns, the ups and downs, along with exhilarating passion, talent, and dedication that have led to something extraordinary, something that has an enduring impact in the world. From the request of George Lucas to bring technology to the film industry, to the vision of Steve Jobs, and the extraordinary freedom provided by Bob Iger, Alan Horn, and Alan Bergman, we continue to dream of stories and ways of making those stories that always surprise. I have the mixed emotions that come with stepping away from a group of people I love, but also with the utmost pride and pleasure that we now have at both Pixar and Disney Animation the most dedicated and imaginative leaders I have worked with.
No replacement has been named, Instead, Pixar president Jim Morris and Walt Disney Animation Studios president Andrew Millstein will continue to oversee operations at their respective studios, reporting to Bergman, Walt Disney Studios president. And Pixar and Walt Disney Animation will continue to be creatively led by chief creative officers Pete Docter and Jennifer Lee, respectively, reporting to Horn, Walt Disney Studios chairman.
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Well, it’s been a fun time!