DISNEY - LASSETER NEW OSCAR FORMAT MAY PUT ANIMATION IN SPOTLIGHT

LASSETER NEW OSCAR FORMAT MAY PUT ANIMATION IN SPOTLIGHT

John Lasseter, who at Disney holds the unique position of chief creative officer, has suggested that the decision by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to expand the best picture category to ten films will likely shine the light on animated films -- which have generally been relegated to a niche role. (The best animated feature category did not even exist before 2001.) Speaking at the Venice Film Festival, where he was honored with a Golden Lion lifetime career award (four Pixar directors also received miniature versions of the trophy), Lasseter said that he was "blown away" when he was informed of the award. It was presented to him by George Lucas, who noted that he started Pixar as "a little back-room operation in 1979." He sold it to Steve Jobs in 1986.

07/09/2009