Essay for John Lasseter Presentation

Felicia Scott

38641

Advance Animation and Research Development

Feb 28^th, 2011

John Lasseter

                John Lasseter is a world known man for his participation within Pixar and Disney animation films. His job positions have varied and grown from Animator, Film Director, Chief Creative Officer of Pixar and Walt Disney Animation Studios, Principle Creative Advisor to Walt Disney Imagineering. He still holds many of these positions today. To start from the very beginning he was born in Hollywood on January 12^th 1957. His decision to become an animator was first discovered when he saw Disney’s “The Sword in the Stone,” for the first time in theatres (Wikipedia). From there he began his education at Pepperdine University but pursued his animation career at the California Institute of the Arts, where he had been taught by the 3 members of Disney’s 9 old Men: Eric Larson, Frank Thomas and Ollie Johnston (Wikipedia). 

Lasseter’s first job was at The Walt Disney Company where he became an animator. One of his first projects was Mickey Mouse’s Christmas Carol (Encyclopaedia). Unfortunately he became terminated because he and a few others wanted to make a 2D and 3D collaborated film (Encyclopedia). Thus began his journey at Lucasfilm, in which he joined in on discovering, making and using CGI animation. In 1986 Lucasfilm had become Pixar, in which John was now appointed as executive producer and over saw all of Pixar’s animated films (Wikipedia).

Pixar films that he had directed include: Toy Story, A Bugs Life, Toy Story 2, Cars, Cars 2.He has won 2 Academy Awards for Animated Short film Tin Toy and Special Achievement Award for Toy Story.His first computer animated short was the Adventures of Andre and Wally B in 1984 (Encyclopaedia). Disney purchased Pixar in April of 2006 where they named John Chief Creative Officer of both Pixar and Disney animation studios (Encyclopedia).

“Lasseter said he sees this medium as an excellent way to train and discover new talent in the company as well as a testing ground for new techniques and ideas (Yabroff).”

His work has been and inspiration for me since the time I had decided to become and animator. Through his determination and hard work, he was able to get to where he wanted to be even though he at first lost his job with Walt Disney Studios. All Pixar films have become a timeless masterpiece where they always motivate me to create and hopefully produce one of my own. And eventually be able to work long side John Lasseter at Pixar Studios. A film that stands outs for me the most is UP because of the connection between the couple and how they were capable of making a character so simple and blocky, look great through textures and movement… and attitude! So I see Lasseter and Pixar as a goal I have set for myself.

Cited Works

"John Lasseter." Encyclopædia Britannica. Encyclopædia Britannica Online. Encyclopædia Britannica, 2011. Web. 25 Feb. 2011. <http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/724953/John-Lasseter>.
Wikipedia contributors. "John Lasseter." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, 25 Feb. 2011. Web. 4 Mar. 2011.

Yabroff, Jennie. “35: John Lasseter.” Newsweek.com. Newsweek, n.d. Web. December 20 2008. http://www.newsweek.com/2008/12/19/35-john-lasseter.html