Chapter 721： Escape from Pixar

"Regardless of artistic achievement or commercial achievement, Pixar is regarded as the most successful animation studio in the world today."

Glancing at Ryan, who was teasing her daughter, Nitian sat on the sofa and asked, "Are you sure you want to listen?"

"carry on."

Ryan put his finger into Sandy’s little hand, and let her gently shake it, and then Nicole’s voice came over again. “Because of the geniuses, the internal competition of Pixar Studio is very fierce, and the management often does it. Make some unpopular personnel adjustments, such as allowing only a limited number of people in the core group to serve as film directors, and never give young people opportunities."

"If you want to be a director of an animated feature film at Pixar Studios, you might as well buy a lottery ticket. Therefore, those geniuses who are hard to get a chance to take a shot choose to escape from Pixar Studios.

Nicole looked at Ryan, who was happily playing with her daughter, and laughed, but kept talking, "These outstanding graduates of the'Animated West Point Military Academy' are talented and passionate. Maybe they are {无＋ It’s John Lasseter and Andrew Stanton tomorrow."

"Mr. Jenkins."

The female carer came over and grabbed the handle of the stroller. "Sandy should go to bed."

"Well, my dear." Ryan stood up and beckoned to the little guy in the car, "Goodbye."

After the nurse pushed her daughter away, Ryan walked over to the couch and sat next to Nicole. He took the newspaper in her hand, and saw a terrifying headline-"Escape from Pixar" on the entertainment page.

"These tabloids." Ryan couldn't help but shook his head. "In order to attract attention, I will exaggerate the matter a hundred times."

"Really there will be no impact?" Nicole asked with a frown.

"It's just a few middle-level employees because the contract expired..." Ryan made a reassuring gesture to her, "It's just a normal resignation, which will not have much impact on Pixar."

The matter is not complicated. Several middle-level employees of Pixar Studios who are well-known in the industry have officially expired their contracts with Pixar after "Cars." Did not choose to renew the contract, but went to other companies to develop, this is a very normal personnel flow.

It's just that these few people who consider themselves talented, in an interview with reporters, felt that they would not have the opportunity to become directors at Pixar Studios, and inevitably made a few complaints.

One of the interviews was published in detail by the tabloid.

"Since I was ten years old, I have dreamed of becoming a film director."

The person interviewed was called Jimmy Hayward, "More than ten years ago, an opportunity appeared before my eyes. I joined Pixar Animation Studios, which is now sweeping the global animation market."

"From the "Toy Story" series to "Insect Crisis" and "Monster Electric Company". Then to "Finding Nemo" and "The Superman Family", I have contributed wisdom and labor several times more than my salary. However, this After working on this job for a long time, I gradually realized a cruel fact-if I want to be a director myself, I must leave Pixar."

"This was a difficult choice, a choice that most Pixar employees would not consider at all, but I did it on no impulse."

Several other people left at the same time. Ryan has the deepest impression of Jimmy Hayward, mainly because the previous life, after leaving the Pixar studio, although he became a director, he did not achieve as much success as he thought. Except for "Horton and the Anonymous" which is pretty good, the other two "Turkey Story" and "Jonah Hacks" both caused huge losses for 20th Century Fox.

In addition, Ash Brannon, another person who resigned at the same time, also had a little impression, vaguely remembering that he went to Sony Entertainment later. The directed animated feature film will also be extremely miserable for investment.

Your own talents are important, but a platform that can show your talents is equally important.

Ryan didn't care much about the departure of these people. This will not weaken the creativity and execution of the Pixar studio. The whole Hollywood is acknowledging the fact that every time someone resigns and leaves the Pixar studio, Pixar’s human resources department receives hundreds or even thousands of letters. A reliable cover letter.

Besides, the normal flow of personnel is also a good thing for maintaining the vitality of Pixar's studio.

Pixar Studios implements a boutique strategy, and generally launches an animated feature film every year, and even shaved their heads in some years. The directors of these films all come from the core of the studio.

John Lasseter, Brad Bird, Andrew Stanton and Peter Dougert, these four people are the well-deserved Pixar All-Star team, past success has also proved their ability, and these people are Disney The shareholders of Pixar have also made great efforts in the process of Ryan swallowing Disney. As long as they can create value, the authority of Pixar's animated feature films will certainly not fall into the hands of others.

Companies that gain advantages in external competition will inevitably have fierce internal competition. Commercial companies such as Pixar Studios that have achieved great success will definitely gather a large number of industry elites, but like other companies, their internal "food chain" "Only, there are certainly only a handful of employees at the top of the chain.

You know, the density of talented people in Pixar's technical department is very high, such as gold medal animation editor Lee Unkridge, and the sound designer Kerry Redstrom, who has directed the cool short film "Kidnapping Lesson." There is Brad Chapman, the screenwriter of "Cars 2", these professionals have already had the qualifications and ability to direct feature films, but so far, none of them have released major works.

As for the departing Jimmy Hayward and Ash Brannon and others, no matter their talent or ability, they are far behind these people.

Of course, Ryan also knows the importance of talents. For these real core employees, he, Ed Kamel and John Lasset are very important, and they have promised a bright future for these people. .

In the future production plan of Pixar Studios, the director's position has been reserved by these professional madmen, and Lee Unkridge has decided to direct Pixar's highlight play "Toy Story 3".

As for the other two, each has projects in preparation. For example, Brad Chapman is starting to adapt a folklore about Scotland.

"Except for Pixar, no other studio can output so many creative talents and cultivate so many great artists and animators."

This comment that once appeared on the cover of Vanity Fair may be a bit exaggerated, but it always shows the strength of Pixar Studios and its prominent position in the industry.

Perhaps in the future Pixar Studio will encounter the bottleneck of the exhaustion of creative power, but in Ryan's view, now that the talents get together and how to use it is the most difficult problem for Pixar Studio.

In the past few years, Ryan has successively made some adjustments between Pixar Studios and Disney Animation Department. More than 300 people have been transferred from Pixar Studios to Disney Animation Department. People have also embarked on a higher and more important position.

However, both Disney Animation Department and Pixar Studios are implementing boutique strategies. In future plans, most of the animation feature films released every year will be maintained at an average frequency of one a year or even less than this number. Many people are inevitable. There will be some gaps with their own capabilities.

How to solve it? Now it’s just a few middle-level employees who are not the core employees, but what about in the future? We must know that these people who have switched jobs will inevitably become the most direct competitors of Pixar Studios.

Although Pixar Studios needs external competitors, it is also not a good thing if there are too many competitors.

With the departure of Jimmy Hayward and Ash Brannon and others, Ryan also began to consider this issue. Even a group of idealists will have ambitions and greed in order to achieve their ideals, not to mention Pixar Studios. Still a real commercial company.

Change the boutique strategy of Disney Animation or Pixar Studios?

Ryan would rather have more people change jobs than make such an unwise choice. It took more than ten years for the two animation studios to form their own ideas and cultures. Although the changes will not be enough Death will inevitably lead to great turmoil.

With the rapid development of Pixar Studios and the Disney Animation Department gradually getting on the right track, the turbulence will surely cause unimaginable losses.

The best way is to have a high-volume animation work department, so that more people have the opportunity and hope to take a higher position. Is there such an animation studio in Hollywood?

The answer is yes—DreamWorks Animation Studios, run by Jeff Katzenberg.

The former president of Disney's animation department once declared that DreamWorks Animation Studios has the ability to produce three to four animated feature films or series a year.

Although these words are a bit exaggerated, Ryan knows that DreamWorks Animation Studios are indeed performing Piankai tactics.

It seems that the acquisition of DreamWorks Animation Studios is imperative The annual output of DreamWorks Animation Studios is generally about two. Ryan remembers that it will increase to three in a few years. The process can be advanced slightly to create more positions and opportunities.

Of course, in his opinion, it is enough for DreamWorks Animation Studio to maintain a production volume of about three movies a year in the next ten years. After all, the market's digestibility must be considered.

After Ryan talked with Robert Iger last time, Walt Disney acquired a part of DreamWorks Animation Studio’s shares, but it has remained below 5%. This year, Warner Bros. and Universal Pictures’ animation studios will Launching its own cg animation feature film, Pixar's external competition environment will not be as easy as last year, and acquisitions can gradually speed up.

The five largest shareholders of DreamWorks Animation Studios are himself, Jeff Katzenberg, David Geffen, Steven Spielberg, and Paul Allen, one of the founders of Microsoft. As for the scattered There are basically no problems with the shares in the hands of Wall Street as long as the price is right.

Thinking of this, Ryan called Robert Iger and Dick Cook respectively. The acquisition will certainly not be completed in the short term, but preparations must be made in advance. (To be continued...) ()