Why did Disneys 12-year relationship with Steve Jobs Pixar go bust?
Disney: It was actually close to a 20-year relationship. I started it with John Lasseter, (the Oscar-winning creative chief at Pixar) when Pixar still belonged to George Lucas in 1984. Michael Eisner does not like creative people robbing him of the spotlight. He will tend to badmouth them or in some way put them down. … The only way you can answer that question is to talk about how long it took for this relationship to go that sour. It took years. The more success Pixar had, the more annoyed Michael seemed to be by it. With Finding Nemo, we had a screening a year and a half ago of the unfinished film. … Michael told the board that it was “OK.” That it would probably open, but it’s not as good as they think. I really think he wanted it not to do well because he’d have greater negotiating power. Gold: Roy especially has been saying there’s been a creative exodus from this company for the better part of five to six years. Jobs is just the latest of a long line of hundreds of people. Q
