Walt Disney and Pixar Animation Studios promoted both Walt Disney Animation Studios’ Andrew Millstein and Pixar Animation Studios’ Jim Morris to president.
“We’re fortunate and proud to have an abundance of strong creative leadership at Disney, and Andrew and Jim are two incredible talents that embody the perfect blend of business and artistic focus,” said Ed Catmull, president of Walt Disney and Pixar Animation Studios. “Not only have they done so much to ensure each of their studios is operating at peak condition, they continually push their teams to new heights of creativity, storytelling and innovation.”
Both Millstein and Morris will continue to report directly to Catmull.
As executive vice president and general manager for Walt Disney Animation Studios, Millstein guided the studio when it released the Academy Award-winning “Frozen,” the highest-grossing animated film of all time. He also oversaw “Tangled,” “Wreck-It Ralph” and the studio’s most recent release “Big Hero 6.” Millstein joined Disney in 1997 as a production executive in the motion pictures group. Prior to his current role, he worked as general manager of Dreamquest Images and The Secret Lab, Walt Disney Animation Studios’ digital division.
Previously, Morris was general manager and executive vice president of production for Pixar Animation Studios, overseeing production of features, shorts, DVD content and theme park activities. Pixar has seen 14 straight first-place openings at the domestic box office, with Morris producing the Academy Award-winning feature “WALL•E.” Prior to joining the Pixar, he was president of Lucas Digital Ltd, where he managed both Skywalker Sound and Industrial Light and Magic.
“I’m continually impressed by Jim’s business and creative acumen,” said Catmull. “He truly understands film production inside and out, and his management of Pixar allows its culture to continually grow, explore new areas and technology, and advance new ways of storytelling.”
Pixar recently announced that John Lasseter will return to direct Pixar’s “Toy Story 4,” which Disney will release on June 16, 2017.
The company also reported a record $48.8 billion in revenue for 2014, up 8 percent from a year-ago period. In early October, CEO Bob Iger announced he wouldn’t retire in 2016 and extended his contract. He will remain the head of Disney through 2018.