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Posts with tag pixar

WALL•E - Robot with the heart of a Mac

Several TUAW readers have reported after seeing midnight showings of Disney-Pixar's new and highly-rated movie WALL•E that when the robot boots up, he makes the standard Mac startup sound. That's not the only Apple connection with the movie.

Of course, Steve Jobs is the largest single shareholder of Disney after Pixar was purchased by the entertainment giant for $7.4 billion in 2006. He still serves on a steering committee for Pixar that oversees the Disney-Pixar animation businesses, and he's on the Disney Board of Directors. I'm not sure, but he may be tapped to be the first CEO of BuyNLarge...

WALL•E's job is to wander around an abandoned Earth, pick up trash, and compact it into small blocks. However, when he finds something nostalgic that he likes, such as an iPod or Rubik's cube, he keeps it.

The object of WALL•E's desire, EVE, was actually designed with the assistance of Apple Senior VP of Industrial Design Jonathan Ive, who apparently spent a day with the Pixar team in 2005 consulting on the ultra-sleek floating robot.

Thanks to Matt for the heads-up and inspiration for this post!

Apple helps Pixar out with WALL•E

I'm a big fan of almost everything Pixar does (Cars wasn't their best effort, though it was enjoyable), so it is a happy day when a story that links Pixar to my favorite computer company comes along.

It would seem that the good folks at Pixar really wanted to play up the differences between the titular hero of Wall*E and a new robot that appears (Eve, pictured to the right). They wanted it to look very cool, and very high tech. Luckily for Pixar, they know a guy pretty high up in Apple who was able to get Jonathan Ive, Apple's famed product designer, to help out with Eve's look.

I wonder if Eve's battery is user replaceable.

Jobs/Pixar cleared of backdating issues

Well, it seems that all of this may blow over...at least for Steve and the Pixar execs. Late last year, Pixar, Steve's other company which he sold to Disney, was forced to take another look at some accounting actions. One of the suggested possibilities was that Pixar's John Lasseter was given a backdated stock options bonus. This past Friday, however, Disney announced that all of the accounting in question took place before Disney acquired Pixar, and that no one currently involved with the company "...engaged in any intentional or deliberate acts of misconduct."

We don't know where this will all end up, but it looks like Uncle Steve is off the hook as far as Pixar is concerned.

Steve in trouble over stock options deal?

There's some more news today on the stock options story. According to AppleInsider, it has been suggested that Steve gave Pixar director John Lasseter a questionable, backdated stock option bonus.

I must admit that I haven't really paid much attention to this story, mostly because it's still speculation and hearsay at this point. So we'll see where it goes. For now, though, it's still news.

Jobs and Apple not out of the Options scandal woods yet

The Wall Street Journal has the best summary (subscription maybe required) of the Apple options backdating scandal that I have read to date. They take a look at Apple's filings and point that that Steve 'recommended the selection of some favorable grant dates,' though he was not involved in the improper backdating of options which he was granted. The WSJ also talks to a number of experts about what this could mean for Apple and everyone's favorite iCEO.

I also found out, thanks to this article, that some options that Pixar granted to employees are also under investigation. Steve didn't receive any of those, but they were all granted while he was CEO of Pixar.

Remember folks, just because Apple's internal investigation says that His Steveness has done nothing wrong that doesn't mean that the Feds aren't going to take a look for themselves. This story is far from over.

[via Blogging Stocks]

Disney/Pixar's Cars movie now in iTunes, special pricing



Although I'm getting older and grayer by the day, I'm still really a kid at heart. That's probably why I love the movie Cars. I love it so much that it's about to become the very first full-length movie that I personally purchase on iTunes.

Cars was released today in the iTunes Store [iTS link] and Apple has made it even more appealing with their special pricing of $12.99 for new releases. That makes me, as Mater would say, happier 'n a tornado in a trailer park!

Boogity Boogity Boogity! Let's go racin'!

Apple easter egg in Pixar's "Cars"



Brian at FreeMacBlog writes in to point out an Apple easter egg he spotted in Pixar's Cars. During the opening race, one of the cars that is briefly on screen has an Apple logo on the hood, and is fittingly numbered "84." Pretty cool, Brian! Did anyone else spot this car?

Cars video podcast

Who doesn't like Pixar movies? The latest effort from our favorite part of Disney is 'Cars.' I know, I know this isn't exactly breaking news but the fine folks at Pixar have created a video podcast chronicling different parts of the movie, and it is available via iTunes.

[via Luxo]

Jobs to spend more time at Apple

Steve Jobs told shareholders this week that, in light of Disney's acquisition of Pixar, he would actually be spending more time at Apple, in part because he'll be relinquishing his CEO position at Pixar in a couple of weeks once the merger finishes. Many have been speculating that Mr. Jobs would be spending more time at Disney, but he publicly responded "that couldn't be further from the truth... It'll require less of my time than Pixar did."

This should be good news for anyone concerned about Mr. Jobs' continued involvement with Apple.

[via Wired]

The Incredibles use Apple gear



Danny was watching the Incredibles with his wife the other night and noticed a familiar key on a decidedly unMac like computer in the movie.

Oh, Pixar, you kidders!

Poll Results: The future of Pixney



Yesterday, we asked for your opinion on the quality of films that will come out of the Pixar/Disney union. In our utterly unscientific poll, your options were:

  • Fantastic news!
  • Disaster! Disney will kill future movies
  • I'll wait and see
  • I have no opinion
Of the 2,008 of you who voted, a full 45% selected "I'll wait and see." "Fantastic news" and "Disaster..." were very close at 26% and 24% respectively, and 5% of you really couldn't care less about this.

I'm with the skeptics. As long as Disney lets Lasseter and co. do what they do unfettered, we should be all right.

Disney buys Pixar: Good or bad?

Yesterday's big news, of course, was Disney's buyout of Pixar. Steve got more money than he could use in 10,000 lifetimes, a seat on Disney's board of directors and boatload of stock. But what does this mean for the films that are yet to be born of this union? I'm hoping that the Disney suits will look at Pixar's track record (every film has earned more than its predecessor) and just leave well enough alone. Of course, they could come in and clean house. So, what's your opinion of "Pixney"? Take the poll and return tomorrow to view the results.

Disney buys Pixar: Good or bad?
Fantastic news
Disaster! Disney will kill future movies
I'll wait and see
I have no opinion
  

More on the Pixar buyout

The finance obsessed people at Bloomberg have a very comprehensive article up covering the Disney/Pixar deal (it was as if they were working on it before the deal of finalized. Imagine that!). Disney will pay $59.78 a share for Pixar stock (and since Steve Jobs is the largest stockholder of Pixar he is going to make out like a bandit), though Disney will be paying with Disney stock (helping to diversify his Steveness' stock interests in the process).

Disney is hoping that Pixar will transform the company into the animation powerhouse it once was. Disney is taking the right steps by placing Pixar people in key positions, however, something tells me that Disney and Pixar have very different corporate cultures.

Only time will tell.

Disney to buy Pixar for 7.4 Billion

CNN is reporting that Disney is buying Pixar for $7.4 billion, confirming lots of speculation as of late. Jobs will join the board of Disney while John Lasseter, the creative spirit behind Pixar, will become chief creative officer for the combined animation studio. I hope this means only good things for Disney, and no bad things for Pixar. Only time will tell.

More details as they become clear.

Disney to Buy Pixar?

When the rumor surfaced last week that Disney might be interested in buying Pixar, I passed it off as just another rumor, along the lines of "Sony to buy Apple" or "Microsoft to buy Fort Knox". But multiple news organizations are reporting today that the all-stock deal may actually be approved and happen as early as tomorrow and that it may be worth as much as $7 billion.

As Steve Jobs has a majority share in Pixar, this would be incredibly significant for Mr. Jobs but might also be significant for Mr Jobs' other company, Apple Computer.

Could this mean there might be more Apple-Disney partnerships in the future? Disney videos for sale via the iTunes store? Disney-branded iPods? iPod-friendly audio guides at the Disney parks?

At the very least, a Disney-Pixar combination should be able to improve the animated offerings coming from Disney, which have been less-than-stellar in the last few years.

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