He is the director of Toy Story, the first 3D animated feature film in the history of cinema; the boss of Disney Animation, but also the boss of Pixar, the iconic 3D animation studio, whose new production, Vice-Versa, is released on June 17: John Lasseter is a specimen. The unique case – since Ernst Lubitsch and Paramount in the mid-1930s – of a director at the head of a film studio, at a time when this position of leadership was devolved to businessmen.

His first job was as a boat driver in the Jungle Cruise attraction at Disneyland Park. In 1979, he enters with his friend Tim Burton as an animator at Walt Disney Pictures where they are integrated into the animation team of Rox and Rouky. He also participated in the animation of Mickey’s Christmas in 1980. In 1981, he worked on Tron, a film using digital effects.

He then joined the Lucasfilm Computer Graphics Group, a division of Industrial Light & Magic which was sold by George Lucas to Steve Jobs who renamed it Pixar Animation Studios. John directed 3D shorts including the famous Luxo Jr. desk lamp that became the trademark of Pixar films. In 1985, he worked with Steven Spielberg on the film The Secret of the Pyramid: he was responsible for the digital animation of a knight.

After becoming Pixar’s art director, John started working on his first feature film in 1991. The film was released four years later, in 1995: Toy Story. The following films, 1001 Paws, Toy Story 2, Monsters & Co., Nemo, Cars, Ratatouille, are as many popular successes as they are steps in the improvement of digital animation techniques.

In February 1999, he was named Executive Vice President of Pixar. In 2004 he was honored with the prestigious “Outstanding Contribution to Cinematic Imagery” award given by the Art Directors Guild. In January 2006, the Pixar studio is bought by Disney. John Lasseter becomes director of Walt Disney Feature Animation and artistic advisor of Walt Disney Imagineering.

John Lasseter is currently a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (Academy Awards) committee in the animated film section. His wish is to revive the classic cartoon, in the great tradition of Disney Studios.