I've noticed a sort of progression in this subject. Back in 1995, when Toy Story was released (ahh, the days of innocence ), almost no one knew who Pixer were, and understandably, and 90% of the credit went to Disney (whether it was from the critics or the public).
But now, you almost can'r escape the name "PIXAR". And I've always thought Disney was part of the production but only now have I noticed that on Finding Nemo it's written "Walt Disney Pictures Presents - A PIXAR animation sudio production" or something in that line...
My question - is Disney only distributing those films (what about BV?) or what? Almost everyone now refers to the DISNEY-PIXAR films as PIXAR's. It bothers me deeply
Disney has done nothing in the production of the Pixar films. PIXAR is an independant company and have a distribution deal (which currently extends for two more films) with Disney, It bothers me when people imply Disney had something to do with making these, because they didn't. It bothered me last night before Toy Story was on WWoD when they said "This is the only place where you'll see an exclusive preview of Disney's next Pixar movie, The Incredibles!" It should have been simply "Pixar's next movie" or "Disney and Pixar's next movie." Disney does not own Pixar - they are seperate studios and Disney just distributes the films. They, thank God, do not make them.
Well, as it happens Disney did have something to do with the making of the films... Toy Story (1) and A Bug's Life had substantial input and ideas from Disney staff. However, the more recent films don't. For example, the idea of Buzz being knocked out of the window by accident was a Disney suggested change from Woody planning it all along.
As for Disney getting the credit... Disney puts up half the money and Disney distributes the films. By putting up the money, Disney has a percentage ownership (which based on reports of current re-negotionations is 50/50 with Pixar). How is this different from Holes, which wasn't made by Disney, but Chicago Pacific Entertainment and Phoenix Pictures but funded by Disney and Walden Media? Even Pirates of the Carribean is made by Bruckheimer Films, not Disney.
A lot of films are made by other production companies. Even Lord of the Rings is made by Peter Jackson's Wingnut Films (the same company who made films such as The Frighteners, Heavenly Creatures and Meet the Feebles), it's just that New Line are providing the bulk (but not all of the funding) and as a result own a high percentage of the finished films.
Oh and one last thought, how much of a rightful claim can Paramount have on Titanic, a film made by Lightstorm, greenlighted by Fox and funded by Fox until Paramount had to step in at the last minute and "bought out" the US distribution rights as a result, with no creative input or effort?
I also noticed Monsters Inc. was the first Pixar film that did not have the disney dvd logo, TS2 did have the disney dvd logo. Something changed there too.
), almost no one knew who Pixer were, and understandably, and 90% of the credit went to Disney (whether it was from the critics or the public). 
i knew it 