Pixar's Lasseter to Get Creative Control of Imagineering

BURBANK (Amusement Business) – With the Walt Disney Company's announcement that it will buy Pixar Animation for $7.4 billion comes news that John Lasseter, Pixar's executive vp, will become principal creative director of the Walt Disney Imagineering Group. The news comes about two weeks after Barry Braverman, formerly senior vp and executive producer at WDI, had been let go. A WDI spokeswoman declined Tuesday to confirm or deny Braverman's departure, but noted that any such layoff would be a function of Walt Disney Parks and Resorts, for which WDI produces attractions, being in a slow period in its development cycle. “Walt Disney Imagineering has always been a project-based business,” spokeswoman Marilyn Waters said. “Employment varies to match the workload.” Lasseter also becomes chief creative officer of the combined Pixar and Disney animation studios.