Disney Animation, Pixar Name General Managers
Andrew Millstein, Jim Morris Get Senior Positions At Mouse House
Sep 11, 2008
Disney animation executive Andrew Millstein has been named general manager for Walt Disney Animation Studios, and renowned industry effects production veteran Jim Morris will take on a parallel role as general manager for Pixar Animation Studios, announced Ed Catmull, president of Disney Animation and Pixar's software guru.
Both executives will guide the overall operations of their respective studios, and continue to oversee all aspects of production related to animated features, short films and special animated projects.
They will report directly to Catmull.
"Jim and Andrew are two of the most talented, capable and experienced production executives working in animation today, and we're fortunate to have them running the day-to-day operations of our two animation studios," Catmull said in the studio's press release.
"Andrew has been a key player at Disney for over 11 years and has had experience running studios and dealing with all of the technical and creative issues associated with that role. Jim is one of the most respected figures in the world of special effects and was instrumental in creating some of ILM's greatest achievements. Most recently, he did an incredible job producing WALL-E for Pixar, and has assumed an important role in that studio's overall operations," he continued.
"As general managers, Andrew and Jim will continue to lend their guidance and expertise to all of our upcoming production efforts."
Andrew Millstein: Digital Effects Supervisor for Titanic
Andrew Millstein joined Disney in 1997 as a production executive in the Studio's Motion Pictures Group. He was soon promoted to general manager of Dreamquest Images and The Secret Lab, a division of Walt Disney Feature Animation that produced the digital effects for such live-action films as 101 Dalmatians, Reign of Fire, Armageddon, Mighty Joe Young, and Inspector Gadget, among others. In 2001, he became the senior vice president/general manager of production for Walt Disney Animation Florida, where he oversaw all operations and production on Brother Bear. He was then named an executive vice president for Disney's extremely short-lived Circle 7 Animation unit.
Prior to joining Disney, Millstein served as head of production for Digital Domain in Venice, California, where he oversaw visual effect production on Apollo 13, The Fifth Element, Dante's Peak and the highest grossing film of all time, Titanic.
Jim Morris: Oscar-Winning ILM Veteran
Jim Morris joined Pixar in 2005, and his most recent gig was producing WALL-E. Additionally, he managed the production of the studio's features, shorts, DVD content, and theme park activities.
From 1987 to 2005, Morris held several key positions in various divisions of Lucasfilm Ltd. He was president of Lucas Digital Ltd, and managed its two divisions – Industrial Light & Magic (ILM) and Skywalker Sound. As ILM's general manager for more than 13 years, he supervised a staff of over 1400 artists and technicians, and guided the largest visual effects facility in the entertainment industry.
During his tenure, ILM created the Oscar-winning visual effects in Jurassic Park, Death Becomes Her, and Forrest Gump. He also managed the special effects in Mission Impossible, Twister, Saving Private Ryan, Star Wars: Episode I and II, The Perfect Storm, Pearl Harbor, Minority Report, Pirates of the Caribbean, Master and Commander, and the first three Harry Potter films.
He also produced James Cameron's The Abyss, which earned an Oscar for Best Achievement in Visual Effects, and Steven Spielberg's Always.
