Acquired · Monday, August 10, 2026
A group of talented animators, including John Lasseter, Brad Bird, Tim Burton, John Musker, Andrew Stanton, Pete Docter, and Brenda Chapman, were trained at CalArts, an institution founded by Walt Disney. Despite being hired by Disney Animation right out of school, they were later fired.
“Cal Arts.”
“John Lasseter, Brad Bird, Tim Burton, John Musker, who would do The Little Mermaid, Aladdin, and then, many years later, Moana, and then later after them, Andrew Stanton, head of story for The Lion King, and of course Pete Docter, who helms today is chief creative officer.”
“They were hired directly by Disney and Disney Animation right out of school. And then Disney fired all of them.”