February 2, 2004
A Clash of CEO Egos Gets Blame in Disney-Pixar Split
Eisner and Jobs had personal differences that affected their business relationship, sources say. By Richard Verrier and Claudia Eller, Times Staff Writers
Several months before last summer's release of "Finding Nemo," the chairman of Walt Disney Co., Michael Eisner, told his board not to expect a blockbuster and suggested that such a fate might not be all that bad.
Eisner said that although Pixar Animation Studios was excited about its film, he was not impressed by early cuts he'd seen, according to people familiar with the matter. Should the movie falter, Eisner said, Disney could gain negotiating leverage in contentious talks to extend its partnership with the highflying animation company.
Pixar, Eisner concluded, may be headed for "a reality check."
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