Two-time Academy Award-winning director and the creative head of Walt Disney and Pixar Animation Studios John Lasseter was given a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame yesterday in Los Angeles.
Surrounded by a bevy of stars who have contributed to the juggernaut-like success of Pixar films over the years, including Owen Wilson ("Cars," "Cars 2"), comedian Patton Oswalt ("Ratatouille"), and John Ratzenberger (Pixar's "good luck charm" who has voiced a role in every single one of their films), Lasseter was presented his star in front of the El Capitan Theater on Hollywood Blvd.
During the joke-filled ceremony, Lasseter did take a moment to thank long-time Pixar champion and partner Steve Jobs. Lasseter recalled that Jobs' sole request of Lasseter regarding Pixar was to "make it great." A tearful Lasseter then added, "Without Steve, Pixar wouldn't exist. These films wouldn't exist. I honor him."
The 54-year-old former Lucasfilm animator wrote, directed, and animator Pixar's first-ever film, the short "Luxo Jr.," which was the first computer-animated film to ever received an Oscar nomination (two years later, he helmed the first computer animated film to ever win an Oscar with "Tin Toy"). The bouncing desk lamp star of "Luxo Jr." remains part of the Pixar Studios logo to this day.
Pixar's next film is the Scotland-set adventure "Brave," do out next year.The studio celebrates its 25th anniversary this year.
Selected Reading: Los Angeles Times, Hollywood Reporter, Reuters
