It looks as if the Disney/Pixar relationship may be at an end as Walt Disney Pictures seems to be moving forward with the second sequel in the Toy Story saga without the one time partner.
According to Reuters, Disney is in the process of setting up a digital animation facility in Glendale, California, not far from its now heated competitor DreamWorks Animation.
The new facility will be used for the production of Toy Story 3, of which Disney holds the rights to do sequels to Toy Story, with or without Pixar, it has held off from doing so in the past, in part in deference to Pixar CEO Steve Jobs and executive VP John Lasseter, both of whom haven’t wanted to lose control of the characters.
But with Pixar’s announcement that the upcoming 2005 release of Cars will be the final Disney/Pixar collaboration Disney’s Michael Eisner and studio head Dick Cook are ready to bring Woody, Buzz Lightyear and the gang back to the big screen.
