Cases Study

6. Pixar Animation Studios

Author(s): Shamsie, Jamal

Description: After ending its agreement with Disney, should Pixar, producer of Finding Nemo, find another Hollywood studio to distribute its films or try to manage on its own? Steve Jobs, the Apple Computer chief executive who also heads Pixar, had been trying to negotiate with Michael Eisner, then Disney’s chief executive, about the share of profits that Pixar would get and the amount of control that it would maintain over its films. Jobs made it clear he wanted Pixar to finance and market its own movies and to retain all of the profits. Disney would get a distribution fee running between 7-10% of a film’s revenues. Eisner felt that Disney would not stand to gain much from such a deal. What would happen if Pixar went out on its own? Disney had provided assistance with marketing and distribution and associated merchandise. Would Pixar have the experience to handle these functions? Could Pixar continue to generate hits and therefore profits if it had to manage all on its own? The case provides information useful to augment a discussion of the strategic management of intellectual assets.

Publication Date: 2004 Revision Date: N/A

Event Year Start: 1979 Event Year End: 2004

Geographic Setting: U.S. Industry Setting: Entertainment/Animation

Courses: Business/Management and Organization/Strategic Management

Course Sequence: Intellectual Assets; Internal Analysis; Business-level Strategy; Strategy Concept

Subjects: Business Policy; Competitive Strategy; Intellectual Asset Analysis and Management; Creativity and Technology

Supplements: Teaching Note; PowerPoint Notes

Case Number: DLE3006

Source: Dess-Lumpkin-Eisner

P&G Japan: The SK-II Globalization Project

Added View 24 pp. Case

Author(s): Bartlett, Christopher A.

Publication Date: 03/24/2003 Revision Date: 03/03/2004

Product Type: Case (Field)

HBS Number: 9-303-003

Geographic Setting: Japan, United States Industry Setting: consumer...