Hollywood Starts with Animation

November 21, 1995, 11.50pm.

Los Angeles, Hollywood Chinese Theater Cinema.

"Man, take it easy, don't be nervous, it's not your first time watching it." Zucker whispered.

"Okay, but no matter how many times I watch it, I'm a little nervous, you know." John Lasseter smiled wryly.

Seeing this, Zu Ke couldn't help laughing and scolding: "John, I invested a lot of money in "Toy Story" peripheral projects. Are you really saying that? It will disappoint investors."

"I apologize, friend." Lasseter waved his hand quickly.

That's right, Zucker asked John Lasseter to see a movie today.

This is also Zu Ke's intention to win over. After all, Lasseter will be a great god in the field of animation in the future. If you have a good relationship and don't spend any money, why not do it?

Well, today is the "Toy Story" produced by Pixar Animation.

Premiere you say?

No kidding man, where's Pixar's money now?

Otherwise, you would have thought that Jobs would have blushed a few months ago because of Zucker's $800,000 licensing fee, and had used Dabel's negotiator for the negotiating company.

"I said man, don't forget to treat me to dinner when Pixar goes public, I reminded you to buy the full stock."

Zucker said suddenly.

Hearing this, Lasseter was stunned, and his face fell even more.

"Zuck, it's okay if you don't say this. I feel bad when you say it. For the allotment of shares, I have mortgaged my entire net worth, including my house and car. If Pixar fails to go public, I will go bankrupt."

Pixar Animation goes public?

How could it fail? !

But to be honest, the decision of Pixar Animation Studios to go public was actually quite abrupt.

In the weeks before Toy Story came out, Jobs used his genius of judgment when he and Pixar's founding team said: Pixar is going public.

The team members were surprised, the movie has not been released yet, which city?

For his own judgment, Jobs' logic is this: If "Toy Story" fails, then shut down the company, but if it becomes a hit, Disney will definitely realize the threat of Pixar and will restart negotiations (because Toy Story has Disney investment). At this time, Pixar must have sufficient funds to prove that without Disney, Pixar can continue to operate, so as to obtain greater benefits in the negotiations.

As it turns out, Jobs was right.

After the release of "Toy Story", Pixar Animation went public in just one week. The market value from the beginning was estimated at 20 million US dollars, which may be less than 1 billion US dollars in just one month.

It's turned over fifty times!

"You feel bad ass!"

"If it wasn't for Jobs, who was a slippery horse and a traitor, before going public, he would only allocate shares to the founding team, and I would want to get involved."

That's right, Zucker is full of deep envy for Lasseter!

Pixar Animation gave Lasseter a full allotment of shares, although part of it had to be bought with his own money, but it was enough to ensure that within a month, he would become a millionaire with a net worth of more than ten million dollars, far exceeding Zucker.

"Hahaha, man, after listening to your words of deep envy, I feel a lot more relaxed. Don't worry, I will definitely treat you to a big meal when the company goes public." Lasseter laughed.

Soon, the movie begins.

Although Zucker has watched "Toy Story" more than once in the future, when he saw the cowboy Sheriff Woody and the astronaut Buzz Lightyear on the screen, he couldn't help but sigh.

"Although I can't participate in Pixar's internal allotment, but when it goes public, I can also participate in it, not to mention fifty times the profit, but there must be ten times the profit, hehe."

think of this,

Zu Ke's mood became elated.

As long as there is money to be made, Zucker's mood is beautiful!

......

Zu Ke's mood is beautiful, but some people are sad.

For example: James Sean, Zucker's old leader, including Charlize Theron, an employee who has not yet been converted.

"Store manager, do you think there is something wrong with the boss's spirit, and he wants to open a shop after the early morning?"

The emperor was upset.

Who goes to work in the middle of the night, and Zhu Ke, who is stingy, has not paid overtime.

Thinking of this, the young Saihuang is full of resentment.

"Charlize, you can't say anything about our boss, don't look at his usual nagging and stingy, but... well, I don't fucking know why he let us It's open for business most of the night today."

James gritted his teeth: "Isn't it because "Toy Story" is released, I still don't want to believe how popular it is!"

That's right, no one believed that Toy Story was going to be a big hit, including the folks at Pixar.

The employees of the seven SpongeBob SquarePants chain stores, such as the SpongeBob SquarePants store in Los Angeles, Rodeo Drive store, Hollywood and Highland shopping center stores, etc., were biting their teeth at Zucker.

They are still working in the middle of the night, that is, Zhu Ke's employees!

......

The time was in the resentment of Zuke's employees, and 90 minutes passed.

The first batch of viewers in the United States to watch the "Toy Story" movie have walked out of the theater. They all started a lively discussion.

"The movie is really, really good."

"Yeah, I didn't expect that the original 3D animation movie is so beautiful!"

"Yes, twice as good as the previous animated films, no, ten times as good!"

"Cowboy Sheriff Woody, Buzz Lightyear, Cowgirl Triss, Spring Dog, etc. I love them all."

The audience's discussion is enough to show that "Toy Story" really succeeded.

Hearing this, John Lasseter, who had just walked out of the cinema, including Zucker, breathed a sigh of relief.

It worked!

Having these discussions is a successful start.

"Husband, should we buy some Toy Story dolls, I really like Buzz Lightyear."

Suddenly, a voice entered Zucker's ear.

Zhu Ke immediately looked over, but it was a beautiful woman in her 20s talking to his boyfriend.

The sound of buying dolls not only spread to Zhu Ke's ears, but also to the ears of many audience members.

"Yeah, we can also buy some Buzz Lightyear and Woody figures."

"You can't buy dolls, but it's not bad to buy a few buckles."

........

Audiences who loved Toy Story, however, were quickly disappointed.

"Sorry, we don't have Buzz Lightyear and Sheriff Woody figures for sale here."

The staff of the cinema were full of helplessness in their polite answers. Isn't "Toy Story" a mediocre word of mouth? Why does anyone still want to buy its peripherals?

"Ah, that's it! That's all, it's a pity."

The audience was disappointed.

The movie theater doesn't sell it, so even if you like it, you can't kill the staff.

"Cough cough... all my friends, listen to me."

At this time, Zucker stood up without hesitation and shouted: "Everyone, I know there is a place to sell "Toy Story" peripherals."

"Uh, where?" John Lasseter cooperated.

Zhu Kelang said: "If you want to buy Sheriff Woody and Buzz Lightyear, just go to the SpongeBob SquarePants house, there are a lot of them, just on the street outside the cinema."