John Lasseter Leaving Disney and Pixar at the End of 2018

John Lasseter was one of the giants in modern animation, but after the rise of the #MeToo Movement, he found himself taking a leave of absence from Pixar following multiple sexual misconduct allegations. Now news has it that Lasseter is officially leaving Pixar and Disney by the end of the year.

In a released statement (via The Hollywood Reporter), Lasseter said:

"The last six months have provided an opportunity to reflect on my life, career and personal priorities. While I remain dedicated to the art of animation and inspired by the creative talent at Pixar and Disney, I have decided the end of this year is the right time to begin focusing on new creative challenges. I am extremely proud of what two of the most important and prolific animation studios have achieved under my leadership and I'm grateful for all the opportunities to follow my creative passion at Disney."

Disney CEO Bob Iger also had this to say about Lasseter's exit:

"John had a remarkable tenure at Pixar and Disney Animation, reinventing the animation business, taking breathtaking risks, and telling original, high quality stories that will last forever. We are profoundly grateful for his contribution, which included a masterful and remarkable turnaround of The Walt Disney Animation Studios. One of John's greatest achievements is assembling a team of great storytellers and innovators with the vision and talent to set the standard in animation for generations to come."

Lasseter was the mind behind the Toy Story films, and ushered in a new era of 3D animated movies. Though a lot of people acknowledge his contributions to the industry, it hasn't really helped the fact that multiple women have come forward to say that Lasseter has made Pixar a less than comfortable place to work in.

With heroes and idols being torn down by the #MeToo Movement, a lot of people are admittedly getting mixed feelings for people they've loved being involved with scandalous behavior. Though Lasseter may have been tagged by his behavior, there is no doubt that he has done some groundbreaking work with cinema. His legacy of films will be living beyond himself.

See Also: George Takei's Accuser Changes His Story Of Sexual Assault