In 1984, Disney had the chance to own the future of animation for just $15 million. They said no.

Today, Pixar is a multi-billion dollar cornerstone of the Disney empire, but the journey from a Lucasfilm basement to the top of the box office was a decade-long corporate war. In this episode of Synergy Loves Company, we’re diving deep into the three specific inventions Disney rejected, the firing of John Lasseter, and the "worst deal" Steve Jobs ever signed.

How did the king of animation miss the paradigm shift happening right under their nose? And how did they end up paying $7 billion for a team they could have owned for a fraction of the price?

In this video, we explore:

The Lucasfilm "Graphics Group": The rebel engineering outfit that built the future in a basement.
The 3 Key Inventions: How the Pixar Image Computer, CAPS, and RenderMan changed cinema forever.
The Exile of John Lasseter: Why Disney fired the man who would eventually save their animation department.
The Jobs vs. Eisner Showdown: The high-stakes corporate battle that led to the creation of Toy Story.

QUESTION: Have you seen those early Pixar shorts like Luxo Jr., Red's Dream, or Tin Toy? Which one is your favorite? Let me know in the comments!

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Synergy Loves Company is not affiliated with The Walt Disney Company or any of its subsidiaries. • Images and clips are used under fair use for commentary, criticism, and education.

Until next time, keep discovering the magic in everything!

When Disney Missed Out On Pixar!