Pixar Animation Studios
Scott A. Treloar
Dr. Gary Rodgers
Florida SouthWestern
State College
November 23, 2014
Current Situation and Industry
Information
• About Pixar
 Leading animation studio in the world.
 7 Oscars for Best Animated Film.
 Toy Story was the first computergenerated full-length feature film.
 Toy Story 3 first animated film to
gross over $1 Billion!
• About the Animated Film Industry
 Top Competitors include Pixar/Disney,
Dreamworks, Fox, and Blue Sky
Studios.
Current Problems
• Production
• How does Pixar maintain its current success?
• How will Pixar produce more films without losing
quality?
• Competition
• How does Pixar maintain competitive advantage
as the market sees new entrants?
Strategic Analysis
VRIS Framework for Sustained Competitive
Advantage.
• Is it Valuable? Yes.
– Creativity + Technology =
Box Office Success!
– Quality > Quantity =
Consistent Success!
• Is it Rare? Yes.
– Pixar’s greatest asset is
its talent, which is in
limited supply.
– Constant education and
innovation keep Pixar in
front of competition.
Strategic Analysis
VRIS Framework for Sustained Competitive
Advantage (continued)
• Is it Imitable? Yes, but with
difficulty.
– Pixar’s storytelling is difficult
to imitate.
– Pixar’s computer animation is
difficult to imitate.
• Animation that creates more lifelife texture, backgrounds
movement, and luminosity.
• Is it Substitutable? Yes, but
with difficulty.
– Pixar’s joint-effort with Disney
give it additional resources and
talent, making substitution
tough.
– New software program creates
more animation to be produced
with fewer artists and in
quicker time.
Alternative Solutions
Production
• Expand Pixar University to Develop New Talent and More Talent.
• Expand Relationship with Disney Animation Studio (and
Disney/ABC/ESPN) and Share Knowledge and Resources (i.e.
Tangled).
• Continue to Develop Innovative Technology to Increase Production.
Competition
• Expand Animation Offerings to New Demographics.
Recommendations
 Expand Pixar University to become an actual animation
college that trains more than just Pixar employees.
 Learn from Disney – Go Global with the storytelling and
reach new demographics.
 Learn from competition (i.e. Shrek) – tell stories that
will appeal to an older demographic, too.
 Spend more $$$ on R&D and innovate more, sooner.
References
Dess, G. G., Lumpkin, G. T., Eisner, A. B., & McNamara, G. (2012). Strategic Management: Text and Cases (6th
ed.). New York, NY, USA: McGraw Hill. Retrieved October 24, 2014
Hoovers. (2014). PIXAR. Retrieved November 23, 2014, from Hoovers.com:
http://subscriber.hoovers.com.db07.linccweb.org/H/company360/overview.html?companyId=46451000000
000
Pixar. (2014). About. Retrieved November 23, 2014, from pixar.com: http://www.pixar.com/about