The Visual Effects Society (VES) announced that Pixar Animation Studios’ two-time Academy Award-winning filmmaker John Lasseter, whose credits include direction of defining computer animated feature Toy Story, has been selected to receive the organization’s Georges Melies Award for Artistic Excellence; and that VES founding chair Jim Morris–producer and production executive at Pixar Animation Studios and former Lucasfilm president–has been chosen to receive the Board of Directors Award at the 4th Annual VES Awards on Feb. 15, 2006 in Hollywood. The annual awards competition honors visual effects excellence in features, TV, commercials, music videos and games.
Morris will be honored for his role as the founding chair of VES, an organization started in 1997 in response to the explosive growth in the visual effects art form. He actually served three terms as chair. “Jim’s management experience was vital in creating a strong organizational foundation for the VES while his exceptional reputation in the field served as the key recruiting force for membership,” said current VES chair Carl Rosendahl. “The VES’ continued success can truly be attributed to his vision and steering.”
Morris joined Pixar in early 2005 as a producer; there, he is producing Andrew Stanton’s (Finding Nemo) new film, which is slated as Pixar’s summer ’08 release.
His previously held post was president of Lucas Digital, topping his 17 years at Lucasfilm.
As president of Lucas Digital, Morris was responsible for the corporate entity and its two units, Industrial Light + Magic, and Skywalker Sound. Concurrently and prior to that, Morris served as ILM’s general manager, during which time ILM created the groundbreaking, Academy Award-winning visual effects seen in Jurassic Park, Death Becomes Her and Forrest Gump. Morris joined ILM in 1987, producing visual effects sequences for films and commercials.
He started his career as broadcast cameraman/editor, producing commercials at J. Walter Thompson, Foote, Cone & Belding, One Pass, and Arnold & Associates.
Lasseter, who is executive VP, creative, and a founding member of Pixar Animation Studios, oversees all of Pixar’s films and associated projects. Lasseter directed Toy Story, A Bug’s Life and Toy Story 2. Additionally, he executive produced Monsters, Inc., Finding Nemo, and The Incredibles. John returns to the director’s chair with the animated feature film Cars, to be released June 9, 2006.
In 2004, Lasseter was honored by the Art Directors Guild with its Outstanding Contribution To Cinematic Imagery award, and received an honorary degree from the American Film Institute.
Lasseter earned a Special Achievement Oscar in 1995 for his inspired leadership of the Toy Story team. His work on Toy Story also resulted in an Academy Award nomination for best original screenplay, the first time an animated feature had been recognized in that category. Later, Finding Nemo and The Incredibles each earned an Oscar for best animated feature film.
Lasseter also has written, directed and animated a number of highly renowned short films and television commercials for Pixar, including Luxo Jr. (1986 Academy Award nominee); Tin Toy (1988 Academy Award winner for best animated short film); and Knickknack (1989), which was produced as a 3D stereoscopic film.
In addition to categories offered last year, the 4th annual VES Awards competition has added a special venue project award, and split the gaming category in order to honor both “real time” and “pre-rendered” visuals in a video game separately.
