John Alan Lasseter is an American film director, producer, screenwriter, animator, voice actor, and the head of animation at Skydance Animation. He was previously the chief creative officer of Pixar Animation Studios, Walt Disney Animation Studios, and Disneytoon Studios, as well as the Principal Creative Advisor for Walt Disney Imagineering.
Lasseter's first job was with The Walt Disney Company, where he became an animator. Next, he joined Lucasfilm, where he worked on the then-groundbreaking use of CGI animation. After Lucasfilm became Pixar in 1986, Lasseter oversaw all of Pixar's films and associated projects as executive producer and he directed Toy Story, A Bug's Life, Toy Story 2, Cars, "Toy Story 3" and "Cars 2".
He has won two Academy Awards, for Animated Short Film (Tin Toy), as well as a Special Achievement Award (Toy Story).
Academy Awards
Best Animated Short Film
Known For
Inside Out
(2015)
Executive Producer
Monsters, Inc.
(2001)
Executive Producer
Up
(2009)
Executive Producer
Zootopia
(2016)
Executive Producer
Coco
(2017)
Executive Producer
Finding Nemo
(2003)
Executive Producer
Ratatouille
(2007)
Executive Producer
Frozen
(2013)
Executive Producer
Big Hero 6
(2014)
Executive Producer
Tangled
(2010)
Executive Producer
Beauty and the Beast
(1991)
Executive Producer
Cars 3
(2017)
Executive Producer
Luck
(2022)
Producer
WALL·E
(2008)
Executive Producer
Incredibles 2
(2018)
Executive Producer
Brave
(2012)
Executive Producer
Full Filmography
Production
Lady and the Lamp
(1979)
Producer
Nitemare
(1980)
Producer
Luxo Jr.
(1986)
Producer
Red's Dream
(1987)
Producer
Tin Toy
(1988)
Producer
Knick Knack
(1989)
Producer
Beauty and the Beast
(1991)
Executive Producer
Geri's Game
(1997)
Executive Producer
For the Birds
(2000)
Executive Producer
Monsters, Inc.
(2001)
Executive Producer
Mike's New Car
(2002)
Executive Producer
Finding Nemo
(2003)
Executive Producer
Boundin'
(2003)
Executive Producer
Exploring the Reef
(2003)
Executive Producer
The Incredibles
(2004)
Executive Producer
One Man Band
(2005)
Executive Producer
Jack-Jack Attack
(2005)
Executive Producer
Lifted
(2006)
Executive Producer
Ratatouille
(2007)
Executive Producer
How to Hook Up Your Home Theater
(2007)
Executive Producer
Your Friend the Rat
(2007)
Executive Producer
Meet the Robinsons
(2007)
Executive Producer
Bolt
(2008)
Executive Producer
Tinker Bell
(2008)
Executive Producer
Presto
(2008)
Executive Producer
WALL·E
(2008)
Executive Producer
Glago's Guest
(2008)
Executive Producer
Cars Toon Mater's Tall Tales
(2008)
Executive Producer
Tokyo Mater
(2008)
Executive Producer
BURN·E
(2008)
Executive Producer
Prep & Landing
(2009)
Executive Producer
Super Rhino
(2009)
Executive Producer
Up
(2009)
Executive Producer
Partly Cloudy
(2009)
Executive Producer
The Princess and the Frog
(2009)
Executive Producer
Tinker Bell and the Lost Treasure
(2009)
Executive Producer
Dug's Special Mission
(2009)
Executive Producer
Tangled
(2010)
Executive Producer
Prep & Landing Stocking Stuffer: Operation: Secret Santa
(2010)
Producer
Tick Tock Tale
(2010)
Executive Producer
Tinker Bell and the Great Fairy Rescue
(2010)
Executive Producer
Moon Mater
(2010)
Executive Producer
Mater Private Eye
(2010)
Executive Producer
Day & Night
(2010)
Executive Producer
Toy Story 3
(2010)
Executive Producer
The Ballad of Nessie
(2011)
Executive Producer
Pixie Hollow Games
(2011)
Executive Producer
Prep & Landing: Naughty vs. Nice
(2011)
Executive Producer
Air Mater
(2011)
Executive Producer
Small Fry
(2011)
Executive Producer
Winnie the Pooh
(2011)
Executive Producer
Wreck-It Ralph
(2012)
Executive Producer
La luna
(2012)
Executive Producer
The Legend of Mor'du
(2012)
Executive Producer
Tangled Ever After
(2012)
Executive Producer
Secret of the Wings
(2012)
Executive Producer
Partysaurus Rex
(2012)
Executive Producer
Prep & Landing: Totally Tinsel Collection
(2012)
Executive Producer
Brave
(2012)
Executive Producer
Paperman
(2012)
Executive Producer
Monsters University
(2013)
Executive Producer
Get a Horse!
(2013)
Executive Producer
Frozen
(2013)
Executive Producer
Toy Story of Terror!
(2013)
Executive Producer
Hiccups
(2013)
Executive Producer
Spinning
(2013)
Executive Producer
Bugged
(2013)
Executive Producer
Planes
(2013)
Executive Producer
The Blue Umbrella
(2013)
Executive Producer
Big Hero 6
(2014)
Executive Producer
Planes: Fire & Rescue
(2014)
Executive Producer
Party Central
(2014)
Executive Producer
Feast
(2014)
Executive Producer
Lava
(2014)
Executive Producer
Tinker Bell and the Pirate Fairy
(2014)
Executive Producer
Tinker Bell and the Legend of the NeverBeast
(2014)
Executive Producer
The Radiator Springs 500½
(2014)
Executive Producer
Inside Out
(2015)
Executive Producer
Frozen Fever
(2015)
Executive Producer
Sanjay's Super Team
(2015)
Executive Producer
Riley's First Date?
(2015)
Executive Producer
The Good Dinosaur
(2015)
Executive Producer
Moana
(2016)
Executive Producer
Zootopia
(2016)
Executive Producer
Finding Dory
(2016)
Executive Producer
Piper
(2016)
Executive Producer
Inner Workings
(2016)
Executive Producer
Gone Fishing
(2017)
Executive Producer
Cars 3
(2017)
Executive Producer
Lou
(2017)
Executive Producer
Olaf's Frozen Adventure
(2017)
Executive Producer
Coco
(2017)
Executive Producer
Miss Fritter's Racing Skoool
(2017)
Executive Producer
Ralph Breaks the Internet
(2018)
Executive Producer
Incredibles 2
(2018)
Executive Producer
Bao
(2018)
Executive Producer
Blush
(2021)
Executive Producer
Luck
(2022)
Producer
Bad Luck Spot!
(2023)
Executive Producer
Acting
Tin Toys Knick Knacks & Algorithms
(1991)
Self
The Making of Bambi: A Prince is Born
(1994)
Self - director & exec. VP, Pixar Animation
Toy Story
(1995)
Commercial Chorus #1 (voice) (uncredited)
Making 'Toy Story'
(1995)
Self
The Story Behind 'Toy Story'
(1996)
Self
A Bug's Life
(1998)
Bug Zapper Bug #1 (voice)
The Hand Behind the Mouse: The Ub Iwerks Story
(1999)
Himself
Toy Story 2
(1999)
Blue Rock 'Em Sock 'Em Robot (voice)
From Star Wars to Star Wars: The Story of Industrial Light & Magic
(1999)
Self
Chuck Jones: Extremes and In-Betweens - A Life in Animation
(2000)
Self
The Beatles Revolution
(2000)
Self
The Making of TRON
(2002)
Himself
The Art of 'Spirited Away'
(2003)
Self
Lasseter-san, Thank You
(2003)
Himself
Making 'Nemo'
(2003)
Self - Executive Producer
Hayao Miyazaki and the Ghibli Museum
(2005)
Self
The Inspiration for 'Cars'
(2006)
Cars Wal-Mart Exclusive Geared UP
(2006)
The Pixar Story
(2007)
Self
Fog City Mavericks
(2007)
Self
Walt Disney Treasures: The Adventures of Oswald the Lucky Rabbit
(2007)
Self
AFI: 100 Years... 100 Movies... 10th Anniversary Edition
(2007)
Self
The Pixar Shorts: A Short History
(2007)
Mr. Warmth: The Don Rickles Project
(2007)
Self
The Boys: The Sherman Brothers' Story
(2009)
Himself
Waking Sleeping Beauty
(2009)
Self (archive footage)
Industrial Light & Magic: Creating the Impossible
(2010)
Self
Magic in the Bayou: The Making of a Princess
(2010)
Self
These Amazing Shadows
(2011)
Self
Cars 2
(2011)
Additional Voices (voice)
Ray Harryhausen: Special Effects Titan
(2011)
Self
Bloomberg Inside: Pixar
(2013)
Self - Walt Disney & Pixar Chief Creative Officer
The Story of Frozen: Making a Disney Animated Classic
(2014)
Himself
A Grand Night In: The Story of Aardman
(2015)
Self - Pixar Chief Creative Officer
Behind the Magic: Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
(2015)
Himself
Toy Story at 20: To Infinity and Beyond
(2015)
Self
Imagining Zootopia
(2016)
Himself
Bozzetto non troppo
(2016)
Motori Ruggenti
(2017)
Self
Making Waves: The Art of Cinematic Sound
(2019)
Self
Beyond Infinity: Buzz and the Journey to Lightyear
(2022)
Self (archive footage)
Directing
Lady and the Lamp
(1979)
Director
Nitemare
(1980)
Director
Luxo Jr.
(1986)
Director
Red's Dream
(1987)
Director
Tin Toy
(1988)
Director
Knick Knack
(1989)
Director
Front and Back
(1991)
Director
Up and Down
(1991)
Director
Surprise
(1991)
Director
Light and Heavy
(1991)
Director
Toy Story
(1995)
Director
Tiny Toy Stories
(1996)
Director
A Bug's Life
(1998)
Director
Toy Story 2
(1999)
Director
Cars
(2006)
Director
Mater and the Ghostlight
(2006)
Director
Tokyo Mater
(2008)
Director
El Materdor
(2008)
Director
Rescue Squad Mater
(2008)
Director
Mater the Greater
(2008)
Director
Cars Toon Mater's Tall Tales
(2008)
Director
Unidentified Flying Mater
(2009)
Director
Monster Truck Mater
(2010)
Director
Heavy Metal Mater
(2010)
Director
Cars 2
(2011)
Director
Visual Effects
Lady and the Lamp
(1979)
Animation
Nitemare
(1980)
Animation
The Adventures of André and Wally B.
(1984)
Character Designer, Animation, and Modeling
Young Sherlock Holmes
(1985)
Animation
Luxo Jr.
(1986)
Animation Department Coordinator
Tin Toy
(1988)
Animation
Knick Knack
(1989)
Animation
Writing
Lady and the Lamp
(1979)
Writer
Nitemare
(1980)
Writer
Luxo Jr.
(1986)
Writer
Red's Dream
(1987)
Writer
Tin Toy
(1988)
Writer
Knick Knack
(1989)
Writer
Toy Story
(1995)
Original Story
A Bug's Life
(1998)
Story
Toy Story 2
(1999)
Story
Cars
(2006)
Screenplay and Original Story
Mater and the Ghostlight
(2006)
Original Story
Rescue Squad Mater
(2008)
Writer
Tokyo Mater
(2008)
Writer
Cars Toon Mater's Tall Tales
(2008)
Story
Mater the Greater
(2008)
Story
El Materdor
(2008)
Story
Unidentified Flying Mater
(2009)
Writer
Monster Truck Mater
(2010)
Writer
Mater Private Eye
(2010)
Writer
Moon Mater
(2010)
Writer
Heavy Metal Mater
(2010)
Story
Toy Story 3
(2010)
Story
Cars 2
(2011)
Original Story
Air Mater
(2011)
Writer
Small Fry
(2011)
Story
Time Travel Mater
(2012)
Writer
Partysaurus Rex
(2012)
Story
Toy Story of Terror!
(2013)
Characters
Spinning
(2013)
Story
Planes
(2013)
Original Story
Planes: Fire & Rescue
(2014)
Characters
Tinker Bell and the Pirate Fairy
(2014)
Story
Toy Story 4
(2019)
Original Story
Crew