Skydance’s Lasseter hire criticised

US film and television outfit Skydance Media is facing a backlash after appointing former Pixar creative boss John Lasseter as head of its animation division.

John Lasseter

Lasseter was placed on leave from his top job at Pixar Animation Studios and Disney Animation last year after allegations of workplace misconduct were made against him.

The animation veteran was named head of Skydance Animation yesterday and the hire drew immediate criticism on social media and from groups such as Time’s Up, which was formed to campaign against sexual harassment.

“Skydance Media’s decision to hire John Lasseter as head of animation endorses and perpetuates a broken system that allows powerful men to act without consequence,” Time’s Up said in a statement yesterday.

“At a moment when we should be uplifting the many talented voices who are consistently underrepresented, Skydance Media is providing another position of power, prominence and privilege to a man who has repeatedly been accused of sexual harassment in the workplace.”

Announcing the hire yesterday, Skydance Media CEO David Ellison, to whom Lasseter will report, said he was a “a singular creative and executive talent whose impact on the animation industry cannot be overstated.”