A big move is underway at Disney’s Pixar animation studio as 21-year veteran Jim Morris will become chairman emeritus after 12 years in the role. He will be replaced by 30-plus year Disney veteran Jonathan Garson.
All of this comes into effect on January 4, 2027.
Pete Docter will continue to lead the Toy story And Upside down animation studio as creative director. Jonas Rivera will take on an expanded role as executive vice president of creative, leading filmmakers and development, working closely with Docter and Garson.
Morris will continue to be EP on Incredibles 3 which will hit theaters on June 16, 2028. He will also continue to focus on talent development and mentoring within Pixar and major studio Walt Disney, in addition to technology initiatives that support the companies’ storytellers and artists. We understand that Morris’ transition was still in the works and is not part of the larger VERO buyout deals that Disney was offering to long-term executives as they made massive workforce reductions.
As president, Garson will oversee all Pixar productions and operations, including its producers, department heads and post-production, in partnership with Docter. During his tenure at Disney, Garson worked closely with Pixar executives, filmmakers and creative teams for 16 years.
Both Garson and Morris will report to Disney Entertainment Studios President Alan Bergman. Note that there is nothing new in the reporting structure here, as the Pixar chairman has always had between the chairman of Disney Entertainment Studios and Pixar’s creative boss Docter.
“Having worked closely with Jim Morris for more than 20 years, I have enormous respect for his leadership and unwavering commitment to Pixar and its collaborators,” said Bergman. “He is not only a wonderful business partner, but also a great friend. As we prepare for his eventual retirement, this transition will ensure a smooth succession for the team.”
“With a strong background at Pixar and Disney, Jonathan Garson has proven to be an exceptional leader with a keen sense of what makes Pixar unique and how its storytelling comes to life in so many ways for fans, and Pete Docter and I are excited for him to step into this role. Additionally, Jonas Rivera brings a wealth of creative expertise that will serve the team well as he works even more closely with Pete,” Bergman continued.
Morris joined Pixar in 2005. He was the studio’s second president after Ed Catmull. Over the course of its career, Pixar’s feature films have grossed more than $12 billion at the worldwide box office. He came to Pixar after a long career at Lucasfilm and ILM, where he served as general manager of ILM and then president of Lucas Digital Ltd., overseeing VFX work on several feature films.
“Leading Pixar has been the privilege of my life, and I am honored to have been a steward of its legacy alongside extraordinary artists, storytellers and technologists who continue to redefine what animation can do and expand the art of cinema,” Morris said. “After 52 years in the business, and almost 40 at Lucasfilm and Pixar, I will be taking a step back from the day-to-day, but I am excited to get into the business of managing a number of special projects, working alongside my friends Pete, Jonathan and Jonas at Pixar, and of course Alan Bergman, who has been a great supporter of Pixar over the years.”
Morris continued: “Looking ahead, I can think of no one better than Jonathan to carry on the legacy of this beloved studio. He is a true Pixar, a staunch supporter of our films, our people and our culture. Pixar is in very good hands.”
Garson has worked at Pixar since 2010 and at Disney for over 30 years. He most recently served as CEO of Pixar and previously led its marketing and franchise team. He worked closely with Docter and Morris for 16 years and built strong relationships with filmmakers and partners across the company and industry.
“I still remember seeing Toy story for the first time – I never imagined I would one day work at Pixar, let alone take on a leadership role like this,” Garson said. “Every day I walk through the door here, I am reminded of how special this place is and how lucky I am to be a part of it. Jim showed me what it looks like to sustain this culture of quality, innovation and creative ambition, and I am extremely grateful to him and Alan for their trust and support. This is a humbling opportunity, and I look forward to working with Pete, Jonas, the production management team led by Katherine Sarafian and Lindsey Collins, and all of the extraordinary talent here at Pixar as we continue to push boundaries and lead our studio into the future.
As executive vice president of creative, Rivera will focus full-time on creative oversight of Pixar films in partnership with Docter, overseeing the studio’s executives, creative vice presidents and development, casting and content consulting departments. He and Docter will serve as EPs on every Pixar film.
Rivera’s history with Pixar dates back to 1994, when he became the studio’s first-ever production intern. Since then, he has worked on almost every Pixar release, winning Academy Awards for Upside down And Toy Story 4; earning a Best Picture nomination for his first feature as a producer, Up; and executive producer of the studio’s biggest global hit and one of the greatest animated films ever made, 2024’s Inside Out 2.
“Since I walked through those doors as Pixar’s first production intern, this place, its people and its stories have been my life’s work,” Rivera said. “I am deeply honored to take on this new role alongside Pete, partnering with him and Jonathan to support our incredible filmmakers and artists. Jim has been an extraordinary mentor and leader, and I intend to build on the lessons I have learned from him as we look to our next chapter.”
Pixar recently released the billion-dollar hit Toy Story 5 worldwide in June. Its upcoming lineup includes two new original animated films – catin theaters on March 5, 2027, and Ghost marketin theaters on March 10, 2028 – followed by Incredibles 3 in June 2028.
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