critically acclaimed

There was 'Toy Story,' not just a success in peripheral sales but also a triumph for the academy and critics. Even though Pixar, a new animation studio, entered the scene, the opposition was biting their nails. But even the staunch opposition couldn't deny the charm of 'Toy Story.' To claim it's a bad movie would be impossible. They were nominated for the Golden Globes for Best Original Song, although they lost spectacularly. But the Oscars were a different story; they were clear favorites in all the chosen events, at least to a limited audience.

The outcome: they were nominated for three Oscar categories—Best Animated Feature, Best Soundtrack, and Best Original Song. This was seen as a lack of respect for Disney, who had already started promoting the competitors, giving unabashed support to 'Wallace & Gromit' and John Williams for his work on 'Schindler's List.'

Sales started to rise. Toys, DVDs, and other merchandise began selling again. Even Camcop appeared to discuss a Toy Story video game, with very lucrative deals that only went to AAA companies.

-Magnificent, - said John Lasseter from his desk.

-More than magnificent. This is a pride for our house, - said Alvy.

-Hahaha. Everyone will be surprised, even if we don't win anything. When Billy steps into stardom and showcases the fantastic 'The Lion King,' they'll most likely win the Oscar. No one can turn a blind eye two years in a row. They didn't even nominate 'Hercules' for a soundtrack, - John Lasseter said from his desk.

-Will you advertise at the Oscars? - Ed Camult asked.

-We won't. It's preferable to invest the money in the research department. I've heard that Billy wants to bring back a development team to help create a computer. He's been in talks with a company called Intel and CGI, aiming to bring a graphical advancement to the table, - John Lasseter explained.

-He proposed that, but you're missing something—they're involving Microsoft, - said Ed.

-Do you think it'll all end well? - John asked, a bit surprised. He may not be familiar with the business, but this young man is playing with multiple companies, constantly seeking new ways to benefit the company, akin to Steve, always seeking something new for the business.

-Improving hardware is no easy task. It's complex and substantial. According to my estimates, we need about $200 million and a lot of time to reach a stable result because things don't always turn out as desired, - Ed Camult, who knows Billy's deeper plans, shared in a recent meeting with Randall. The creation of software is just one step; Billy aims to go beyond and is quietly targeting Apple—the computer company of an old Pixar owner.

-Let's keep working. But how about going to that place we used to celebrate? Fatty's is waiting for us. Hey, Doctor! - John Lasseter called out.

Ed Camult covered his ears, feeling uncomfortable.

-Let's go to Fatty's to celebrate. Come on, Peter, you're in, buddy, - John Lasseter said. Peter shook his head. - Come on, Peter. We're nominated for the Oscars for our work. Don't be a spoilsport, - John Lasseter urged.

Half the company heard him, including Randall, who was in the kitchen, sipping coffee and reading Forbes. The whole place was buzzing, revitalized by the recognition. It's one of those things that light up people's spirits—the acknowledgment of the value of their hard work, an unforgettable strength.

-Come on, John. We'll go, but stop yelling across the office, -- Ed Camult said, rising from his desk. --I've got some work to do. - Despite the chatter, John's excitement persisted, and Ed couldn't help but be pleased about the nomination.

The work on the film 'A Bug's Life' had been long and grueling. The calm before the storm, the peaceful months and vacations, were over, replaced by demanding, high-pressure work for Pixar's animators. Week after week, Ed arrived at his desk, observing the new lines of code. Once again, the new program for modeling animal movements brought a series of problems when consolidating everything into a single process, aiming to enhance visual quality and represent materials effectively.

In the afternoon, Ed went to Randall's office to discuss important upcoming topics. Pixar, in collaboration with Autodesk, created the first digital 3D model. The animation studio's licensing has stirred excitement, and sales are excellent. The subscription model is proving profitable, continuously driving up profits.

-Ed, I heard about your celebration with John this morning, - Randall said.

-Yes, we're thrilled about the nomination. Would you like to go, Randall? You're also part of the Pixar team, - Ed asked.

Randall seemed surprised. - Sure, I'd love to, - he said, running his hand over his beard. - On another note, as one of the technology department's directors, I want to discuss your thoughts on the past year's management. The alliance with Autodesk has brought in a lot of money, but it has also limited innovation in our field because of the insights provided to emerging companies. -

-I agree. It would take three to five special software tools to try to replicate the movie. Now, getting to a similar idea requires an immense effort, - Ed Camult said.

-So, are you okay with continuing to share information with Autodesk for their publication? - asked Randall.

-I am, as long as the investment keeps flowing into Pixar, - Ed Camult replied.

With Autodesk in the mix, technological advancements have increased by two percentage points. Through better organization, an improved design room, and modeling techniques, the work to create a 3D studio unified functions and enhanced some software, including Fitz, Caps, and Stood—a new environment software to create scenes that benefit not only movies but also video games.

-Billy mentioned he'll keep investing, adding another five million by June and potentially another five by year-end. - Randall said.

-Well, he better not disappoint. - Ed Camult commented.

Why are they burning through cash so quickly? The payments aren't just to multiple software companies but for technical improvements, licenses, and other details, turning money into water. Nevertheless, the results are there. The payments to third-party firms allow for better software development and help prevent crashes. The licenses aid in specific operations and the improvements are advancements in hardware.

Warner Studios.

March 15.

Betty Cohen observed everything from the shadows. Cartoon Network took off, but the revenues were reduced. Plans were underway, with the help of Hanna-Barbera, to reboot some older series like Tom and Jerry, The Jetsons, and Scooby-Doo. However, it wasn't enough. The company's popularity had dwindled in the face of live-action series presented by Nickelodeon and some from Disney, which were stealing the limelight.

-Betty, start the process of hiring new animators. - said a weary Joseph Barbera from the desk. Despite his advanced age, the fatigue was obvious, yet his reputation was sky-high in the Warner company.

-Yes, sir. I'll contact Tony Benedict and Ed Benedict to expedite the formalization. - Betty Cohen said. The biggest concern was their rival, Lux Animation. With its growing popularity, they began the series Slam Dunk.

According to similar data, Lux Animation had hired at least 60 animators, which equated to an annual cost in the millions. How would they sustain this reckless spending without consideration? They needed editors, scriptwriters, directors, and producers, all adding to the already high expenses.

Betty walked towards her office, spotting the Oscar nominations in the newspaper. But she didn't seem to care.

Paula Sullen arrived, far more experienced than some time ago. -- Boss, the interviews are set, and the Cartoon Lab is live. We're allowing our animators to experiment with their series, as directed a while back. Ed Benedict is waiting to start the interviews. - Paula Sullen said.

-Thank you, Paula. Later, arrange a screening room for me. We need to select the series that could be the future of the franchise.- Betty Cohen said.

Paula Sullen left.

-Bob. - Betty said.

-Betty, I know why you're calling. - Bob Daily, the entertainment director, said.

-Yes, we're in the process of hiring more animators. It requires further investment from Turner Broadcasting. - Betty replied.

-This morning it was approved. The network believes that audiovisual content is crucial for the channel's development. Moreover, we learned about your monitoring of Lux Animation, which has caused certain issues that we're considering addressing. - Bob Daily mentioned.

-What are you talking about? - Betty inquired.

-Don't you know? For several weeks, it's been known that animation is on the minds of several houses. Companies like Fox, Paramount, Sony, and Disney are planning investments in animation. It's no surprise that the board decided to double that investment. - Bob Daily explained.

-What does that mean? -

-It means yes, we're going to fight for the Cartoon Network channel. This decision has been approved. - Bob Daily affirmed.

-It's a little late. The investment should have been made in 1992 when our popularity was at its peak. They've neglected the channel. - Betty expressed.

Bob sighed. - It's not just about the animated network. Mergers were stabilizing, and there have been power plays. The war with Paramount wasn't pretty. We have to invest in the film production companies and the television group. You're one of the seven channels we currently have. -

Betty couldn't say anything more. She was somewhat discontent, but the business situation is an enormous conglomerate.

...