Tuesday, November 23rd.
Only two days remained until Thanksgiving in 1999.
On this day, numerous American media reporters, like cats smelling fish, flocked to Pixar Animation Studios.
"Have you heard the news?" Hoplin, a female reporter from The New York Times, asked a male reporter beside her.
"Hoplin, isn't what you're saying nonsense? If it wasn't true, would I have traveled all the way from Hawaii?" The male reporter pouted.
Nearly a hundred reporters and photographers gathered at the press conference, whispering excitedly, some of them quite impatient.
After all, the collaboration between Pixar Animation and Waterworld Animation was undoubtedly a major event that would shake the animation industry.
"With these two animation companies collaborating, I bet the executives at DreamWorks Animation won't be getting much sleep lately."
"Heh heh, definitely."
"I vaguely remember three months ago, I interviewed Mr. Jeffrey Katzenberg of DreamWorks Animation, and he swore that their new animated film, 'The Road to El Dorado,' would go head-to-head with Pixar's 'Toy Story 2' during this year's Thanksgiving holiday slot, but now... he's chickened out."
"David, I also interviewed Jeffrey Katzenberg about this. Now, Pixar's 'Toy Story 2' is releasing as scheduled for Thanksgiving, but what about them? DreamWorks actually pushed the release date of 'The Road to El Dorado' to March next year, tsk tsk tsk ~ they're clearly afraid of Pixar Animation!"
"Waterworld Animation and Pixar Animation are both publicly listed companies and leaders in the animation field. Their upcoming in-depth collaboration is bound to be a major event that will reshape the animation landscape!"
Everyone was buzzing with discussion.
Before long... John Lasseter, Vice President of Pixar Animation and renowned animation director; and Stephen Sorenberg, President of Waterworld Animation and renowned animation director; both appeared.
Well, to be precise, they arrived together, laughing and chatting.
"Good morning, media reporters, industry colleagues, ladies and gentlemen."
Lasseter faced the media reporters and declared loudly: "The news you received is correct. The purpose of this press conference today is to inform everyone, to inform all of America, and to inform people around the world, that effective immediately, our Pixar Animation Studios will embark on a series of collaborations with Waterworld Animation. We will work closely together in both project and technical fields."
As his words fell, it immediately caused a stir!
Although everyone present already had their own sources and many had speculated, they were still surprised when the news was officially announced by Lasseter.
Folks, this is Pixar and Waterworld!
Aside from the veteran Disney Animation, a subsidiary of the Disney Group, which still held some sway, who in the current American animation industry could contend with the combined forces of Pixar and Waterworld Animation?
Not even DreamWorks Animation!
"Is this true?!" a reporter couldn't help but exclaim.
"Heh heh!"
Stephen Sorenberg, President of Waterworld Animation, took the microphone on the podium and chuckled to the crowd: "Of course, it's true. How could we joke about such an important matter? Starting today, we will embark on a series of in-depth collaborations with Pixar Animation."
"Hiss~"
A reporter couldn't help but gasp, clenching his fist, and excitedly said, "This is truly big news!"
The press conference ended quickly, and the media reporters present left even faster.
They had articles to write!
They urgently wanted to make this news public as quickly as possible... Less than an hour after the press conference ended, several media outlets that attended the press conference published the news immediately.
The Los Angeles Entertainment Post published an article stating: "The collaboration of two great companies—will surely lead to even greater things!"
The California Entertainment Post published an article stating: "It is foreseeable: Waterworld Animation's stock price will rise again."
These two media outlets, staunch supporters of Kyle, naturally wouldn't miss this big news.
Other media outlets were not far behind.
The New York Times published an article stating: "In the field of computer animation, Pixar Animation ranks first, and Waterworld Animation ranks third, second only to DreamWorks Animation, which ranks second. But now that Pixar and Waterworld are collaborating, we can fully imagine that in the near future, Waterworld Animation will definitely surpass DreamWorks Animation!"
Soon after the news broke, it was exactly as expected!
Jeffrey Katzenberg of DreamWorks was stunned!
The other two of DreamWorks' "Big Three," Spielberg and David Geffen, also rushed to DreamWorks Animation immediately.
"You're finally here, aren't you?"
"Are you two satisfied now?"
"I told you earlier to list DreamWorks Animation independently, but you wouldn't listen, hoping for the entire group to go public!"
"Now that Waterworld and Pixar are collaborating, what will become of our DreamWorks Animation?"
"Putting everything else aside, in terms of funding alone, they can leave us in the dust~"
Jeffrey Katzenberg's long-suppressed anger erupted at this moment, like a volcanic eruption, unstoppable.
He was truly furious!
"If DreamWorks Animation were a publicly listed company now, then even if Pixar and Waterworld Animation collaborated, we wouldn't be without a fighting chance. But now? We're not even fit to carry their shoes!!!"
Jeffrey Katzenberg roared at Spielberg and the other.
Spielberg: "..."
David Geffen: "..."
The two were speechless. In fact, when they saw Waterworld Animation go public first and successfully reap profits from its initial public offering, they were already filled with regret. Now, this fact was mercilessly torn open by Katzenberg, leaving the two quite embarrassed.
While DreamWorks Animation was horrified by the in-depth collaboration between Waterworld Animation and Pixar Animation, other small and medium-sized animation companies in America were almost driven to despair.
Even Blue Sky Studios, backed by 20th Century Fox, fell into a dead silence after hearing the news.
"Their collaboration is going to force us out of business!" Chris Wedge gritted his teeth.
Carlos Saldanha, co-director of "Ice Age," also sighed, "Don't be surprised; just now, Mr. Murdoch personally called me and said he would give us more support in the future."
Murdoch spoke?!
Upon hearing this, everyone at Blue Sky Studios breathed a sigh of relief.
They would be lying if they said they weren't worried about the combined power of Waterworld Animation and Pixar Animation. However, with the support of media mogul and film magnate Murdoch, they weren't without a fighting chance...
Waterworld Animation.
Kyle looked at David Meisel and the other excited employees of Waterworld Animation and couldn't help but ask, "Is Pixar's technology impressive?"
"Huh?"
David Meisel was first stunned, then burst into laughter, "Boss, it's quite impressive! The last time I attended the premiere of 'Toy Story 2,' I was filled with admiration for Pixar's technical prowess."
An executive also chimed in, "Their technology is excellent. In areas like water textures, fur, lighting, and emotion simulation... they are at least 3 to 5 years ahead of our Waterworld Animation. I have to say, they are really amazing."
David Meisel added, "Boss, if we had possessed these advanced technologies earlier, our 'Finding Nemo' would have been even better."
Everyone at Waterworld Animation started discussing, their expressions filled with excitement.
Seeing this, Kyle couldn't help but feel a surge of pride.
Kyle's support for Jobs's decisions at Apple was exchanged for Pixar Animation's advanced technologies.
Undoubtedly, with Pixar Animation's technical support, Waterworld Animation's future would be even brighter!
Similarly, Pixar Animation also reaped great benefits.
It's worth noting that while Pixar Animation was very successful at this stage, producing one excellent animated film after another, they had signed a series of "humiliating" clauses with the Disney Group during their low point, ceding many benefits to Disney.
Was Pixar willing to accept this? Was Jobs himself willing?
Of course not!
Their current collaboration with Kyle was driven by a desire to strengthen themselves, hoping to extract more benefits from Disney in the future.
Therefore, the collaboration between the two companies was truly a win-win situation.