Cassandra Smolcic, a graphic designer at Pixar from 2009 to 2014, accuses animation studios of sexism and sexual harassment in "How Pixar's Open Sexism Ruined My Dreamed Job."
"I know people say the atmosphere there was 'not so bad'. I am here to tell you that it was, and certainly still is. »
These are Smolcic's first words. In her article, the graphic designer explains how the sexist behavior of John Lasseter, the art director of Pixar, has become the norm within the production company. She testifies to having been touched by another Pixar employee, she has been constantly doubled by male colleagues and had to miss meetings in the presence of Lasseter because the latter has "problems controlling himself" in the presence of young women. Smolcic makes it clear that women are seen within Pixar as the "main targets of disrespect and harassment."
In November 2017, John Lasseter, a major figure at Pixar Studios, was accused of sexual harassment. The year 2018 will be the last for the producer who was still able to carry out these criminal practices for more than 20 years.
A strong legacy
Since 1995, with the release of Toy Story, Pixar fills the heads of the smallest (and even the biggest) with images, stories and morals. So it's no surprise that sexism and sexual harassment persist when we look more closely at how these animation studios treat women, whether on screen or in the shadows.
Cassandra Smolcic explains that in view of the more than inappropriate actions of the artistic director Lasseter, other male workers of Pixar allowed themselves sexist reflections and sexual touching on their female colleagues.
The accusations against Lasseter led to a change in the studios' direction. Thus, within Disney Lasseter will be replaced by Jennifer Lee and, at Pixar, Pete Docter will take his place. These changes seem to herald an evolution of the whole mentality of animation studios. But Smolcic says firing Lasseter won't be enough to dismantle his legacy. The latter remains far too rooted in the unconscious and identity of the production company.
The Me Too movement is not about to die out. After The Weinstein Company, it is the turn of Disney-Pixar to be singled out. Who will be next?
