Pixar Names Jonathan Garson President as Jim Morris Steps Back After 12 Years

EMERYVILLE, California — Pixar Animation Studios has named veteran executive Jonathan Garson as its next president, the studio announced on Wednesday, in the most significant leadership change at the animation powerhouse in more than a decade. Garson will take over from Jim Morris, who is stepping back after 12 years as president and 21 years at Pixar, and becomes president emeritus. The Pixar president Jonathan Garson appointment takes effect on January 4, 2027, and was announced by Alan Bergman, chairman of Disney Entertainment, Studios.

Garson, who joined Pixar in 2010 and has spent more than 30 years with Disney, will oversee all production and operations at the Emeryville studio, working in partnership with chief creative officer Pete Docter, who remains in his role. The change comes as Pixar prepares a slate led by two original films and the long-awaited Incredibles 3.

Key Points

• Jonathan Garson will become president of Pixar Animation Studios on January 4, 2027, succeeding Jim Morris.
• Morris steps back after 21 years at Pixar, including 12 as president, and becomes president emeritus.
• Garson joined Pixar in 2010 and most recently served as the studio's general manager.
• Jonas Rivera moves into an expanded executive vice president of creative role, alongside Pete Docter.
• Morris will stay on as executive producer of Incredibles 3, due in cinemas on June 16, 2028.

What Happened

The transition was announced on Wednesday, November 4, 2026, by Alan Bergman, chairman of Disney Entertainment, Studios. Pixar confirmed that Garson and Morris will both report to Bergman, while Docter stays on as chief creative officer and Rivera takes expanded creative oversight.

As president, Garson will oversee all production and operations for Pixar, including its producers, department heads and post-production teams. Rivera will focus full time on creative oversight of the studio's films. Morris will stay on as executive producer of Incredibles 3 and focus on mentoring across Pixar and Disney.

Background: Twelve Years at the Top of Pixar

Morris joined Pixar in 2005 after a long career at Lucasfilm and Industrial Light & Magic, where he served as ILM's general manager and later as president of Lucas Digital Ltd. He became Pixar's president in 2014, only the second person to hold the role after co-founder Ed Catmull. During his 12 years as president, Pixar's feature films generated more than $12 billion at the global box office, a run that included Inside Out, Coco, Soul and the record-breaking Inside Out 2.

Pixar has defined modern animation since Toy Story, the first fully computer-animated feature film, arrived in 1995. Disney acquired the studio in 2006. Garson knows both sides of that business: he has been with Pixar since 2010 and with Disney for more than 30 years, a former vice president of franchise and product management at The Walt Disney Studios, and he has worked closely with Docter and Morris for 16 years.

Jonathan Garson: Pixar's New President

Garson's appointment is, above all, a succession planned from inside. He is not an outside hire brought in to reset the studio, but a long-serving executive who has spent a decade and a half working alongside the two men he will now lead with. That continuity matters at a studio whose culture depends on trust between its creative and business leadership.

His background in franchise and product management also signals how Pixar's films are now judged: not only as cinema, but as the starting point for series, merchandise, theme-park attractions and long-running brands. Toy Story 5, released around the world in June 2026, became a billion-dollar hit. Garson will work with a production leadership team led by veteran producers Katherine Sarafian and Lindsey Collins.

Reactions and Quotes

Bergman praised Morris's record and welcomed Garson's promotion. "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 people," he said.

Morris called leading Pixar the privilege of a lifetime. "Leading Pixar has been the privilege of a lifetime, and I'm honored to have been a steward of its legacy," he said. "After 52 years in the business, I'll be stepping back from the day-to-day." He endorsed his successor: "I can't think of anyone better than Jonathan to carry the legacy of this beloved studio forward."

Garson recalled first seeing Toy Story as a moviegoer. "I still remember seeing Toy Story for the first time — never imagining I'd one day work at Pixar, let alone step into a leadership role such as this," he said. Rivera, who became Pixar's first production intern in 1994, said: "Jim has been an extraordinary mentor and leader, and I intend to build on the lessons I learned from him."

Why It Matters

Leadership changes at Pixar matter far beyond its Emeryville campus because Pixar remains one of the most influential names in global cinema. Its films set the standard for computer animation and its characters anchor Disney's family entertainment business. Pixar is coming off a billion-dollar year with Toy Story 5, and its next three films are already dated, giving Garson a clear runway.

For Disney, the transition removes a succession question that had hung over one of its most valuable studios. Naming his successor now, with a two-month handover and a continued role for the outgoing president, gives the new team time to settle in before the next film reaches cinemas.

What Happens Next

The transition takes effect on January 4, 2027, when Garson formally becomes president and Morris moves to president emeritus. Pixar's next film is Gatto, a new original animated film due in cinemas on March 5, 2027. It will be followed by Ghost Market, another original, on March 10, 2028, and then by Incredibles 3 on June 16, 2028, with Morris as executive producer.

Morris will hand over day-to-day operations while continuing work on Incredibles 3. Garson, Docter and Rivera will also begin shaping the films that follow the current slate.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is Jonathan Garson?
A Pixar veteran who joined the studio in 2010 and has spent more than 30 years with Disney. He was Pixar's general manager and becomes president on January 4, 2027.

Why is Jim Morris stepping back?
Morris, president for 12 years and at Pixar for 21, is stepping back from day-to-day leadership after 52 years in the film business. He becomes president emeritus, continuing as executive producer of Incredibles 3.

When does the leadership change take effect?
January 4, 2027. It was announced on November 4, 2026, by Alan Bergman, chairman of Disney Entertainment, Studios.

What is Jonas Rivera's new role?
Rivera becomes executive vice president of creative, leading Pixar's filmmakers and development with chief creative officer Pete Docter. He joined Pixar in 1994 as its first production intern.

What Pixar films are coming next?
Gatto on March 5, 2027, Ghost Market on March 10, 2028, and Incredibles 3 on June 16, 2028.

Related coverage: Kennedy Center Honors 2026 Names Anka, Foster, Garcia, Mamet and Mandrell; Paris Jackson Seeks $600 Million From Michael Jackson Estate in Court Fight; Jen Affleck Files for Divorce From Zac Affleck While Pregnant With Fourth Child.