8 chapters across the catalog
The Walt Disney Company has entered a three-year licensing deal with OpenAI, investing $1 billion in the firm. Users will be able to use the "Sora" platform to create 30-second clips featuring over 200 characters from the Marvel, Pixar, and Star Wars universes. While the current deal excludes human actor likenesses, it is expected that licensing for voices and faces will follow.
John Lasseter, Emma Thompson Skydance Controversy
Following John Lasseter's departure from Pixar due to allegations of "unwanted hugging," he was hired by Skydance Media. In response, actress Emma Thompson publicly resigned from a Skydance project, citing concerns about Lasseter's workplace behavior. The hosts critique Thompson's reaction and the "hyper-liberal" culture of the industry.
Fashion house Burberry apologized for a hoodie featuring a noose-like "slipknot" design during London Fashion Week. The incident is linked to a broader discussion on the loss of "gatekeepers" in large organizations who prevent such PR disasters. The departure of figures like John Lasseter from Pixar is cited as an example of how removing key creative oversight can lead to a decline in quality and increased mistakes.
The teaser for Toy Story 4 featuring "Forky" sparks a discussion on the CBC about identity and labels. Pundits suggest the character's struggle with being a "toy" vs. a "spork" may be a metaphor for transgenderism or modern social identity politics.
Laurene Powell Jobs, Philanthropy and John Lasseter
Laurene Powell Jobs is becoming more visible in the public sphere as a major philanthropist following her inheritance from Steve Jobs. The discussion links her influence to the departure of John Lasseter from Pixar due to misconduct allegations. Speculation arises regarding her political associations and her appearance on stage with Hillary Clinton at recent events.
Principal Ty Thompson, Inappropriate Hugging, John Lasseter
Stoneman Douglas High School Principal Ty Thompson released a social media message promising to hug all 3,300 students as they recover from the shooting. The hosts mock the sentiment, comparing it to the "inappropriate hugging" scandal that led to John Lasseter's departure from Pixar. They suggest that such public displays of affection are becoming a "cringe-worthy" staple of modern tragedy responses.
Steve Jobs, Silicon Valley Tech Bans, WALL-E Movie Analysis
Adam Curry discusses how Steve Jobs and other Silicon Valley CEOs reportedly restricted their own children's use of technology. Curry reflects on the 2008 Pixar film WALL-E as a "message from the grave" from Jobs about the dangers of technological dependency. The film is characterized as a warning about a future where humans are physically and socially degraded by screens.
A host reviews Toy Story 3 after attending a screening at the Directors Guild of America. While praising the story and adult-oriented humor involving Barbie and Ken, he criticizes the 3D technology, noting that the glasses are uncomfortable for those who already wear spectacles and that the image remains too dark. Despite these technical grievances, the 3D effects are described as functional for the animated medium.
