There you have it.

Toy case at the front kiosk. It's a meager offering of schwag to buy for a company with so many well loved characters in their roster. John calls the characters our "children." Now, the family will stay together.

Bullseye. All the rumours didn't turn out to be outlandish after all and were all right on the money. The wait was tense making -- productivity on my part was halved (I'm already slug-like this part of the year).

Outside, the press waited. Ed, Steve and John will tell the company what was about to be announced to the world. This has been the way it's been done here. They wanted to tell us what they know: We are going forward on the best plan for Pixar that should be made. There are many good reasons and much has changed since talks had broken off between the two companies. All those changes are good changes. All smart hombres. No three individuals on the planet I would rather be in league with than these gentlemen right here. What they say is good enough for this lowly grunt.

I wish this grand new venture wings. I say a fond, wistful goodbye to the Pixar that was and look ahead with hope that the adventures bring great movies and take animation back to the heights the art held out as a promise to all of us who participate in it.