 Both sides were willing . Catmull and fellow Pixar co @-@ founder Alvy Ray Smith had long wanted to produce a computer @-@ animated feature . In addition , Disney had licensed Pixar 's Computer Animation Production System ( CAPS ) , and that made it the largest customer for Pixar 's computers . Jobs made it apparent to Katzenberg that although Disney was happy with Pixar , it was not the other way around : " We want to do a film with you , " said Jobs . " That would make us happy . " At this same time , Peter Schneider , president of Walt Disney Feature Animation , was potentially interested in making a feature film with Pixar . When Catmull , Smith and head of animation Ralph Guggenheim met with Schneider in the summer of 1990 , they found the atmosphere to be puzzling and contentious . They later learned that Katzenberg intended that if Disney were to make a film with Pixar , it would be outside Schneider 's purview , which aggravated Schneider . After that first meeting , the Pixar contingent went home with low expectations and were surprised when Katzenberg called for another conference . Catmull , Smith and Guggenheim were joined by Bill Reeves ( head of animation research and development ) , Jobs , and Lasseter . They brought with them an idea for a half @-@ hour television special called A Tin Toy Christmas . They reasoned that a television program would be a sensible way to gain experience before tackling a feature film . 
