The Chicken and The Lamp

Welcome to a very special episode of The Jamie and Steven Show—and this week, it’s just me, Steven, taking you behind the scenes of one of the most fascinating chapters in Disney history. We’re stepping out of the world of animated classics and into the corporate drama of the early 2000s, when Disney was facing serious competition and a crossroads in its animation legacy.

Today, I’ll be diving into the story of Disney’s negotiations with Pixar, a partnership that had brought us modern classics like Toy Story, Monsters, Inc., and Finding Nemo. But all was not smooth sailing—tensions were rising between the two studios, and Disney was scrambling to prove it could still create hits on its own. Enter Chicken Little—Disney’s first fully computer-animated feature without Pixar.

We’ll explore the behind-the-scenes drama, the strategies Disney used to keep up with the changing industry, and how the rivalry with Pixar shaped the studio’s decisions during this turbulent era. Was Chicken Little the beginning of a new age, or a sign that Disney was struggling to find its footing? Let’s find out together.

So grab your popcorn, Disney fans, and settle in for a solo deep dive into the business and creative battles that defined a pivotal moment in Disney’s animation history. And as always, don’t forget to follow us on Threads and Instagram @thejamieandstevenshow for more magical insights.

Music by RA. License code: GCCKIGCOZWAY8JRD