Report: Disney in Talks to Buy Pixar

Walt Disney Co. and Pixar Animation Studios are in "serious" discussions about a potential acquisition, according to a report Thursday in the Wall Street Journal. Disney has offered a stock deal of over Pixar's current $6.7 billion market value, which would make CEO Steve Jobs the largest individual Disney shareholder.

Disney and Pixar have long been distribution partners since the debut of "Toy Story" in 1995. The two companies have since worked together in releasing a number of Pixar blockbusters, including "Finding Nemo," "Monsters, Inc." and "The Incredibles."

However, as Pixar's power in Hollywood soared, Disney's faded, and Steve Jobs threatened to end the relationship when the current agreement expires later this year. The companies have since been in months of on-again, off-again discussions, which have led to talks of a full acquisition of Pixar.

New Disney CEO Robert Iger has pushed for improved relations with Jobs, inking a deal to distribute the company's ABC television shows on Apple's iTunes Music Store. Still, Pixar holds the upper hand with Disney struggling to reclaim its former animation glory.

The Journal notes, however, that discussions are in a sensitive stage and could go either way. A more conservative distribution deal may be signed instead if an agreement over a buyout price cannot be reached.