That means that on a basic level, Steve Jobs is responsible for some of the best animated films of the past decade and beyond – from Toy Story to Cars. Jobs’ reach extends even beyond the massive innovations he made in the personal computing and mobile technology fields.

Disney Pixar CEO John Lasseter and Ed Catmull, President of Walt Disney Pixar Animation Studios have made a joint statement on Jobs’ passing on the Disney Pixar Facebook page:

Steve Jobs was an extraordinary visionary, our very dear friend and the guiding light of the Pixar family. He saw the potential of what Pixar could be before the rest of us, and beyond what anyone ever imagined. Steve took a chance on us and believed in our crazy dream of making computer animated films; the one thing he always said was to simply ‘make it great.’ He is why Pixar turned out the way we did and his strength, integrity and love of life has made us all better people. He will forever be a part of Pixar’s DNA. Our hearts go out to his wife Laurene and their children during this incredibly difficult time.

They also posted a photo of the three together, which is the image seen above.

Disney CEO Bob Iger also had this to say about Jobs:

Steve Jobs was a great friend as well as a trusted advisor. His legacy will extend far beyond the products he created or the businesses he built. It will be the millions of people he inspired, the lives he changed, and the culture he defined. Steve was such an “original,” with a thoroughly creative, imaginative mind that defined an era. Despite all he accomplished, it feels like he was just getting started. With his passing the world has lost a rare original, Disney has lost a member of our family, and I have lost a great friend. Our thoughts and prayers are with his wife Laurene and his children during this difficult time.

D23 refers to the year 1923 when Disney first began. Disney says the site will be the premier online destination for Disney fans. The site features breaking news, exclusive stories, blogs, historical retrospectives, a collectibles boutique, and special event information.

Disney is also introducing a new quarterly publication called Disney twenty-three, which the company says, is a collectible magazine and is ad free.

Disney is also offering a one-year premium membership to D23 for $75 a year. The paid membership includes the quarterly publication, a membership certificate and card, a surprise collectible gift and a discount to the D23 Expo held at the Anaheim Convention Center from September 10-13.

"We have a fantastic legacy that started in 1923 and is based on timeless stories, beloved characters and unforgettable experiences, but it’s our fans that keep the spirit of Disney alive year after year, generation after generation," said Disney President and CEO Bob Iger at the Company’s annual shareholder’s meeting.

"D23 is our way of saying ‘thank you’ and celebrating our fans, who bring the magic of Disney to life every day in every corner of the world."
 

The estimate comes from comments that Disney CEO Bob Iger made at the Digital Hollywood Media Summit. Iger said Disney has sold 4 million movies and 40 to 50 million videos through iTunes, since it made content available on the service in 2006.

Disney Castle
(Photo Credit: Wikipedia)

Silicon Valley Insider breaks the numbers down. "Pali Research’s Rich Greenfield estimates that Disney is getting $14.50 for each movie sold through Apple. 4 million x $14.50 = $58 million."

"We estimate that Disney gets about $1.44 for each video it sells. 45 million x $1.44 = $64.8 million. Grand total: $122.8 million: In other words, a little less than 10% of the $1 billion digital revenue goal Iger has laid out for his company this year — and a rounding error for a company that generated $35 billion in sales last year."

Two movies that have helped Disney reach the 4 million mark on iTunes are "Pirates of the Caribbean" and "Cars."