Unlike a typical Oscar-winning director, however, Mr. Bird is not a free agent with his sights set on the next big-budget negotiation. He is an employee of the studio. Indeed, he is part of a group of directors and technical talents at Pixar—including Andrew Stanton and Lee Unkrich, the creators of “Finding Nemo,” and Pete Doctor, the director of “Monsters, Inc.”—who have staked their reputations on their work at Pixar. Again, in contrast to convention, these professionals have traded one-time contracts for long-term affiliation and contribute across the studio, rather than to just their pet projects.—How Pixar Adds a New School of Thought to Disney