Profits triple at animator Pixar

There's no disguising Pixar's success at the box office

Profits at US animation studio Pixar have tripled driven by DVD sales of its hit superhero movie The Incredibles.

Net income in the first three months of 2005 surged to $81.9m (£43m) compared with $26.7m a year earlier. Sales rose to $161.2m from $53.8m a year ago.

There were also hopes that the firm may revive a distribution deal with Disney after last year's surprise split.

Chief executive Steve Jobs said he had held talks with Disney's incoming boss but no deal had been agreed.

Healing process?

Mr Jobs, who also heads up the computer firm Apple, said that he had taken part in "nice conversations" with Robert Iger, who will take over at Disney from Michael Eisner.

Disney and Pixar's lucrative partnership fell apart last year after Mr Jobs and Mr Eisner clashed over how profits should be shared.

Pixar shares climbed 5% to $48.20 during electronic after hours trading in New York.

Check Pixar's share price

Analysts voiced caution, however, pointing out that "conversations" were simply a starting point and an agreement was still a long way off.

Pixar's current distribution deal with Disney will expire in June 2006 with the release of the company's seventh film Cars.

Its current blockbuster is The Incredibles, which tells the story of a family with superhuman powers.

Pixar said that during the first quarter it sold 17.7 million units of the film, and the company believes that it will be the best selling DVD of 2005.

Pixar's other films include Toy Story, Finding Nemo, Monsters Inc and A Bug's Life.