'Toy Story 2' success fuels profits at Pixar

$9.6 mil reported is nine times 1999's quarterly earnings

By SUSANNE AULT

Fueled by the box office glory of "Toy Story 2," Pixar announced fourth quarter profits of $9.6 million, nine times its earnings of $1.1 million during last year's comparable quarter.

Total revenues for the fiscal period were $24.9 million, up from $3.1 million for the same period last year.

For the entire year, Pixar raked in $49.2 million in profits, shooting up from $7.8 million the previous year. Total-year revenues were $121 million vs. $14.3 million in 1998.

"These annual results -- profits just shy of $50 million on revenues of $121 million -- demonstrate Pixar's earnings potential from our new Disney partnership," Pixar CEO Steve Jobs said. "And we are looking forward to another terrific year with revenues ramping up from 'Toy Story 2.' "

So far, the computer-animated pic has amassed $234 million in the U.S. and Canada; it's the No. 2 all-time domestic animated film, behind "The Lion King." International take of "Toy Story 2" has reached $47 million. U.K. bow is slated for Feb. 11.

Past Pixar releases include 1997's "Toy Story" and 1998's "A Bug's Life."