'Cars 2' Co-Director Brad Lewis Joining Digital Domain's Animation Studio

Pixar vet Brad Lewis, who co-directed Cars 2 with John Lasseter, is changing gears and is joining Digital Domain's Tradition Studios, where he will direct animated features.

During his 10-year run at Pixar, Lewis also produced the Academy Award-winning Ratatouille, which made $624 million worldwide. Last weekend, Cars 2 opened number one at the domestic box office and has since grossed more than $115 million worldwide.

Lewis is a significant addition to Digital Domain Media Group's Florida-based Tradition Studios, a young entity that opened in 2009 to develop and co-produce original, family-oriented CG features. No titles have yet been announced. The studio is constructing a 115,000-square-foot facility, which is scheduled to open in Port St. Lucie in December.

Digital Domain--partly owned by director Michael Bay--also includes Digital Domain flagship VFX facility in Venice, which has handled VFX for movies such as Tron and The Curious Case of Benjamin Button.

Lewis said in a statement: “I am excited to join a company with Digital Domain's talent and expertise and to have an opportunity to be a part of its team in creating family-friendly stories and adventures.”

Prior to Pixar, Lewis spent more than 11 years at PDI/Dreamworks, where he was a producer on Antz and executive-produced TV movies. He also served as executive producer/vp of production for Pacific Data Images.

Lewis received an Emmy for graphic design for ABC's Monday Night Football, as well as an Emmy nomination for the first 3D computer animated episode of The Simpsons.