Pixar's Future Unfolds

There are a few constants with Pixar (Nasdaq: PIXR  ) . Every quarter brings the animation studio closer to independence from Disney (NYSE: DIS  ) . Every quarter finds the company beating projections with ease. Every Pixar release is a blockbuster.

Of course, there are footnotes to all these. Yes, Pixar will be in prime position to at least double its profits out on its own, but one can't completely discount Disney's contribution. Yes, the company has been topping its own guidance, yet one can't ignore that it has watered down those targets recently. Yes, Pixar's first five films grossed an average of $239 million in domestic box office, but the company is -- once again -- not taking the formulaic way to success with its next release that appears headed for a PG rating.

In fact, while Pixar saw its revenues nearly triple, with profits following suit, we are still left with questions about what the studio will look like once its partnership with Disney comes to a close after next year's Cars.

During yesterday's conference call, Pixar CEO and Apple (Nasdaq: AAPL  ) chieftain Steve Jobs joked that the company's next move to diversify was to open a chain of gelato stores. Well, at least that way investors would know what flavors the company would be serving up.

I'm a fan of Pixar to the point of recommending it to my own mom for Mother's Day. I can't wait to see what the company is capable of on its own. That goes beyond not having to split film profits with Disney. I want to see if the same creative minds that have mesmerized movie audiences of all ages can monetize their fleet of properties better than Mickey Mouse has.

I am not concerned that The Incredibles will open later this year with a PG rating. There were folks who wondered if an animated full-length feature that took place underwater would pan out last year. Finding Nemo went on to become the most successful animated flick of all time.

You can't teach that kind of ingenuity. Perhaps that's why Pixar was singled out (at considerably lower prices, I might add) in our Motley Fool Stock Advisor newsletter. Let Pixar open a gelato stand. I'll bet you it won't be serving vanilla.

What to know what David Gardner likes besides Pixar? Take a trial of Motley Fool Stock Advisor risk-free. Everybody's doing it.

Longtime Fool contributor Rick Munarriz owns all of the Pixar releases on DVD. Yes, he owns Pixar, too -- and Disney.