Pixar replaces its first female director

LOS ANGELES – The first woman hired to direct a Pixar feature is now off the job.

The Disney-owned animation studio said Brenda Chapman has been replaced on "Brave" by storyboard artist Mark Andrews. Pixar had no comment on the director switcheroo, news of which first broke on animation website Cartoon Brew.

Replacing directors on Disney cartoons is not uncommon, with films such as "Ratatouille," "Bolt" and the upcoming "Tangled" (formerly known as "Rapunzel") undergoing changes at the top.

But the reasons for the focus on "Brave" are two-fold. One, the summer 2102 release is the only non-sequel scheduled by Pixar for the next few years, with "Cars 2" and "Monsters Inc. 2" on the calendar. Two, Chapman rose to the top in a male-dominated field. The Disney veteran worked as a writer on such films as "Beauty and the Beast" and "Cars," and co-directed "The Prince of Egypt." "Brave," coincidentally, revolves around a Scottish princess' quest to become an archer.

Andrews, on the other hand, comes from the art side of the animation, acting as a storyboard artist for "Quest for Camelot," "The Iron Giant," Sam Raimi's "Spider-Man" and several TV shows. For Pixar, he worked on "The Incredibles" and "Toy Story 3," and co-directed the short "One Man Band."