Venice, Italy - US animator John Lasseter known for family- viewing box-office hits such as Toy Story and A Bug's Life, is to be bestowed with the 2009 Venice Film Festival's Career Golden Lion award, organizers announced Monday.

Lasseter will share the award with the Walt Disney Company-owned Pixar Animation Studios the producers of Toy Story as well as other well-received animated films including Finding Nemo (2003) and Ratatouille (2007).

Lasseter will pick up the Career Golden Lion at a ceremony held during the Festival which runs from September 2 to 12.