LOS ANGELES (AP) — Pixar Animation Studios reported stronger-than-expected second-quarter earnings Thursday, fueled by worldwide home video sales of last year's animated fish tale, "Finding Nemo."

Pixar, based in Emeryville, Calif., reported net income of $37.4 million, or 63 cents per share, compared to net income of $19.5 million, or 34 cents per share, in the same period last year.

The results easily beat the 37 cents per share expectation of analysts surveyed by Thomson First Call.

Revenue increased 36 percent to $66.3 million from $48.9 million in the same period last year.

Pixar had expected to sell 40 million home video units of "Finding Nemo" for the full year but reached that goal in the second quarter, Pixar's chief financial officer, Simon Bax, said during a conference call.

Ed Catmull, Pixar's president, said chief executive Steve Jobs was recovering well from surgery to treat a rare form of pancreatic cancer. Catmull visited Jobs in the hospital and said Jobs was "cracking jokes" and expected to return to work next month.

"It was really great to see him doing so well," Catmull said.

Pixar's next film, "The Incredibles," will be released Nov. 5 through The Walt Disney Co.

Also Thursday, Pixar and video game company THQ Inc. announced a deal for THQ to create games based on the first four films Pixar will produce after its agreement with Disney expires next year.

Pixar's last film under the deal is "Cars," which will be delivered in 2005.

Pixar is discussing distribution deals with other studios.