The legendary animation studio, like much of Hollywood, is looking to sequels and IP to rebound.
After a round of layoffs and a rough few years, Pixar is taking a not-entirely-unexpected approach to getting its studio back on track by leaning on its existing intellectual property. The latest comes from an extensive Bloomberg report that dives into the studio’s strategy as it pivots away from production for Disney+ and back to theatrical films.
Inside Out 2 marking a new direction
Unsurprisingly, Inside Out 2, the sequel to the beloved 2015 film, aims to point Pixar into a more positive direction when it debuts in theaters on June 14. Disney and Pixar’s “Inside Out 2” returns to the mind of newly minted teenager Riley just as headquarters is undergoing a sudden demolition to make room for something entirely unexpected: new Emotions!
says Disney about this highly anticipated sequel.
Sequels on Pixar’s mind
Inside Out 2 isn’t the only sequel in focus. According to the Bloomberg report, every hit of yesterday is being considered for a reboot, with Finding Nemo and The Incredibles regarded as particularly strong candidates for new titles. Jim Morris stated the aim is to make three movies every two years, with every other title a sequel or spinoff and the rest standalone concepts or potential seeds for new franchise.
Layoffs and shifting strategies
The report follows after Pixar began laying off 14% of its workforce earlier this month, affecting around 175 people. Even as the studio shifts back towards theatrical releases, it still has some productions set for Disney+, including Dream Productions, a spinoff of Inside Out set in Riley’s dreams, airing next year.
Revisiting The Incredibles
The Incredibles is another property being revisited. Pete Docter emphasized interest in Finding Nemo due to its massive $2 billion combined gross with Finding Dory across box offices worldwide. Docter humorously noted, The ocean’s a big place. I think there’s a lot of opportunity there.
Fans’ divided reactions
Lindsey Collins shared her son’s critical reaction to another Incredibles film, saying, The other day, I was like, ‘What if I told you we were making an Incredibles 3?’ And he was like, ‘Money grab.’ And I was like ‘F—.’
Fans’ sentiments reflect unease towards these sequels viewed as cash grabs rather than creative ventures. As she pointed out Sequels are a double-edged sword because audiences can be brutal and so quick to judge.
A troubled timeline for Pixar
Pandemic disruptions saw Onward head to Disney+ weeks after its theater release; Soul, Luca, and Turning Red followed suit with exclusive streaming debuts. Returning to theaters with Lightyear in 2022 brought disappointment at $226 million globally but Elemental managed better results nearing $500 million worldwide.
An era of change
As Jim Morris remarked We are going to embark on another age of change
, it marks reassessment amidst evolving audience preferences and industry shifts. Among awaited projects lies Toy Story 5 slated for June 19, 2026—whether it will reignite the magic remains up for debate but hopeful eyes remain on this treasured franchise.
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