Disney and Pixar Reaffirm Commitment to Annecy Animation Festival with Exciting New Announcements
Disney and Pixar have once again demonstrated their commitment to the Annecy Animation Festival, a premier event that brings together animation fans from around the world. This year’s festival saw a slew of exciting announcements from the studios, including a new film, “Gatto,” and a sneak peek at upcoming releases, including “Toy Story 5.”
According to a report from Variety, Disney and Pixar’s Chief Creative Officer, Pete Docter, took to the stage at Annecy to unveil a packed Pixar slate featuring an all-new film, “Gatto.” The film, which is expected to hit theaters in summer 2027, comes from the filmmaking team behind “Luca,” director Enrico Casarosa and producer Andrea Warren.
“Gatto” returns to Italy, Casarosa’s birth country, this time to Venice, where an extraordinary city, a black cat named Nero begins to question whether he’s lived the right life. A partial music-lover —at least, his tail is— and non-swimming feline who is indebted to a local feline mob boss, Nero, finds himself in a quandary and is forced to forge a truly unexpected friendship with Maya, a street artist who adopts him against his will.
As Variety reports, the Annecy crowd cheered the announcement and went wild as Docter unveiled animation tests of a distinct, unique hand-painted look, something Pixar has never shown before. The film appears to be rich in colors from Venetian settings, and blends 2D hand paint textures with cutting-edge CG animation.
In addition to “Gatto,” the festival also saw a preview of “Elio,” a highly sensitive and visually stunning film that follows the story of a young boy who is mistaken for Earth’s leader and becomes part of a galactic assembly. The film features a wide range of aliens, carefully designed by Pixar teams, and is set to hit global theaters next week.
Another film that was showcased at the festival was “Hoppers,” a modern ecological adventure that follows the story of a young girl who steals technology that allows her to place her consciousness into a robotic beaver. The film features an all-star voice cast, including Primetime Emmy winner Jon Hamm and “Saturday Night Live” actor and writer Bobby Moynihan.
Perhaps most exciting of all, however, was the sneak peek at “Toy Story 5,” which is set to hit theaters in summer 2026. The film features the return of Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, and Joan Cusack as Jessie, and follows the story of an eight-year-old Bonnie as she discovers her new toy tablet. A device that is as enticing as can be, and that the other toys will have to deal with.
As Variety notes, “Toy Story” was showcased in Annecy 30 years ago, and it seems that Docter was once again telling Annecy’s crowds: “You’ve Got a Friend in Me.” The film has since become a beloved franchise, with 18 Academy Award nominations and three wins.
In conclusion, the Annecy Animation Festival has once again proved to be a platform for Disney and Pixar to showcase their exciting new projects and announcements. With a slew of new films and releases on the horizon, fans have a lot to look forward to in the coming years.
According to Pete Docter, as reported by Variety, “Gatto” is just one of many exciting projects in the works at Pixar. With a commitment to innovation and storytelling, it’s clear that Pixar will continue to be a leader in the animation industry for years to come.
Variety is a leading provider of entertainment and media news. For more information on their reporting, visit their website.
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