Summary
Pixarrecently shared that it plans to produce fewer autobiographical movies despite a significant truth about the failings of films likeLucaandTurning Red. In a recentBloombergarticle, Pixar executives explained the company’s plan to restructure and repair its ailing reputation.Pixar films have historically been high-grossingand groundbreaking as one of the first computer-generated animation studios.The studio’s work often navigates themes relevant to both adults and children, such as family dynamics, emotions, and purpose. After recent box-office struggles, Jim Morris,the studio’s president, announced a new streaming strategy for Disney+.
Pixar has become renowned for exploring a simple yet captivating premise: “What if X had feelings?” The studio has delved into this concept with many films, anthropomorphizing toys (Toy Story), bugs (A Bug’s Life), monsters (Monsters Inc.), fish (Finding Nemo), cars (Cars), robots (WALL-E), rats (Ratatouille), and even emotions themselves (Inside Out). Despite maintaining a magical and curious quality,some of Pixar’s recent autobiographical ventures have lost this universalityand are unable to resonate as strongly with audiences. Consequently, the studio has decided to distance itself from these types of films. However, this strategic shift overlooks a significant factor contributing to their recent box office disappointments.
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Pixar’s Move Away From Autobiographical Movies Ignores 1 Truth About Luca & Turning Red
The Timing Of The Releases Were Detrimental To The Success Of The Films
It’s crucial not to overlook when Pixar’s films were released when analyzing their success.BothLucain 2021 andTurning Redin 2022 debuted during the pandemicwhen many theaters were closed. This led to their direct release on the Disney+ streaming platform alongside their 2020 predecessor,Soul. All four of the films Pixar released during the pandemic (includingOnward,which was released a week before the shutdown) were some of the studio’s lowest-earning films ever. This loss is especially dramatic compared toToy Story 4, which premiered the previous year and earned over a billion dollars (viaThe Numbers).
The direct-to-streaming model is not the only thing that sets these films apart. Films likeLucaandTurning Redbreak a Pixar trend, taking a much heavier focus on exploring identity. Notably,both films were inspired by their directors’ upbringings, withLucainspired by its director’s childhood in Italy andTurning Redby its director’s relationship with her mother. The films are so similar that some viewers have noticed thateachTurning Redcharacter has aLucacounterpart. This specificity doesn’t mean the movies aren’t universal, as they explore concepts of belonging and coming-of-age, but it can create challenges for certain audiences in relating to the stories.
Pixar Shouldn’t Ignore The Role Of Disney+ In Its Recent Failures
Direct-To-Streaming Models Make Films Almost Too Accessible
BothLucaandTurning Redwere released directly to Disney+ during the pandemic. While this made it easier to access the films,only those with the streaming service could watch the movies at the time of their release. In the past,Disney’s CEO Bob Iger implicated Disney+ in Pixar’s recent failures, saying there was no longer an urgency to see a movie in theaters, as films could now be streamed whenever. He also admitted that some of Pixar’s films released during the pandemic could be considered “creative misses.”
…with the poor performances ofLightyearandElementalpost-pandemic, it is clear that audiences have become accustomed to watching films from their own devices.
Luca, Turning Red,andSoulreceived theatrical re-releasesin early 2024. But, with the poor performances ofLightyearandElementalpost-pandemic, it is clear that audiences have become accustomed to watching films from their own devices. Acknowledging this shift, Morris saidPixar doesn’t plan to premiere any other films via streaming. Instead, it intends to use the platform for the launch of shows. This new model might work, asInside Out 2,Pixar’s latest theatrical release, is projected to premiere impressively.
Focusing On “Mass Appeal” Is A Huge Mistake For Pixar
Pixar Struggles To Tell A Universal Story With Relatable Specifics
After the failures of its original-content autobiographical films, Pixar shifted back to its classic formula. 2023’sElemental, for example, asked, “What if the elements had feelings?” However, despite this attempt to recreate their mass appeal non-autobiographical films,Elementalstill bombed at the box office. After this happened, Jim Morris told Bloomberg, “I thought it was a good film with a Pixar feel, so when it didn’t work, that was like, ‘Whoa.’ I was thinking, ‘Do people just not want to see the kind of film we make anymore?Is that done?’”
Pixar’s greatest strength has always been its ability to create emotionally resonant stories that appeal to audiences of all ages. While not everyone will always be able to relate, their films are rewarding for those who appreciate the depth and nuance of the storytelling. Based on the performance of some of its recent films, likeLucaandTurning Red, both autobiographical movies about identity, versusElemental, a non-specific general appeal film,Pixar’s current strategy swings between storytelling being too specific or too universal.
This could change withPixar’s 2025 film,Elio. The movie will follow Elio, who is mistaken for the intergalactic Ambassador of Planet Earth. While the fantastical idea of aliens belongs in a typical Pixar film, the film may also include personal and autobiographical elements, as Elio himself is on the cusp of teenagehood (much like Luca and Mei). Undoubtedly, the movie will be a coming-of-age story, likely with a parental relationship subplot, much likeLucaandTurning Red. This means thatEliocould be an ideal way forPixarto continue exploring personal stories, while also incorporating the universal themes that have made it so successful.
