Pixar Announces 'Gatto' As Summer 2027 Title, Gives New Looks At 'Toy Story 5', 'Hoppers'
Cats, beavers and frog-decorated tablets oh my!
Cat’s the way it is at Pixar these days. The famed animation studio had its own presentation at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival, giving an extensive look at Elio before its release next Friday, better looks at Toy Story 5 and Hoppers to build on what debuted at D23 last August, and announced a new original film, Gatto, directed by Luca helmer Enrico Casarosa, set for release in summer 2027.
Gatto follows Nero, a water-hating black cat living in the beautiful Venice, Italy, who begins to question whether he’s lived the right lives while indebted to a local feline mob boss. Finding himself in such quandary, he is forced to forge a rather unexpected friendship with lonely street musician Maya that may finally lead him to his purpose — unless Venice gets the better of him first. Studio COO Pete Docter showcased the film’s the first animated tests and character drawings, which is more painterly and according to witnesses very Spider-Verse-like as it’s animated on 2s.
'Incredibles 3' Summons 'Elemental' Director Peter Sohn To Suit Up
Back at D23 in August, Incredibles 3 was announced to be in development at Pixar Animation Studios with Brad Bird writing. But that was the extent of the information given and it didn’t feel like enough of an article. Even combining it with the Toy Story 5
The Toy Story 5 portion presented behind-the-scenes material, as well as early footage that included the world premiere of the opening scene, where a container full of High Tech Edition Buzz Lightyear toys washes ashore on an isolated desert island after a rather stormy night. Those inside futilely attempting to reconnect with “star command”. The film, which is next year’s Pixar June release on June 19, will explore the challenges Woody, Buzz and co. face in a digital-first world. “It’s Toy meets Tech,” he said, outlining the film’s plot, with their first such hurdle being now-8-year-old Bonnie’s tech tablet, the Lillypad, a pointed LeapFrog stand-in. For the first time, Jessie’s return was officially confirmed, still voiced by Joan Cusack. Apparently the Lillypad is the film’s antagonist who wants to separate Bonnie from her toys, wanting to make her more social. Jessie, who has taken leadership in Woody’s absence, decides that they need help, and apparently contacts Woody for such assistance. Toy Story 5 is directed by Andrew Stanton and McKenna Harris and produced by Jessica Choi. Could Lillypad be Anna Faris’s unspoken role? She’s the only announced actress whose role hasn’t, so I’d put money on it. Of course, Tim Allen and Tom Hanks are back as Buzz and Woody, while Conan O’Brien is Smarty Pants and Ernie Hudson takes over Combat Carl.
As for Hoppers, which releases in March, a pair of first-look clips debuted. In the film Mabel (voiced by Piper Curda) is a nature-loving young woman trying to stop the local Mayor Jerry (Jon Hamm), from building a highway that will destroy her local woodlands. Mabel is able to transfer her mind into a robot beaver through a secret brain-swapping experiment, and heads to a pond, where refugees from the work already done have landed. There, she attempts to convince the animals, led by the regal beaver King George (Bobby Moynihan) to join her and stop the highway. All while keeping secret that she’s actually human while scientists are in pursuit. The first clip has Mabel still getting accustomed the rules; she tries to meet another beaver, but he floats away…to a nearby bear ready to feast. Mabel ends up fighting the bear off, but it turns out to weird the colony out. The prey beaver accepted their fate as it’s a part of life. Mabel relents but the bear has lost their appetite because it’s “too weird”. Another clip was shown where Mayor Jerry starts his day rather joyfully up to the part where he’s heading out. Mabel, joined by the almost-eaten beaver and King George, are also in the car and lock the doors while the crows are gathering outside. Mabel swipes Jerry's phone and communicates with text-to-speech to try to get the highway project canceled.
Conan O’Brien Puts On Pants For 'Toy Story 5'
We don’t have a plot yet for Disney and Pixar’s Toy Story 5, so we don’t know who any of the new major characters will be, but at the very least we have confirmation of the first new character to be revealed overall: Smarty Pants, and he’ll be voiced by podcaster, talk show, travel show and
Sources: The Hollywood Reporter, Disney
"Mabel is able to transfer her mind into a robot beaver through a secret brain-swapping experiment..." A robot beaver? Why didn't we in Canada think of that first, eh?, what with them being a national symbol and all...
I was considering doing a story idea similar to this- now I know it might possibly have an audience.