Pixar has consistently proven itself as one of the most creative and heartfelt animation studios in the world since the release of Toy Story in 1995, producing beloved stories like Finding Nemo, Coco, Up, and oh so many more. The studio released a second trailer for their upcoming film Luca earlier today, which is just a few months away from its summer release. However, Luca isn’t the only film the studio has planned; here’s a full list of what fans should expect from Pixar in the coming years.
Luca is a Luca (June 18, 2021)
Following the release of Incredibles 2 and Toy Story 4, Pixar seems to have returned to making original stories, with a stronger focus on cultural exploration, similar to what the studio did in Coco. Luca, a “coming-of-age story about one young boy experiencing an unforgettable summer packed with gelato, pasta, and endless scooter rides” set on the Italian Riviera, comes after Onward and Soul.
But, like all Pixar films, Luca isn’t just a slice-of-life story. Luca turns out to be a sea creature whose true identity is still on the verge of being revealed. Enrico Casarosa, a Pixar veteran and Academy Award nominee who has worked on nearly every Pixar film since 2006’s Cars, makes his feature-length directorial debut with the film. The film, according to Casarosa, is a deeply personal one that celebrates friendship, especially “those kinds of friendships that help you grow up.” Luca is scheduled to premiere in theaters and on Disney+ on June 18th, without any delays.
Changing Colors (Spring 2022)
Another member of Pixar’s team makes her full-length directorial debut in Pixar’s Turning Red: Academy Award-winner Domee Shi, who won the Oscar for her short film Bao, which was released before Incredible 2 in theaters. Turning Red, like Bao, draws on Shi’s background as a Chinese woman to create a fascinating and heartfelt narrative. Mei Lee, a “confident, dorky thirteen-year-old torn between remaining her mother’s dutiful daughter and the turmoil of adolescence,” is the protagonist of the novel. When she’s not grappling with the normal slew of issues that puberty brings, Lee has another big issue: she transforms into a giant red panda if she gets too excited. Turning Red is set to hit theaters next Spring, just in time for the next, much-anticipated film on this list.
‘Lightyear’ is a fictional character (Summer 2022)
Despite the fact that the Toy Story franchise is probably over, Pixar still has plenty of ideas to help flesh out the fascinating world they made. Although Lightyear appears to be a prequel to the series starring the Toy Story gang’s favorite spacefarer Buzz Lightyear, it is actually very different. Lightyear tells the story of the Buzz Lightyear, the young test-pilot-turned-space-ranger who inspired the popular children’s action figure. With Chris Evans voicing Buzz and Finding Dory‘s Angus MacLane directing, Lightyear is sure to be a fan favorite when it reaches theaters next summer.
In addition to these movies, Pixar has confirmed they have one other film in the works, though as of right now no names have been tied to the project.
