Inside Out 2 director Kelsey Mann suggests Pixar has more original films in development than it seems, despite the studio’s latest surge of sequels. The various upcoming releases and confirmed titles Pixar has in development include Toy Story 5 and Incredibles 3. The line-up has led many to question whether Pixar will sacrifice original works to further rely on their well-established franchises, particularly as they come on the heels of Inside Out 2's blockbuster success.
In a recent interview with Empire, Mann, who has also contributed to various Pixar movies over the years, addressed these concerns, suggesting Pixar’s production pipeline may be more diverse than expected. He hints that there are many original projects currently in the works outside the public's view. Read Mann’s full response here:
We’re always trying to find a balance. I have to think about what you know about... Your number of originals and sequels is different than the number in my head! Because I know everything that we’re doing. But we’re always trying to find the right balance.
The Studio Strikes A Balance Between Nostalgia And Innovation
Mann’s statement offers key insight into Pixar’s long-term creative strategy. The studio has become synonymous with both groundbreaking original content (Coco, Soul) and blockbuster sequels (Monsters University, Finding Dory). However, with the enormous box office success of Mann’s Inside Out 2, alongside the announcement of several upcoming sequels, concerns have grown that Pixar may be shifting away from the bold, original storytelling that made it a trailblazer in animation initially.
Today at Screen Rant, we look at the Toy Story franchise’s future and whether Pixar will ever let go of it.
Nonetheless, there are plenty of original works from Pixar coming to the big screen, too, with the sci-fi adventure Elio, the film Hoppers, where a girl switches consciousness with a beaver, and the TV series Win Or Lose, which follows a middle school softball team. While news of Pixar’s string of sequels has clouded the public eye, numerous original films have been in the works with several more quietly in development, as Mann hinted at.
Pixar has staggered the release of its sequels and originals before, allowing a bit of breathing room between franchises. For instance, the releases of Luca in 2021 and Soul in 2020 after Incredibles 2 in 2018 and Toy Story 4 in 2019 demonstrates Pixar’s ability to pursue original content alongside established franchises. Mann's comments point toward a continued effort to maintain this balance, even if the studio's current schedule leans toward sequels in the short term.
Our Take On Pixar's Sequel Surge
An Original Works Boom Is Near
Mann’s comments are reassuring, especially for audiences eager to see Pixar’s return to the kind of original storytelling that made the studio a household name. While sequels provide a sense of familiarity and can guarantee strong box office returns, Pixar’s greatest strength lies in its ability to tell unexpected stories that resonate on a personal level, much like Mann’s The Good Dinosaur.
Mann did not direct
The Good Dinosaur,
but he contributed to the story.
If Mann’s remarks are anything to go by, Pixar remains committed to creating original films alongside sequels, even if those upcoming movies aren't currently in the spotlight. The release of Inside Out 2 marks just one chapter in a broader strategy that will soon unveil the next wave of groundbreaking, original stories.
Inside Out 2 is the sequel to the 2015 original film, which starred a young girl named Riley with a head full of emotions. - literally. With Amy Pohler as Joy, Bill Hader as fear, Mindy Kaling as Disgust, Phyllis Smith as Sadness, and Lewis Black as Anger, the all-star cast brought to life the emotions that adolescents face as they grow, change, and adapt to new situations. This sequel, currently in development, will bring Amy Pohler back as Joy, with Riley, now a teenager.
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