With “Toy Story 5” hitting theaters a week from now, Pixar seems ready to shake things up—and that’s a welcome change.
The studio has released a teaser trailer for “Gatto,” a new film from “Luca” director Enrico Casarosa, which will be released in 2027. However, what really sets “Gatto” apart is its style: this won’t be Pixar’s usual glossy CGI. Instead, it will be the studio’s first-ever hand-painted animated feature.
The story follows a black cat in Venice with a passion for music, ostracized by locals due to superstition. Yes, we’re getting another animated film about a black cat hot on the heels of Oscar-winner “Flow,” but a fresh artistic direction from Pixar is something to take note of.
Of course, “Gatto” isn’t the first hand-painted animated feature—that honor goes to “Loving Vincent,” which used over 65,000 oil-painted frames crafted by a team of more than 100 artists. Every frame was a painting, faithfully evoking Van Gogh’s signature brushstrokes. Pixar seems eager to explore similar artistic territory, and it’s about time, though the teaser does hint at some touch-ups that suggest this may not be as radical as “Loving Vincent.”
Regardless, Pixar, after more than 30 years of crafting animated films with CGI, appears to be changing things up. They’ve chosen to step away from their traditional style, and with any luck, this bold move will lead to something special.
They certainly could use it. Last year’s “Elio” was a bust, and this year’s “Hoppers” was… fine. Don’t get me wrong, there have been a few stellar original Pixar films in the last ten years—“Coco” and “Soul” spring to mind—but there have been more misses than hits, and a frustrating penchant for continuously greenlighting sequels.
“Gatto,” featuring voice work from newly announced cast members Mark Ruffalo and Laurence Fishburne, arrives in theaters on March 5, 2027.
The ‘Smile’ franchise has a new director. David Bruckner, who made “The Night House” and the 2022 “Hellraiser” reboot, has been hired to direct “Smile 3” for Paramount.