Pixar Boss Reflected On Sending Films To Disney+, But I’m More Interested In His Take On Why Lightyear Flopped

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There’s never a shortage of thrilling new Disney films to anticipate, but I’ve always got a special place in my heart for what’s coming up from Pixar Animation Studios next. With Inside Out 2 breaking box office records as the top-grossing movie of 2024, I have high hopes for their future projects. However, it’s intriguing to hear Pete Docter, Pixar’s head creative officer, discuss recent films being released on Disney+ instead of hitting theaters and underperforming at the box office.

Pixar Boss Talks About Sending A Ton Of Films Straight To Disney+

Between 2020 and 2022, Pixar opted against releasing its movies in cinemas entirely, instead making them available for viewing on Disney+ by subscribers immediately. As a result, films like Soul, Luca and Turning Red were missed out on in theaters by fans such as myself. Pete Docter, Pixar’s creative mind, recently shared his thoughts about this old approach during an interview with IndieWire:

Recently, we released “Soul,” “Turning Red,” and “Luca” exclusively on Disney+. Unfortunately, “Soul” hasn’t received much conversation due to its lack of theatrical release impact, which is undeniable. Following this, “Lightyear” also underperformed. As huge fans of our own movies, we thought, “What toy did Andy want in ‘Toy Story’ because of a movie? It wouldn’t be Mr. Potato Head; it would be a sci-fi film. So let’s create that.

Following numerous sequels, Pixar returned to crafting original films with unique ideas, as showcased by these three titles. However, due to cinemas being in chaos during the COVID-19 outbreak, it was decided that these movies would be released at home instead. On contemplating the launches, Doctor mused that without theater screenings, these films failed to achieve the cultural impact that some of Pixar’s previous productions had. It’s truly unfortunate given our belief that Soul is one of the best movies ever produced by Pixar.

But I Want To Talk About His Solid Take On Why Lightyear Flopped

After transitioning from Disney+ movies to cinema releases, Pixar’s subsequent films failed to resonate with audiences, with “Lightyear”, a spinoff of “Toy Story”, reportedly suffering a loss of $106 million despite earning $226 million globally. Despite this disappointing performance, I believe that Director Pete Docter’s theories on the reasons behind its poor showing in theaters hold some weight. Here’s what he had to express:

(This version aims to simplify the language and make it more accessible while preserving the original meaning.)

As a dedicated fan, I must confess that when discussing the magic of “Toy Story,” we may have underestimated the importance of tailoring to our audience’s preferences. What makes ‘Toy Story’ truly shine is its unique blend of humor, characterized by the endearing relationship between the characters and a broad, universal appeal.

On the other hand, when “Elemental” didn’t perform as expected initially, it was disheartening. But surprisingly, against all odds, it continued to garner success, amassing an impressive $484 million worldwide.

In contrast to the adoration for Buzz Lightyear from the Toy Story films, the movie Lightyear, produced by Pixar, didn’t offer the same cherished character. Unlike Tim Allen’s toy character in a standalone film, Lightyear presented a more serious, sci-fi action take on the character, voiced by Chris Evans. After its premiere, there have been some supporters of Lightyear who have vouched for the movie, but generally, it didn’t resonate like the Toy Story films did.

It’s concerning that the huge success of Inside Out 2 might indicate Pixar moving towards safer projects, like the upcoming Toy Story 5. I sincerely hope they continue to explore their creativity, as even though Lightyear felt somewhat uninspired as a spinoff, it did have some original elements too.

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2025-01-29 05:39