During a presentation at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival last Friday, Pixar Animation Studios unveiled sneak peeks of its most anticipated upcoming projects such as “Hoopers” and “Toy Story 5”, while also revealing a new original production titled “Gatto“. This event was part of a larger display that also featured extensive previews of Pixar’s 2025 film, “Elio“.
Pete Docter, head of creative at Pixar, shared exclusive insights into Toy Story 5, showing early clips and announcing the comeback of original cast members Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, and Joan Cussack. Led by directors Andrew Stanton and McKenna Harris, this new chapter in the beloved Pixar series is being produced by Jessica Choi and set to hit theaters on June 19, 2026.
The doctor revealed that the upcoming movie delves into the struggles of toys adapting to a world dominated by digital technology. Essentially, it’s a blend of “Toy Story” and “Tech Tale,” as he described the storyline. In this film, our beloved toys from the earlier movies will grapple with the novelty introduced by Bonnie Anderson’s latest favorite gadget, a tech tablet named Lillypad. Characters like Woody, Buzz, and their friends will encounter a generation of kids who prefer digital screens over traditional toys.
I just caught the exclusive first-look of the movie’s kickoff scene. It showed a crate filled with Buzz Lightyears mysteriously appearing on a secluded desert isle. These space rangers were trying their best to reestablish contact with “Star Command.” As a gamer, it felt like I was diving into a brand new quest!
Ernie Hudson will lend his voice to Combat Carl in Toy Story 5, a role previously voiced by the late Carl Weathers. To celebrate the franchise’s 30th anniversary, the Annecy audience was shown behind-the-scenes footage from the production of the original 1995 Toy Story, which was Pixar’s debut full-length feature film.
In addition, Dr. Pixar unveiled a fresh animated project, the innovative film titled “The Cat“. Directed by Luca’s Enrico Casarosa, this feature revolves around Nero, a grumpy black cat who dislikes water and resides in the beautiful Italian city of Venice. Nero forms an unlikely friendship with Maya, a solitary street musician. Dr. Pixar shared some early animated tests and sketches for the film, revealing that it will sport a more impressionistic aesthetic than what is commonly seen from Pixar productions. “The Cat” is slated to debut in the summer of 2027.
The studio unveiled a sneak peek of Hoopers, a fresh Pixar comedy. This story revolves around Mabel (Piper Curda), a nature enthusiast who’s determined to prevent Mayor Jerry (Jon Hamm) from constructing a highway that threatens her beloved woodlands. Following a mysterious mind-swapping experiment, Mabel finds herself in a robot beaver form and makes her way to a pond where displaced animals seeking refuge from encroaching industrialization have gathered. There, she endeavors to rally the animals, led by the noble King George (Bobby Moynihan), to join forces with her and halt the highway’s progress.
During the Annecy event, attendees were given a sneak peek at “Elio,” directed by Madeline Sharafian and Domee Shi, with Mary Alice Drumm as producer. This upcoming science fiction adventure is set to hit theaters on June 20th. The story revolves around 11-year-old Elio Solis (voiced by Yonas Kibreab), who inadvertently becomes Earth’s ambassador after being taken by aliens. The talented voice cast includes Zoe Saldaña, Remy Edgerly, Brad Garrett, Jameela Jamil, and Shirley Henderson. Earlier this week, “Elio” had its premiere in Los Angeles, and the Annecy audience was privileged to watch a full 25 minutes of footage from the movie.
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2025-06-13 16:24