(Image: Pixar)
The Annecy International Animation Film Festival, the animation industry's premier annual event, is currently underway, and Pixar Studios is taking the opportunity to promote its upcoming slate of films still in production. Among them is "Gatto," a new original feature from "Luca" director Enrico Casarosa. Like "Luca," the film is set in Casarosa's native Italy, this time taking place in Venice rather than a fictional port town.
(Image: Pixar)
"Gatto" has released its first still (above) and will join the recent trend of 3D animation with a hand-drawn aesthetic, utilizing new technology to capture the unique charm of Venice. The film is slated for a summer 2027 release.
According to information released by Pixar, the synopsis for "Gatto" is as follows: After years of living in the seaside city, a black cat named Nilo begins to question whether he has chosen the right path in life. Indebted to the local feline mob boss, Nilo finds himself in a difficult situation. He is forced into an unexpected friendship with a street artist named Maya and is reluctantly adopted by her. This friendship, however, may ultimately lead Nilo to achieve the life he's always wanted... unless the Venetian criminal underworld gets to him first.
(Image: Pixar)
Another original project announced is "Hoppers," directed by Daniel Chong, the creator of the animated series "We Bare Bears." The voice cast includes Piper Curda, Jon Hamm, and Bobby Moynihan. The film is scheduled for a March 26, 2026 release in North America, with its first still also debuting today.
The film follows a young girl named Mabel who, in an effort to protect her favorite local pond from a highway construction project, steals a piece of technology called Hoppers. This allows her to implant her consciousness into a robotic beaver, enabling her to uncover secrets of the animal world beyond imagination.
(Image: Pixar)
The only sequel featured in the presentation was the highly anticipated fifth installment of "Toy Story." Pixar screened the first two minutes of the film's opening at the festival and confirmed that Joan Cusack will return to voice Jessie. Additionally, Pixar revealed the design for the fifth film's villain—a children's tablet computer named LilyPad (pictured above). "Toy Story 5" is set to hit theaters on June 19, 2026.