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Disney, Pixar unveil upcoming slate of films including originals, ‘Elio’ and ‘Wish’

Animation is the heart and soul of the Walt Disney Company and the upcoming slate announced at the D23 Expo illustrate the originality and cutting edge animation is taking.

Pixar’s Pete Docter was excited to share the upcoming slate for the Emeryville-based animation studio. “These last few years have been a time of great change in the world,” said Docter. “And it’s led us at Pixar to think about the future. Or, if I’m channeling my inner Joe from ‘Soul,’ I’d ask: ‘Why are we here? What’s our purpose?’ Well, for us, it’s to tell great animated stories. Whether those are theatrical feature films, streaming series or shorts, we think telling stories is foundational to who we are as people. They really define us. And we believe in the power of animation to capture and reflect the stories of our own lives.”

Here’s what’s coming:

ELEMENTAL, Disney and Pixar’s all-new, original feature film releasing June 16, 2023, features the voices of Leah Lewis and Mamoudou Athie as Ember and Wade, respectively. In a city where fire-, water-, land-, and air-residents live together, this fiery young woman and go-with-the-flow guy are about to discover something elemental: how much they actually have in common. “Elemental” is directed by Peter Sohn and produced by Denise Ream.

ELEMENTAL

An all-new original feature film releasing on June 16, 2023, is inspired by the idea of immigrants pursuing dreams in beautiful neighborhoods where language and cultures come together. Filmmakers Peter Sohn and Denise Ream introduced the characters in “Elemental,” which is set in a city where fire-, water-, land- and air-residents live together. Ember is a tough and fiery young woman, and Wade is a fun, sappy, go-with-the-flow guy.

WIN OR LOSE features the voice of Will Forte as Coach Dan. Pixar’s first-ever original long-form animated series follows a co-ed middle school softball team in the week leading up to their championship game. Each episode highlights the perspective of a different character—like Coach Dan—and explores the drama of bad calls being made on and off the field. A story about love, rivalry and the challenges we all face in our struggle to win at life, “Win or Lose” streams on Disney+ in Fall 2023.

WIN OR LOSE

Directors Carrie Hobson and Michael Yates provided a closer look at Pixar’s first-ever long-form series and what inspired it. “Win or Lose” follows the Pickles, a co-ed middle school softball team, in the week leading up to their championship game. Each episode takes place that same week, highlighting the perspective of a different main character—players, their parents, the umpire—each reflected in a unique visual style. Hobson and Yates revealed that Will Forte will voice Coach Dan in the series, and shared a shout-out Forte recorded for the occasion, followed by a special clip just for fans. “Win or Lose” streams on Disney+ in Fall 2023. 

ELIO, Disney and Pixar’s all-new, original feature film releasing Spring 2024, is about an 11-year-old dreamer named Elio (voice of Yonas Kibreab), who finds it hard to fit in until he is suddenly beamed up into space, transported across the galaxy and mistaken to be the intergalactic Ambassador for Earth. Featuring the voice of America Ferrera as Elio’s smart and super-confident mom, Olga, “Elio” is directed by Adrian Molina and produced by Mary Alice Drumm.

ELIO

In the story, 11-year-old dreamer Elio is artistic, creative and an avid INdoorsman who finds it hard to fit in. Meanwhile Mom Olga, who runs a top-secret military project, is working to decode a strange signal from outer space. But it’s Elio who makes contact, gets beamed into space and is subsequently mistaken for an intergalactic Ambassador for Earth. Olga is voiced by America Ferrera and Yonas Kibreab voices Elio. The film will be released in Spring 2024.

INSIDE OUT 2

They are coming back. The gang from the popular “Inside Out” film are in production for an all-new adventure inside the head of the now teenage Riley, who may or may not be feeling all kinds of new Emotions. The film is slated for release in Summer 2024.

 
Walt Disney Animation Studios’ Chief Creative Officer Jennifer Lee received a warm welcome from fans who were delighted to hear details about the studio’s plans for the yearlong 100-year anniversary celebration. “At Walt Disney Animation Studios, the studio that started it all, on the eve of our 100thanniversary, we see today as a moment of privilege and promise,” said Lee. “A privilege to be stewards of a studio and a dream that Walt and his brother, Roy, started a century ago. And a promise to continue to take risks in our storytelling—and to explore and expand and turn the possible into the actual, just as Walt did.”
 
Lee discussed the opportunities Disney+ has created at Disney Animation, reviewing the slate of shows heading to the streamer, including new series like “ZOOTOPIA+,” launching on Disney+ Nov. 9.

But it was the new announcements that had fans really excited.

“IWÁJÚ” is all-new original long-form series created in collaboration with Pan-African comic book entertainment company Kugali. Kugali filmmakers Olufikayo Ziki Adeola, Hamid Ibrahim and Tolu Olowofoyeku call the series a love letter to Lagos, Nigeria. Their futuristic depiction is bursting with color, unique visual elements and technological advancements is inspired by the spirit of Lagos, which is physically divided into an island and a mainland separated by both water and socio-economic status. The coming-of-age story introduces Tola, a young heiress from the wealthy island, her best friend Kole, a self-taught tech expert and loving son from the mainland, and Tola’s calculating robotic pet lizard, Otin. “Iwájú” streams on Disney+ in 2023.

IWÁJÚ

 Coming to Disney+ in 2023, this an all-new original long-form series created in collaboration with Pan-African comic book entertainment company Kugali. Kugali filmmakers Olufikayo Ziki Adeola, Hamid Ibrahim and Tolu Olowofoyeku, introduced the setting of the series—a love letter to Lagos, Nigeria. Olowofoyeku and Ibrahim described the world of “Iwájú” as a futuristic depiction—a world bursting with color, unique visual elements and technological advancements inspired by the spirit of Lagos, which is physically divided into an island and a mainland separated by both water and socio-economic status. The coming-of-age story introduces Tola, a young heiress from the wealthy island, and her best friend Kole, a self-taught tech expert and loving son from the mainland.

Disney’s “Strange World” is an original action-packed comedy adventure in the spirit of pulp novels. The film features a mischievous blue blob called Splat and a three-legged dog named Legend, “Strange World” opens in theaters on Nov. 23, 2022.

STRANGE WORLD

Disney Animation’s next feature film is about an incredible family who must get past their differences to save a strange world full of danger and surprises. Disney Animation’s 61st feature film’s voice cast includes ake Gyllenhaal (Searcher Clade), Dennis Quaid (Jaeger Clade), Jaboukie Young-White (Ethan Clade) and Lucy Liu (Callisto Mal) The film opens in theaters Nov. 23, 2022. 

Walt Disney Animation Studios’ original fairytale adventure “Wish” is an all-new story is set in the magical kingdom of Rosas, where Asha, an optimist with a sharp wit and a deep caring for her community, turns to the sky in a moment of need, and makes a wish.
The feature film releases Fall 2023.

WISH

 This film is set to release Fall 2023, during the Studio’s 100th year and is an animated musical inspired by the legacy of films from the studio and asks the question: “How did the wishing star, upon which so many characters wished, come to be?” Directors Chris Buck and Fawn Veerasunthorn outlined the story, which is set in Rosas, the kingdom of wishes where wishes can literally come true. Attendees were introduced to 17-year-old Asha—an optimist with a sharp wit who cares endlessly about her community. In a moment of desperation, Asha makes an impassioned plea to the stars, which is answered by a cosmic force, a little ball of boundless energy called Star. Together, they face the most formidable of foes to save her community and prove that when the will of one courageous human connects with the magic of the stars, wondrous things can happen. Disney Animation good-luck-charm Alan Tudyk joined filmmakers on stage to share an animation test for his newest character, a goat named Valentino. Buck, Veerasunthorn and Lee then introduced the voice of Asha, actress Ariana DeBose, who brought down the house singing an all-new original song written by Julia Michaels, who’s writing all of the songs for “Wish.”
 

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