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Following the Oscar win for Gints Zilbalodis’ wordless indie gem ‘Flow’, which featured a plucky black cat and managed to beat out major studio giants like Pixar and DreamWorks, the appetite for original animated stories seems to be on the rise. In response, Pixar has announced a new original film titled ‘Gatto’, directed by Enrico Casarosa — best known for his 2021 feature ‘Luca’. The project was revealed during the Annecy International Animation Film Festival and is scheduled for release in 2027.
Casarosa will once again draw inspiration from his Italian heritage, setting the film in the iconic city of Venice. The animation style will mark a first for Pixar — a blend of hand-painted visuals and the studio’s signature CG craftsmanship. According to the official synopsis, ‘Gatto’ follows a black cat named Nero who has spent years navigating the maze-like canals of Venice. As Nero begins to doubt the choices he's made across his many lives, he finds himself indebted to a feline mob boss and compelled to form an unlikely alliance — one that might lead him to discover his true purpose, unless Venice gets the better of him first.
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The film will also include a strong musical element, as it was revealed at Annecy that Nero’s tail happens to be a big jazz enthusiast. While it remains unclear whether Dan Romer, who composed the score for ‘Luca’, will be involved in ‘Gatto’, Casarosa’s past collaboration with the composer brought a vibrant emotional layer to his previous film.
Pixar Balances Sequels with Bold New Originals
The announcement of ‘Gatto’ — alongside the upcoming release of Pixar’s original sci-fi feature ‘Elio’ — comes amid a broader trend of major studios prioritising sequels. Projects such as ‘Toy Story 5’, ‘Incredibles 3’, and ‘Coco 2’ are currently in development. Pixar also revealed that the upcoming ‘Toy Story’ sequel will feature a new antagonist — a tablet character named LilyPad.
Still, the greenlighting of an ambitious, visually distinct original film like ‘Gatto’ suggests Pixar is making space for more creative risks. In light of the success of independent animation at this year’s Oscars, this move could signal a refreshing shift in the studio’s future direction.
