DisneyandPixarhave long been known for their innovations in the realm of animated movies, and their success speaks for itself. Over the years, each has made incredible films. Thoughnot technically the first animated film,Snow White and the Seven Dwarfsproved the format could be profitable, and the company dominated the animation genre for decades after, often using new technology to do so. Meanwhile, Pixar came onto the scene in 1995 with the company’s first feature,Toy Story. This was alsothe first computer-animated film, and with it, Pixar changed the industry forever. SinceDisney owns Pixar, the two often share success, but these days, they face the same problems. In recent years, Disney and Pixar have become stagnant and stuck in the same style while other production companies experiment.With their recent flops that often look too similar, it seems these former giants are losing their edge.
Disney and Pixar Rely Too Heavily on Realism and 3D animation
Since the onset of computer-animated films, there have continued to be changes, but Disney and Pixar seem to have latched on to the 3D animation style and stuck with it. This allows for incredible detail, making the animation look beautiful and as realistic as possible. For a while, it was impressive. The animation style grew progressively better, partially because of Disney and Pixar’s other groundbreaking films.The Incrediblesdeveloped technology that allowedmore realistic and complex movement in human characters.Tangleddeveloped new technologyto better animate Rapunzel’s (Mandy Moore) hair, creating a shockingly realistic spectacle. Yet, after so many years, this animation style has lost its charm.
10 Essential Pixar Movies, Ranked
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Disney and Pixar have come to rely on 3D animation too much, to the point that they have abandoned the classic methods, withthe last 2D animated filmfrom the company being 2011’sWinnie the Pooh. Meanwhile, other animation companies have continued to experiment.Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Versehonored its comic book origins with a unique look,combining 2D and 3D animationin an innovative way that benefits the film. Likewise,Puss In Boots: The Last Wishmoved away from the naturalistic styleof earlier animated films. These films show there is room for new technologies and styles that look less realistic, because if that’s what you want, why not watch a live-action film?
Disney and Pixar’s New Films Look the Same
Using the same technology wouldn’t be nearly as noticeable an issue if the films didn’t all look the same. While the films have different settings,the characters look very similar, especiallythe females. Elsa (Idina Menzel), Anna (Kristen Bell), Rapunzel, Moana (Auli’i Cravalho), Mirabel (Stephanie Beatriz), Asha (Ariana DeBose), and even Venelope (Sarah Silverman) share the same facial structure, with round heads and overly large eyes. Most concerningly, Sisu’s (Awkwafina)dragon form inRaya and the Last Dragonshares this look. The lack of variety is getting old.
Disney is not the only culprit. Though Pixar often centers stories around non-human characters, they occasionally fall into the same trap. The characters ofLuca,Turning Red,andWin or Loseall look similar. These are three somewhat rare examples of Pixar stories centered on people, and they have the same struggle as Disney’s recent films.There is a little more variety among the characters, but the style across all three is the same,making it less unique than it first seemed.
Recently, Disney and Pixar Haven’t Been at Their Best
Wishattempted to use a new styleby blending 3D animation with watercolor backgrounds in an attempt to return to Disney’s roots, but it was not a big enough change from modern Disney films, especially because the characters fit the typical mold. Despite being a celebration of the company’s 100 years,Wishflopped, and it wasn’t the first to do so.Stange Worldstruggled as well.On Pixar’s side,Turning Red,Onward, andLightyeardid not do well, and these all notably share the same animation style.Disney and Pixar’s recent catalog isn’t really catching on, and they are relying on more sequels.In 2024, Disney releasedMoana 2and PixarInside Out 2, and both gathered a respectable audience because their original films were so well-loved. While sequels are fun, the studios need original films, too. So, it’s time for Disney and Pixar to let go of what they have been doing and try something completely new to recapture the audience’s attention.
