Pixar to Make Changes to Film Approach After Elemental, Studio Leader Reveals Shift

Pixar’s Chief Creative Officer, known for directing several Pixar classics, sheds light on the changes the studio’s upcoming movies will undergo following the release of ‘Elemental.’

Pete Docter, the Chief Creative Officer at Pixar, discusses the upcoming shifts in the studio’s film approach post-‘Elemental.’ As the creative genius behind iconic Pixar projects like ‘Monsters, Inc.,’ ‘Up,’ and ‘Inside Out,’ Docter took the helm of the executive leadership role at Pixar in 2018. ‘Elemental’ is the latest film to be released under the Pixar banner. Despite overcoming initial box office challenges, this Pixar feature sparked a conversation about the studio’s recent trend of underperforming films, exemplified by last year’s ‘Lightyear.’

In an interview with The New York Times, Docter addresses the impending changes in Pixar’s future film projects after ‘Elemental.’ He noted that classic animations like ‘Toy Story’ were rooted in “ideas that we all carried around as kids.” However, with the shift in focus represented by ‘Elemental,’ Docter believes that Pixar needs to reevaluate the kinds of stories they are crafting and “double down on what allowed [them] to connect with audiences in the first place.” Here’s the complete quote from Docter:

“I always felt that ‘Elemental’ would speak to a lot of people, and I’m so happy it has. But we have also taken another look at the projects we’re working on now. What are the kinds of films we want to be making? I really think I want to double down on what allowed us to speak to audiences to begin with.”

Pete Docter’s Insight: Pixar’s Return to Form ‘Elemental’ delves into a world composed of four elemental beings (fire, water, earth, and air), taking a less conventional approach compared to other Pixar films. Initial reviews criticized the film for its somewhat loose storyline, but its reception improved once it hit theaters. Despite enduring a weak box office opening, the film unexpectedly gained momentum in the weeks that followed. While it eventually rebounded at the box office, ‘Elemental’ is still considered one of the studio’s less compelling projects.

‘Elemental’ isn’t the sole film to deviate from Pixar’s traditional, simplified but well-executed style. Last year’s ‘Turning Red’ adopted a more personal approach, grounding its story in a real-world setting interwoven with mythology. In contrast, Pixar’s older works, like the bug-centric world of ‘A Bug’s Life’ or the unexpected alliance between rats and humans in ‘Ratatouille,’ offered narratives that were easier for a younger audience to embrace.

When comparing Pixar’s recent films to their classic works, it becomes evident that Pixar needs to revisit its core storytelling approach. What made Pixar exceptional wasn’t just fantasy worlds but rather the straightforward, meaningful themes centered on real-world issues that could be translated effectively for younger viewers to relate to. These themes encompassed topics such as parenting (‘Finding Nemo’), environmental concerns (‘WALL-E’), and the transition to adulthood (‘Toy Story 3’). These narrative elements defined Pixar’s greatness, and there’s optimism that Docter is poised to steer the studio back in that direction.

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