via After ‘Elemental’ Bombs, Can Pixar Restore Its Box Office Touch?
Pixar has been struggling since the pandemic, when its corporate overlords at Disney used the pedigree of the animation brand to prop up its new streaming service. During that period, new offerings “Soul,” “Luca” and “Turning Red” were sent directly to Disney+ and family audiences became accustomed to expect those movies at home.
“It’s more expensive for a family of four to go to a theater when they know they can wait and it’ll come out on the platform,” Docter has since admitted to Variety.
I don’t think that streaming is part of Pixar’s problem. The real problem is that Pixar went from making highly original thought provoking animated movies to every movie being some sort of sacchirine growing up & learning life lessons trope. Pixar needs to be original, but all their recent movies are just rehashed derivatives. The success of Spider-Man across the Spider-Verse or Puss in Boots or Minions is proof that animation movies have legs, but Pixar has in reality, become boring. Even Spiderverse is all about growing up, but it never feels or tries hard to be that way. Pixar movies try too hard to message something. I am still hoping Pixar will rediscover its magic again, but with Disney owning it my hopes are way too low at this pt.