Pixar Is About To Borrow Disney’s Smartest Animation Strategy

Pixar is one of the biggest animation studios, and since the beginning of their long-time collaboration with Disney, has released some of the most popular animated movies. From Toy Story and Monsters, Inc., all the way to Inside Out, Soul, and more, Pixar has continued its track record with successful animated films. And now, they are adding a new twist.

What separated Pixar animated movies from Disney's was one simple element: music. Disney is probably best known for their animated musicals, and now Pixar has announced its first-ever animated musical. The film will be directed by Domee Shi, who directed the underrated coming-of-age comedy Turning Red. And with this announcement, Pixar might take its animated films to new levels of success.

Disney’s Best Animated Films Are Musicals

Unlike Disney, Pixar has never released an animated musical film. While some Pixar movies have iconic soundtracks and popular songs, they aren't musicals. However, Disney has always leaned into the musical elements in their animated films. And it makes sense, as musicals like The Little Mermaid and Beauty and the Beast began the Disney Renaissance.

Between 1989 and 1999, Disney lived through their Renaissance era, after a series of failed animated movies kept the studio struggling and almost shut down. However, the success of The Little Mermaid in 1989 revitalized the animation studio, and Disney focused more on musical films, continuing with Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin, The Lion King, and more.

In the 2000s, Disney returned to animated films without musical elements, releasing films like The Emperor's New Groove and Treasure Planet. And even though these films are considered some of the best Disney animated movies, they were box office failures at the time, and the studio once again struggled to have the success it had during the '90s.

Focusing on music was the key to Disney's success, so it made sense that they soon went back to their animated musicals. Films like The Princess and the Frog and Tangled marked a rebirth for Disney musical films, and the worldwide phenomenon of Frozen and its song "Let it Go" proved that most fans love Disney animated musicals.

Pixar’s First Ever Musical Could Mark a Shift for the Studio

Pixar Animation Studios has never focused on musical movies. However, many of the studio's films feature incredible soundtracks and original music, and some even have a specific focus on music, including Domee Shi's Turning Red. In the film, 13-year-old Mei is a fan of the boy band 4*Town and is desperate to attend their concert.

Pixar's Soul has a major focus on music as well, as the story follows a hopeful jazz musician turned music teacher. But Pixar hasn't released a full-on musical ever, so the upcoming project could be a major shift for the studio. Everything known so far is that the still-untitled movie will be directed by Turning Red's Domee Shi.

Animated musical films have a charm unlike any other movie of its genre. Most of the films continue to live on through their music, with many songs from The Little Mermaid or Aladdin still popular more than 30 years later. The musical numbers also introduce vibrant scenes, fun sequences, and memorable moments into the film.

One of Monsters, Inc.'s most-quotable moments comes from Mike Wazowski's pretend-musical as he and Sully try to hide Boo from their co-workers. The joke-musical is one of the funniest scenes in the film, but it also proves that, when done as a musical, the quotes are more memorable for fans, even in the case of joke-musicals.

Pixar's attempt at a full-blown musical film might be one of the most anticipated releases of the 2020s. Disney has proven over and over again that musicals have long-lasting success that even overshadows some of the best Pixar movies. And with films like Encanto, it was the musical numbers that turned a box-office disappointment into a surprising streaming hit.

The power of musical films is not solely in animation, as proven by the worldwide phenomenon Wicked and Wicked: For Good. Pixar's decision to finally jump into the animated musical genre seems strategic, one that builds on the success of Disney animated musicals. And, if done right, it might be one of Pixar's best animated movies yet.