Pete Docter Says Pixar Could “Radically” Change If ‘Inside Out 2’ Is Not a Success
Pixar is set to return to theaters in a big way this weekend with the highly-anticipated Inside Out 2, and the studio’s CCO, Pete Docter, is making no secret of the fact that it needs to be a hit.
It has been a tough couple of years for Pixar, which was once the gold standard in animation. First, the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic and the launch of streaming necessitated that the studio release films such as Luca, Soul, and Turning Red straight to streaming.
Photo: Pixar
Then, when Pixar returned to theaters, Lightyear, a Toy Story spinoff, bombed. While last year’s Elemental would prove to be a slow-burning hit, the days of Pixar’s infallibility were clearly over.
Getting Audiences Back Into Theaters
In an effort to get audiences back to theaters, Pixar has made it clear that it will not release content straight to streaming anymore. Additionally, the studio is reportedly leaning into sequels and franchises in order to draw theatergoers back.
Photo: Disney Pixar
In a recent interview with TIME, Docter discussed Pixar’s strategy going forward.
“Part of our strategy is to try to balance our output with more sequels. It’s hard. Everybody says, ‘Why don’t they do more original stuff?’ And then when we do, people don’t see it because they’re not familiar with it. With sequels, people think, ‘Oh, I’ve seen that. I know that I like it.’ Sequels are very valuable that way,” he explained.
Photo: Disney
“On the other hand, they’re almost harder than originals because we can’t do the same idea again. We have to build on it hopefully in ways that people don’t expect.”
Less Personal Stories?
In a Bloomberg article released earlier this month, it was reported that Pixar would be moving away from personal stories in favor of more universal tales. According to Docter, however, the message of that report was skewed.
Photo: Disney/Pixar
“I think there was a bit of a misunderstanding about that because it’s not that [those movies were] too specific. But what I’ve found is sometimes, if you are telling a personal story, you’ll be like, “Oh, no, that’s not the way the story goes. Because my story is this.’ But we’re not telling my story; we’re telling a story that needs to work for a fictional character that we’re creating. So there’s sometimes a reluctance to let go or let the movie shape itself the way it needs to,” he explained.
Photo: Pixar
“The story shouldn’t come fully formed. You’re always adding and removing stuff. It’s an organic, messy process. But sometimes, your own personal experience can drive that and other times it can get in the way.”
Pixar Needs ‘Inside Out 2’ To Succeed
This, of course, brings us back to Inside Out 2. The highly-anticipated follow-up to 2015’s Inside Out will continue the story of one of Pixar’s most beloved films. According to Docter, if Pixar doesn’t have a hit with Inside Out 2, the studio is going to have to rethink things.
Photo: IMDB
“I can’t imagine having a better chance at a big box office than this because it’s a known movie and characters that meant something to people and a really funny cast—and hopefully something meaty at the heart of it that you can take home as well,” he said.
Photo: Pixar
“So if this doesn’t do well at the theater, I think it just means we’re going to have to think even more radically about how we run our business. So far Pixar has built a business around pretty large budgets. It allows us to make a lot of mistakes and take risks, and if it doesn’t work, we can still go back and fix it.”
The Studio Would Have to Change Its Model
The “fix” would likely be a re-evaluation of how much Pixar movies cost to make. If the box office can no longer support films with inflated budgets, Pixar will change.
Source: Pixar.fandom.com
“I think if you really want to make it cheap, you think of an idea, and you make it. But if you want to make it good, you have to change and iterate a ton and that’s what we’ve been able to do so far. If the box office doesn’t support that, if the economics don’t support that, we just have to make even more giant shifts,” he explained.
In fact, Docter says that Pixar has already begun to trim some of the fat.
Photo: Pixar
“In the Monsters, Inc. through Ratatouille days there was—I was going to say opulence, but that’s not the right word. There was much more freedom to explore. And now we’re tightening the belt and we’re really going to be targeted about when we take risks.”
All Eyes on the Weekend Box Office
So far, it looks like Docter and Pixar have nothing to worry about, as Inside Out 2 is trending towards a big opening. Still, it is clear that the success of the film could have drastic implications for the future of the studio.
Photo: Pixar
All eyes, then, will be on Inside Out 2 when it premieres on June 14.
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