Pixar Lines Up Two Original Films After Hoppers Breakout Success — Report
Fresh off the success of Hoppers at the box office, Pixar is doubling down on original storytelling with two new animated features now in development, according to a new report.
Pixar had a good weekend, and now it looks like the studio is putting that momentum into fresh, original ideas instead of camping out in sequel land. Multiple new projects are moving forward, with two in particular worth keeping an eye on.
What they are cooking
- Ono Ghost Market: An original feature inspired by Asian folklore about supernatural marketplaces where the living and the dead cross paths. This one reportedly started life as a streaming series and has since leveled up to a theatrical film. The studio hasn’t officially unveiled it yet, but the concept sounds like classic Pixar weird-in-a-good-way territory.
- Untitled musical: Pixar’s first full-on musical feature is in the works, with 'Turning Red' director Domee Shi at the helm. Plot details are under wraps, but calling it a musical at Pixar is a genuine creative pivot, and I’m curious what that looks like beyond the usual needle drops and end-credits bops.
Why the timing makes sense
The push on originals arrives right after 'Hoppers' opened strong. The film pulled in about $46 million in North America from roughly 4,000 theaters in its first weekend, with another $42 million coming from overseas. That puts the global opening around $88 million. Not a record-breaker, but clearly healthy enough to encourage a swing at new ideas.
Quick refresher on 'Hoppers'
Directed by Daniel Chong and written by Jesse Andrews, 'Hoppers' premiered in the U.S. on March 6. It follows 19-year-old animal obsessive Mabel Tanaka, who uses experimental tech to drop her consciousness into a robotic beaver. The upside: she can actually talk to animals. The mission: protect their habitat before it gets wiped out. It’s a high-concept hook with a heart-on-its-sleeve message, which is basically Pixar’s home turf.
Bottom line: the studio isn’t just tending to franchises. Between a ghostly market tale and a first-ever musical, Pixar seems ready to get a little stranger and a lot more ambitious again. Good.