Over the years, Pixar has increased the number of its employees in order to better manage the building scope of its films. This expansion has not yet allowed them to release more than one feature film in a year, though. There have been a number of times in the past few years that two Pixar films were scheduled to bow in theaters in the same year, but dates were eventually shuffled. Pete Docter‘s Inside Out and Andrew Stanton‘s Finding Dory are currently slated for 2015, so we may finally see two releases in a year from Pixar soon. Disney just announced the release dates for four Pixar films that are scheduled to hit from 2016 to 2018, which means two more films have been scheduled to arrive in one year. The day where we will see two Pixar films in one year is now rapidly approaching.
Dia de los Meurtos Film Concept Art
Although it has never happened before (EDIT: meaning, although Pixar has not yet successfully released two films in one year before), Disney scheduling four Pixar films in the span of six years demonstrates that the Emeryville-based studio is clearly growing faster in its ability to produce films. In the past, a Pixar film would average about four years from the start of development to release. However, Finding Dory, which was just announced a few months ago is scheduled for release in 2015. Given that Stanton was busy working on the live-action John Carter for Disney through March 2012, the pace with which these films are being produced is picking up. With Pixar’s determination to produce films with a strong story and impeccable animation, I believe we are not close to seeing two Pixar films every year, but three films in two years may be within reach.
Disney today announced the dates of four untitled Pixar films that are set for the years of 2016, 2017, and 2018 (via Collider):
- June 17, 2016
- June 16, 2017
- November 22, 2017
- June 15, 2018
One of those films is the one centered around the Mexican holiday of Dia de los Muertos, which is being directed by Toy Story 3 head Lee Unkrich. It is the only Pixar film after Finding Dory that has been officially announced, so that likely has the 2016 release date. So, what are the three coming in 2017 and 2018? Last year, it emerged that Teddy Newton, director of the short Day & Night, was developing a film for the studio with Derek Connolly, the screenwriter of the critically-acclaimed Safety Not Guaranteed. Also, Mark Andrews, co-director of Brave, has stated that he was working on developing another film. I am excited to find out more about these films soon! Maybe we will hear something at the D23 Expo later this summer, but I would be surprised if all four films were announced there. We will have more details for you as they are released.
