Disney and its frequent collaborator at Pixar are known for their innovative spirit — at least, that was definitely the consensus a few years ago. Despite basically writing the book on the animated blockbuster, a formula that saw Disney dominating in the ‘90s and ‘00s, the House of Mouse has since been surpassed. Its smooth, slick 3D style isn’t quite enough to capture an audience anymore, even if its films are just as visually stunning as ever. Sony’s Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse totally changed the game in 2018, redefining what was possible on the big screen with an intoxicating blend of 2D and 3D animation. Disney has been trying to catch up ever since.
The studio’s most overt attempt to capitalize on the Spider-Verse style came with Wish in 2023, but most agree that it didn’t do quite enough to set itself apart. But that’s okay: Disney is nothing if not resilient. Its next effort to combine painterly animation with robust visual effects will come from Pixar, and it’s already shaping up to be a promising addition to the slate.
