#pixar animation

[scurviesdisneyblog]

Luca concept art by Deanna Marsigliese

[synergysilhouette]

The evolution of Asian leads in American animated films since the 2010s

I've noticed an uptick in Asian leads for American animated films over the past decade. To specify:

Hiro Hamada ("Big Hero 6," 2014) is half-Japanese, half-white, and lives in an alternate universe where California (specifically San Francisco) was heavily influenced by Japanese culture due to immigration.

Yi ("Abominable," 2019) is Chinese and lives in Shanghai.

Fei Fei ("Over the Moon," 2020) is Chinese, and her film draws on Chinese mythology.

Raya ("Raya and the Last Dragon," 2021) is from a fictional land influenced by Southeast Asia (specifically Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, and the Philippines).

Din Song ("Wish Dragon," 2021) is Chinese and lives in Shanghai.

Meilin Lee ("Turning Red," 2022) is a Canadian girl of Chinese descent.

Ember ("Elemental," 2023) isn't human, but since the director of "Elemental" is Korean and based it on his experience as the son of immigrants in NYC and Ember's VA is of Asian descent, I count her.

Kenji Sato ("Ultraman: Rising," 2024) is Japanese.

Rumi ("Kpop Demon Hunters," 2025) is Korean. While her father is a demon, the culture/world he comes from is Korean, so IDK if she counts as mixed from an ethnic perspective.

Stevie Ting and Elliott Ting ("In Your Dreams," 2025) are Americans with an Asian father. IDK what his ethnicity is, but since his VA is of Chinese descent, I'm guessing they're half-Chinese.

Mabel Tanaka ("Hoppers," 2026) is an American girl of Japanese descent.

Aang ("The Legend of Aang: The Last Airbender," 2026) is from a world influenced by South Asian, East Asian, Southeast Asian, and Native American cultures, with the specific culture he comes from being inspired by the monks of Tibet. I know he's originally from a 2000s tv show, but it felt wrong not to count him.

Jo and Raissa ("Forgotten Island," 2026) are Filipina.

Billie Doe ("Hexed"; 2026) is most likely mixed with Filipino ancestry, given Disney's casting call for a Filipino character in their upcoming film, Brandon Perea being rumored to be tied to the film, and Josie Trinidad being the lead director-turned-co-director and being Filipina herself. Plus Billie's VA has some Filipina ancestry.

While "Ultraman: Rising," "Over the Moon," "Abominable," and "Wish Dragon" were co-produced by Asian companies, they were still co-produced by major American animation companies (Netflix Animation and Dreamworks), I still count them.

Also something I hadn't paid attention to before: someone mentioned on Twitter that out of the SEA rep we get in western animation (both films and TV shows), Filipinos usually get the most attention. What other ethnicities would you like to see from SEA depicted in animation, specifically animated films? Vietnam, Singapore, and Thailand come to mind for me.

[dailydisneydreaming]

Ratatouille (2007)

[xala-mosby]

Cars (2006) dir. John Lasseter

[writerxwren]

Alright Disney needs to get over its aversion to promoting its sci-fi movies because I honestly loved Elio? "Sometimes unique can feel like alone. But you are not alone" hit me HARD, and tbh is anything more Pixar than making you cry over something totally unexpected? They had me in tears over giant pillbug aliens of all things. Also there were so many little nods to other sci-fi franchises - I caught Star Trek, Hitchhiker's Guide, Star Wars, Stargate, E.T., and even a bit of Galaxy Quest lmao???? Also they got Kate Mulgrew aka Captain Janeway herself to do a voice cameo which got me way too hyped 😂 Anyway it literally felt like a love letter to all the lonely, rejected kids who found solace in sci-fi growing up and I appreciate it for that

[sakuraswordly]

[art-appreciation-dog]

The Incredibles - Concept Art

[disneytva]

"Toy Story 5" Unveils First Teaser Trailer As Greta Lee Joins The Cast As Antagonist LilyPad.

The age of toys is over…?

Playtime meets screentime as Walt Disney Studios has unveiled the first teaser trailer of Pixar Animation Studios "Toy Story 5" slated for a theatrical release in June 19, 2026

The fifth installment in the beloved Pixar franchise has added Greta Lee (Sony Pictures Animation "Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse" Trilogy, Netflix "Russian Doll", Walt Disney Studios "Tron Ares") as LilyPad an interactive tablet given to a now 8-year old Bonnie Anderson who serves as the main antagonist of the film.

In "Toy Story 5". Since Woody left Bonnie to help abandoned toys find owners, Jessie has led the charge in Bonnie's room, with Buzz Lightyear as her second-in-command. However, an eight-year-old Bonnie has become enamored of her new favorite plaything, a frog-like tablet named Lilypad. Now Jessie and Buzz need Woody's help to face this new threat to playtime alongside a evil army of recalled Buzz Lightyear toys.

“Toy Story 5” is directed and written by Academy Award winner Andrew Stanton (“WALL•E,” “Finding Nemo,” “Finding Dory”), co-directed by Kenna Harris (“Ciao Alberto”) and produced by Lindsey Collins ("Elio" "Win Or Lose", “Turning Red,” “WALL•E,” “Finding Dory”).