Starting with Toy Story in 1995, Pixar Animation Studios plays host to some of our most memorable childhood films. The studio is coming up on their next animated release date for the sequel Toy Story 4, which is set to debut on June 21, 2019. With twenty Pixar animated films on their docket, many of their films are prequels to Pixar’s most successful blockbuster hits. While the studio has come up with some hard-hitters in recent years (Brave, Up), their main M.O. seems to be reworking animated classics like The Incredibles and Finding Nemo into sequels.
Sequels have a tendency to procure a bad rep, especially if it means breathing new life into perfectly curated fan-favorites. There are some Pixar sequels like Toy Story 2 that have held up, but others likeCars 2 have fallen by the wayside. So, should Pixar continue on its path of composing sequels from some of their best sellers? Here are 5 Pixar movies that need a sequel, but 5 that definitely don’t.
Need: Coco
The delightful 3D fantasy film that came out in 2017 became known as a game-changer in the animation industry. The story of Miguel’s journey to the Land of the Dead helps him find his ancestors while he learns about his heritage along the way. Coco is the first minority-based film that has come up in quite a long time, which became widely appreciated by the general audience. The premise of this film is centered around the Mexican holiday Day of the Dead and acted as a unique way to introduce children to other cultures. Children could definitely use more Pixar films that are equal parts entertainment and education.
Don’t: Cars
Before Pixar was purchased by Disney in 2006, Pixar released one more independent film that broke retail records. Cars is a comedic story that enters the minds of anthropomorphic talking vehicles. This imaginative film was so greatly received that it was nominated for various awards, including a win for the Golden Globe Award for Best Animated Feature Film.
However, Cars has already had its run of sequels. Car 2 came out in 2011, with a spin-off called Planes following just a few years later. Along with Cars Disney Channel shorts, it’s about time that Pixar just keeps this story locked in the vault.
Need: Inside Out
In 2015, Pixar and Disney released Inside Out, which unprecedently became the fourth highest grossing Pixar film of all time. Inside Out came to be as the result of the director, Pete Docter, noticing how his daughter’s personality changed as she got older. Inside Out explores the psyche of a young girl named Riley and her five clashing emotions: Joy, Sadness, Anger, Fear, and Disgust. The film started a conversation about mental struggles in a way that adolescents can understand, which is extremely pertinent in today’s political climate. However, to say this film is centered around a bureaucratic view would be a false insinuation. Inside Out, at the very least, helps kids understand the essence of puberty and at most, the struggles of mental illnesses.
Don’t: Up
Up’s story started off different than any other Pixar film. Following the love story of Carl and Ellie in a charming montage sequence, audiences were left heartbroken when Ellie passes away—right at the beginning of the story! Carl is left to find his own journey and his story, alongside the aid of Russel and Dug, has become one of Pixar’s newest beloved animated tales. Because of its stance as a newfound classic Pixar film, this film shouldn’t have a prequel. Up is perfect on its own, and although audiences would surely love to see more from these beloved characters, some stories are better left untold.
Need: Brave
In collaboration with Disney, Brave introduced a new kind of Disney princess in 2012. Up in the Scottish highlands, the ambitious orange-haired maiden, Merida, is set to be married. Merida defies this old age custom and has an argument with her mother, which leads her to turn into a bear. Brave’s newest Disney princess stands out from the others with brazen personality and desire to create her own path. Children and adults alike could use more Merida as she offers a broader coming-of-age story than most Pixar films out there.
Don’t: Ratatouille
Ratatouille was only the eighth film produced by Pixar when it came out twelve years ago. It follows the storylines of Remy, an ambitious chef rat, and his human partner Alfredo Linguini. Alfredo is a struggling restaurant chef at the fine dining Gusteau restaurant in Paris. The story of this unlikely duo had incredible results from its audience, earning over $600 million at the box office. Ratatouille also received nominations and awards for Best Animated Picture. Although the story did well, there doesn’t seem to be much more than can be derived from Ratatouille. A sequel would only serve the purpose of bringing nostalgia to fans. Instead, Pixar would be better off contriving a new original story.
Need: A Bug’s Life
Speaking of nostalgia, A Bug’s Life was the second Pixar animated film ever created, right after Toy Story. In 1998, director John Lasseter did not disappoint in telling another unique visual story. A Bug’s Life is set on Ant Island, where an amiable and enthusiastic ant, Flik, finds his true calling as an inventor. Through a series of clumsy accidents, Flik finds himself at the mercy of Hopper—the leader of the grasshopper gang that steals the food from Ant Island every season.
A Bug’s Life is an engaging fairytale that could still plant down a few story roots. While fans will surely question whether today’s directors can fill the shoes on Pixar legends like Lasseter, A Bug’s Life would be the perfect film to test them out.
Don’t: Wall-E
After the success of the underwater adventure, Finding Nemo, Pixar wanted to step up their 3D game by setting an animated story in outer space. The result of this quest is the story of WALL-E. This 2008 film is, for the most part, a silent film, but that didn’t stop it from smashing box office records. In a 29th century Earth, the robot WALL-E finds himself alone on the deteriorating planet until he finds love with the probe, EVE.
This simplistic film wouldn’t be doing audiences any favors with a follow-up tale. The film ended on a happy note, with WALL-E and EVE at the heart of a plantation that is working to resolve Earth’s consumer-driven issues. Not much would come from a sequel, which is why it’s best that Pixar moves on to its next greatest hit.
Need: The Good Dinosaur
Although The Good Dinosaur did not do well at the box office, fans have given it favorable scores on sites like Rotten Tomatoes. In this animated film, the asteroid that caused dinosaurs to become extinct passes by Earth, allowing the natural co-existence of dinosaurs and humans. The timid dino, Arlo, meets a caveboy and the two start a rare friendship. There is definitely room to tell more of this story—thousands of years worth, even. Which is why The Good Dinosaur is a great contender for a Pixar sequel.
Don’t: Monster’s University
Monster’s Inc become a heart-warming classic when it released in 2001. The two titular monsters in the story, James P. “Sulley” Sullivan and his best friend Mike Wazowski bring audiences into their work-life at Monster’s Inc. It sets up the basis of what really happens when those “monsters” come from under the bed. But it also shows the dedication and pride these tame creatures take in their work. The film was such a success ($577 million worldwide) that a sequel came to be in 2013. And while Monster’s University was a successful endeavor, it just stands to reason that there isn’t much more that can be pried from this story.
