Walt Disney Animation Studios and Pixar Animation Studios lit up the Annecy International Animation Film Festival today with a series of major announcements, exclusive footage, and crowd-pleasing surprises that delighted animation fans from around the world.
The morning kicked off with a special appearance from Jared Bush, Walt Disney Animation Studios' Chief Creative Officer and the writer-director of the highly anticipated Zootopia 2. Making his Annecy debut, Bush premiered brand-new footage and concept art from the sequel to the Academy Award®-winning global hit. The sneak peek was met with raucous laughter and applause as familiar favorites Judy Hopps (voiced by Ginnifer Goodwin), Nick Wilde (voiced by Jason Bateman), and Mr. Big (voiced by Maurice LaMarche) returned to the screen alongside new characters including Gary De'Snake (voiced by Ke Huy Quan), Nibbles (voiced by Fortune Feimster), and Dr. Fuzzby (voiced by Quinta Brunson). One particularly crowd-pleasing surprise was the announcement that iconic French actor Jean Reno will voice a police officer in a cameo role.
To celebrate the original Zootopia, a special outdoor screening is scheduled for tonight on Le Pâquier, offering fans a chance to relive the magic under the stars.
The morning session also included a tribute to legendary Disney director Ron Clements, whose storied career includes The Little Mermaid, Aladdin, The Princess and the Frog, and Moana. Clements was officially inducted into Annecy's Walk of Fame. As an added surprise, Bush revealed that Clements will rejoin Walt Disney Animation Studios in an advisory capacity.
In the afternoon, attention turned to Pixar, which began its presentation with the arrival of Chief Creative Officer Pete Docter, joined by Elio co-directors Madeline Sharafian and Domee Shi, and producer Mary Alice Drumm. The team gave attendees a special of the upcoming summer release, Elio, offering a heartfelt, imaginative, and humorous glimpse into the studio's latest original story. The footage was met with enthusiasm and left audiences eager for the film's theatrical debut next week.
The surprises didn't stop there. Docter took the stage to reveal a series of upcoming Pixar projects, starting with never-before-seen footage from Hoppers, set for release in March 2026. Annecy attendees were also the first to view the opening sequence from Toy Story 5, due in summer 2026. Docter confirmed Joan Cusack will reprise her role as Jessie, and teased the arrival of new characters in the beloved franchise's next installment. As a nostalgic bonus, he also shared rare archival footage from the original Toy Story, honoring the 30th anniversary of the world's first full-length computer-animated film.
Looking even further ahead, Docter announced a new original film titled Gatto, scheduled for summer 2027. Directed by Luca filmmaker Enrico Casarosa and produced by Andrea Warren, Gatto follows Nero, a black cat navigating the myth-laden canals of Venice. Owing a debt to a feline mob boss, Nero must form an unexpected bond that could finally give his life purpose—if Venice doesn't outwit him first.
Tags: disney, pixar, zootopia 2, toy story 5