Editing Pixar (section)

=== Walt Disney Studios subsidiary (2006–present) ===
After extended negotiations, Disney ultimately agreed on January 24, 2006, to buy Pixar for approximately $7.4&nbsp;billion in an [[Stock swap|all-stock deal]].<ref>{{Cite news | url=https://money.cnn.com/2006/01/24/news/companies/disney_pixar_deal/ | date=January 24, 2006 | publisher=CNN | title=Disney buys Pixar | first=Paul R. | last=La Monica | access-date=August 3, 2020 | archive-date=March 3, 2020 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200303164557/https://money.cnn.com/2006/01/24/news/companies/disney_pixar_deal/ | url-status=live }}</ref> Following Pixar [[shareholder]] approval, the acquisition was completed on May 5, 2006. The transaction catapulted Jobs, who owned 49.65% of total share interest in Pixar, to Disney's largest individual shareholder with 7%, valued at $3.9&nbsp;billion, and a new seat on its board of directors.<ref name="Walt-Disney-Company-May-2006-8-K">{{cite web |url=http://edgar.secdatabase.com/1392/119312506103659/filing-main.htm |title=Walt Disney Company, Form 8-K, Current Report, Filing Date May 8, 2006 |publisher=secdatabase.com |access-date=May 12, 2018 |archive-date=May 13, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180513152521/http://edgar.secdatabase.com/1392/119312506103659/filing-main.htm |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="agrees">{{Cite news|access-date=April 22, 2008|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/01/25/business/25disney.html?_r=1&oref=slogin|title=Disney Agrees to Acquire Pixar in a $7.4&nbsp;Billion Deal|work=The New York Times|first=Laura M.|last=Holson|date=January 25, 2006|archive-date=May 12, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110512072822/http://www.nytimes.com/2006/01/25/business/25disney.html?_r=1&oref=slogin|url-status=live}}</ref> Jobs' new Disney holdings exceeded holdings belonging to Eisner, the previous top shareholder, who still held 1.7%; and Disney Director Emeritus [[Roy E. Disney]], who held almost 1% of the corporation's shares. Pixar shareholders received 2.3 shares of Disney common stock for each share of Pixar common stock redeemed.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Holson |first=Laura M. |date=2006-01-25 |title=Disney Agrees to Acquire Pixar in a $7.4 Billion Deal |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/01/25/business/disney-agrees-to-acquire-pixar-in-a-74-billion-deal.html |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20240226065323/https://www.nytimes.com/2006/01/25/business/disney-agrees-to-acquire-pixar-in-a-74-billion-deal.html |archive-date=2024-02-26 |access-date=2024-06-17 |work=[[The New York Times]]}}</ref>

As part of the deal, John Lasseter, by then Executive Vice President, became [[Creative director|Chief Creative Officer]] (reporting directly to president and CEO [[Bob Iger]] and consulting with Disney Director Roy E. Disney) of both Pixar and [[Walt Disney Animation Studios]] (including its division [[Disneytoon Studios]]), as well as the Principal Creative Adviser at [[Walt Disney Imagineering]], which designs and builds the company's [[Walt Disney Parks and Resorts|theme parks]].<ref name="agrees" /> Catmull retained his position as President of Pixar, while also becoming President of Walt Disney Animation Studios, reporting to Iger and [[Dick Cook]], chairman of the [[Walt Disney Studios (division)|Walt Disney Studios]]. Jobs's position as Pixar's chairman and chief executive officer was abolished, and instead, he took a place on the Disney board of directors.<ref name="buys Pixar">{{Cite news|access-date=April 22, 2008|url=https://money.cnn.com/2006/01/24/news/companies/disney_pixar_deal/|title=Disney buys Pixar|publisher=CNN|date=January 24, 2006|first=Paul R.|last=La Monica|archive-date=March 3, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200303164557/https://money.cnn.com/2006/01/24/news/companies/disney_pixar_deal/|url-status=live}}</ref>

After the deal closed in May 2006, Lasseter revealed that Iger had felt that Disney needed to buy Pixar while watching a parade at the opening of [[Hong Kong Disneyland]] in September 2005.<ref name="Schlender">{{cite news|last=Schlender|first=Brent|title=Pixar's magic man|url=https://money.cnn.com/2006/05/15/magazines/fortune/pixar_futureof_fortune_052906/index.htm|access-date=April 20, 2012|publisher=CNN|date=May 17, 2006|archive-date=July 15, 2012|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120715081233/http://money.cnn.com/2006/05/15/magazines/fortune/pixar_futureof_fortune_052906/index.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> Iger noticed that of all the Disney characters in the parade, none were characters that Disney had created within the last ten years since all the newer ones had been created by Pixar.<ref name="Schlender" /> Upon returning to Burbank, Iger commissioned a financial analysis that confirmed that Disney had actually lost money on animation for the past decade, then presented that information to the board of directors at his first board meeting after being promoted from COO to CEO, and the board, in turn, authorized him to explore the possibility of a deal with Pixar.<ref name="Issacson1">{{cite book|last1=Issacson|first1=Walter|title=Steve Jobs|date=2013|publisher=Simon and Schuster|location=New York|isbn=978-1-4516-4854-6|page=439|edition=1st paperback|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=6e4cDvhrKhgC&pg=PA439}}</ref> Lasseter and Catmull were wary when the topic of Disney buying Pixar first came up, but Jobs asked them to give Iger a chance (based on his own experience negotiating with Iger in summer 2005 for the rights to [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]] shows for the fifth-generation [[iPod Classic]]),<ref name="Issacson2">{{cite book|last1=Issacson|first1=Walter|title=Steve Jobs|date=2013|publisher=Simon and Schuster|location=New York|isbn=978-1-4516-4854-6|page=438|edition=1st paperback|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=6e4cDvhrKhgC&pg=PA438}}</ref> and in turn, Iger convinced them of the sincerity of his feeling that Disney needed to re-focus on animation.<ref name="Schlender" />

[[File:John Lasseter-Up-66th Mostra.jpg|thumb|[[John Lasseter]] and his wife Nancy appear with characters from ''[[Up (2009 film)|Up]]'' at the 2009 [[Venice Film Festival]].]]
Lasseter and Catmull's oversight of both the Disney Feature Animation and Pixar studios did not mean that the two studios were merging, however. In fact, additional conditions were laid out as part of the deal to ensure that Pixar remained a separate [[Legal entity|entity]], a concern that analysts had expressed about the Disney deal.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1001039/000119312506012082/dex21.htm|publisher=[[United States Securities and Exchange Commission|Securities and Exchange Commission]]|title=Agreement and Plan of Merger by and among The Walt Disney Company, Lux Acquisition Corp. and Pixar|date=January 24, 2006|access-date=April 25, 2007|archive-date=April 14, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100414104009/http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1001039/000119312506012082/dex21.htm|url-status=live}}</ref>{{Page needed|date=June 2020}} Some of those conditions were that Pixar [[Human resources|HR]] policies would remain intact, including the lack of employment contracts. Also, the Pixar name was guaranteed to continue, and the studio would remain in its current [[Emeryville, California]], location with the "Pixar" sign. Finally, branding of films made post-merger would be "Disney•Pixar" (beginning with ''Cars'').<ref>{{Cite news|access-date=April 22, 2008|url=http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=OKTB&p_theme=oktb&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=10F4A5FB9BD5E290&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM|title=Sale unlikely to change Pixar culture|publisher=Inside Bay Area|first1=Matthew|last1=Bunk|date=January 21, 2006|archive-date=May 14, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110514093945/http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=OKTB&p_theme=oktb&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=10F4A5FB9BD5E290&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM|url-status=live}}</ref>

[[Jim Morris (film producer)|Jim Morris]], producer of ''[[WALL-E]]'' (2008), became general manager of Pixar. In this new position, Morris took charge of the day-to-day running of the studio facilities and products.<ref name="manager">{{Cite news | access-date=September 10, 2008 | url=https://variety.com/2008/digital/features/millstein-to-head-disney-animation-1117991985/ | title=Morris and Millstein named manager of Disney studios | first=Marc | last=Graser | work=Variety | date=September 10, 2008 | url-status=live | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080914115408/http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117991985.html?categoryid=13&cs=1 | archive-date=September 14, 2008 | df=mdy-all }}</ref>

After a few years, Lasseter and Catmull were able to successfully transfer the basic principles of the Pixar Braintrust to Disney Animation, although meetings of the Disney Story Trust are reportedly "more polite" than those of the Pixar Braintrust.<ref name=THRPixarVSDisney>{{cite news|last=Kilday|first=Gregg|title=Pixar vs. Disney Animation: John Lasseter's Tricky Tug-of-War|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/pixar-disney-animation-john-lasseters-661752|access-date=December 4, 2013|newspaper=The Hollywood Reporter|date=December 4, 2013|archive-date=February 10, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200210005414/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/pixar-disney-animation-john-lasseters-661752|url-status=live}}</ref> Catmull later explained that after the merger, to maintain the studios' separate identities and cultures (notwithstanding the fact of common ownership and common senior management), he and Lasseter "drew a hard line" that each studio was solely responsible for its own projects and would not be allowed to borrow personnel from or lend tasks out to the other.<ref name="Bell">{{cite news|last=Bell|first=Chris|title=Pixar's Ed Catmull: interview|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/pixar/10719241/Pixars-Ed-Catmull-interview.html|access-date=April 5, 2014|newspaper=The Daily Telegraph|date=April 5, 2014|archive-date=April 6, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140406070821/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/pixar/10719241/Pixars-Ed-Catmull-interview.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Zahed">{{cite news|last=Zahed|first=Ramin|title=An Interview with Disney/Pixar President Dr. Ed Catmull|url=http://www.animationmagazine.net/people/an-interview-with-disneypixar-president-dr-ed-catmull/|access-date=April 5, 2014|newspaper=Animation Magazine|date=April 2, 2012|archive-date=April 7, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140407084516/http://www.animationmagazine.net/people/an-interview-with-disneypixar-president-dr-ed-catmull/|url-status=live}}</ref> The rule ensures that each studio maintains "local ownership" of projects and can be proud of its own work.<ref name="Bell" /><ref name="Zahed" /> Thus for example, when Pixar had issues with ''Ratatouille'' and Disney Animation had issues with ''[[Bolt (2008 film)|Bolt]]'' (2008), "nobody bailed them out" and each studio was required "to solve the problem on its own" despite knowing that there were personnel at the other studio who theoretically could have helped.<ref name="Bell" /><ref name="Zahed" />

==== Expansion and John Lasseter's exit (2010–2018) ====
On April 20, 2010, Pixar opened [[Pixar Canada]] in the downtown area of [[Vancouver]], British Columbia, Canada.<ref>{{cite web |title=Pixar Canada sets up home base in Vancouver, looks to expand |url=https://vancouversun.com/entertainment/movie-guide/Pixar+Canada+sets+home+base+Vancouver+looks+expand/2927398/story.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100422042245/http://www.vancouversun.com/entertainment/movie-guide/Pixar%2BCanada%2Bsets%2Bhome%2Bbase%2BVancouver%2Blooks%2Bexpand/2927398/story.html |archive-date=April 22, 2010 |access-date=April 20, 2010 |work=The Vancouver Sun |location=Canada}}</ref> The roughly 2,000 square meters studio produced seven short films based on ''[[Toy Story (franchise)|Toy Story]]'' and ''[[Cars (franchise)|Cars]]'' characters. In October 2013, the studio was closed down to refocus Pixar's efforts at its main headquarters.<ref>{{cite news |date=October 8, 2013 |title=Pixar Canada shuts its doors in Vancouver |work=[[The Province]] |url=http://blogs.theprovince.com/2013/10/08/pixar-canada-shuts-its-doors-in-vancouver/ |url-status=dead |access-date=October 8, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140424044457/http://blogs.theprovince.com/2013/10/08/pixar-canada-shuts-its-doors-in-vancouver/ |archive-date=April 24, 2014}}</ref>

In November 2014, Morris was promoted to president of Pixar, while his counterpart at Disney Animation, general manager Andrew Millstein, was also promoted to president of that studio.<ref name="Graser">{{cite news|last1=Graser|first1=Marc|title=Walt Disney Animation, Pixar Promote Andrew Millstein, Jim Morris to President|url=https://variety.com/2014/film/news/walt-disney-animation-pixar-promote-andrew-millstein-jim-morris-to-president-1201359728/|access-date=November 18, 2014|work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|publisher=[[Penske Business Media]]|date=November 18, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141121224901/http://variety.com/2014/film/news/walt-disney-animation-pixar-promote-andrew-millstein-jim-morris-to-president-1201359728|archive-date=November 21, 2014|url-status=live}}</ref> Both continued to report to Catmull, who retained the title of president of both Disney Animation and Pixar.<ref name="Graser" />

On November 21, 2017, Lasseter announced that he was taking a six-month leave of absence after acknowledging what he called "missteps" in his behavior with employees in a memo to staff. According to ''[[The Hollywood Reporter]]'' and ''[[The Washington Post]]'', Lasseter had a history of alleged sexual misconduct towards employees.<ref name="hollywoodreporter_20171121A">{{cite news|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/john-lasseters-pattern-alleged-misconduct-detailed-by-disney-pixar-insiders-1059594|title=John Lasseter's Pattern of Alleged Misconduct Detailed by Disney/Pixar Insiders|last=Masters|first=Kim|date=November 21, 2017|work=The Hollywood Reporter|access-date=November 24, 2017|archive-date=November 21, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171121205514/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/john-lasseters-pattern-alleged-misconduct-detailed-by-disney-pixar-insiders-1059594|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="washingtonpost_20171121A">{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/business/wp/2017/11/21/disney-animation-guru-john-lasseter-takes-leave-after-sexual-misconduct-allegations/|title=Disney animation guru John Lasseter takes leave after sexual misconduct allegations|last=Zeitchik|first=Steven|date=November 21, 2017|newspaper=The Washington Post|access-date=November 21, 2017|archive-date=June 12, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612143555/https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/business/wp/2017/11/21/disney-animation-guru-john-lasseter-takes-leave-after-sexual-misconduct-allegations/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/features/he-who-not-be-named-can-john-lasseter-ever-return-disney-1105297|title=He Who Must Not Be Named": Can John Lasseter Ever Return to Disney?|last=Masters|first=Kim|date=April 25, 2018|work=The Hollywood Reporter|access-date=May 1, 2018|archive-date=May 3, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180503214552/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/features/he-who-not-be-named-can-john-lasseter-ever-return-disney-1105297|url-status=live}}</ref> On June 8, 2018, it was announced that Lasseter would leave Disney Animation and Pixar at the end of the year, but would take on a consulting role until then.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://mobile.nytimes.com/2018/06/08/business/media/john-lasseter-leaves-disney.html|title=Pixar Co-Founder to Leave Disney After 'Missteps'|last=Barnes|first=Brooks|date=June 8, 2018|work=The Hollywood Reporter|access-date=June 8, 2018|archive-date=June 9, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180609033127/https://mobile.nytimes.com/2018/06/08/business/media/john-lasseter-leaves-disney.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Pete Docter was announced as Lasseter's replacement as chief creative officer of Pixar on June 19, 2018.<ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/pete-docter-jennifer-lee-lead-pixar-disney-animation-1121432 | title = Pete Docter, Jennifer Lee to Lead Pixar, Disney Animation | first = Borys | last = Kit | date = June 19, 2018 | access-date = June 19, 2018 | work = The Hollywood Reporter | archive-date = August 16, 2018 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20180816163929/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/pete-docter-jennifer-lee-lead-pixar-disney-animation-1121432 | url-status = live }}</ref>

==== Sequels and financial success (2018–2019) ====
On June 15, 2018, ''[[Incredibles 2]]'' was released, setting a record for widest opening weekend worldwide and domestic for an animated film.<ref>{{Cite web |last=D'Alessandro |first=Anthony |date=2018-06-18 |title='Incredibles 2' Record $183M Beats 'Captain America: Civil War' Opening & Lifetime Totals Of 'Cars 3', 'A Bug's Life' |url=https://deadline.com/2018/06/incredibles-2-tag-superfly-weekend-box-office-1202411262/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230306024917/https://deadline.com/2018/06/incredibles-2-tag-superfly-weekend-box-office-1202411262/ |archive-date=March 6, 2023 |access-date=2023-06-17 |website=Deadline |language=en-US}}</ref> The film would eventually gross $1.2&nbsp;billion worldwide.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Incredibles 2 (2018) – Financial Information |url=https://www.the-numbers.com/movie/Incredibles-2 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230316230541/https://www.the-numbers.com/movie/Incredibles-2#tab=summary |archive-date=March 16, 2023 |access-date=2023-06-17 |website=The Numbers}}</ref> On October 23, 2018, it was announced that Catmull would be retiring. He stayed in an adviser role until July 2019.<ref>{{cite web |last=Kit |first=Borys |date=October 23, 2018 |title=Pixar Co-Founder Ed Catmull to Retire |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/pixar-founder-ed-catmull-retire-1154569 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181024025917/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/pixar-founder-ed-catmull-retire-1154569 |archive-date=October 24, 2018 |access-date=October 24, 2018 |work=[[The Hollywood Reporter]]}}</ref> On January 18, 2019, it was announced that Lee Unkrich would be leaving Pixar after 25 years although he would return to the studio a few years later.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/coco-director-lee-unkrich-leaving-pixar-25-years-1177411 | title='Toy Story 3,' 'Coco' Director Lee Unkrich Leaving Pixar After 25 Years (Exclusive) | first=Borys | last=Kit | date=January 18, 2019 | access-date=January 18, 2019 | work=The Hollywood Reporter | archive-date=January 19, 2019 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190119035629/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/coco-director-lee-unkrich-leaving-pixar-25-years-1177411 | url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Huston |first=Caitlin |date=March 20, 2025 |title='Coco 2' Set For 2029 Release In Theaters |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/coco-2-2029-release-pixar-theaters-1236169129/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250320175308/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/coco-2-2029-release-pixar-theaters-1236169129/ |archive-date=March 20, 2025 |access-date=March 20, 2025 |website=[[The Hollywood Reporter]]}}</ref> On June 21, 2019, ''[[Toy Story 4]]'' was released, surpassing the widest opening worldwide weekend record that ''Incredibles 2'' set.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Rubin |first=Rebecca |date=2019-06-23 |title=Box Office: 'Toy Story 4' Dominates With $118 Million Debut |url=https://variety.com/2019/film/news/toy-story-4-opening-weekend-box-office-1203250954/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230404144120/https://variety.com/2019/film/news/toy-story-4-opening-weekend-box-office-1203250954/ |archive-date=April 4, 2023 |access-date=2023-06-17 |website=Variety |language=en-US}}</ref> The film would make over $1&nbsp;billion and win the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Toy Story 4 (2019) – Financial Information |url=https://www.the-numbers.com/movie/Toy-Story-4-(2019) |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230617015329/https://www.the-numbers.com/movie/Toy-Story-4-(2019) |archive-date=June 17, 2023 |access-date=2023-06-17 |website=The Numbers}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Whitten |first=Sarah |date=2020-02-10 |title='Toy Story 4' wins best animated feature Oscar at 92nd Academy Awards |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2020/02/09/toy-story-4-wins-best-animated-feature-oscar-at-92nd-academy-awards.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221207121417/https://www.cnbc.com/2020/02/09/toy-story-4-wins-best-animated-feature-oscar-at-92nd-academy-awards.html |archive-date=December 7, 2022 |access-date=2023-06-17 |website=CNBC |language=en}}</ref> During the [[D23 (Disney)|2019 D23 Expo]], Pixar announced that their next film, ''[[Soul (2020 film)|Soul]]'', would release in 2020.<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Radulovic |first1=Petrana |last2=Patches |first2=Matt |date=2019-08-24 |title=Pixar's latest film Soul is a metaphysical comedy with the studio's first black lead |url=https://www.polygon.com/2019/8/24/20827001/pixar-soul-jamie-foxx-cast-plot-description |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230617015621/https://www.polygon.com/2019/8/24/20827001/pixar-soul-jamie-foxx-cast-plot-description |archive-date=June 17, 2023 |access-date=2023-06-17 |website=Polygon |language=en-US}}</ref> Ahead of the launch of [[Disney+]], Pixar debuted ''[[SparkShorts]]'', experimental shorts done by Pixar staff.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Schellong |first=Megan |date=April 17, 2019 |title=Pixar's SparkShorts Set Out To Ignite More Diversity in Animation |url=https://www.npr.org/2019/04/17/709644139/pixars-sparkshorts-set-out-to-ignite-more-diversity-in-animation |access-date=June 16, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230330205625/https://www.npr.org/2019/04/17/709644139/pixars-sparkshorts-set-out-to-ignite-more-diversity-in-animation |archive-date=March 30, 2023}}</ref>

==== COVID-19, Disney+ releases, and some financial struggles (2020–present) ====
Pixar released ''[[Onward (film)|Onward]]'' on March 6, 2020. However, due to the start of the [[COVID-19 pandemic]], the film underperformed at the box office and was released onto rental digital services on March 20, and later on [[Disney+]] on April 3.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Gemmill |first=Allie |date=2020-03-20 |title=Onward: Pixar's Animated Fantasy Coming to Disney+ and Digital Early |url=https://collider.com/onward-digital-release-disney-plus-details/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210214031910/https://collider.com/onward-digital-release-disney-plus-details/ |archive-date=February 14, 2021 |access-date=2023-06-17 |website=Collider |language=en}}</ref> Due to the pandemic, ''Soul'' was moved to November 2020, and ultimately released on December 25, 2020, on Disney+ at no additional cost to subscribers, and later became the first animated streaming film to win the [[Academy Award for Best Animated Feature]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=McClintock |first=Pamela |date=2020-10-08 |title=Pixar's 'Soul' Bypasses Theaters, Sets Disney+ Christmas Debut |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/pixars-soul-bypasses-theaters-sets-disney-christmas-debut-4074069/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201011125640/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/pixars-soul-bypasses-theaters-sets-disney-christmas-debut |archive-date=October 11, 2020 |access-date=2023-06-17 |website=The Hollywood Reporter |language=en-US}}</ref> Pixar's next two features, [[Luca (2021 film)|''Luca'']] and ''[[Turning Red]]'', were also released free on Disney+ in June 2021 and March 2022, respectively.<ref>{{Cite web |last=D'Alessandro |first=Anthony |date=2021-03-23 |title=Disney Shifts 'Black Widow' & 'Cruella' To Day & Date Release In Theaters And Disney+, Jarring Summer Box Office |url=https://deadline.com/2021/03/black-widow-cruella-disney-plus-theaters-day-and-date-release-1234720116/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210323183840/https://deadline.com/2021/03/black-widow-cruella-disney-plus-theaters-day-and-date-release-1234720116/ |archive-date=March 23, 2021 |access-date=2023-06-17 |website=Deadline |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=D'Alessandro |first=Anthony |date=2022-01-07 |title=Pixar's 'Turning Red' Skips Theaters & Heads To Disney+ |url=https://deadline.com/2022/01/turning-red-skips-theaters-disney-premiere-1234906438/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220108021845/https://deadline.com/2022/01/turning-red-skips-theaters-disney-premiere-1234906438/ |archive-date=January 8, 2022 |access-date=2023-06-17 |website=Deadline |language=en-US}}</ref> In 2021, several Pixar employees anonymously criticized Disney's decision to release their films direct to Disney+.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sharf |first=Zack |date=2021-04-28 |title=Pixar Staff Speaks Out Against Disney Moving Its Films to Streaming Only: 'It's Hard to Grasp' |url=https://www.indiewire.com/features/general/pixar-staff-slams-disney-moving-films-streaming-1234633910/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230617021210/https://www.indiewire.com/features/general/pixar-staff-slams-disney-moving-films-streaming-1234633910/ |archive-date=June 17, 2023 |access-date=2023-06-17 |website=IndieWire |language=en-US}}</ref>

''[[Lightyear (film)|Lightyear]]'', Pixar's first movie to return to theaters was released in June 2022. The film became a [[Box-office bomb|box-office failure]] with ''[[Deadline Hollywood]]'' calculating the film lost the studio $106&nbsp;million, when factoring together all expenses and revenues.<ref>{{Cite web |last=D'Alessandro |first=Anthony |date=2023-04-14 |title=The Biggest Box Office Bombs Of 2022: Deadline's Most Valuable Blockbuster Tournament |url=https://deadline.com/2023/04/biggest-box-office-bombs-2022-lowest-grossing-movies-1235325138/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230520001416/https://deadline.com/2023/04/biggest-box-office-bombs-2022-lowest-grossing-movies-1235325138/ |archive-date=May 20, 2023 |access-date=2023-06-17 |website=Deadline |language=en-US}}</ref> In September 2022, Jonas Rivera was promoted to Executive VP of Film Production at Pixar overseeing all film and streaming production.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kit |first=Borys |date=2022-09-15 |title=Jonas Rivera, Producer of 'Inside Out' and 'Toy Story 4,' Promoted to Executive VP Film Production at Pixar (Exclusive) |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/toy-story-4-up-producer-jonas-rivera-pixar-executive-1235221419/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220924123338/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/toy-story-4-up-producer-jonas-rivera-pixar-executive-1235221419/ |archive-date=September 24, 2022 |access-date=2023-06-17 |website=The Hollywood Reporter |language=en-US}}</ref> In December 2022, Disney CEO Bob Iger noted that they would rely more on the Pixar brand.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-02-09 |title=CNBC Exclusive: CNBC Transcript: Disney CEO Bob Iger Speaks with CNBC's David Faber on "Squawk on the Street" Today |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2023/02/09/cnbc-exclusive-cnbc-transcript-disney-ceo-bob-iger-speaks-with-cnbcs-david-faber-on-squawk-on-the-street-today.html |access-date=2024-06-11 |website=CNBC |language=en}}</ref> In June 2023, Disney laid off 75 employees including the director of ''Lightyear'' [[Angus MacLane]], and the film's producer Galyn Susman.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Chmielewski |first=Dawn |date=2023-06-04 |title=Exclusive: Walt Disney's Pixar targets 'Lightyear' execs among 75 job cuts |language=en |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/business/walt-disneys-pixar-animation-eliminates-75-positions-2023-06-03/ |access-date=2023-06-17 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230611103120/https://www.reuters.com/business/walt-disneys-pixar-animation-eliminates-75-positions-2023-06-03|archive-date=June 11, 2023}}</ref>

During that same month, [[Elemental (2023 film)|''Elemental'']] was released. During the film's opening weekend, Docter stated that Pixar "trained audiences that these films will be available for you on Disney+".<ref>{{Cite web |last=Tangcay |first=Jazz |date=2023-06-16 |title=Pixar Boss Pete Docter Says the Studio 'Trained' Families to Expect Disney+ Debuts, 'Elemental' Buzz at Cannes Was 'Confusing' |url=https://variety.com/2023/biz/news/pixar-pete-docter-disney-elemental-cannes-inside-out-1235646648/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230617024809/https://variety.com/2023/biz/news/pixar-pete-docter-disney-elemental-cannes-inside-out-1235646648/ |archive-date=June 17, 2023 |access-date=2023-06-17 |website=Variety |language=en-US}}</ref> Despite opening below projections, ''Elemental'' ultimately made a box office comeback by early August 2023, crossing $400&nbsp;million at the worldwide box office. Disney's [[Vice president#In business|EVP]] of Theatrical Distribution Tony Chambers stated "After a disappointing opening weekend, we're really pleased that audiences have discovered what a great movie it is."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://thewaltdisneycompany.com/pixar-elemental-box-office/|title=How Pixar's 'Elemental' Kept Its Fire Burning at the Box Office|website=The Walt Disney Company|date=August 7, 2023|access-date=August 8, 2023|archive-date=August 25, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230825062023/https://thewaltdisneycompany.com/pixar-elemental-box-office/|url-status=live}}</ref> That same month, Morris said "at the box office we're looking at now, [the film] should do better than break even theatrically. And then we have revenue from [[Disney Streaming|streaming]], [[Disney Experiences|theme parks]] and [[Disney Consumer Products|consumer products]]. This will certainly be a profitable film for the Disney company."<ref name="Rubin">{{Cite web |last=Rubin |first=Rebecca |date=August 9, 2023 |title=Pixar President on 'Elemental's' Unlikely Box Office Rebound: 'This Will Certainly Be a Profitable Film' |url=https://variety.com/2023/film/news/pixar-elemental-box-office-rebound-1235691248/ |access-date=August 9, 2023 |website=Variety |language=en-US |archive-date=August 25, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230825062111/https://variety.com/2023/film/news/pixar-elemental-box-office-rebound-1235691248/amp/ |url-status=live }}</ref> In December 2023, it was announced that ''Soul'', ''Turning Red'' and ''Luca'' would be released in theaters in the United States in the first quarter of 2024.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Moreau |first=Jordan |date=2023-12-05 |title=Pixar's 'Soul,' 'Turning Red' and 'Luca' Coming to Theaters After Disney+ Debuts During Pandemic |url=https://variety.com/2023/film/news/pixar-soul-turning-red-luca-theaters-1235822031/ |access-date=2023-12-05 |website=Variety |language=en-US}}</ref>

In January 2024, it was reported that Pixar's staff would face imminent layoffs by 20 percent, reducing the studio's workforce to less than 1,000 employees.<ref>{{cite news |last=Perez |first=Sarah |url=https://techcrunch.com/2024/01/11/as-disney-pushes-towards-streaming-profitability-pixar-to-undergo-layoffs-in-2024/ |title=As Disney pushes toward streaming profitability, Pixar to undergo layoffs in 2024 |website=[[TechCrunch]] |date=January 11, 2024 |access-date=January 13, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240111233848/https://techcrunch.com/2024/01/11/as-disney-pushes-towards-streaming-profitability-pixar-to-undergo-layoffs-in-2024/ |archive-date=January 11, 2024 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Maas |first=Jennifer |url=https://variety.com/2024/tv/news/pixar-layoffs-second-half-2024-1235870346/ |title=Pixar Expects to Make Layoffs in Second Half of 2024 |work=Variety |date=January 12, 2024 |access-date=January 14, 2024 |archive-date=January 12, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240112235129/https://variety.com/2024/tv/news/pixar-layoffs-second-half-2024-1235870346/ |url-status=live}}</ref> However, the layoffs were then delayed and did not occur, reportedly because of production schedules.<ref name="McClintock">{{cite news |last1=McClintock |first1=Pamela |title=Major Pixar Layoffs, Long-Expected, Now Underway In Restructuring (Exclusive) |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/business-news/pixar-layoffs-hit-storied-animation-studio-1235904847/ |access-date=May 21, 2024 |work=The Hollywood Reporter |date=May 21, 2024}}</ref> In May 2024, the studio proceeded with slightly smaller layoffs: 175 employees or approximately 14 percent of the studio's workforce of over 1,300 employees.<ref name="McClintock" /><ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Chmielewski |first=Dawn |date=May 21, 2024 |title=Disney's Pixar Animation to lay off about 14% of workforce |url=https://www.reuters.com/business/media-telecom/pixar-animation-lay-off-about-14-workforce-2024-05-21/ |access-date=May 21, 2024 |website=[[Reuters]]}}</ref> The layoffs occurred as the studio began to rely less on direct-to-streaming series and more on feature films intended primarily for theatrical exhibition.<ref name="McClintock" /><ref name=":1" />

On June 14 of the same year, ''[[Inside Out 2]]'' was released and became financially successful. The film had a domestic opening of $154 million, the third highest for an animated film, and the biggest global opening for an animated movie with $294 million. Since then the film broke multiple box office records. It had the highest second weekend gross for an animated film with $100 million, being the first to reach the 6 digit second opening weekend. It became the fastest animated movie to reach $1 billion at the global box office, reaching the milestone in 17 days. It also out-grossed ''Incredibles 2'' to become the highest grossing Pixar film globally.<ref>{{Cite web |last=McClintock |first=Pamela |date=2024-07-10 |title=Box Office Milestone: 'Inside Out 2' Becomes Pixar's Top-Grossing Movie of All Time Globally |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/inside-out-2-box-office-biggest-pixar-movie-of-all-time-1235945110/ |access-date=2024-07-15 |website=The Hollywood Reporter |language=en-US}}</ref>