Pixar’s upcoming Gatto blends hand-painted aesthetics with computer animation in a Venetian gangster comedy.
In short: Set in the winding canals of Venice, Pixar’s latest feature follows Nero, a black cat questioning his existence under the thumb of a feline mob boss. Directed by Enrico Casarosa, this animated comedy promises a unique visual marriage of 2D hand-painted artistry and modern computer-generated imagery arriving in 2027.
Following his work on the 2021 film Luca, director Enrico Casarosa began developing his next original project for Pixar Animation Studios. The film, titled Gatto, was officially announced by Pixar’s chief creative officer, Pete Docter, at the 2025 Annecy International Animation Film Festival. Produced by Andrea Warren, the project represents a stylistic departure, utilizing a hybrid technique that merges traditional 2D hand-painted visuals with computer animation. Art director Gastón Ugarte has confirmed that early promotional imagery reflects the final aesthetic of the film rather than mere concept art.
The narrative centers on Nero, a black stray cat voiced by Mark Ruffalo. Nero resides in Venice, Italy, where he navigates a life he increasingly finds unfulfilling. His world is complicated by his employment under Rocco, a cat mob boss voiced by Laurence Fishburne, and his reluctant adoption by Maya, a human street artist. The supporting cast includes the director himself, Enrico Casarosa, who provides the voice for Saverio, a slapstick pigeon and vocal advocate for a pigeon union group.
The production timeline for Gatto has seen several adjustments. While an untitled Pixar project was originally reserved for June 18, 2027, the studio eventually moved the release forward to March 5, 2027. This strategic shift was designed to avoid direct box-office competition with major releases like Sony Pictures Animation’s Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse and DreamWorks Animation’s Shrek 5. With animation work projected to conclude in November 2026, the film is set to be distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures, marking another ambitious entry in the studio's long-standing tradition of original storytelling.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Gatto (film)
- Also: Wikidata — Gatto · CC0
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