A few years ago, I went to see the Pixar movie Elemental in theaters with my little cousin who was a toddler at the time. I was excited. I hadn’t been to the theaters much since the pandemic, I missed the nostalgia and comfort of watching a Disney movie, and Elemental was receiving mixed to mildly positive reviews within its first few weeks. Little did I know that I would come out of that theater utterly disappointed.
Disney's latest trends
Elemental was actually the most successful in the string of original Disney and Pixar films released since 2020, but it joined movies like Onward (2020), Strange World (2022), and Wish (2023) in being criticized for feeling manufactured, heavy-handed, and no longer magical. Other movies such as Luca (2021), Turning Red (2022), and Elio (2025) received hate for their use of "bean mouth" or CalArts animation, an overused and (in my opinion) soulless style in which characters are rendered in realistic 3D textures with overly cartoonish round faces and proportions. None of these movies have an IMDb score below 5.5, but I have a feeling that none of them will go down in history as anywhere close to Disney’s best work. Original movies are flopping with overused styles, cliché and overcomplicated messaging, and poor symbolism/franchise recognizability.
So, what about all of Disney’s recent sequels, revivals, and live-action remakes? Films such as Lightyear (2022), The Little Mermaid live-action (2023), Inside Out 2 (2024), Moana 2 (2024), Mufasa: The Lion King live-action (2024), Zootopia 2 (2025), Snow White live-action (2025), and Toy Story 5 (2026) performed well in box offices internationally, much better than Disney’s newer originals but nowhere near as well as their original counterparts. They fall short when it comes to wowing audiences, instead relying on previously established fan bases to turn a profit with little regard for innovation and fresh stories. These movies all rely on one major element: nostalgia.
The Nostalgia Generation
Gen Z has become known as the Nostalgia Generation. All of us were either in middle school, high school, or college when the pandemic hit, and a formative time in our lives was cast into uncertainty and chaos. These years were followed by political turmoil in the U.S., climate concerns, fast fashion, AI-generated content, and the clutter of social media, which have all contributed to Gen Z's gravitation toward the simpler media of our childhood.
Big companies like Disney know this, and in an attempt to connect with audiences on a human level, capitalize on our emotional connection with the magical stories of our youth with lackluster remakes and sequels. Because why gamble on something new when the same old stories can be repackaged for more money? Nostalgia is safe. Comforting. Something you can sell. But when did good art ever come from a state of comfort?
A real drawing I made in my sketchbook in 7th grade. I was still a child, and yet the feeling of nostalgia enthralled me.
Art on the big screen
These sloppy remakes now dominate the market, crowding out original films from other companies and preventing truly unique and creative tales from gaining as much public recognition. I believe Disney has an artistic obligation to put down the remakes and sequels, and begin focusing more on their original projects and new characters. Eventually I believe it may not have a choice as “Disney fatigue” has already begun wearing on the public, but I signs show this may happen sooner than later. Upcoming projects such as Gatto–a Pixar movie with a uniquely hand-painted look set for release in 2027–are already showing promise, and movies from other animation studios like Flow (2024), KPop Demon Hunters (2025), Coyote vs. Acme (2026), and Avatar Aang: The Last Airbender (2026) have received widespread acclaim for their fresh storytelling and beautiful animation. Films like these have always been made and will continue to be made, but maybe it’s time they deserve a chance in the spotlight.
Animation is art. A labor of love. Films should reflect that, and audiences should start more actively seeking out films where that is apparent.