While we didn't get any technological insight into the rest of Pixar's roadmap, we were given a look at what we can expect from the company between now and 2018.
Finding Dory
Next on Pixar's slate of films is Finding Dory, the sequel to the colossally successful film, Finding Nemo. Though the film's title may suggest that it follows Marlin (Albert Brooks) and Nemo (now voiced by Hayden Rolence) as they search for a missing Dory (Ellen DeGeneres), the film's premise actually has the father-son team helping the notoriously forgetful fish to find herself – i.e. the place she originally came from.
Finding Dory is packed with new characters, including Dory's parents, who are played by Diane Keaton and Eugene Levy, an octopus (or septopus, as he's missing one of his tentacles) named Hank (Ed O'Neill), a beluga whale named Bailey (Ty Burrell), Kaitlin Olson as Destiny, Dory's adopted sister who believes she's a whale but is actually a whale shark, and a few more surprises, including a great reunion of cast members from The Wire in the addition of Idris Elba and Dominic West.
Morris revealed that most of the film takes place in a facility in Monterey on Central California's Pacific coast. One very funny scene (shown above) saw Hank the fruitlessly attempt to trade Dory for her flipper tag so that he can avoid going back to the sea – a feat that's almost impossible as Dory continually forgets what they're negotiating for.
Toy Story 4
Though Morris and the rest of the Pixar crew felt that had a fantastic trilogy in the first three Toy Story films, promising each other that they wouldn't come back to the franchise unless they had a fantastic story that was "worth it", the team feels they've found that in the premise of the fourth film.
Toy Story 4 is essentially a love story, revolving around Woody (Tom Hanks) and his relationship with Bo Peep, which we briefly saw in flashback during Toy Story 3.
With the help of his right-hand man, Buzz Lightyear (Tim Allen), Woody sets out to find his long lost love, who was either lost a sold a long time ago – expect plenty of wacky adventures and new characters along the way.
In an effort to keep the series fresh, a new screenwriting team was brought on in Rashida Jones and Will McCormack, while John Lasseter is back in the director's chair.
Coco
Finally, Jim Morris rounded out his presentation by offering a sneak peek at Coco, Pixar's upcoming Día de Muertos (Day of the Dead) themed film. This Mexican holiday sees the living honour their dead loved ones by building shrines and leaving the deceased's favourite meals on them. It's also common for people to dress in skeleton garb, so that the dead might confuse our world with the Underworld and stay behind.
Coco is about a young Mexican boy named Miguel who sets off on an adventure in this Underworld, which may or may not lead to him meeting with his deceased relatives.
Though the Pixar president did not have any footage to show from the actual film, he did show us a 'diorama' test video, which was made to capture its target vibe and act as a visual guide to artists and animators.
The footage shown was sensational, beginning in a graveyard before heading into the Underworld to show festive skeletons (decked out in traditional Día de Muertos style) dancing (while swapping skulls and torsos), singing and playing Mariachi music in the streets.
The diorama video was extremely vibrant and energetic, so we expect that the finished film will be a feast for the senses – even if it does deal with themes similar to Guillermo del Toro's 2014 animated film, The Book of Life.
