Pixar is doing something it has never done before. The studio that built its name on groundbreaking 3D animation just released the first teaser trailer for Gatto, and the movie looks completely different from anything in its 40-year history. The 58-second teaser showcases a hand-painted 2D style, marking Pixar’s first full venture into traditional animation . The film, directed by Luca filmmaker Enrico Casarosa, follows a black cat named Nero who owes a debt to a feline mob boss in Venice, Italy .
The teaser dropped on June 10, 2026, and has already sparked major conversation among animation fans . Gatto is scheduled to hit theaters exclusively on March 5, 2027 .
The Trailer of Gatto: A Cat Interrogation Gone Wrong
The Gatto teaser opens in a dim attic. A single lightbulb hangs from the ceiling. Two mobster cats, Nero (Mark Ruffalo) and Rocco (Laurence Fishburne), have tied up a smaller ginger cat with rope . The hostage insists he does not know anything about missing tuna.
Rocco cuts him off. “Start yapping,” he growls. “Where is the tuna?” .
Nero tries to threaten the hostage. “Tell the truth or things are going to get pretty…” He stops mid-sentence. His eyes lock onto the swinging lightbulb above him. “Whoa… pretty ugly,” he finishes .
But the damage is done. Nero cannot stop staring at the bulb. He reaches up to bat at it. Rocco tells him to focus, but within seconds, the mob boss is also distracted. “I want it,” Rocco says, exactly like a real cat chasing a toy .
Soon, all three cats are playfully jabbing at the lightbulb, completely forgetting about the interrogation and the missing tuna. The hostage joins in. Then Rocco puts the bulb in his mouth to claim it. He gets electrocuted. The other two cats, touching him, get shocked too .
A First for Pixar: The 2D Hand-Painted Look
Pixar has always been a 3D studio. From Toy Story in 1995 to Elemental and Hoppers, the studio defined computer animation. But Gatto breaks that mold. The film blends 2D hand-painted textures with modern CG animation, creating a look that feels like a painting come to life .
Director Enrico Casarosa, who made Luca for Pixar in 2021, wanted a more stylized, artistic approach. The teaser shows off this new look clearly. The cats have soft, brush-stroke fur. The backgrounds look like watercolor paintings of Venice’s canals and old buildings .
This move follows a trend in mainstream animation. Movies like Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, The Wild Robot, and the indie hit Flow (which beat Pixar at the Oscars in 2025) all used hybrid or 2D styles . Pixar is now catching up .
The Voice Cast: Ruffalo and Fishburne Lead the Pack
Mark Ruffalo voices Nero, a scrappy black cat who has spent years navigating the superstitious, canal-filled streets of Venice . Laurence Fishburne plays Rocco, the ruthless local feline mob boss to whom Nero owes a debt .
The official synopsis from Pixar reads:
“After years of maneuvering the canal-ridden, superstitious city of Venice, Italy, Nero begins to question whether he’s lived the right lives. Indebted to Rocco, the local feline mob boss, Nero finds himself in a quandary and is forced to forge a truly unexpected friendship that may finally lead him to his purpose—unless Venice gets the better of him first.”
Ismail Elsene also joins the cast in an undisclosed role . More voice actors have not yet been announced.
The Creative Team Behind Gatto
Enrico Casarosa directs Gatto. He previously directed the Oscar-nominated Luca (2021) and the short film La Luna (2011). He knows how to tell Italian stories. Luca was set on the Italian Riviera. Gatto moves to Venice, putting cats in charge of the city’s mysterious, watery backstreets.
Andrea Warren produces the film. She also produced Luca and won an Emmy for producing the short Sanjay’s Super Team . Pete Docter, Pixar’s chief creative officer, serves as executive producer .
Why Pixar Is Making Gatto Now
Pixar has struggled in recent years. Movies like Lightyear (2022) and Elemental (2023) had disappointing box office openings . The studio also faced criticism for removing a trans storyline from its Disney+ show Win or Lose .
But Hoppers, released in February 2026, gave the studio a mild bounce back with warm reviews and decent ticket sales . Now, Pixar is betting big on Gatto as its next original movie after Toy Story 5 .
Toy Story 5 releases on June 19, 2026 . That film will likely be a major hit. But Pixar knows it needs strong original stories to rebuild its reputation. Gatto is that bet. The studio even references Flow—the indie cat movie that won the Oscar for Best Animated Feature in 2025—by making its own cat-led film .
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Release Date and What to Expect Next
Gatto opens exclusively in theaters on March 5, 2027 . The film will also be previewed at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival in June 2026 .
The teaser gives very little away about the actual plot. It is mostly a vibe check. And the vibe is clear: Pixar is trying something new. The studio is asking audiences if they still like original stories, if they still like cats, and if they are ready for a Pixar movie that does not look like a Pixar movie .
Keep checking VvipTimes for more updates on Gatto, Toy Story 5, and everything happening in the world of animation.
