You know how Disney is changing its mind about the theatrical release of Turning Red, and is having it go straight to Disney+? Because of the whole Omicron outbreak? Well, as it turns out, Pixar animators aren’t really happy with this, though not as much as you would expect.

Perhaps The Film Should Be Called Turning Blue Instead?

"Turning Red" theatrical poster.
The reaction of the Pixar animators at hearing the straight-to-streaming news.

A new report from The Hollywood Reporter gives us a look into how the Pixar animators themselves feel about the release of Turning Red straight to Disney+ because of that whole Omicron version of COVID-19 and all. You’d think that they’d be red with rage about the whole thing. And yet, according to “several sources with close ties to Pixar”, this doesn’t seem to be the case. If anything, those animators seem more blue than red. One particular but the unnamed person at Pixar apparently had this to say about the whole ordeal:

“Everyone is really bummed, but most of us get it. Families just aren’t going to the movies.”

So yeah, Pixar animators seem more depressed and disappointed at the Disney+ release of Turning Red than anything else. That might change if Disney persists in these direct-to-Disney+ releases for Pixar films, but that’s just speculation. For now, those animators are seeing a lot bluer than they see red, regardless of how many new subscribers their film will net for Disney+.

Turning Red: Details

Strange how watching the fluff in this trailer makes me feel better about the release.

In case you somehow have no idea what I’ve been talking about for the past couple of paragraphs, here are the details. Turning Red is the latest animated film from Pixar Animation Studios and Walt Disney Pictures. The film will stream on Disney+ starting on March 11, 2022; without the need to pay the usual $30 premier access fee. That is, in countries with Disney+ access. In countries without, the film will go to theaters like originally planned. As for what the film is about? Well, let’s see what Pixar’s official synopsis says:

“In “Turning Red”, Mei Lee is a confident, dorky thirteen-year-old torn between staying her mother’s dutiful daughter and the chaos of adolescence. And as if changes to her interests, relationships, and body weren’t enough, whenever she gets too excited (which for a teenager is practically ALWAYS), she “poofs” into a giant red panda! “Turning Red” is directed by Academy Award-winner Domee Shi (Pixar short BAO), produced by Lindsey Collins and is coming in Spring, 2022.”

Source: The Hollywood Reporter, Pixar