Pixar Shows New “Loving Dory” Film and Updates “Gatto” At Annecy Festival

At the Annecy International Animation Film Festival, Pixar offered an early look at several upcoming projects, including a work-in-progress presentation of its new theatrical short Loving Dory and fresh footage from the feature Gatto.

The short Loving Dory, directed by Lou Hamou-Lhadj, revisits characters from the underwater world of Dory and Nemo. In the story, Dory encounters a drifting plastic bag at sea that has unintentionally become filled with water after a tube of sunscreen falls from a passing boat. Its distorted, floating shape leads Dory to interpret it as a living jellyfish-like presence, sparking an unusual moment of curiosity and connection beneath the waves.

Pixar producer Mary Alice Drumm appeared alongside Hamou-Lhadj to introduce the footage. She confirmed the return of voice talent, including Ellen DeGeneres as Dory, with additional members of the original cast also reprising their roles. She also revealed that composer Thomas Newman has come back to provide the musical score. The presentation included a live read-through of sections of the script while audiences viewed early animation scenes in Pixar’s signature unfinished style.

The event also featured updates on Gatto, an original film from director Enrico Casarosa. Set in the canals of Venice, the story centres on Nero, a black cat navigating a web of obligations to a feline crime figure named Rocco. Mark Ruffalo will voice Nero, while Rocco is performed by Laurence Fishburne.

Casarosa expanded on the film’s worldbuilding during the session, introducing supporting characters including Saverio, a comic, fast-talking pigeon, and Maja, a street musician who performs violin across Venice’s historic squares. The new details added further depth to the project, which continues to develop following its initial announcement at last year’s festival.