ELIO Flop Sparks Harsh Reality Check for Original Animated Films and Pixar Animation Needs to Evolve — GeekTyrant
According to Wall Street analyst Doug Creutz, this flop highlights a deeper issue that could reshape the future of animated films, and he believes it's not just the executive who should take the blame.
'We expect movie studios to react to this clear trend by greenlighting fewer original IP animated films (don't blame film execs, blame audiences).
:The issue, of course, is that without new hit properties, a studio cannot grow its IP portfolio. This could be particularly problematic for Disney, which depends on its animated film/parks/consumer products flywheel to help drive overall company growth.'
So, if audiences keep ignoring original ideas, the industry will stop making them. That means more sequels, fewer risks, and a creative landscape that plays it safe.
Creutz points out that since 2022, original animated movies from Disney, including Pixar, and Universal, including Illumination, have averaged $412 million globally, which is less than half the $844 million average brought in by sequels during that same period.
That gap is massive, and it gets murkier when you realize The Super Mario Bros. Movie , which made $1.36 billion is considered 'original' in some comparisons, despite being based on a decades-old gaming franchise.
From a business standpoint, the failure of Elio stings for more than just pride. CEO of International Theme Park Services, in a Bloomberg interview said: 'Intellectual property really has become the cornerstone of the modern theme park industry.'
With $34 billion in annual parks revenue on the line, Disney counts on each animated film to do more than sell tickets and it has to sell toys, spark attractions, and generate long-term fandom.
But beyond IP and market trends, there's another issue that's been building for a while. I think Pixar's animation style is wearing thin with audiences. Despite the emotional storytelling, form what I've noticed, many moviegoers feel like the visual aesthetic has gone stale.
One common complaint online is the art style. Pixar isn't evolving visually the way other studios have. Sony Pictures Animation took big and bold swings with Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem , pushing boundaries and reimagining what animation can look like. Elio , by contrast, felt visually safe and even bland.
Honestly, the story deserved better. Elio had strong narrative ideas, but imagine how much more powerful it could have been with a cool, innovative animation style. Pixar still has incredible talent on hand, but it's clinging to a house look that's starting to feel creatively limiting.
It's not just about one movie flopping. It's about an entire creative direction losing steam, and audiences, in some part, enabling it. If moviegoers only show up for familiar characters and predictable sequels, then fresh ideas won't stand a chance. Studios are watching closely, and adjusting accordingly.
The road ahead for original animation just got a little rougher. Whether that road leads to bold reinvention or more recycled IP may depend less on studio risk and more on whether audiences are willing to show up for something new.
Via: Deadline
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