“Inside Pixar” Premieres Tomorrow on Disney+

While a lot of the oxygen around Disney+ series understandably gets suctioned into the engines of the Falcon Crest (we’re making a joke about The Mandalorian‘s massive popularity, gang), the streaming channel has had some really excellent documentary series, too. From Into the Unknown: Making of Frozen 2 to Magic of Disney’s Animal Kingdom, Disney+ has offered viewers fascinating inside looks at some of these beloved franchises. You can add to that list the upcoming Inside Pixar, which will take viewers inside one of the most successful, consistently inventive studios in film history.

Inside Pixar is a different kind of documentary series, which is more or less what you’d expect from this powerhouse studio, which rarely likes to repeat itself (even within their franchises like Toy Story). These are essentially mini-documentaries, with installments often not lasting more than 10  minutes long. The first batch, to be released tomorrow, includes five mini-documentaries that total about an hour.

Short and sweet doesn’t mean lacking in substance, however. Each of these looks will explore how Pixar artists find their stories, and how these individuals passions are fostered by Pixar, and ultimately make Pixar films that much better. Take Steven Hunter, for example, an animator who wrote and directed the first LGBTQ+-themed Pixar short Out, which is currently available on Disney+. Or how about longtime script supervisor Jessica Heidt, who helped create a hugely influential program to track the gender disparity of characters within the Pixar scripts. You’ll also meet artist Deanna Marsigliese, whose work has helped shape Incredibles 2 and the upcoming Soul. The mini-docs also highlight how Pixar’s matured over the years into a more inclusive place, thanks in part to the leadership of Up and Soul director Pete Docter, now the chief creative officer.

In sum, if you love Pixar movies, Inside Pixar is like pixelated manna from heaven and a must-watch.

Inside Pixar premieres Friday, November 13 on Disney+.

Featured image: In Disney and Pixar’s “Soul,” a middle-school band teacher named Joe Gardner gets the chance of a lifetime to play the piano in a jazz quartet headed by the great Dorothea Williams. Featuring Jamie Foxx as the voice of Joe Gardner, and Angela Bassett as the voice of Dorothea, “Soul” opens in U.S. theaters on June 19, 2020.. © 2020 Disney/Pixar. All Rights Reserved.