Pixar becomes a horror fantasy movie factory in a new batch of AI-generated art, making the studio’s usual style much creepier but still adorable. Pixar Animation Studios is responsible for some of the most iconic and acclaimed animated movies of all time, including the likes of Toy Story; Monsters, Inc.; Finding Nemo; The Incredibles; WALL-E; Up, and more. The studio’s movies have remained firmly in the family-friendly space, with stories that appeal to adults and children alike.
Now, however, a new batch of AI-generated images shared by u/PickledGinger__ on Reddit imagines what it would look like if Pixar decided to go down a darker path with its films. Check out the images below:
The images don’t feature any recognizable Pixar characters, but the style on display is undeniably that of the iconic animation studio. From ghosts, ghouls, monsters, and creepy environments, the images above are an interesting take on what it would look like if the studio made films with more of an edge that would be far more likely to give children nightmares.
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Will Pixar Ever Make A Horror Movie?
More often than not, horror is a genre geared toward more mature audiences. Even horror movies with a PG-13 rating can be disturbing to younger audiences. This fact alone makes Pixar unlikely to ever make a full-fledged horror movie, with the studio’s success entirely due to the popularity of its family-friendly fare. With audiences having been trained to expect kid-friendly and often very heart-warming material from Pixar, a pivot into scary, more mature storytelling would be a highly risky move.
That being said, kid-friendly animated movies have proven successful in the past with the right tone. Coraline was a big hit upon its release in 2009, and it’s been a big hit again during its recent theatrical re-release. The movie has distinctive horror elements but remains a family-friendly movie. Other animated films like Corpse Bride, Monster House, and Frankenweenie, too, suggest that a Pixar foray into the genre could be successful under the right circumstances.
The “horror” aspect of the above films is not often presented through jump scares or moments of genuine terror, as is often the case in live-action horror, but is more about atmosphere. The visuals are creepy without being upsetting, and the characters that are scary-looking on the surface are often revealed to not be so on the inside. It remains to be seen whether Pixar will ever fully commit to a feature-length horror fantasy movie, but the latest batch of AI-generated images suggests it might be an interesting departure.
