Pixar’s Gatto Gets a Fresh Look at D23 2026 — Meet the Cat Taking Venice by Storm

Pixar has given fans another reason to keep an eye on Gatto. The upcoming original animated film received fresh attention at D23 2026, where attendees were treated to new footage and artwork showcasing the movie’s distinctive world and its unlikely feline hero.

Set against the canals, rooftops and narrow streets of Venice, Gatto is shaping up to be one of Pixar’s more visually unconventional projects in years. The film is scheduled to arrive exclusively in theaters on March 5, 2027.

A Very Different Kind of Pixar Story

At the center of Gatto is Nero, a black street cat who has spent his life navigating Venice while being treated as bad luck because of local superstitions.

But Nero’s problems go beyond his reputation.

He finds himself indebted to Rocco, a powerful feline crime boss who effectively controls Venice’s cat underworld. With trouble closing in, Nero is pushed into an unexpected relationship that could ultimately force him to reconsider what he wants from his life.

The premise gives Pixar an unusual playground: instead of another human-centered adventure, Gatto turns Venice into a world where cats have their own rivalries, alliances and hidden society.

Mark Ruffalo Leads the Feline Cast

Nero will be voiced by Mark Ruffalo, giving the central character a surprisingly recognizable Hollywood voice.

Opposite him is Laurence Fishburne, who voices Rocco, the intimidating feline mob boss. Their pairing immediately gives Gatto a slightly crime-movie-inspired flavor, although the story remains firmly within Pixar’s animated storytelling tradition.

The film is directed by Enrico Casarosa, the filmmaker behind Luca. That connection is particularly fitting, considering both movies draw heavily from Italian locations and culture, although Gatto appears to be taking the visual approach in a dramatically different direction.

D23 Reveals More of Pixar’s Visual Experiment

The biggest attraction surrounding Gatto may not be its talking cats — it is the way Pixar is bringing them to life.

The movie combines traditional 3D production with a hand-painted visual treatment, giving the environments and characters an illustrated quality rather than the highly polished photorealistic look associated with many recent Pixar productions.

The new D23 material offered another glimpse at that approach. The imagery shows Venice as a colorful, painterly setting, while Nero’s expressive design gives him a distinctly storybook-like presence.

It is a style that could make Gatto stand apart from the rest of Pixar’s upcoming slate.

Venice Becomes a Character of Its Own

Rather than simply using Venice as a backdrop, Gatto appears to make the city an essential part of Nero’s journey.

The canals, rooftops, historic buildings and maze-like streets create a setting perfectly suited to a story about a street cat caught between superstition, crime and the search for belonging.

Earlier footage shown at Annecy also introduced audiences to the film’s feline underworld, including Rocco and his group of cats.

That combination of Italian atmosphere, feline characters and an unconventional crime-adventure premise gives Gatto a personality that is immediately different from Pixar’s familiar franchises.

Why Gatto Could Be One of Pixar’s Most Interesting Originals

Pixar has increasingly leaned on established franchises, making an original project such as Gatto particularly noteworthy.

There is no existing Gatto universe for audiences to rely on. Everything — from Nero and Rocco to the rules of Venice’s feline society — is being created from scratch.

And that may ultimately be the film’s biggest advantage.

The combination of Enrico Casarosa’s Italian storytelling sensibilities, Mark Ruffalo and Laurence Fishburne’s voices, a Venice setting and Pixar’s experimental animation style gives Gatto a clear identity before the full trailer has even arrived.

The D23 footage only adds to the impression that Pixar is trying something different here rather than simply repeating a formula.

When Does Gatto Release?

Gatto is currently scheduled to arrive in cinemas on March 5, 2027.

For Pixar, the film represents more than another animated adventure. It is a chance to introduce audiences to a completely new world — one where Venice belongs to the cats after dark.

And judging from the new D23 material, Nero’s nine lives may be only the beginning of Pixar’s next big original story.