Pixar’s ‘Gatto’ Trailer Reveals a Painterly Venice and a Black Cat Nobody Wants Around – Release Date Revealed

Pixar is betting on something new with ‘Gatto‘, and not just because it is an original story. The film features a new art style, breaking with Pixar’s tradition of over 3 decades. After years of familiar sequels and franchise entries, a mobster cat tale set in Venice is a notable change of pace.

The film also comes from a team with a proven track record. ‘Gatto’ is directed by Enrico Casarosa and produced by Andrea Warren, the filmmaking team behind the Oscar-nominated ‘Luca’. That film was Casarosa’s feature directorial debut, and it made a strong impression with its Italian setting and handcrafted feel.

Pixar has now released the first full trailer for ‘Gatto’, and the 2:15 footage gives the clearest look yet at its world. The footage spotlights Nero, a scrappy black cat navigating the criminal underworld of Venice, and Rocco, the feline mob boss to whom he owes a debt. The film opens in theaters on March 5, 2027.

The story follows a music-loving black cat who is rejected by locals because of old superstitions. Casarosa told The Wrap that “Everyone is superstitious and they think he’s bad luck.” That setup gives Nero an outsider’s perspective on the city he calls home.

First trailer for Pixar’s ‘GATTO’ • Enrico Casarosa (‘Luca’) will direct. • New hand-painted style of animation. • Follows a music-loving black cat named Nero in Venice who is rejected by locals due to superstitions. • In theaters on March 5, 2027. https://t.co/D5qd0wOnxT

— Cosmic Marvel (@cosmic_marvel) November 12, 2026

The plot has an unusual hook. Nero has been questioning whether he has lived the right lives in the city of canals, and is forced to forge an unexpected friendship that may finally lead him to his purpose. A trip to a dreamlike afterlife, guided by a crow, forces him to face how many lives he has already used up.

Nero also gets a human ally. He crosses paths with a young street artist who just might help him find his purpose, if Venice does not get the better of him first. Pixar has hinted that the film will carry a significant musical component.

The voice cast is led by Mark Ruffalo as Nero and Laurence Fishburne as Rocco. Casarosa also voices a character himself. He plays Saverio, described as a slapstick pigeon.

The music is a major part of the pitch. The original score is composed by Academy Award winner Dario Marianelli and features violin compositions co-written and performed by Slovak violinist Barbora Botošová. That fits a story built around a music-loving cat in one of the world’s most atmospheric cities.

The biggest talking point is the animation. The studio builds the Venetian environments in 3 dimensions to preserve depth, then layers hand-painted textures, visible brushstrokes and illustrative details over them. Pixar chief creative officer Pete Docter described the style as a “living painting.”

Early reactions have noticed the influences. Some commenters noted the style’s resemblance to the painterly animation of ‘Puss in Boots: The Last Wish’. Another outlet said the film takes cues from ‘Spider-Verse’ without feeling like a copy, calling it a fusion of Pixar’s fluidity and a new aesthetic.

‘Gatto’ arrives in a competitive moment for animated cats. Last year, ‘Flow’, a Latvian cat animation created entirely in Blender, beat both Pixar and DreamWorks at the Oscars. Pixar now wants to strike back with its own black cat tale.

The release date has also shifted in its favor. The film was originally set for June 18, 2027, but moved up 3 months to March 5. At Annecy this year, the studio said the film was about halfway through production.

Casarosa has said the film was inspired by Venice, a city where stray cats once prowled the canals. He described the look as immersive and expressive, and promised plenty of heart, humor and cats. For now, the trailer suggests a mix of mob comedy and personal reflection.

If the finished film matches the promise, ‘Gatto’ could mark a turning point for how Pixar approaches its visual identity. Audiences will find out in March whether a hand-painted Venice is the studio’s next big hit.

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