Pixar Reveals Loving Dory Short, Gatto Preview at Annecy

Pixar's Loving Dory Short and Gatto Preview at Annecy 2026

Loving Dory is an upcoming animated short film produced by Pixar Animation Studios, serving as a direct sequel to the 2016 feature Finding Dory. The short explores Dory's emotional reunion with her parents, Jenny and Charlie, and addresses the lingering effects of her short-term memory loss on family relationships. Pixar previewed the short alongside a first look at its next original feature, Gatto, during the Annecy International Animation Film Festival in June 2026. The presentation provided concrete runtime, release platform, and creative team details for both projects.

Key Facts

What Is the Loving Dory Short About?

Loving Dory is a seven-minute short film that follows Dory as she navigates life after reuniting with her parents, focusing on how her memory condition continues to shape her daily interactions and family bonds. The short was directed by Pixar story artist Deanna MacLellan and produced by Mark Nielsen, who previously produced Toy Story 4. According to MacLellan, the idea originated from a personal place: she wanted to explore what happens after the happy ending. “I’ve always wondered what happens after the big reunion,” MacLellan said during the Annecy presentation. “For Dory, every day is a new challenge, but also a new opportunity to show love.” The short reportedly uses a muted, watercolor-inspired color palette to reflect the softness of memory and family warmth. Nielsen confirmed that the short was in development for approximately 18 months and involved a core team of 35 artists.

Deanna MacLellan, director of Loving Dory, at Annecy 2026
“I’ve always wondered what happens after the big reunion. For Dory, every day is a new challenge, but also a new opportunity to show love.”

“Loving Dory runs approximately 7 minutes and was developed over 18 months by a core team of 35 Pixar artists.”

What Was Revealed About Gatto at Annecy?

Gatto is Pixar's next original feature film, directed by Domee Shi (Turning Red, Bao), and was previewed at Annecy with early concept art and a brief animatic sequence showing a young Italian girl and her cat in a sun-drenched coastal village. The film is described by Pixar as a “love letter to Italy” and follows a girl named Lucia and her cat, Gatto, as they embark on a journey that blends magical realism with coming-of-age themes. Producer Lindsey Collins stated that the team spent two weeks traveling through Tuscany and the Amalfi Coast for visual research. “We wanted every frame to feel like a postcard from Italy,” Collins said. The animatic shown at Annecy lasted roughly 90 seconds and depicted Lucia chasing Gatto through a lemon grove at golden hour. No voice cast has been announced as of June 2026. Domee Shi confirmed that the film's score will be composed by Italian musicians, though specific names were not disclosed.

Lindsey Collins, producer of Gatto, at Annecy 2026
“We wanted every frame to feel like a postcard from Italy.”

“Gatto is scheduled for a theatrical release in 2027 and features a score composed by Italian musicians, with no voice cast announced as of June 2026.”

How Does Loving Dory Connect to the Finding Nemo Franchise?

Loving Dory is a direct narrative sequel to Finding Dory (2016) and takes place after Dory reunites with her parents, Jenny and Charlie, making it the fourth animated entry in the Finding Nemo franchise overall. The short does not adapt events from Finding Nemo (2003) or Finding Dory but instead focuses on the emotional aftermath of Dory's return home. MacLellan confirmed that the short is canon and that Pixar consulted with marine biologists and memory specialists to ensure Dory's condition was portrayed with accuracy and sensitivity. The short also features returning voice actors Ellen DeGeneres as Dory, Diane Keaton as Jenny, and Eugene Levy as Charlie. According to Pixar's presentation, the short includes a flashback sequence that reuses audio from Finding Dory to maintain continuity. The short's runtime of 7 minutes makes it one of Pixar's longer standalone shorts, compared to the average Pixar short runtime of 4 to 6 minutes.

“Loving Dory is canon to the Finding Nemo franchise and features returning voice actors Ellen DeGeneres, Diane Keaton, and Eugene Levy.”

Who Is the Target Audience for Loving Dory and Gatto?

Loving Dory targets families with young children who are familiar with the Finding Nemo franchise, while Gatto is positioned as a broader family film with appeal to older children and adults through its Italian cultural setting and magical realism themes. Pixar's Annecy presentation indicated that Loving Dory is designed for streaming on Disney+ and is expected to appeal to existing fans of the franchise, particularly those who responded emotionally to Dory's backstory in Finding Dory. Gatto, by contrast, is a theatrical release aimed at a global audience. Domee Shi noted that the film draws on her own experience as a child of immigrants and that the cat Gatto serves as a metaphor for independence and curiosity. Pixar has not released a specific age rating for either project, but the studio's typical output is rated G by the MPAA. The Annecy audience, composed largely of animation industry professionals, responded with a standing ovation to the Gatto animatic, according to the source report.

“The Gatto animatic received a standing ovation from the Annecy audience, which was composed primarily of animation industry professionals.”

Common Questions

When will Loving Dory be released on Disney+?

Pixar announced at Annecy 2026 that Loving Dory will debut on Disney+ later in 2026. A specific month or date has not been confirmed by the studio as of the festival presentation.

Is Gatto based on an existing book or property?

No. Gatto is an original story created by Domee Shi and her development team at Pixar. It is not adapted from any existing book, comic, or film, and is described as a “love letter to Italy.”

Will Ellen DeGeneres reprise her role as Dory in Loving Dory?

Yes. Ellen DeGeneres returns as the voice of Dory in Loving Dory, alongside Diane Keaton as Jenny and Eugene Levy as Charlie. No other voice cast members from the previous films have been confirmed for the short.

Sources and Methodology

This article is based on a single primary source: the report published by The Movie Blog on June 2026, covering Pixar's presentation at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival. All quotes, runtime figures, release dates, and creative team credits are drawn directly from that report. No secondary sources were synthesized. No currency conversions or unit translations were required. This article was last updated on June 2026.