Pixar is in a period of major theatrical activity, with Toy Story 5 in Japanese theaters since July 3, 2026, and two new features announced: Ghost Market for spring 2028 and Nero of the Water City for spring 2027. The studio is also expanding its brand through merchandise, events, and a lottery at the Pixar World Exhibition in Tokyo.
Pixar's current slate is anchored by Toy Story 5, which opened in Japan on July 3, 2026, after a record-breaking US debut of about $160 million. The film's worldwide box office has surpassed $585 million, exceeding the final totals of the first two Toy Story films. The Japanese release came with a wide promotional push: 11 screening formats, a themed theater event, a cafe in four cities, and a parade at Tokyo Disneyland featuring the full Japanese voice cast together for the first time.
The Japanese dub of Toy Story 5 drew attention for its casting. Yuto Sano of the vocal dance unit M!LK voices the new high-tech toy Smarty Pants, a role he landed after an audition at Pixar's US headquarters. Fellow M!LK members Taishi Shiozaki and Yuito Yoshida made unannounced cameo appearances. VAIO released limited-edition laser-engraved laptops themed to the film, and a FURYU no-loser lottery launched at the Pixar World Exhibition in Tokyo.
Beyond Toy Story, Pixar announced two new features. Nero of the Water City, directed by Enrico Casarosa, is set in Venice and follows a black cat named Nero; it is the studio's first feature with a cat protagonist and blends hand-drawn painting with 3DCG. Ghost Market, directed by Trevor Jimenez, draws on Asian mythology and follows a teen content creator who finds a hidden market where the living and dead meet. Both films are set for spring releases, in 2027 and 2028 respectively. Louis Clichy's debut feature Iron Boy, which won three awards at Annecy 2026, is set for a 2027 Japanese release.
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Snail Games USA released the expansion DLC 'Terracrypt' for the Steam version of 'PixARK' on August 27. It adds a main story set in an underground world with three layers, 13 biomes, 65 creatures, and 11 bosses. The Steam version saw a peak concurrent player count of 2,745, the highest since June 2020.
FURYU has launched its latest no-loser lottery, FURYU Kuji MUNDO PIXAR, at the Pixar World Exhibition venue in Tokyo. Each 2,000 yen play guarantees one of 22 prizes, including 20 character mascots and two exclusive set prizes. The lottery is accessible via QR code and does not require an event ticket.
Disney and Pixar announced Ghost Market, a new film opening in spring 2028, at D23 Expo 2026. Pete Docter said the story draws on Asian mythology and follows teen content creator Kyle, who stumbles into a hidden market where the living and dead intersect. Trevor Jimenez directs.
Eight years after launch, PixARK is getting a major DLC called Terracrypt, set in an underground world. The producer says it is not the final expansion but the first step of a new development plan, which includes console updates and an Unreal Engine 5 upgrade.
M!LK member Yuto Sano appeared at a stage greeting for Toy Story 5 and smiled at the 'mellow' reaction to his character Smartie Pants, a high-tech toilet training toy. Sano performed a line from the film and recalled friends asking how to play with the unfamiliar toy. Social media users described the character as charming, and Sano expressed surprise at the positive response.
VAIO has begun accepting orders for limited-edition Toy Story 5 laser-engraved laptops, released to coincide with the Japan premiere of the film. The special models are available on the VAIO F16 and VAIO F14 notebooks, sold through the VAIO Store. The laptops feature two laser-engraved top cover designs: "Buzz Lightyear and Alien," showing Buzz carrying an alien and aliens in a crane game; and "Best Friends," which includes Woody, Buzz, Jessie, and Bullseye. Buyers can choose from three body colors: navy blue, satin gold, and satin silver. The engraving is done by skilled technicians at VAIO's factory in Azumino, Nagano Prefecture. Each laptop ships with three original wallpapers and special Disney-logo packaging. The earliest delivery date is July 18, 2026. A campaign running until August 5, 2026 offers a 10,000 yen discount on the base price, and an additional 5,000 yen off for models with Intel Core 5 or Core 7 processors. The minimum price for the F16 is 181,500 yen, and for the F14 is 176,000 yen. Early buyers receive a free alien mascot called 'Hyotto' while supplies last.
Sano Yuto, who voices Smarty Pants in the Japanese dub of Toy Story 5, made a surprise appearance at Tokyo Disneyland on July 3. He rode in an omnibus with fellow cast members Karasawa Toshiaki and Tokoro George, greeting fans during a special evening parade celebrating the film's release.
Toy Story 5 opened in Japan on July 3, 2026, following a record-breaking US debut that earned approximately $160 million in its opening weekend. The film's worldwide box office has surpassed $585 million, exceeding the final totals of Toy Story and Toy Story 2. The Japanese dub cast includes Alice Hirose as the new character Lily Pad, with comments from the actress and details on theater bonuses.
M!LK members Taishi Shiozaki and Yuito Yoshida made unannounced cameo voice appearances in the Japanese dub of Toy Story 5, now in theaters. Fellow member Yuto Sano, who voices Smarty Pants, hinted that Shiozaki's role may be easy to miss on first viewing. The specific characters they play have not been disclosed.
Sano Yuto, a member of the vocal dance unit M!LK, has been cast as the Japanese voice of the new high-tech toy Smarty Pants in Toy Story 5. He passed an audition at Pixar's US headquarters and re-recorded about 80-90% of his lines after the initial dubbing session, working with the director to refine the performance.
Louis Clichy's debut feature 'Iron Boy' won the Jury Prize, Audience Award, and Gan Foundation Distribution Award at the Annecy International Animated Film Festival 2026. The film, which previously won a Special Jury Prize at Cannes, is set for a 2027 Japanese release. It follows a ten-year-old boy forced to wear an iron corset.
Disney and Pixar's Toy Story 5 will screen in 11 versions including IMAX, 4DX, and ScreenX. A themed Toy Story Theater event runs July 3-20 at eight Japanese theaters, featuring character seat decorations and a greeting video from the Japanese voice cast. The film opens July 3.
Disney and Pixar announced Nero of the Water City, a new animated feature set in Venice, Italy, about a black cat named Nero. The film is directed by Enrico Casarosa, who directed Luca, and blends hand-drawn painting with 3DCG. It is the studio's first animated feature with a cat protagonist. A teaser poster and trailer were released alongside the announcement.
A limited-time Toy Story 5 OH MY CAFE will open July 3, 2026, at five locations in Tokyo, Osaka, Aichi, and Miyagi. The cafe offers character-themed food, desserts, and drinks, plus exclusive merchandise and reservation bonuses. All menu items follow Disney nutritional guidelines.