Pixar’s Pete Docter explains dropping queer ‘Elio’ storyline

Pixar Chief Creative Officer Pete Docter discussed the animation studio's choice to remove a storyline from last year’s Elio, which originally included a plot element based on director Adrian Molina’s experiences growing up gay.

Docter candidly explained to the Wall Street Journal the reason behind the creative change was because the Walt Disney Studios branch learned that certain parents were hesitant for the media to cover themes they weren’t prepared to address with their children.

“We're here to create a movie, not provide hundreds of millions of dollars worth of therapy,” he remarked.

The movie, which didn’t perform well at the box office and tells the story of an 11-year-old who unexpectedly befriends aliens, was later directed by Domee Shi and Madeline Sharafian.

Earlier versions of the film included a scene where Elio envisioned a future raising a child with a male love interest, according to the WSJ.

In the past, Pixar placed more emphasis on original projects, but it is now shifting focus to creating content with potential for sequels and broader, more universally appealing storylines, moving away from the director-centric semi-autobiographical narratives like Shi’s Turning Red.

“As time has gone on, I've come to understand that my responsibility is to ensure the movies resonate with everyone,” Docter expressed to the publication, highlighting his effort to steer Pixar towards universally relatable themes.

The three-time Oscar-winning writer-director known for Up, Inside Out, and Soul mentioned that Pixar will remain “valuable” to its parent company Disney as long as it continues to produce high-quality films.

“If our goal is only to churn out low-quality content, it’s better to close the studio. I’d prefer to strive toward creating something we are genuinely passionate about,” he asserted.

Pixar’s newest release, Hoppers by Daniel Chong, is now playing in theaters.