It was announced on June 12th that Disney and Pixar's latest animated film, "GATTO," will be released in Japan in the spring of 2027. The story follows a cat living in Venice, Italy, a beautiful city of water. Along with the announcement, a teaser poster featuring the protagonist, the black cat Nero, and a teaser trailer that blends a dark worldview with a humorous atmosphere were also released.
This is the first Disney & Pixar feature-length animated film to feature a cat as the main character. Directed by Enrico Casarosa, who moved audiences with "A Summer's Day" (2021), also set in Italy, the film beautifully depicts Nero and his friends' story with a new visual style that blends hand-drawn-like touches with 3DCG, a departure from previous Disney & Pixar works.
The producers include Andrea Warren, known for "A Summer's Day" and "Cars 3" (2017), and the executive producer is Pete Docter, who led "Up" (2009), "Inside Out" (2015), and "Soul" (2020) to Academy Award wins. Mark Ruffalo voices Nero, and Laurence Fishburne voices Rocco.
Nero, a black cat considered unlucky, has lived as an outcast in the underworld. But one day, an unexpected miracle happens to him. The teaser trailer features the first appearance of both Nero and Rocco, the boss cat who rules the underworld.
The video opens with the ominous sound of "Speak Softly, Love," the famous song from the 1972 film "The Godfather," which depicts the love and destiny of the mafia living in the underworld. In a dimly lit room, Rocco and Nero are questioning a cat about the whereabouts of a missing tuna. Nero is fascinated by the flickering light above him and impulsively swats at it. Rocco scolds Nero sternly, but Rocco himself is also drawn to the light... The video is filled with the adorable charm of a cat that can't help but pounce on anything that moves.
The teaser poster, also released, shows Nero hanging upside down with a full moon behind him, gazing at the viewer with a surprised expression. What kind of adventure awaits Nero in the mysterious nighttime city of Venice? "Nero of the Water City," a fantasy adventure from hitmakers representing Disney and Pixar, will be released in spring 2027. Stay tuned for further updates.
