I know I don’t speak for everyone, but when director Brad Bird confirmed that we weren’t getting a sequel to Ratatouille, I think many of us gave a collective sigh of relief. That's because when looking back at every Pixar movie, I would say that Ratatouille is definitely in my top 5 favorite from the company. In fact, I’d consider Ratatouille a perfect movie. Not only that, but there are a few other Pixar films that I think better not get a sequel, either, and here’s why.
WALL-E (2008)
Oh, and for those of you who haven’t heard the news yet, in an interview with Collider, Bird, who wrote and directed the classic Pixar film, said that he thinks Ratatouille’s story has already been told and that it doesn’t need a sequel, and amen, brother. Amen.
Do you want to know a Pixar movie that I thought would never get a sequel, but did? Inside Out. In fact, when it was revealed that we were getting a sequel, I definitely had mixed emotions, because I didn’t even know how you could MAKE a sequel to that movie. Upon seeing the box office sensation, I understood. Riley was growing up, and it only made sense that she would have stronger emotions when entering into her teenage years. In hindsight, a sequel to Inside Out almost seems like a foregone conclusion.
I could definitely say the same for WALL-E. The story of the last robot on Earth getting swept away on an adventure to essentially save a plant, the film ends on a positive note in which humans return to a destroyed Earth and plant a tree. So, in theory, a sequel only seems natural, as we could see what Earth looks like in the aftermath years later.
But, not so fast, because a WALL-E 2 would totally devalue the themes of the original, which is to not lose the human connection, and to take care of the planet while we still can. WALL-E is not one of my favorite Pixar films, but I do think it has the strongest message out of any other movie in the company’s catalogue.
I also think that WALL-E resides in a very specific time period for Pixar. Sandwiched between 2007’s Ratatouille and 2009’s Up, 2008’s WALL-E was when I think Pixar was at its absolute apex, and truly soaring when it came to original ideas. So, I really don’t think any film from this period should get a sequel, as they should stay as singular, inventive concepts. Oh, and speaking of Up…
Up (2009)
Let me tell you. If there’s any Pixar movie that falls completely and utterly apart by its third act, it’s Up. That said, no Pixar movie has ever come remotely close to matching the beauty, sadness, and elegance of Up’s first ten minutes, and I don’t think any Pixar movie ever will.
It’s like a mini movie of a married couple’s lives, in both the high highs, the low lows, and the end of one of their lives. No Pixar movie has probably made more people cry than Up…besides maybe Toy Story 3, and that was mostly because we had come to know these characters for THREE movies and didn’t want to see them die. Up made us cry in ten minutes, though! However, I truly do think Up’s legacy is just in those opening minutes, because the rest of the movie is kind of ridiculous.
An old man goes on an adventure in his flying house with a boy scout, and there are dogs flying planes, and all manner of wackiness. It’s the kind of story that when you watch it again, you’re like, wow. This movie is actually kind of bad, mostly because it’s all over the place and doesn’t even come remotely close to living up to those first few minutes.
Which is why I feel a sequel to Up would be a huge mistake. Everybody remembers this movie for its opening moments, and all a sequel would do is make everybody remember the rest of Up, which I don’t think Pixar should do. Not if they want people to remember the original fondly.
Coco (2017)
Coco is one of the best music movies of all time, but that's not its only legacy. It’s also one of Pixar’s most “grown-up” movies ever, as it explores death and how family members deal with it.
It’s also a gorgeously animated film that respects Mexican heritage, and does so in a way that is fully digestible for children. More importantly though, it’s a film that doesn’t need a continuation, especially since the heart of the film is really about a daughter and her father, and by the end of it, they’re reunited.
Even though we go on Miguel’s journey to the Land of the Dead, the story isn’t about him. Not really. Yes, it’s about following your dreams - in this case, Miguel’s dream to be a musician - but it’s more about cherishing the people who came before you, even though they may have passed.
So, for a movie that’s all about death, let the dead lie because Coco doesn’t need a sequel. It’s perfect as it is.
Onward (2020)
When it debuted, Onward was my favorite Pixar movie, and I was upset that it didn’t do well financially. Granted, this was at the start of the pandemic, so it made sense that people didn’t want to leave their houses. It’s such an emotionally rich story - again about loss, this time of a father - that I thought that maybe people should do their best to see it in theaters. Thankfully, it found its audience at home.
The story of two brothers who go on an adventure to bring their dead dad back to life, Onward hits me so hard in the feels. In fact, since the movie came out, I lost my mother, so its storyline of bringing back a family member, even if only for a day, hits me even harder now than it did back then.
Which is why Onward shouldn’t be touched, as how can you possibly replicate that feeling? Yes, the magical world of Onward is interesting, and the characters are…fine. When the heart of your story is about family coming together in the toughest of times, then it’s made its point.
I think Onward should be left alone, probably more so than any other movie on this list.
Soul (2020)
The other 2020 Pixar film (and our pick for the best movie of that year), Soul, is still probably the best movie Pixar has ever made. The story about a music teacher who dies just before his big break and his desperate quest to get back to life, Soul is arguably the most creative and heartfelt movie the company has ever created.
It’s also such a singular story that it wouldn’t make sense to have a sequel. Throughout the film, a “lost soul” named 22 doesn’t want to be born, and our protagonist, Joe, acts as its mentor. All the while, Joe learns a great deal about himself and to appreciate the life that he’s lost, which shows great self-discovery.
Now, Soul is the only Pixar film that my children still haven’t finished, and I think that a lot of kids probably wouldn’t be as interested in this film as adults, as they’re not really thinking about their own mortality. That’s yet another reason why Soul should never have a sequel, as who would it even be for?
Soul is Pixar’s most mature movie, and as adults, we got the point the first time - appreciate life while you still can. Because life is short.
