Pixar's Be Fri: The Canceled Project That Sparked Internal Controversy

Pixar Animation Studios recently faced scrutiny following the cancellation of its long-in-development film, Be Fri. Initially conceived by director Kristen Lester, Be Fri was intended to explore the complexities of adolescent friendship through the journey of two teenage girls who discover that their favorite TV show is real and embark on a quest to save humanity. The project, which involved a team of 50 people and spanned three years, was scrapped in late 2023, making it one of the longest-developed films to be canceled at Pixar.

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The development of Be Fri underwent multiple iterations, with the creative team, including writer Blaise Hemingway and editor Nicholas C. Smith, working intensively to address feedback from Disney executives. Following a pivotal meeting after the film's third "Braintrust" review, the team was given just six weeks to rework the entire film, compressing a year’s worth of preproduction into a short timeframe. Despite the team's efforts, Disney ultimately decided against moving forward, citing concerns that the film might not resonate with a broader audience, particularly young boys. A former Pixar employee noted that Disney representatives expressed reluctance to support a "girl power movie."

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The decision to cancel Be Fri was met with disappointment among Pixar staff, with some employees likening the atmosphere to a funeral for the project. This sentiment was echoed by another former staffer who criticized the studio's leadership for allowing public perception to dictate creative decisions. The cancellation occurred in the wake of mixed responses to Pixar's previous film, Lightyear, which faced backlash over its inclusion of a same-gender kiss, and coincided with changes to another original project, Elio, which saw a shift away from queer-coded characterization.

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Despite the setback with Be Fri, Pixar has seen recent success with its original comedy Hoppers, which has garnered critical acclaim and strong box office performance, surpassing $330 million globally. This success has renewed optimism for future original projects, including the upcoming Gatto and the highly anticipated Toy Story 5. However, the internal debate over Be Fri raises questions about the studio's direction and its commitment to diverse storytelling, especially in light of comparisons to Netflix's KPop Demon Hunters, which has achieved significant acclaim for similar themes.

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Pixar has not publicly commented on the cancellation of Be Fri. However, the studio's leadership, including Pete Docter, has emphasized the importance of creating relatable films, a stance that some critics interpret as a move away from underrepresented characters and narratives.

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• “When they canceled the film itself, it was devastating,” — Former Pixar Staffer

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The cancellation of Be Fri not only reflects internal challenges at Pixar but also highlights broader industry trends regarding representation and audience engagement in animated storytelling.

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