Sources say there’s a running joke at Pixar that its leaders are too easily swayed. Apparently, the studio turned down a unique film idea – described as a take on KPop Demon Hunters – even before Netflix released a similar movie. This is surprising because Pixar has traditionally been known for taking risks and creating original content, something Disney Animation didn’t always do. A good example is Brave, a film that challenged the typical Disney Princess story by featuring a self-reliant heroine. However, the movie’s modest performance at the box office may have made the studio more cautious in recent years.
According to a source at Pixar, the studio scrapped a film called Be Fri after years of development. One insider described Pixar as lacking courage, while others stated Disney cancelled the project because they believed young boys wouldn’t be able to relate to the story. Essentially, Disney didn’t want to release a movie focused on female empowerment.
How Was Be Fri Comparable to KPop Demon Hunters?
It’s interesting to look at recent animated movie successes. In 2024, Inside Out 2, starring a female lead, became the highest-grossing animated film ever—until Zootopia 2 and Ne Zha 2 came out. Turning Red, another film with a female protagonist, didn’t get a clear measure of its success because it was released around the time Disney+ started getting all Pixar movies. Then, in 2025, KPop Demon Hunters became a huge hit on Netflix, even earning an Oscar for Best Animated Feature. All of this suggests audiences are really interested in seeing movies that empower girls and women.
The idea for Be Fri came from director Kristen Lester, who drew inspiration from a childhood friendship that faded away. The story followed two teenage girls who were once inseparable but drifted apart, only to discover that the popular TV show they loved (inspired by Sailor Moon) was actually real. This revelation forces them to work together to save the world on an epic adventure. According to a source, Disney repeatedly requested changes to the script, resulting in four different versions, before ultimately cancelling the Pixar film. The source also mentioned the script’s quality was comparable to Pixar’s recent hit, Hoppers, which received a 94% rating on Rotten Tomatoes and earned $335 million worldwide.
As a huge film buff, I was hearing whispers that Be Fri felt incredibly similar in style to KPop Demon Hunters. Apparently, the connection is pretty obvious because both projects featured musical elements and were just a blast to watch. I can just picture the folks at Disney who passed on Be Fri watching KPop Demon Hunters now and seriously regretting their decision – like, ‘Wow, Netflix is doing exactly what we should have!’ It’s a real ‘what if’ moment for them, I’m sure.
According to sources, the cancellation of ‘Lightyear’ had a significant impact on the team at Pixar, with colleagues holding a small, informal memorial to acknowledge the loss and share personal connections to the film. Another source at Pixar claims Disney frequently requests changes to movies based on concerns about how the public will react, and believes Pixar’s leadership is too easily swayed. Pixar has not offered any official comment on the situation.
What do you think? Leave a comment below and join the conversation now in the ComicBook Forum!
Read More
- The Super Mario Galaxy Movie: 50 Easter Eggs, References & Major Cameos Explained
- 10 Best Free Games on Steam in 2026, Ranked
- Surprise Isekai Anime Confirms Season 2 With New Crunchyroll Streaming Release
- Why is Tech Jacket gender-swapped in Invincible season 4 and who voices her?
- ‘Project Hail Mary’: The Biggest Differences From the Book, Explained
- Sydney Sweeney’s The Housemaid 2 Sets Streaming Release Date
- Skate 4 – Manny Go Round Goals Guide | All of the Above Sequence
- Preview: Sword Art Online Returns to PS5 as a Darker Open World Action RPG This Summer
- Forza Horizon 6 ‘Prologue’ gameplay
- Joel Kinnaman Claims ‘Peacemaker’ Was His Last Time as Rick Flag Jr. in the DCU
2026-04-11 22:42