Credit: PixarThe atmosphere at D23 2026 in Anaheim was nothing short of electric, especially for animation fans. While The Walt Disney Company unveiled a massive slate of theme park expansions and live-action blockbusters, Pixar Animation Studios stole the show with highly anticipated updates to its beloved franchises and a brand-new original concept. Fans have been eagerly awaiting news on the future of the Incredibles and Coco universes, and D23 finally delivered.
With Incredibles 3, Coco 2, and the new film Ghost Market officially previewed, we now have concrete release dates, directorial shake-ups, and fascinating story details. Here is everything Pixar revealed during the ultimate Disney fan event.
The Parr Family Returns: What We Know About ‘Incredibles 3’
When Incredibles 3 was initially announced at D23 back in 2024, details were incredibly sparse. Two years later, Pixar has finally pulled back the curtain on the super-powered sequel, confirming that the movie will officially hit theaters on June 16, 2028. This places the third installment exactly ten years after the release of Incredibles 2 (2018) and 24 years after the original 2004 classic.
No Time Jump for the Parr Kids
Perhaps the most surprising revelation is that, despite the massive real-world time gaps between the films, Incredibles 3 will not feature a time jump to age up the characters. Despite the real-world time gap between films, Incredibles 3 will not significantly age up the Parr children.
Series creator Brad Bird, who wrote and directed the first two films, explained that aging up Violet, Dash, and Jack-Jack would cause the story to lose its archetypal aspect. According to Bird, the characters’ superpowers are directly tied to the specific parts of life that everyone goes through.
Because of these family archetypes—such as Dash’s hyperactive 10-year-old energy or Violet’s defensive teen force fields—the characters’ ages will remain largely unchanged, and the film will focus heavily on the Parr children. Violet and Dash have been sneaking out to prove to their parents that they’re real Supers, while Jack-Jack’s powers get more unpredictable. However, the Incredibles are facing a supervillain with more power than the entire Parr Family.
A Passing of the Torch
While Brad Bird remains heavily involved in the project as the writer and executive producer, he is officially passing the directorial baton. Peter Sohn will take over as the director of Incredibles 3. Sohn’s knack for emotional storytelling makes him an exciting choice to guide the Parr family’s next chapter.
Journeying Back to the Land of the Dead: ‘Coco 2’ Previews
The second massive animated revelation of D23 2026 was the highly anticipated preview of Coco 2. Originally teased by Disney CEO Bob Iger during the 2025 Annual Shareholders meeting, the sequel to the 2017 Academy Award-winning masterpiece is officially moving full steam ahead.
‘Coco 2’ Release Date Confirmed
Fans will need to pack their patience, but the wait will surely be worth it. Pixar confirmed that Coco 2 is scheduled for release in theaters on November 21, 2029. The Thanksgiving corridor release strategy mirrors the massive success of the original Coco, which also dominated the November box office.
The Original Team Reunites
Disney and Pixar reassured fans that the franchise is in good hands. Coco 2 will reunite the core visionary team behind the original 2017 film. Director Lee Unkrich and co-director Adrian Molina are officially returning to the helm, alongside producer Mark Nielsen.
While exact plot details involving Miguel and the Rivera family remain tightly under wraps, the early preview promises to recapture the magic of the first film. However, what we learned today at D23 is that Miguel is now a teenager and Ernesto De la Cruz is back to seek revenge. We also got a look at Mama Coco with Miguel in the preview.
A Journey into the Supernatural: ‘Ghost Market’
While sequels dominated the headlines, Pixar also thrilled fans with a sneak peek at a brand-new original film titled Ghost Market. Directed by Trevor Jimenez, the film is scheduled to hit theaters in the spring of 2028.
The premise promises a deeply unique and mystical adventure. According to the details revealed, Ghost Market is heavily inspired by Asian myths regarding supernatural bazaars where the worlds of the living and the dead intersect.
Interestingly, this visually stunning project was initially developed as a Disney+ series. However, much like Moana 2, the studio recognized the story’s cinematic potential and retooled it into a full theatrical feature film. As Pixar’s 33rd animated feature, this vibrant exploration of a supernatural marketplace is already shaping up to be one of the studio’s most mysterious and highly anticipated original projects.
A Golden Era for Pixar
Between Incredibles 3 and Ghost Market arriving in 2028, and Coco 2 bringing the music back in 2029, Pixar is doubling down on both beloved franchises and fresh original stories. D23 2026 proved that the studio is fiercely dedicated to expanding its rich universes while honoring the storytelling elements that made them classics in the first place.
