Disney Animation and Disney Pixar have announced the release dates for eight movies, all in 3D, between March 2016 and November 2018.  While the films are still untitled with no information regarding plot details, Disney is clearly trying to communicate that the company will be employing it’s proven, successful schedule of releasing films in June and November.

Untitled Disney Animation – 3/4/16
Untitled Pixar Animation – 6/17/16
Untitled Disney Animation – 11/23/16
Untitled Pixar Animation – 6/16/17
Untitled Pixar Animation – 11/22/17
Untitled Disney Animation – 3/9/18
Untitled Pixar Animation – 6/15/18
Untitled Disney Animation – 11/21/18

Since Toy Story’s release in 1995, Pixar has released thirteen theatrical films, consistently managing to put out about a film a year.  Looking at the schedule announced today, the studio for the first time will be putting out two films in one calendar year.  Based on Pixar’s last two films, it is questionable whether Pixar will be able to maintain what has been to date the remarkably consistent quality of their pictures, particularly while producing at such a fast rate.

The critically acclaimed Toy Story 3, released in 2010, went on to become Pixar’s highest-grossing film, making over $1 billion at the box, in addition to earning five Academy Award nominations.  Similarly, 2009’s Up was also nominated for five Academy Awards and was ranked number six for that year’s box office with taking in over $731 million worldwide.  Pixar’s last two films, Brave and Cars 2 scored $538.8 million and $559.8 million, respectively. Hardly numbers to sneeze at, but both films were met with some of the harshest reviews the studio has ever received. With prequel Monsters University and Cars spiritual successor Planes both due out this year, Disney/Pixar may be running thin on inspiration. (To be fair, Planes is not, strictly speaking, a Pixar film; much like last year’s Wreck-It Ralph, it is being produced by a separate Disney animation studio.)

There are, however already three announced projects in the works that sound to be very promising.  On May 30, 2014, Pixar will release The Good Dinosaur.  Inside Out, which is to take place entirely within the mind of a little girl is out on July 19, 2015.  And lastly, Pixar also has the untitled Dia de Los Muertos project, helmed by director Lee Unkrich (Toy Story 3), which is still seeking a release date and may land on one of the above dates.