Yesterday (July 30^th), Pixar Animation Studios announced a new original animated film on the way.

Set to release June 18^th 2021 (a few months after Walt Disney Animation Studios’ Raya and the Last Dragon), the film will focus on the friendship between titular character Luca and a newcomer who hides a strange secret. The official synopsis describes the film as ‘set in a beautiful seaside town on the Italian Riviera, the original animated feature is a coming-of-age story about one young boy experiencing an unforgettable summer filled with gelato, pasta and endless scooter rides. Luca shares these adventures with his newfound best friend, but all the fun is threatened by a deeply-held secret: he is a sea monster from another world just below the water’s surface’.

Luca will be directed by Enrico Casarosa, who directed Pixar animated short La Luna – which was nominated for Best Animated Short film at the 2012 Oscars. Casarosa has also worked on eight other Pixar films, including Cars, Up and Coco.

Casarosa commented on Luca: ‘This is a deeply personal story for me, not only because it’s set on the Italian Riviera where I grew up, but because at the core of this film is a celebration of friendship. Childhood friendships often set the course of who we want to become and it is those bonds that are at the heart of our story in Luca. So in addition to the beauty and charm of the Italian seaside, our film will feature an unforgettable summer adventure that will fundamentally change Luca’.

Pixar’s next animated film is Soul, still scheduled for release this November 20^th – though with Disney’s Mulan indefinitely delayed, whether Soul sticks to its release date remains to be seen.

To stream more Pixar movies while you wait for Luca, check out a Disney Plus subscription. You’ll have access to classics like the Toy Story trilogy and new films like Onward, as well as the entire Star Wars saga and the MCU. You can also grab a bundle deal with Hulu and ESPN Plus, so why not try a Disney Plus subscription today?