Pixar Cancels Be Fri After 3 Years of Development

Pixar Animation Studios canceled a long-in-development feature film titled Be Fri in late 2023, leaving employees stunned after three years of work on the project. The decision, which involved a team of about 50 people, came despite extensive revisions aimed at addressing feedback from Disney executives, according to former staff members who spoke on condition of anonymity.

The film, directed by Kristen Lester, drew from her personal experiences with a childhood friendship that faded during adolescence. It centered on two teenage girls whose bond begins to fracture amid the challenges of growing up. The story took a fantastical turn when the girls discovered that their favorite anime-style television show was real, propelling them into a cosmic adventure to save humanity. Writer Blaise Hemingway, known for the 2021 live-action adaptation of Clifford the Big Red Dog, and editor Nicholas C. Smith, a Pixar veteran of nearly 20 years who retired in 2024, were key contributors to the project.

Development on Be Fri progressed through four major iterations following notes from Disney leadership. In one particularly grueling phase, after a studio review known as Braintrust 3, the core...