Fans of Pixar’s underwater adventure FINDING DORY learned that the release schedule had been adjusted. The film, originally slated to arrive in late 2015, would instead reach theaters in 2016. Pixar officials explained that the pause was driven by a deliberate push to finish the animation, refine the pacing, and ensure the story lived up to the studio’s high standards. The delay was a strategic decision rather than a cancellation, a signal that the project remains active and on track. Audiences across North America can expect the return of familiar characters and the same warm humor that made the first film so beloved, including Ellen DeGeneres back in the role of Dory. In the end, the window settled on a mid-year slot that would give the production team extra time to polish sequences, sharpen jokes, and align marketing plans with the rest of Pixar’s lineup for the year. The final scheduling pointed to a June 2016 release.
Another major release in Pixar’s pipeline, THE GOOD DINOSAUR, experienced its own postponement. Initially set for May 2014, the dinosaur comedy was moved to November 2015 after a leadership shift behind the scenes. The change in directors—Peter Sohn taking the helm after the departure of the previous director—required adjustments to the production plan and some rethinking of the film’s visual language. The decision to delay was not taken lightly; it reflected Pixar’s commitment to delivering a story with the same emotional resonance and visual polish that fans expect from the studio. The delay pushed its theatrical date but kept the project alive in development, with the studio choosing a release window that would maximize audiences and mitigate competitive risk. In practice, the film went on to arrive in theaters on November 25, 2015, after the refinements and creative recalibrations that accompanied the shift.
Meanwhile, FINDING DORY’s own debut was shuffled again. The movie that had been scheduled for November 2015 moved to a summer launch in June 2016. The shift allowed additional time to perfect the animation, texture work, and character moments that audiences anticipate from a sequel of this scale. Production teams fine-tuned the ensemble cast, refined humor beats, and tightened the emotional throughline that connects Dory, Marlin, and their friends. The choice to relocate the release began as a cautious move to preserve quality and avoid a crowded holiday market, and it ultimately aligned with a broad summer audience. Ellen DeGeneres returns to lend her voice to Dory, a key factor in sustaining the film’s appeal for both longtime fans and new viewers.
Taken together, the date changes reflect a studio focused on excellence rather than speed. While some fans might have preferred a quicker arrival, the eventual releases showcased Pixar’s willingness to adjust the calendar to protect the integrity of the stories. The films that followed benefited from the extra development time, with critics and audiences noting the heightened polish and warmer character moments. Pixar kept its trajectory intact, delivering FINDING DORY in 2016 and THE GOOD DINOSAUR in 2015, and the broader lineup continued to build momentum for the studio’s next wave of adventures. The overarching message is clear: the projects remained alive, the talent stayed involved, and audiences could look forward to the sea tale and the dinosaur tale hitting theaters in their respective windows.