John Lasseter says Disney/Pixar is 'paying attention' to improving diversity in films

Despite the positive reviews for Inside Out coming out of the Cannes Film Festival, Disney/Pixar’s chief creative officer, John Lasseter, is already looking to the company’s future and what it can do better. Namely, how the creative teams involved can improve the studio’s diversity.

While speaking at a press conference, as reported by Variety, Lasseter answered a reporter’s question about whether Pixar would ever center a film on a black protagonist with a wider pledge to increase the company’s representation of diversity.

“[To have more female and ethnic characters has] grown in importance over time,” Lasseter said. “As you’ll see in future films, we’re really paying attention to that.”

Lasseter reportedly referred to the studo’s upcoming film Moana, which centers on a Polynesian princess, as just one example of the studio striving to improve its diversity track record.

“We have been seeing more and more women, and more and more people from all over the world starting to work with it,” Lasseter said. “That’s exciting. I think it will get reflected in the characters.”

Inside Out focuses on the life of an 11-year-old girl and the emotions inside her head. The film’s voice cast includes Amy Poehler, Phyllis Smith, Bill Hader, Lewis Black and Mindy Kaling as the five main emotions. Pixar’s latest is set to hit theaters on June 16.

Read the rest of Lasseter’s comments about Pixar’s plans for diversity and about Inside Out at Variety.