Pixar chief John Lasseter says a push is on by Disney and Pixar to tell stories about more diverse characters, reports Variety.
News of the diversity initiative shouldn’t come as too much of a shock since Disney owns ABC and the network has been open about the diversity push there.
“It’s very important to us … to have female and ethnic characters,” said Lasseter. “It’s grown in importance over time. As you’ll see in future films, we’re really paying attention to that.”
Lasseter made his comments during a news conference about Pixar’s upcoming summer release, Inside Out. The animated feature about the conflicting inner emotions people battle will feature Mindy Kaling who plays the emotion Disgust, Amy Poehler as Joy and Phyllis Smith as Sadness.
The film is co-directed by Filipino American Ronaldo Del Carmen.
You can read more about the upcoming film and Lasseter’s thoughts on diversity in Variety.