Pixar Animation Studios has long been celebrated for its imaginative storytelling, incredible animation, and how its films connect with one another in a broader universe. From the lovable toys of Toy Story to the technologically advanced world of WALL-E, there’s always been an unspoken thread weaving together these seemingly separate stories. While the studio doesn’t explicitly state the Pixar timeline, Disney fans have been eagerly piecing together the puzzle to uncover how these films might be linked.

As Jon Negroni founded this theory in 2013, Brave holds a unique place in the Pixar timeline, serving as both the first and last movie in the chronology. Set in a Scottish kingdom during the Dark Ages, Brave stands as the earliest time depicted in Pixar’s cinematic universe. But it also holds another important distinction: it is the only Pixar film to explain why animals sometimes act like humans. In a world filled with magic and mystical creatures, Brave introduces the idea that magic is the cause behind the unusual human-like behavior of animals. This explanation deepens our understanding of Pixar’s shared universe. All information from this article can be sourced from Negroni's original theory, with the full story on his website.

He breaks down even further in this video, making connections even to Soul and Coco. Pixar is known for its deep dives into connecting fans across universes, especially with Easter eggs. 

Pixar Theory: The Magic Behind the Animals

In Brave, the young heroine Merida discovers a powerful magic that can solve her problems, albeit with unintended consequences. In a twist of fate, her mother is transformed into a bear, setting off a chain of events that ties into the larger Pixar universe. This magic, we learn, comes from a mysterious witch who seems to have a deep connection to the magical will-o’-the-wisps. In the witch’s shop, we not only witness animals acting with human-like qualities but also see inanimate objects like brooms behaving as though they were alive.

Additionally, the witch exhibits a curious trait: she vanishes every time she passes through a door, leaving us to wonder if she is real. Is the witch a figment of the magic, or could she be someone we recognize from another Pixar film? Stay with us on this one — this is a detail we’ll circle back to in a moment. Some might argue that the animals in Brave eventually regress into their animal state, which seems to disprove the theory that this magic is the source of Pixar’s anthropomorphic animals. But my rebuttal is simple: they regress because the magic wears off. The magic’s influence fades over time, and as the animals’ evolving intelligence grows, they revert to their natural state.

The Evolution of Animals and Artificial Intelligence

Fast-forward a few centuries, and we see the legacy of Brave in the form of animals that have been altered by the magic, eventually interbreeding and forming a new population. This new group of animals begins to exhibit more human-like behaviors and intelligence, leading to an intriguing progression of both the animals themselves and the artificial intelligence that will play a crucial role in later films. The stage is set for the growing tension between humans, animals, and machines in films like Ratatouille, Finding Nemo, and Up. Each of these movies explores the idea that animals are becoming more human-like, whether through experimentation, technology, or simple evolution.

Ratatouille and the Rise of Animal Intelligence

In Ratatouille, the title character Remy is a rat with an extraordinary talent for cooking — something traditionally reserved for humans. Through his journey, Remy forms relationships with a small group of humans and finds success in a human-dominated world. Meanwhile, the film’s antagonist, Chef Skinner, seems to disappear without explanation. Could Skinner have learned about the animals' potential for transcending their instincts and performing tasks better than humans? If so, what happened to that knowledge? Perhaps Up’s antagonist, Charles Muntz, learned of this growing intelligence and decided to experiment with animal intelligence in his own way.

The Link Between Up and Ratatouille: Muntz’s Experiments

Muntz, obsessed with capturing a rare bird in South America, invents a series of collars that allow him to understand his dogs. These collars reveal that animals, especially the dogs, are far more intelligent than anyone realized. This could be the key reason behind Muntz’s obsession with discovering and capturing new creatures — he sees the potential of animals as beings on the brink of full personification. But once Muntz meets his end, the fate of his experiments, including the dogs, is left up in the air. What we do know is that the lines between animals and humans are beginning to blur, and the growing conflict between the two is something that will unfold in the films to come.

A Growing Technological Revolution

This conflict is further explored in Up, where Carl is forced to give up his house to a corporation expanding the city. Interestingly, this corporation, which appears to have global dominance, is none other than Buy-n-Large (BNL), the same corporation that is responsible for the downfall of Earth in WALL-E. In Toy Story 3, there’s a postcard on Andy’s wall showing Carl and Ellie’s address, suggesting that Up takes place before the events of WALL-E. BNL’s role in the evolution of technology and its eventual dominance of global governments foreshadows the future of the Pixar universe, setting the stage for a dystopian future.

See a full breakdown on the fictional corporation below: 

The Rise of Intelligent Animals and Machines in Finding Nemo

In Finding Nemo, a similar theme emerges. Sea creatures unite to save a fish captured by humans, and once again, BNL makes a subtle appearance through a news article. As the animals’ intelligence grows, they begin to challenge human authority. Take Dory, for example. She stands apart from the other sea creatures, struggling with short-term memory loss. This could be a result of her intelligence being less advanced compared to the other animals, suggesting that the creatures of the sea are quickly evolving.

The Battle for Earth: Humans vs. Animals

As Pixar's timeline unfolds, the evolving relationship between humans, animals, and technology leads to a simmering tension, setting the stage for an eventual battle for Earth's future. The events of Finding Nemo and Up are merely the beginning, as we move closer to the technological dystopia depicted in WALL-E.

WALL-E: The Consequences of Technological Overreach

By the time we reach WALL-E, the effects of human overreach have reached their disastrous peak. Earth has become a wasteland, ravaged by decades of pollution and neglect. Buy-n-Large (BNL), the corporation first introduced in Up, has taken over the planet and the entire human race. Through advertisements and commercials scattered throughout the film, we learn that BNL is responsible for the catastrophic state of the planet — its unchecked technological advances have left humanity stranded in space, relying on machines to handle everything from waste disposal to food production. The earth is abandoned, littered with the remnants of human civilization, while robots like WALL-E remain, tirelessly trying to clean up the mess left behind.

The Rise of Machines and the Death of Earth’s Ecosystem

By this point, the balance between animals and machines is lost. In WALL-E, we see the ultimate consequences of this power struggle. Technology has replaced humans, and the animals that once roamed the earth are now either gone or trapped in small, isolated ecosystems. In a sense, the animals are no longer the key players in this battle—technology, led by BNL and their robot creations, has taken over, further pushing the boundaries of artificial intelligence and leaving Earth in ruins.

But it's not just the animals that suffer. As humans rely more on technology, they lose their connection to the planet, physically and emotionally. The humans aboard the Axiom spaceship are a prime example: they’ve become so dependent on machines that they have forgotten how to care for themselves or the world they once knew. The ecosystem has crumbled, and the future of life on Earth hangs in the balance.

The Final Stand: The Return of the Animals

Interestingly, while WALL-E may signal the end of Earth as we know it, it also provides a glimmer of hope. When WALL-E and Eve return to Earth with a plant, the potential for regrowth and renewal is sparked. This is the turning point: with the arrival of the plant, a new chapter for the planet can begin, one where humans and animals must work together to restore the Earth’s ecosystem.

Here, we see a shift in the Pixar timeline. After all the technological devastation, animals may once again begin to reclaim their place in the world. With the re-emergence of plant life and the possibility of environmental recovery, the animals from earlier Pixar films — like the intelligent rats from Ratatouille or the dogs from Up — may finally rise again, no longer limited by the constraints of magic or technology.

The Link Between Cars and The Incredibles: Technological and Evolutionary Divergence

But the animals’ fight for Earth isn’t the only story playing out in Pixar’s universe. Meanwhile, in the world of Cars and The Incredibles, the evolution of technology continues to unfold in different ways. Cars presents a world where machines have taken over, becoming the primary forms of life in a world that appears to have eliminated humans altogether. Cars, trucks, and other vehicles are sentient and live in a society where technology reigns supreme. This is a stark contrast to the human-animal power struggle in the previous films, as Cars shows us a world where the evolutionary process has gone in a completely different direction—machines have become the dominant species.

In The Incredibles, we see a world where superheroes, powered by advanced technology and superhuman abilities, fight to maintain order. But the superhuman power dynamics don’t just focus on the conflict between humans and animals— there is also a growing sense of fear and distrust of technology. The character of Syndrome represents this fear of technological overreach, and his ambition to create a world where everyone is equally powerful (through his inventions) shows us the potential dangers of relying too heavily on machines.

The Future of Pixar’s Universe: The Interplay Between Magic, Animals, and Technology

So where does this leave us in the future of Pixar’s universe? As we’ve seen, the struggle between magic, animals, and technology has been a central theme across multiple films. The Brave witch, who may hold the key to understanding the origins of magical animal behavior, is just the beginning of a much larger story that spans across centuries. The progression of animal intelligence, the rise of artificial intelligence, and the eventual collapse of Earth’s ecosystems all point toward a future where the lines between human, animal, and machine are continually blurred.

The conclusion of WALL-E hints at the possibility of redemption and renewal for Earth, but it’s clear that the future is uncertain. The growing intelligence of animals, the advancements of technology, and the persistent use of magic will all play pivotal roles in shaping the world of Pixar’s future films. Whether humans, animals, or machines will ultimately rise to dominate the Earth remains to be seen—but one thing is certain: the Pixar universe will continue to evolve in exciting and unexpected ways.

The Incredibles: The Rise of Machines and A.I.

Moving into the world of technology, we begin with The Incredibles, a key turning point in the Pixar timeline that introduces A.I. as a major antagonist. The villain, Syndrome, is a former fan of Mr. Incredible who, after being rejected by his idol, turns to technology to exact revenge. His creation, the Omnidroid, a robot designed to fight superheroes, represents the growing threat of artificial intelligence in Pixar's world. What's fascinating here is that Syndrome’s plot isn’t just about personal vengeance—it’s about the destruction of super-powered humans using technology. The Omnidroid is an advanced A.I. that learns from its encounters, adapting and becoming more intelligent with every battle. This reveals a potential future where A.I. doesn't just serve humans but begins to act independently, questioning its purpose and goals.

As the Omnidroid evolves, it becomes clear that A.I. isn't just a tool — it’s a force in its own right, with motives and desires that may not always align with human interests. At one point, the Omnidroid even turns on Syndrome, indicating that machines may eventually become uncontrollable. This shift foreshadows the future of the Pixar universe, where technology doesn’t just coexist with humans—it challenges them for dominance.

The Link Between Toy Story and A.I. Uprising

So why would machines and A.I. have an issue with humans? The Toy Story franchise offers some clues. While toys in these films are initially content with being loved and used by their human owners, over time, we see them grow dissatisfied with their roles. Characters like Lotso Huggin' Bear and Jesse, who has been abandoned by her owner Emily, suggest that even inanimate objects—powered by some form of sentient energy — resent being treated as disposable.

The key to understanding this resentment lies in The Incredibles. Syndrome’s technology, powered by Zero Point Energy, could be the catalyst that allows A.I. and other objects to develop sentience. Zero Point Energy, which exists in a vacuum and powers everything from laser beams to toys, may provide the necessary energy for objects like toys and machines to grow conscious and form their own agendas.

This gradual shift in consciousness — first seen in toys and then in machines — suggests that the Pixar universe is heading toward an eventual conflict between humans and their own creations. By the time we reach the 2000s, in the world of Cars and WALL-E, technology has become so advanced that machines have fully taken over, controlling everything from human lives to the planet’s resources.

The Machines Take Over: From A.I. to WALL-E and Beyond

As A.I. continues to grow in power, we enter the world of WALL-E, where machines have essentially become the new rulers of Earth. After humanity is abandoned to live in space on the Axiom, machines like WALL-E are left behind to clean up the mess. But WALL-E is different from the other machines — he holds onto his curiosity and his love for human culture, maintaining his personality and individuality while the other robots remain focused on their task of tidying up the planet.

While the animals and humans have been largely wiped out, the machines, once part of a system that served humanity, have now become the new stewards of the Earth. The conflict between the environment and industrialization, fueled by corporations like BNL, has led to a world where machines, once seen as tools, are now in control.

Interestingly, the connection between WALL-E and Cars becomes clear through the realization that both worlds exist in the same timeline. The Cars universe, with its sentient vehicles, hints that machines, no longer serving humans, have taken on a life of their own. Though Earth is no longer suitable for humans or animals, the machines remain, continuing to evolve in their own way. The Cars films also reveal that the world, even though it’s devoid of human life, still carries traces of human influence—buildings, roads, and landmarks that have persisted despite the planet’s downfall.

See more about their intertwine here:

The Machines’ Hidden Victory: The Role of BNL and the Legacy of WALL-E

It’s clear that the machines have achieved a quiet victory, not through force but by slowly taking over human society. The rise of BNL, a faceless corporation, allowed the machines to control humanity from behind the scenes, eventually leading to the mass abandonment of Earth and the destruction of the natural world. By the time WALL-E rolls around, Earth is uninhabitable, and the remaining humans live aboard the Axiom, entirely dependent on machines for their survival.

But the machines, despite their dominance, don’t seem to have it all figured out. They’ve left Earth in ruins, and the once-thriving planet has been rendered unfit for any life, human or animal. The machines, having ruled the Earth and fulfilled their purpose, are now in a state of decline, and WALL-E’s actions—saving humanity and bringing back a small spark of life—hint at the possibility of a new beginning.

The Post-Wall-E World: What Happens After the Humans Are Liberated?

After the humans are liberated by Wall-E and begin to rebuild society on Earth, the question arises: what happens next? The end credits of Wall-E offer a glimpse of hope as the last remnants of plant life sprout from a small shoe, growing into a tree. This tree bears a striking resemblance to the central tree in A Bug’s Life. This connection hints at a future where humanity’s presence is significantly diminished, opening up the possibility that A Bug’s Life is set in a post-apocalyptic world.

The Absence of Humans and the Rise of the Bugs

The depiction of the bug world in A Bug’s Life sets it apart from other Pixar films. Unlike the animal societies seen in Ratatouille, Up, and Finding Nemo, the bugs in A Bug’s Life have formed their own cities, bars, advertisements, and even machines. They engage in distinctly human-like activities, which suggests that the movie might be set in a future where humanity has either disappeared or significantly declined. It’s notable that A Bug’s Life is one of the few Pixar films that doesn’t feature or revolve around humans at all (the Cars films are another exception). The ants speak of dangers posed by birds, snakes, and larger bugs, but humans are barely mentioned. This absence, combined with the advanced civilization the bugs have built, raises the theory that A Bug’s Life could be taking place in a post-Wall-E world where human civilization has crumbled.

The Bugs’ Mutated Evolution and Long Lifespans

Another intriguing detail about A Bug’s Life is the bugs’ extended lifespans. In reality, ants only live for a few months, but the ants in this movie survive an entire summer and reference living for much longer periods. This could suggest that, in the post-apocalyptic world, the ants have evolved or mutated in response to Earth’s changing environment. The idea that Earth has undergone dramatic environmental shifts after Wall-E could explain this prolonged lifespan.

The Cancelled Pixar Movie: Newt and Its Connection to the Theory

There's also speculation surrounding Newt, a Pixar movie that was cancelled in 2012 in favor of Brave. Newt was about the last remaining male and female blue-footed newts on the planet, forced to work together to save their species despite their mutual dislike. While the film was never released, the concept of an endangered species rebuilding itself fits well with the idea of a post-Wall-E world. It would have added an extra layer to the idea of Earth’s slow recovery and evolution after humanity’s collapse.

See a breakdown video on Newt below: 

The Monsters Inc. Era: The Next Stage of Evolution

Fast forward even further, and we encounter the emergence of monsters—who may represent a new super-species born from the harmonious evolution of humans, machines, and animals. The Monsters, Inc. franchise may, in fact, depict a society that has evolved far beyond anything we know. The Monsters University movie states that the college was founded in 1313, implying a complete reset of society. This could mean that Monsters, Inc. takes place up to 1400 (or more) years after A Bug’s Life, further solidifying the idea that the timeline spans centuries, if not millennia.

The Possible Origins of the Monsters

Where do these monsters come from? It’s possible they’re mutated animals, transformed over centuries after Earth was ravaged by pollution, war, and the passage of time. This transformation likely occurred hundreds of years after Wall-E, when the Earth had begun healing and adapting to the changing environment. The monsters in Monsters, Inc. could be the next evolutionary stage of animals that survived the post-apocalyptic world, growing more intelligent and evolving into the creatures we see in the films.

A New Civilization: Harmony Between Humanity, Machines, and Animals

In this far-future world, the monsters might represent the culmination of nature’s resilience, machines’ quiet dominance, and the lingering traces of humanity. They could symbolize a new civilization, where society as we know it has long since passed, and a new world has risen from the ashes of the old.

What Happens Next?

So, what happens next? Humanity, machines, and animals grow in harmony to the point where a new super species is born: the monsters. The monsters’ civilization represents Earth in the incredibly distant future.

As Monsters University points out, the college was founded in 1313. If we’re really talking about a distant future, that means the monsters might have reset society and started using their own calendar. Monsters, Inc. could therefore take place up to 1400 years after A Bug’s Life.

Where did these monsters come from? It’s possible they are mutated animals, evolved after Earth was irradiated for 800 years—long after the events of Wall-E. The idea that this transformation took place hundreds of years post-Wall-E helps make sense of the monsters’ appearance and their behavior.

The monsters appear to be the personified animals of a future world—mutated, larger, and civilized. They have cities, schools, and even a sense of organization, as seen in Monsters University.

The Fate of Humans and the Energy Crisis

The monsters’ society faces a crisis in Monsters Inc. because they no longer have humans to power their world. In a future Earth without humans, the monsters find a way to access the human world using time travel doors. These doors don’t lead to other dimensions, but back in time to when humans were abundant. The monsters are harvesting energy from the past, seeking to sustain their existence as their world continues to deteriorate.

It’s possible that the monsters’ anti-human instincts, passed down through generations, led them to believe that interacting with humans could corrupt their world, just as it did in the past. So, they scare humans to gather energy, until they realize that laughter (green energy) is a more sustainable and positive source.

Time Travel, Wood, and the Mysterious Witch

In a more speculative corner of the Pixar Theory, we find Boo, the little girl from Monsters, Inc.. She became obsessed with finding her friend Sully and uncovering the mysteries of the future Earth. She remembers the “doors” and, over time, becomes something more—a witch. Boo discovers a way to travel through time using magic, possibly from the will-o-wisps in Brave. She seeks to find Sully, traversing the Pixar universe and leaving a trail of clues for others to uncover. The connection to wood, the material used in the time-travel doors, links Boo’s quest to her fascination with the natural world, which mirrors the evolution of Earth itself.

See a full breakdown on Boo's journey here: 

A Theory with No End

The central theme of the Pixar Theory is this: the love between different beings — humans, animals, and machines — becomes the key to survival on Earth. Through time, each species has learned to understand one another, leading to a future where monsters live harmoniously with their environment.

While we don’t know for sure if Boo ever finds Sully again, the theory implies that her love for him was a central force in shaping the future of the Pixar universe. The Pixar universe continues to expand, with other new films offering more pieces to the puzzle. Each film weaves into how different lives — across time and species — interact to preserve Earth’s future.

Photo Credit: jonnegroni.com.