4 Years Later, Disney’s 91% RT Pixar Gem Still Desperately Needs a Sequel

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Four years after its release, people are still hoping for a sequel to the Disney and Pixar film, Luca. The movie, directed by Enrico Casarosa, tells the story of two teenage sea monsters, Luca Paguro (voiced by Jacob Tremblay) and Alberto Scorfano (voiced by Jack Dylan Grazer), who can transform into humans when they’re on land. As they explore the Italian town of Portorosso and befriend Giulia (voiced by Emma J. Berman), their friendship deepens, and they experience the joy of riding a Vespa.

Disney and Pixar are famous for creating some of the most beloved animated films ever made. Often, successful movies lead to more installments and even entire franchises as the story and characters are further developed. However, Luca is a standout – despite being a highly deserving film, it hasn’t gotten a sequel.

Luca Is an Underrated Disney-Pixar Movie

The film is excellent, though Luca hasn’t received the widespread recognition it deserves. It’s truly one of Disney and Pixar’s strongest team-ups in every way. The story is easy for anyone to understand, yet still manages to be deeply moving. The relationships between Luca and his family, as well as his friends Alberto and Giulia, are all distinct and captivating. Watching Luca experience the human world and the town of Portorosso is charmingly innocent, particularly when contrasted with Alberto’s outgoing personality.

Although the movie Luca focuses on the main character, Luca, every character plays a vital role in his story. Even the town bully, Ercole Visconti, serves a purpose – his determination to win the Portorosso Cup drives much of the plot, and it’s almost admirable. Luca’s friends, Alberto and Giulia, both have energetic and confident personalities, and they each help Luca gain confidence and reach his full potential. Luca’s friend’s father, Massimo, is physically imposing but kind-hearted, a trait shared by the town elders, Concetta and Pinuccia.

Beyond its heartwarming story and charming characters, Luca is truly funny. The movie is filled with genuinely humorous moments that land well because the comedy is subtly built, never forced. A lot of the early back-and-forth between Luca and Alberto, especially as Luca learns how to act like a human, is funny simply because it’s delightfully silly. The dialogue is playfully over-the-top, and the characters’ expressions and movements are incredibly well-executed. From classic slapstick to unexpected Italian phrases, Luca’s humor appeals to viewers of all ages.

Overall, Luca is a stunning achievement, showcasing a wonderful partnership between Disney and Pixar. The animation is vibrant and visually striking, creating a beautiful film that’s also deeply moving. The story unfolds naturally, making the blend of the sea monster and human worlds feel believable. Combined with a gorgeous musical score and a setting clearly inspired by Italy, Luca feels like a truly complete and perfect movie.

Disney-Pixar Needs to Make a Sequel to Luca

Disney and Pixar consistently release new films, and it’s common for popular movies to get sequels or expanded stories – often driven by fan demand or commercial interests (a new installment of one such film is planned for release on June 19, 2026). However, Luca is a surprisingly rare exception, as it hasn’t received a follow-up. Director Casarona has repeatedly stated over the last four years that there are no plans for another Luca movie. His next project with Disney-Pixar, Gatto, which focuses on an Italian cat, is currently in development and could be released in 2027.

Even if a sequel doesn’t bring back the director, the story’s shift to a land-based setting feels like a missed opportunity. While understandable given the circumstances, the fascinating world of Luca and his family as sea monsters is largely unexplored. We only get brief glimpses – through Luca’s work with goatfish and a quick appearance by his somewhat scary Uncle Ugo – of a whole underwater civilization ripe for development. Luca’s parents and eccentric grandmother are intriguing characters, and there’s plenty of potential for a follow-up movie to delve deeper into their stories. Questions like how Luca’s parents met, the purpose of their shepherding work, and what his grandmother does in Portorosso could all be explored.

We learn a little about Alberto’s life before meeting Luca, but only through what Alberto chooses to share. He hints at the pain caused by his father leaving, but the movie never shows us what happened, and his father remains a nameless, unseen figure. This leaves the audience to fill in the blanks. Given how important Alberto is to the story of Luca, exploring his relationship with his father would have made the narrative more complete and satisfying. A sequel could easily delve into Alberto’s past as a sea monster, perhaps through flashbacks showing how he found his secluded home. Since we don’t know anything about Alberto’s mother or other family members, there’s a lot of potential for Disney-Pixar to expand on his story if they choose to.

While Luca is charming because of its characters, the ending leaves plenty of room for a sequel to explore new stories. After the race, Luca and Giulia head off to school by train, and Alberto decides to stay in Portorosso with Massimo. Luca’s parents return to the sea, and Ercole likely remains in town, but probably feeling a bit humbled. Luca offers endless possibilities for a follow-up – what adventures await Luca and Giulia at school? How do Luca’s parents adjust to life without him? Will Alberto fit in with the people of Portorosso? And what happens when everyone gets back together next summer?

Ciao Alberto Deserves More Recognition in Luca’s Universe

Disney+ includes a variety of short films and quick clips, like the Cars Toons series which features two seasons of Cars stories. While Luca has a companion piece, it’s a short spin-off, not a full sequel. Ciao Alberto, released in November 2021, is a roughly 7-minute film showing what Alberto’s life is like with Massimo after Luca and Giulia start school. Alberto tries hard to help Massimo with fishing, but things keep going wrong, unintentionally causing friction between them. The short film received four Children’s and Family Emmy Award nominations and won one for Outstanding Editing of an Animation Program.

Despite receiving positive reviews, the short film Ciao Alberto seems to have been largely forgotten. However, many believe it’s just as good as the original Luca film and further demonstrates the need for a full-length sequel centered around Alberto. Though he started as a supporting character in Luca, Alberto is a vibrant and engaging personality who could easily carry his own story. In a short amount of time, he establishes himself as a compelling lead, and both Luca and Ciao Alberto create enough intrigue to warrant a deeper exploration of his character.

While Ciao Alberto starts out fun and playful, like the film Luca, it quickly becomes surprisingly emotional and ends with a powerfully moving scene. The story explores themes of growing up, the need to be accepted, and the importance of family. Beneath Alberto’s confident front, he’s a teenager who’s been hurt by abandonment and is deeply affected by past trauma. He’s not just trying to be a good worker; he’s desperately seeking a father figure in Massimo and wants his approval. This realization unfolds subtly but powerfully, and by the time Alberto calls Massimo “Dad,” viewers are overwhelmed with emotion and feel immense empathy for Luca’s friend.

What truly makes Ciao Alberto special, particularly for older audiences, is Massimo’s reaction to Alberto’s emotional outburst. Consistent with his quiet nature, Massimo doesn’t say much, but his simple words immediately reassure Alberto, addressing the fear of abandonment that was so central to Luca’s story. He shares that he once angered his own father to the point of physical reaction, but they were able to repair their relationship. This moment carries both literal and symbolic weight, offering a deeply satisfying resolution to the short film. Along with its charming humor, stunning animation, and lovely music, Ciao Alberto shares the qualities that make Luca so great. If any Disney-Pixar creation deserves to be expanded upon, it’s this one.

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2025-11-14 07:07