Since 1995’s Toy Story, the computer animation geniuses at Pixar had been a run that can only be described as genre defining.

I was 11 years old when Woody and Buzz came into my life, and the results were nothing short of defining. I became obsessed with movies. The in’s and out’s of their creations. These amazing characters, so richly detailed, were made from computers?

I had always been an inquisitive child, interested in learning as much about things as I could - but I think it was Toy Story that made me a true film nerd. I could tell you as much about Tom Hanks and Tim Allen as I could John Lasseter. And for many many years, Pixar delivered movies that amazed me.

I remember Monsters, Inc. tugging at my heart strings with the adorable Boo. I remember when Toy Story 2 spoke to me as a toy collector at the time, while also showing that sequels can improve on the original. I remember The Incredibles being everything I’ve ever wanted out of a movie, from an amazing score by Michael Giacchino, to being a Silver-Age superhero film that my Wizard-addled mind could only dream of. I remember the amazing short films that came before each movie, packed away in the DVD extras. I remember the shared tears as my family and I watched Toy Story 3 together on Blu-Ray one Thanksgiving.

They were the movies I could talk about and share with anyone - from my film nerd friends, to my parents, to little cousins. You knew that if you paid for your ticket to a Pixar film, you’d be guaranteed an impeccable movie experience.

The less said about the Cars franchise, the better. (I know, kids love it.)

The peak? The amazing three film streak they released from 2007 to 2009. Three films created in the time period where they didn’t know if they were going independent, or staying with Disney. The brillance-out-of-chaos production of Ratatoullie which mixed rats, food and criticism. The apocalyptic yet uplifting Wall-E which warmed our hearts with an adorable robot, while questioning what we’ve done (and may do) to our planet. The love-lorn adventure of Up, mixing some of the saddest animation ever with the bold thrills of pulp - to see what lives BEYOND THERE! I don’t know that there’s been a gutsier trio of films made by any studio or creative force back to back, especially under the guise of “family entertainment".

They’ve been praised, heralded by animation aficionados as one of the greatest studios ever, spoken in similar tones of the masterworks created by Hayao Miyazaki’s Studio Ghibli. They’ve made billions at the box office. They’ve been imitated by other studios such as Dreamworks and Warner Bros. Animation.

…But I worry the sterling reputation has been tarnished, and may not shine again for some time. Since 2011’s Cars 2, something has been off about Pixar. And I’m not sure if - or when - it will turn around.

Cars 2 marked the first instance of audiences turning against the computer animation giant. Is it coincidence that Cars 2 was the first Pixar film in production after the Disney merger (where Pixar head John Lassiter became the overall Disney Animation lead)? Perhaps. But it is here where things have started to come apart. Cars 2 was the first Pixar film to get a “Rotten" certification from Rotten Tomatoes, and while what followed isn’t what I’d call “bad", it’s clear that things aren’t right in Emeryville.

2012’s Brave, while a decent movie, was clearly undermined by creative issues behind the scenes. While Brave was not the first Pixar film to undergo significant changes during the production process (see the conversion of Toy Story 2 from direct-to-video to theatrical production, or the transition of directors on Ratatoullie), Brave was the first instance where the Pixar magic started to feel strained. It’s clear that the removal of director Brenda Chapman hurt something. Re-watching the film now, Brave is still enjoyable, but doesn’t have that emotional drive of the rest of Pixar’s work. It entertains, but doesn’t go for that second level that sticks with you. It was as if they took the elements of the movie that remained and tried to make the best of what they had.

2013’s Monster’s University was an enjoyable film for sure, poking fun at college comedy tropes mixed with some memorable new monsters, but it never justified its existence. What reason was there to tell another story with the Monsters, Inc. gang? I still can’t tell you. I’m entertained, it’s funny, but again - it never hits that Pixar sweet spot, where art and intelligence combine into one incredibly human film, made with the latest technology.

Heck, it’s even been difficult to be a Pixar director, as Andrew Stanton (Wall-E, Finding Nemo) was left holding the bag when Disney’s John Carter adaptation was a bomb…despite being a pretty fun movie (with input from Pixar’s Braintrust, no less).

2014 marked the first year since 2005 without a Pixar film.

Due to the intense creative issues with The Good Dinosaur (yep, another director replacement), a movie that proposes the idea of what would have happened if dinosaurs had never been wiped out, Pixar decided to sit a year out.

And in doing so, it’s revealed the breadth of the world of animation around them.

Yes, Dreamworks is still courting the second-tier with films like Madagascar 3 and Dr. Peabody & Sherman, but they’ve shown they can be as effective as the big lamp studio with franchises such as Kung Fu Panda and How To Train Your Dragon. Warner Bros. Animation blew us all away with this year’s The LEGO Movie (although that’s a bubble that may get pushed to the bursting point), and perhaps in the most stinging bit of reality - Walt Disney Animation showed back up to reclaim it’s crown.

With John Lassiter firmly implanted as lead, Disney is back on top, with the incredible back-to-back performance of Tangled, Wreck-It Ralph, Frozen (which is the highest grossing animated film of all-time) and this Fall’s sublime Big Hero 6.

What’s a Pixar to do?

In their favor, they’re firing back in 2015 with not just one, but two original films.

June 19, 2015 brings Inside Out, a new film from director Pete Docter, who gave us Monster’s Inc. and Up. Seemingly a CG version of Herman’s Head, the movie personifies the emotions of a young girl. The voice cast, including Amy Poehler and Bill Hader is promising and the artwork looks great. I will admit that the first trailer has me a bit worried - is the footage of Pixar film’s prior supposed to remind me of the good times, or set up Inside Out as the heir-apparent?

November 25, 2015 will bring an all-new, all-different version of The Good Dinosaur. Now under the watchful eye of first-time director Peter Sohn (a Pixar artist who was the inspiration for Up’s Russell), the Los Angeles Times ran a piece on the considerable reboot of the film this week, which directly inspired this post. It sounds like the film is in a better place. Pixar’s pulled great movies out of this process before, and I am hoping for the best. Maybe I’ll be eating every one of these words come the end of next year.

What’s hazy, though - is the extended outlook for Pixar. Sadly, after these two unique films, we’re looking at MANY, MANY sequels.

Cars 3, The Incredibles 2, Finding Dory, Toy Story 4.

Yeah, Cars prints money, but isn’t the Planes franchise doing everything Disney needs it to? Sure, we’ve wanted an Incredibles sequel for years, but what if it’s awful? What did Finding Nemo leave unanswered? Yes, the Toy Story sequels have been wonderful, but why tempt the fate?

The only other original project discussed for the future is known currently as Untitled Pixar film about DÁ­a de los Muertos. In development from director Lee Unkrich (Toy Story 3), we haven’t heard much about the movie since its announcement in 2012. I certainly hope the release (and relative meh reception) to The Book of Life hasn’t hurt this film. It could be amazing.

Current Pixar head Edwin Catmull has stated that he intends to have Pixar work on “1.5" films a year. Original films every year, sequels, every other year. Right now, all I see is sequels, and I need to have the hope that the Pixar that wowed me with Toy Story, made dreams come alive with The Incredibles and floored me with Ratatoullie, Wall-E and Up still exists.

I want to believe in the Pixar name again.