Disney and Pixar’s upcoming animated feature Gatto has a different name in Japan — and the Japanese press release that came with it contained story details and context that did not appear in the US announcement. On June 12, 2026, Disney Japan revealed the film will release there as “Nero of the Water City,” with a Spring 2027 window confirmed. The US release date remains March 5, 2027.
Disney renaming films for international markets is nothing new, and in this case we actually prefer the Japanese title. “Nero of the Water City” does something the original title doesn’t — it tells you exactly who this story belongs to and where it lives. Gatto is an Italian word for cat, which works beautifully as a title for English and Italian-speaking audiences. But for Japanese audiences, leading with the protagonist’s name and the setting of Venice gives the film an immediate identity. It is a smarter introduction to the world.
The same thing happened with Zootopia in 2016. Disney released that film as Zootropolis across much of Europe, largely to avoid a trademark conflict with a Danish zoo of the same name. Different market, different name, same movie. The Gatto situation follows a similar logic — the title change is a localization decision, not a signal that anything about the film itself is different.
What the Japanese Press Release Revealed
The Japanese announcement included context about Nero’s backstory and the emotional stakes of the film that were not included in the US materials. Because black cats are considered bad luck by superstitious people, Nero has spent his life as an outcast in Venice’s underworld. The press release describes an unexpected miracle that changes everything for him. It also draws a deliberate comparison to Pixar’s history of “what if” worlds — the toy world of Toy Story, the land of the dead in Coco — and frames the Venice underworld as the studio’s next great invented world.
The Japanese release also explicitly highlighted director Enrico Casarosa’s new visual approach: a blend of hand-drawn painting techniques with 3DCG that the studio is describing as a completely new style for a Pixar film. That detail was not emphasized in the US announcement.
Additionally, the Japanese press release referenced the teaser poster directly, describing Nero hanging upside down against a full moon over Venice’s canals — framing it as a mystery and an invitation into the world he inhabits at night.
What We Already Know From the US Announcement
The US press release and teaser trailer, which we covered at Fantasy Land News, confirmed the film’s cast and US release date. Mark Ruffalo voices Nero. Laurence Fishburne voices Rocco, the feline mob boss to whom Nero is indebted. The teaser centers on an interrogation scene set to “Speak Softly, Love” from The Godfather, in which both cats immediately lose focus when a flickering light proves irresistible. Gatto arrives in US theaters on March 5, 2027.
The film is directed by Enrico Casarosa (Luca, 2021), produced by Andrea Warren (Cars 3), and executive produced by Pete Docter, whose films as director include Up, Inside Out, and Soul — all Academy Award winners. Gatto is also the first Disney and Pixar feature-length animated film to star a cat.
Our Take
Title changes in different countries are nothing new, and in this case, the Japanese version of the name is actually better. “Nero of the Water City” gives you the character and the world in five words. That said, the more interesting story here is what the Japanese press release included that the US one didn’t. Pixar clearly gave Disney Japan additional context to work with — the emotional setup for Nero, the superstition angle, the worldbuilding comparisons to Coco and Toy Story. Whether that was a localization strategy or just a different editorial approach, the result is that Japanese audiences got a richer picture of what this film actually is on day one. We will take it either way. Join the Realm at fantasylandnews.com/the-realm.
Frequently Asked Questions About Gatto’s Japan Title
What is Gatto called in Japan? The Japanese title is “Nero of the Water City.” The original title in the United States is GATTO.
Why does Gatto have a different title in Japan? Disney regularly adapts film titles for international markets based on language, trademark considerations, and local audience familiarity. Zootopia released as Zootropolis across much of Europe for similar reasons.
When does Gatto come out? March 5, 2027 in the United States. Spring 2027 in Japan.
What did the Japanese press release reveal that the US one didn’t? The Japanese announcement included details about Nero’s backstory as an outcast, the superstition surrounding black cats in Venice, the emotional journey the film promises, and specifics about Casarosa’s new hand-drawn-meets-3DCG visual style.
Who voices Nero in Gatto? Mark Ruffalo.
Who voices Rocco in Gatto? Laurence Fishburne.
Is Gatto the first Pixar movie with a cat as the main character? Yes. It is the first Disney and Pixar feature-length animated film to star a cat.
