It’s a big day for news out of Camp Pixar, folks, so let’s wade right in.

1. Newt is dead.  Yes, folks, the idea of bringing the last few newts on Earth together in a bid to save the species only to discover that they can’t stand each other is, as of this moment, dead.  Word is that Monsters Inc. 2 will be brought in to fill the gap, and as long as that turns out even half as well as the original no one will likely notice the gap.

2. Cars 2 is having some engine troubles.  Apparently, the film’s current director, Brad Lewis, may have left the project.  However, the upshot to that is that word is John Lasseter, Pixar headman and director of the ORIGINAL Cars, will be stepping in.

Fairly good news amidst the bad in there, but a disturbing trend is emerging.

Most of Pixar’s planned titles all have numbers involved, i.e., they’re sequels.  Is this a push to profit off established material?  Where’s the grand innovative spirit that gave us all these great movies in the first place?  Especially disturbing is the push to replace original material like Newt with sequels.  Sure, we all loved most of these, but why not keep up the originals?  Sure, Pixar sequels aren’t all bad–I think we’re ALL looking forward to Toy Story 3--but still…the number-heavy environment is a disturbing trend.