Part 4/9:
According to sources within Pixar, the original concept revolved around a queer protagonist, a reflection of the identity of the film's initial director, Adrien Molina. The film was intended to explore the life of a young gay boy, which was altered significantly—losing many recognizable elements of that original narrative and becoming more generic over time. These changes, spearheaded by studio executives in an attempt to broaden the film’s appeal, may be one of the critical factors leading to its lack of success.