Inside Out 2 was a massive hit with both critics and audiences, and snatched the crown from Disney’s “live action” Lion King remake as the biggest animated movie of all time.

While “Inside Out 2” will be a major test for Pixar, the next question, Gross said, will be whether the studio can recapture its old magic with a new story — not a sequel or spinoff.

The projected opening for “Inside Out 2” is more than four times higher than Disney’s most recent animated release, “ Wish,” which fell far below expectations to open with just $19.7 ...

Inside Out 2 was released in June, and became a bona fide box office smash for Disney and Pixar. Last month it became the top animated film all-time at the box office, topping $1.5 billion.