Category: Films (Page 3 of 88)

New ‘Toy Story 5’ Trailer, Poster and Characters Revealed: Buzz, Woody and Jessie Battle an Evil Tablet

February 19, 2026 / The Animation Blog / 0 Comments

U.S. theatrical release date: June 19, 2026

Synopsis: The toys are back and this time, Buzz Lightyear, Woody, Jessie and the rest of the gang’s jobs are challenged when they come face-to-face with Lilypad, a brand-new tablet device that arrives with her own disruptive ideas about what is best for their kid, Bonnie. Will playtime ever be the same?

Directed by Andrew Stanton (Finding Nemo, WALL-E, Finding Dory).

Co-directed by Kenna Harris (Ciao Alberto).

Written by Andrew Stanton and Kenna Harris.

Produced by Lindsey Collins (Finding Dory, Turning Red).

Original score by Randy Newman.

‘ChaO’ Official Trailer and Release Date: GKIDS Acquires North American Rights to Yasuhiro Aoki’s Romantic Comedy

February 12, 2026 / The Animation Blog / 0 Comments

Theatrical release date: April 10, 2026.

Synopsis: In a fantastical future, humans and mermaids share a troubled coexistence.

Stephan, an anxious employee at a shipbuilding company, has big ideas to save the sea. But his life explodes into ecstatic chaos when bubbly mermaid princess Chao proposes marriage out of the blue.

Between shopping sprees, giant robots, and actual fireworks, the unlikely pair flounder through their new romance and unlock their true feelings.

Directed by Yasuhiro Aoki.

Character designs by Hirokazu Kojima.

Music by Takatsugu Muramatsu.

GKIDS Acquires Bruno Bozzetto’s ‘Allegro Non Troppo’ — New Trailer and Poster Revealed

February 11, 2026 / The Animation Blog / 0 Comments

GKIDS has acquired the North American rights to the Bruno Bozzetto catalog, including Allegro Non Troppo.

In celebration of its 50th anniversary, the newly restored animated musical will screen at Metrograph in New York City starting March 27, 2026.

Synopsis: An enterprising producer believes he has hit upon a winning concept: a program of original animated shorts set to classical music.

Undeterred by warnings that this has already been done by an American named ‘Prisney,’ he rallies an orchestra of geriatric women, a bullish conductor, and an animator that he keeps locked in the dungeon. What could go wrong?

A gleeful sendup of Disney’s Fantasia, Allegro Non Troppo blends live-action slapstick with cheeky animation for a film as joyful and raunchy as it is thoughtful and cutting.

‘Minions & Monsters’ Official Trailers and Release Date: Kevin, Stuart and Bob Become Hollywood Stars

February 8, 2026 / The Animation Blog / 0 Comments

Release date: July 1, 2026

Synopsis: This is the rambunctious, ridiculous and totally true story of how the Minions conquered Hollywood, became movie stars, lost everything, unleashed monsters onto the world and then banded together to try and save the planet from the mayhem they had just created.

Directed by Pierre Coffin.

Written by Brian Lynch and Pierre Coffin.

Voice cast:
Allison Janney
Christoph Waltz
Jeff Bridges
Jesse Eisenberg
Zoey Deutch
Bobby Moynihan
Phil LaMarr
Trey Parker
Pierre Coffin

‘Buffalo Kids’ Official Trailer: Gemma Arterton, Sean Bean and Stephen Graham Star in a Wild West Adventure

February 5, 2026 / The Animation Blog / 0 Comments

U.S. theatrical release date: February 6, 2026.

Synopsis: Arriving in New York City in 1886, two orphaned Irish siblings set out on a cross-country journey aboard a transcontinental train in search of a new home.

Along the way, they make an unexpected friend and encounter both heroes and villains, discovering that true family can be found in the most unlikely places.

Directed by Juan Jesús García Galocha and Pedro Solís García.

Written by Jordi Gasull, Javier López Barreira and Pedro Solís García.

Made with the collaboration of the Northern Cheyenne Tribe.

‘A Magnificent Life’: Official Trailer and Release Date Revealed for New Film from ‘The Triplets of Belleville’ Director Sylvain Chomet

February 4, 2026 / The Animation Blog / 0 Comments

U.S. theatrical release date: March 27, 2026.

Synopsis: In 1955, 60-year-old Marcel Pagnol is a well-known and acclaimed playwright and filmmaker.

When the editor-in-chief of ELLE magazine commissions a weekly column about Pagnol’s childhood, he sees this as a great opportunity to go back to his artistic roots: writing.

Realizing his memory is failing him and deeply affected by the disappointing results of his last two plays, Pagnol starts doubting his ability to pursue his work.

That is until Little Marcel — the young boy he used to be — appears to him as if by magic.

Together, they will explore Marcel Pagnol’s incredible life and bring back to life his most cherished encounters and memories…

Written and directed by Sylvain Chomet (The Triplets of Belleville, The Illusionist).

Yoshi Joins ‘The Super Mario Galaxy Movie’: First-Look Clips, Poster and New Release Date Revealed

January 26, 2026 / The Animation Blog / 0 Comments

U.S. theatrical release date: April 1, 2026.

Japanese release date: April 24, 2026.

Directed by Aaron Horvath and Michael Jelenic.

Written by Matthew Fogel.

Produced by Chris Meledandri of Illumination and Shigeru Miyamoto of Nintendo.

Original score by Brian Tyler.

Voice cast:
Chris Pratt as Mario
Anya Taylor-Joy as Princess Peach
Charlie Day as Luigi
Jack Black as Bowser
Keegan-Michael Key as Toad
Kevin Michael Richardson as Kamek
Brie Larson as Rosalina
Benny Safdie as Bowser Jr.
Donald Glover as Yoshi
Luis Guzman as Wart
Issa Rae as Honey Queen
Glen Powell as Fox McCloud

98th Oscars Nominations: KPop Demon Hunters, Elio, Zootopia 2, Arco and Little Amélie Compete for Best Animated Feature Film

January 22, 2026 / The Animation Blog / 0 Comments

Best Animated Feature Film:

Arco – Ugo Bienvenu, Félix de Givry, Sophie Mas and Natalie Portman.

Elio – Madeline Sharafian, Domee Shi, Adrian Molina and Mary Alice Drumm.

KPop Demon Hunters – Maggie Kang, Chris Appelhans and Michelle L.M. Wong. (“Golden” was also nominated for Best Original Song.)

Little Amélie or the Character of Rain – Maïlys Vallade, Liane-Cho Han, Nidia Santiago and Henri Magalon.

Zootopia 2 – Jared Bush, Byron Howard and Yvett Merino.

Best Animated Short Film:

Butterfly (French title: Papillon) – Florence Miailhe and Ron Dyens.

Forevergreen – Nathan Engelhardt and Jeremy Spears.

The Girl Who Cried Pearls – Chris Lavis and Maciek Szczerbowski.

Retirement Plan – John Kelly and Andrew Freedman.

The Three Sisters – Konstantin Bronzit.

The Oscars ceremony airs live on March 15 at 7:00 pm ET / 4:00 pm PT on ABC and Hulu, hosted by Conan O’Brien.

Trailer: ‘The Secret of the Moonstone’ is Sri Lanka’s First Animated Feature Film

January 16, 2026 / The Animation Blog / 0 Comments

Release date: TBD (2026).

Synopsis: In a futuristic Colombo, young Lucky and his best friend Taniya embark on a thrilling adventure into Sri Lanka’s mystical forests to uncover the lost Book of Wisdom of his ancestor, Maha Dena Muttha, safeguarded by a magical creature named Nila.

Their quest, complicated by lifelong bully Chandi’s interference, navigates advanced technology and timeless folklore, rallying allies to reclaim a legacy of wisdom and friendship.

Directed by Steve De La Zilwa.

‘Mobile Suit Gundam Hathaway: The Sorcery of Nymph Circe’: English and Japanese Trailers, Release Date and Cast Unveiled

January 15, 2026 / The Animation Blog / 0 Comments

Japanese theatrical release date: January 30, 2026

U.S. theatrical release date: May 15, 2026

Synopsis: The year is U.C.0105, twelve years after Char’s Rebellion. “MAFTY” has begun resisting the Federation government’s tyrannical rule by assassinating its high-ranking officials. Its leader is actually Hathaway Noa, the son of Bright Noa, who fought in the One Year War alongside Amuro Ray.

A girl named Gigi Andalusia, who displays uncanny powers, has reminded Hathaway of a past trauma. Though he is bewildered by her words, he prepares to carry out an air raid on the Adelaide conference, determined to fulfill MAFTY’s goals and lay his own past to rest.

Haunted by past trauma, Hathaway is drawn to the mysterious girl Gigi Andalucia, whose strange powers stir memories within him. While swayed by her cryptic words, he continues preparing for MAFTY’s mission — the attack on the Adelaide Conference.

Meanwhile, Kenneth Sleg of the Federation Forces prepares a defense operation for the Adelaide Conference and a plan to eliminate MAFTY, when he is approached by Handley Yoxon of the Criminal Police Organization with a secret proposal.

As Hathaway and Kenneth pursue their respective goals, Gigi also sets off for Hong Kong to fulfill her own role.

Directed by Shukou Murase.

Screenplay by Yasuyuki Muto.

Original Story by Yoshiyuki Tomino and Hajime Yatate.

‘Scarlet’ Official Trailer, Release Date, Synopsis, Voice Cast and Poster: Mamoru Hosoda’s Anime Adventure Heads to IMAX

January 14, 2026 / The Animation Blog / 0 Comments

U.S. IMAX release date: February 6, 2026
U.S. theatrical release date: February 13, 2026

Synopsis: A time-bending adventure about Scarlet, a medieval-era, sword-fighting princess on a dangerous quest to avenge the death of her father.

After failing at her mission and finding herself gravely injured in the “Otherworld,” she encounters an idealistic young man from our present day who not only helps her to heal but shows her the possibility of a future free of bitterness and rage.

When confronted again by her father’s killer, Scarlet faces her most daunting battle: can she break the cycle of hatred and find meaning in life beyond revenge?

Written and directed by Mamoru Hosoda (Mirai, Belle, The Boy and the Beast and Wolf Children).

Music by Taisei Iwasaki.

Animated by Studio Chizu.

‘Shaun the Sheep: The Beast of Mossy Bottom’ Trailer, Release Date, Synopsis, Voice Cast and Poster

January 8, 2026 / The Animation Blog / 0 Comments

Release date: September 18, 2026

Synopsis: Shaun the Sheep: The Beast of Mossy Bottom sees the residents of Mossy Bottom Farm looking forward to Halloween — until the clumsy Farmer trashes the Flock’s beloved pumpkin patch!

When Shaun turns mad scientist to fix the problem, things rapidly spiral out of control… With The Farmer missing and a wild beast roaming the woods of Mossingham, all the ingredients are in place for a monstrously fun adventure.

Directed by Steve Cox and Matthew Walker.

Written by Mark Burton and Giles Pilbrow.

‘Tafiti: Across the Desert’ Official Trailer, Release Date, Synopsis, Cast and Poster

December 19, 2025 / The Animation Blog / 0 Comments

U.S. theatrical release date: January 30, 2026.

Synopsis: When his grandpa is bitten by a snake, Tafiti, a young meerkat, sets off on an adventure to find the magical flower that will cure him.

Bristles, a bush pig, wants to prove that adventures are always better with friends and joins him across the desert.

Directed by Nina Wels.

Written by Julia Boehme and Nicholas Hause.

Based on the German children’s book series by Julia Boehme.

‘Animal Farm’ Trailer and Release Date: Seth Rogen and Gaten Matarazzo Star in George Orwell Adaptation

December 12, 2025 / The Animation Blog / 0 Comments

U.S. theatrical release date: May 1, 2026

Synopsis: When a group of farm animals rebel and drive their neglectful farmer off the land, life is good, and the dream of a free, equitable future feels within reach.

But power struggles among some of literature’s most infamous characters soon unfold, and the realities of living in a world designed for mankind complicate and corrupt their original vision and intentions.

Directed by Andy Serkis (Venom: Let There Be Carnage, Mowgli: Legend of the Jungle).

Written by Nicholas Stoller.

Based on the novella by George Orwell.

‘Steps’ First Look: Amanda Seyfried, Ali Wong and Stephanie Hsu Lead Netflix’s Animated Cinderella Movie

December 8, 2025 / The Animation Blog / 0 Comments

Release date: 2026 on Netflix

Synopsis: When misunderstood Lilith is blamed for hijacking the Royal Ball with a stolen magic wand, she accidentally turns her sister Margot into a frog and leaves the kingdom in the hands of a prince-obsessed mean girl.

Now Lilith must team up with Cinderella (and a surprisingly dreamy troll) to save the kingdom, repair the fractured fairytale, and prove that even so-called villains deserve a shot at happily-ever-after.

Directed by Alyce Tzue (Soar) and John Ripa (Raya and the Last Dragon).

Produced by Amy Poehler, Jane Hartwell and Kim Lessing.