The Animation Blog

‘Tom and Jerry: Forbidden Compass’ Trailer, Release Date, Synopsis and Cast: Viva Kids Brings Chinese Production to U.S. Theaters

April 17, 2026 / The Animation Blog / 0 Comments

U.S. theatrical release date: September 9, 2026

Synopsis: When Tom and Jerry collide during a high-speed chase through New York’s Metropolitan Museum, they unleash a mythical compass, opening a vortex that hurls them into an ancient metropolis lost in time.

Dropped into this dangerous world, Jerry is pulled into the orbit of a cunning crime lord while Tom is mistaken for a divine messenger. To survive, Tom and Jerry must outsmart their enemies and finally work together to make it home.

Written and directed by Gang Zhang.

‘Charlie vs. the Chocolate Factory’ First Look, Release Date and Synopsis: Taika Waititi and Kit Connor Star in Animated Film from ‘KPop Demon Hunters’ Studio

April 16, 2026 / The Animation Blog / 0 Comments

Release date: 2027 on Netflix

Synopsis: Willy Wonka has spent the years since the Golden Ticket contest behind bars for the crime of turning a child into a blueberry. Having served his time, Wonka returns to his factory determined to add a little sweetness to a bitter world.

But one thing stands in his way: teenager Charlie Paley and his friends. Facing eviction, this next generation of “rotten” kids plot to break into the factory, nab a priceless Wonka Bar, and save their homes.

But like many before them who enter the fantastical world of the factory, these kids are in for a bit more than they can chew…

Directed by Jared Stern (DC League of Super-Pets) and Elaine Bogan (Spirit Untamed).

Voice cast:
Taika Waititi as Willy Wonka
Kit Connor as Charlie Paley

Animation studio: Sony Pictures Imageworks (GOAT, The Mitchells vs. the Machines and the Spider-Verse trilogy)

Short Film Spotlight: Memento Vitae

April 15, 2026 / The Animation Blog / 0 Comments

Synopsis: On Halloween night, three disguised kids go on a wild trick-or-treating rampage through town, until a mysterious ghost train confronts them with a tragic memory.

Directed by:
Lola Leviez-Deblauwe
Quitterie Quipourt
Basile Galiegue
Anaïs Lecocq
Mathilde Maigre
Paul-Louis Couton

Original Music by Stéphane Mondino.

Sound Design by Mathilde Maigre.

Sound Editing by Pierre-Antoine Naline.

Sound Mixing by Christian Cartier.

‘The Freak Brothers’ Season 3 Trailer and Release Date: Woody Harrelson, John Goodman & Pete Davidson Star in Stoner Comedy

April 14, 2026 / The Animation Blog / 0 Comments

Release date: April 20, 2026 on Tubi

Synopsis: After magical weed knocks out three ‘70s stoners and their cat, they awaken 50 years later to find themselves in the bizarre rat race of the 2020s.

Voice cast:
Woody Harrelson as Freewheelin’ Franklin
John Goodman as Fat Freddy
Pete Davidson as Phineas
Tiffany Haddish as Kitty
Adam Devine as Chuck
Blake Anderson as Charlie
Andrea Savage as Harper Switzer
La La Anthony as Gretchen
Joe Sikora as Louis

Short Film Spotlight: Le Meles

April 13, 2026 / The Animation Blog / 0 Comments

Synopsis: A shaman tells the legend of the Meles, a terrifying creature roaming the forest, to three little badgers: Arthur, Paul, and Basile. Arthur and Paul play a trick on Basile, pushing him to search for the Meles, but things don’t go as they intended.

Directed by:
Samy Achard
Léonore Bialet
Agathe Casoliva
Léo Cubero
Nèfyse Delavier
Clémence Honorez
Medhi Simonnet
Célia Tempestini

Music by: Jordan Sintes

Sound by:
Guilhem Favard
José Vicente
Sofia Gutierrez-Restrepo
Antoine Smets
Yoann Poncet

Voice cast:
Véronique Augereau as La Chamane
Sarah Schumacher & Célia Tempestini as Basile
Donald Reignoux as Arthur
Léo Cubero as Paul

‘Dandelion’ Trailer, Release Date and Synopsis: Anime Based on Hideaki Sorachi’s Manga Comes to Netflix

April 12, 2026 / The Animation Blog / 0 Comments

Release date: April 16, 2026 on Netflix

Synopsis: Set within the Send-Off Department of the Japanese Angel Federation, Dandelion follows “Angels” Tetsuo Tanba and Misaki Kurogane as they scramble to track down Earthbound spirits — souls unable to move on and find peace — and gently guide them to pass on.

Tetsuo is a foul-mouthed man with a constant scowl who may seem apathetic at first glance, but shows deep compassion as he listens and offers support to spirits.

Misaki is the leader of the 21st Division’s Dandelion Clan. Despite her youthful, girl-like appearance, Misaki is a formidable force, rumored to have laid to rest the legendary soul of Musashi Miyamoto.

The angels find themselves struggling to meet their daily tasks. However, Tetsuo and Misaki choose to take things at their own pace: instead of rushing through cases, they take time with each spirit, listening to their regrets and helping them resolve what’s holding them back.

Based on the manga by Hideaki Sorachi.

Short Film Spotlight: The Miracle

April 11, 2026 / The Animation Blog / 0 Comments

Synopsis: The Miracle; a place where the sun always shines, with endless opportunities to relax and food in abundance.

It’s late already when Irma checks in at the resort. As she explores the area the next morning, she quickly comes to realize that everything there is designed to facilitate families.

Irma fully immerses herself in the world of the all-inclusive resort. But how do you relate to a place that constantly confronts you with the things you don’t have?

Written and directed by Nienke Deutz.

Cinematography by Steven Frederickx.

Edited by Nienke Deutz.

Music by Mark Schilders.

Sound by Céline Bernard, Corinne Dubien and Aline Gavroy.

Director’s statement: “The Miracle is a portrait of a single woman in a world that is designed for couples and families with kids. I wanted to portray the confusing feelings and loneliness that can come from being in a place where you feel you don’t fit in.”

Short Film Spotlight: The Smortlybacks Come Back!

April 10, 2026 / The Animation Blog / 0 Comments

Synopsis: In a barren world TamLin of the Little People travels with his herd of splendid smortlybacks in search of greener pastures. They struggle with fear and find themselves stranded at the ocean shore.

With unlikely help from TamSin, a wonderful mermaid, and her disrespectful smortlysharks they cross the ocean and find a happy end.

The Smortlybacks Come Back! is a sequel to The Smortlybacks.

Written and directed by Ted Sieger.

Music by Christoph Utzinger.

Sound design by Thomas Gassmann and Aline Schoch.

Sound mix by Denis Séchaud

Short Film Spotlight: The Smortlybacks

April 10, 2026 / The Animation Blog / 0 Comments

Synopsis: On a tabletop mountain a mahout and his strange herd make a surprising and never-ending journey.

Directed by Ted Sieger and Wouter Dierickx.

Written by Alexandra Prosen and Wouter Dierickx.

Music by Christoph Utzinger.

Brad Bird’s ‘Ray Gunn’: Sam Rockwell and Scarlett Johansson Star in New Film from ‘Ratatouille’ Director

April 9, 2026 / The Animation Blog / 0 Comments

Release date: 2026 on Netflix

Synopsis: In Metropia, a gigantic city in an alternate future as seen from 1939, private eye Raymond Gunn is drawn into a case involving aliens, murder and a multimedia star named Venus Nova.

Directed by Brad Bird (The Iron Giant, The Incredibles, Ratatouille and Incredibles 2).

Written by Brad Bird and Matthew Robbins (Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio).

Voice cast:
Sam Rockwell as Raymond Gunn
Scarlett Johansson as Venus Nova
Tom Waits as Eyera

‘The One Piece’ Anime Sneak Peek: World’s Most Popular Manga Reimagined by WIT Studio and Netflix

April 8, 2026 / The Animation Blog / 0 Comments

Release date: TBD (Likely in 2027)

Currently in production at WIT Studio in collaboration with Shueisha, Toei Animation and Fuji Television Network, The One Piece reimagines the East Blue saga, providing a fresh yet familiar take on Eiichiro Oda’s manga.

Directed by Masashi Koizuka.

Written by Taku Kishimoto.

Character designs by Kyoji Asano and Takatoshi Honda.

‘LEGO One Piece’ Trailer, Release Date and Synopsis: Two-Part Special Comes to Netflix on September 29

April 7, 2026 / The Animation Blog / 0 Comments

Release date: September 29, 2026 on Netflix

Synopsis: The two-part Netflix special, produced in partnership with the LEGO Group, Shueisha and Atomic, retells the events of the first two seasons of the live action One Piece series.

Netflix Playground Launches on iOS and Android with Games from ‘Sesame Street,’ ‘Peppa Pig’ and ‘StoryBots’

April 7, 2026 / The Animation Blog / 0 Comments

Designed for children ages 8 and under, Netflix Playground is included with all memberships and does not allow ads or in-app purchases.

Simply download the app to a smartphone or tablet and sign in to your Netflix account to access the library of games featuring Dr. Seuss’s Horton!, Peppa Pig, Bad Dinosaurs, Sesame Street and StoryBots. Every game is instantly playable and available offline.

Games from Gabby’s Dollhouse, KPop Demon Hunters, PJ Masks, My Little Pony, and PAW Patrol will launch throughout 2026.

Apple App Store | Google Play Store

Short Film Spotlight: Johanne

April 6, 2026 / The Animation Blog / 0 Comments

Synopsis: In 1944, at the height of the Occupation, a member of the Resistance is given the task of escorting a man through France, which is under great strain. But as the journey unfolds, a silent expectation already seems to be taking shape.

Directed by:
Reda Benslimane
Juliette Gallet
Mattéo Llorens
Astrid Mailhé
Lauren Parmentier
Emma Tintet-Salettis
Evaline Vaïti

Original Score by Mathias Marguier.

Sound by Guilhem Favard, Sébastien Fournier, José Vicente and Yoann Poncet.

Voiced by Ariane Aggiage, Boris Rehlinger and Ollie Siol.

Short Film Spotlight: Amen

April 5, 2026 / The Animation Blog / 0 Comments

Synopsis: A group of pigs are raised peacefully in a monastery when, one day, one of them finds out the truth behind their existence. Thus he decides to free his friends.

Directed by:
Orphée Coutier
Bettina Demarty
Kimie Maingonnat
Laurène Perego
Louise Poulain
Avril Zundel

Original Score by Nicolas Cornil.

Sound Mix by Pierre-François Renouf.