Author: The Animation Blog (Page 1 of 584)

Paramount+ Greenlights Animated Adaptations of Mo Willems’ NY Times Best-Selling Children’s Books

December 14, 2025 / The Animation Blog / 0 Comments

Release date: TBD (2026).

The Elephant & Piggie Show! Synopsis: Elephant Gerald is careful; his best friend Piggie is not. Gerald worries so that Piggie does not have to. Together, they will celebrate the messy and joyful art of friendship.

The Pigeon Show! Starring the Pigeon Synopsis: A series about the day-to-day struggles of a pigeon who just wants to be listened to. He will be your best friend if you have a bus and you let him drive it.

The series features characters from the books, such as the Duckling who always seems to get what she wants, plus new characters, like The Pigeon’s 150-million-year-old pterodactyl grandmother, Nana-Dactyl, and his pals, Ima Pigeon and Doug Pigeon.

Mo Willems is a #1 New York Times best-selling author and illustrator. Mo began his career as a writer on Sesame Street, where he won six Emmy Awards.

Short Film Spotlight: Starling

December 13, 2025 / The Animation Blog / 0 Comments

Synopsis: A mischievous star spirit travels home to Istanbul to celebrate her birthday with her family one last time. After being blown off course, she must maneuver through the city before time runs out.

Written and directed by Mitra Shahidi.

Edited by Ayse Arkali.

Music by Andrew Jimenez.

Sound design by Justin Pearson.

Starling screened at numerous film festivals and won Best Animated Short at Tribeca and the Audience Award for Best Animated Short at Austin Film Festival.

‘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.

‘The Wonderfully Weird World of Gumball’ Season 2: Official Trailer, Release Date and Poster Unveiled

December 11, 2025 / The Animation Blog / 0 Comments

US release date: December 22, 2025 on Hulu.

International release date: February, 2026 on Cartoon Network and HBO Max.

Synopsis: This season tackles a promposal involving Penny faking her own death, pandemonium with wild animals invading the suburbs, and a witchy student cult attempting a yearbook séance.

Created by Ben Bocquelet.

Directed by Matt Layzell and Erik Fountain.

‘The Scarecrows’ Wedding’ Trailer: BBC Animated Special Stars Jessie Buckley, Domhnall Gleeson, Rob Brydon and Sophie Okonedo

December 10, 2025 / The Animation Blog / 0 Comments

U.K. release date: December 25, 2025 on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.

Synopsis: Two devoted scarecrows, Betty O’Barley and Harry O’Hay, are planning a wedding to remember.

When Harry insists on leaving the farm to collect one last thing for their big day, a smooth-talking scarecrow named Reginald Rake swoops in with plans of his own.

Chaos follows, and soon Betty’s in danger and everything’s at risk. Can Harry get back in time and save the day?

Directed by Samantha Cutler and Jeroen Jaspaert.

Written by Steven Bloomer.

Based on the children’s book written by Julia Donaldson and illustrated by Axel Scheffler.

Voice cast:
Sophie Okonedo as Narrator
Jessie Buckley as Betty O’Barley
Domhnall Gleeson as Harry O’Hay
Rob Brydon as Reginald Rake

Short Film Spotlight: Skiller

December 9, 2025 / The Animation Blog / 0 Comments

Watch Skiller on YouTube. (The short film is age-restricted, so it cannot be embedded here.)

Synopsis: A snowy getaway takes a tragic turn for a group of friends chasing thrills.

Directed by:
Anaèle Cornet
Caroline Maubeuge
Léa Kurek
Léo Mourin
Puck Hincelin
Jules Cyffers

Sound design by Dimitri Chicandard.

Music by Guillaume Hoarau.

‘Steps’ First Look: 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.

Voice cast:
Ali Wong as Lilith
Stephanie Hsu as Margot

Short Film Spotlight: The Alpine Whistle

December 7, 2025 / The Animation Blog / 0 Comments

Synopsis: One evening, Lalao, a lonely grumpy stoat, can’t stand the constant hubbub of nature and his fellow animals. To escape, he sets off in search of a new and quieter home to sleep. But is the grass really greener on the other side?

Directed by:
Marine Camps
Eléanore Chaboud
Chloé Escot
Mélina Lebeurier
Camille Lecture
Paola Navarro Castillo
Marie Rousselet
Alizée Waquez

Music by:
Théophile Yvert (composer)
Lucie Cressot (clarinet)
Simon Deboeuf (cello)
Joël Petit (violin)
Manuel Domènech (english horn)

Sound by:
José Vicente
Yoann Poncet
Guilhem Favard
Mickaël Merrheim

Short Film Spotlight: Non

December 6, 2025 / The Animation Blog / 0 Comments

Intended for mature audiences.

Synopsis: In the subway, a woman sees a shadow approaching a little boy. It is then that she remembers an experience she had at the same age: her encounter with a paedo-criminal.

Directed by:
Camille Bardaud
Xiaoning Liu
Yanfeng Niu
Julie Sibille
Tianying Zhang

Music by Matthieu Roland-Gosselin and Cristobal Tapia De Veer.

Sound by Siméo Moure and Nathan Calero.

Short Film Spotlight: Lost Worm

December 5, 2025 / The Animation Blog / 0 Comments

Worms have dreams too.

Directed by Damo and Bine Bach.

Written by Bine Bach.

Sound by Samuel Jurkovic.

Music by Joint Editorial.

Voiced by Saam Hodivala, JB Jacobs and Izzie Raitt.

Graphics by Tim Perri and Nikki Rodriguez.

Adult Swim’s ‘The Elephant’ Trailer and Release Date: All-Star Creators Team Up for an Experimental Special

December 4, 2025 / The Animation Blog / 0 Comments

Release date: December 19, 2025 at 11:00 p.m. on Adult Swim. Next day on HBO Max.

Synopsis: Adult Swim’s The Elephant is an experimental special in which each of the three-acts were made in isolation. It unfolds as a collaborative surprise, ultimately merging into a single, unexpected narrative.

Created by:
Ian Jones-Quartey (OK K.O.! Let’s Be Heroes)
Patrick McHale (Over the Garden Wall)
Rebecca Sugar (Steven Universe)
Pendleton Ward (Adventure Time)

‘Lydia and the Mist Rider’ Trailer and Poster Revealed: ‘Yellowjackets’ Star Sophie Nélisse Leads Voice Cast

December 3, 2025 / The Animation Blog / 0 Comments

Release date: February 20, 2026 (Canada).

Synopsis: When her older brother Thaddeus is mysteriously kidnapped by the Spellbinder, 11-year-old Lydia sets off to find him in the Misty Sea.

Picked up by the crew of a flying ship, the Dolphin, Lydia becomes the apprentice of Ambrosia, a Stargazer. Ambrosia is trying to find other children who have disappeared, including her own son.

Determined to solve the mystery, Lydia must learn stargazing magic and ready herself to confront the Spellbinder.

Directed by Nancy Florence Savard, Emilie Rosas and Philippe Arseneau Bussières.

Written by Emilie Rosas and Arthur Holden.

Based on the novels Le vaisseau des tempêtes and Prince des glaces by Yves Meynard.

‘Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Last Straw’ Trailer, Release Date, Synopsis and Poster: Fourth Animated Movie Arrives on Disney+

December 2, 2025 / The Animation Blog / 0 Comments

Release date: December 5, 2025 on Disney+.

Synopsis: Greg continually finds himself at odds with his dad’s expectations. As pressure builds to turn his act around after a series of near disasters, Greg’s dad presents him with an ultimatum — and a trip to wilderness camp — that just might challenge Greg’s wimpy ways for good.

Directed by Matt Danner (Muppet Babies).

Written and produced by series creator Jeff Kinney.

Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Last Straw is the fourth animated feature adaptation in the series to debut on Disney+ following Diary of a Wimpy Kid (2021), Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules (2022) and Diary of a Wimpy Kid Christmas: Cabin Fever (2023).

Pixar’s ‘Hoppers’: Official Trailer and New Poster Unveiled as Meryl Streep and Dave Franco Join Cast

December 1, 2025 / The Animation Blog / 0 Comments

Release date: March 6, 2026.

Synopsis: In Hoppers, scientists have discovered how to “hop” human consciousness into lifelike robotic animals, allowing people to communicate with animals as animals.

Using the new technology, Mabel will uncover mysteries within the animal world that are beyond anything she could have imagined.

Directed by Daniel Chong (We Bare Bears).

Written by Daniel Chong and Jesse Andrews (Luca).

Produced by Nicole Grindle (Incredibles 2).

Short Film Spotlight: L’Aveugle (The Blind Man)

November 30, 2025 / The Animation Blog / 0 Comments

Synopsis: A blind man navigates the narrow streets of a city as best he can. But when he misplaces his cane, he’s forced to confront every obstacle that stands in his way.

Written and directed by Rémy X.

Music by Bernard Llioret and May Bahnini.

Sound by Lilas Bouché, Raphaël Minachy-Petchy and Farah Yahiaoui.