Most Anticipated Animated Movies of 2026

2025 has been an amazing year for animation, with so many great movies hitting theaters, streamers, the festival circuit, and beyond. New box office records were set in the US, China, India, Indonesia, and elsewhere. The people hunger for animation, and while we've been given lots to chew on this year, I'm already salivating about what's to come in 2026.

Some honorable mentions:

-I'm very curious to see where Pixar goes with Toy Story 5, in which the toys find themselves pitted against electronics. Kids love their screen time, no? While the third entry did provide a perfect ending to the franchise, I was a big fan of the bittersweet coda of Toy Story 4. Now, I'm like...why keep going? Other than money. But the series hasn't missed yet, so I'm remaining cautiously optimistic.

-Last year, A New Dawn made this list, and I'm still very. much looking excited to it after it was delayed to this year. The film is about three friends who try to save an old fireworks factory from being shut down. It sounds like a the kind of bittersweet movie that makes me swoon.

-Word on the street is that Makoto Shinkai will have a new movie out this year. It makes sense, because Suzume came out back in 2023, and he's usually pretty consistent about premiering new work. If we had any sort of details, confirmation, anything, his movie would absolutely be on this list. But for now, we're just waiting to learn anything about it.

-Per IMDb, Spermageddon is getting a limited release in the US in January. The Norwegian film is supposed to be a sort of raunchy-sweet look at first love/lust, with parallel stories of two teens who are looking to lose their virginity to each other, and Simon the semen who's on a quest to reach the Egg. I'm definitely curious to see how it plays out.

Spermageddon

Now, here are my most-anticipated animated movies that are (hopefully) coming out in the new year:

10) The Super Mario Galaxy Movie (April 3) - While I'm not the biggest fan of Illumination, and was even pretty lukewarm on the studio's first Mario movie, I still can't help but be excited for their newest entry. The only thing I love maybe as much as animated movies are Nintendo video games. I'm a lifelong Nintendo fan, and it's a joy to see Mario on the big screen. Even if I don't love what Illumination does with the characters, it's clear they're approaching the series with a lot of care, and the fan service, at least, hits.

This second chapter in Mario's animated franchise looks to draw from a few different games. Obviously, Galaxy is at play, with the introduction of Rosalina, and the adventure reaching into the stars. But there are also nods to Super Mario Odyssey and Super Mario World (we know Yoshi is involved this time around, even if he hasn't been shown in the trailers yet). I'm excited to see how it all plays out, and hopeful it'll improve on its predecessor.

The Super Mario Galaxy Movie

9) Paw Patrol: The Dino Movie (August 14) - While I'm not super lost in the sauce with Paw Patrol, I have so thoroughly enjoyed seeing the two previous theatrical movies, that I can't help but be excited about this third big-screen adventure. Watching this band of adorable pups save the day over and over again is enjoyable enough, but now there are dinosaurs in the mix? I have no idea how that's possible or what's going on, but I can only hope they find more for Rocky (the recycling dog) to do this time around, since he's my favorite of the bunch.

8) Another World (TBD) - This animated film from Hong Kong will be getting a US release sometime this year from GKIDS, and it looks like a stunner. The film follows a spirit who helps souls find their way to reincarnation. He encounters a young girl whose rage could cause a curse that, in turn, could spell the end of the world, and must help her (presumably) not do that. The animation looks gorgeous, the story spans a thousand years, and it sounds like the kind of thematically rich material that will give us a lot to chew on. I'm hoping it gets a spring release, because I don't want to wait much longer to finally get this in my eyeballs.

Another World

7) Bouchra (TBD) - Bouchra caught my eye as it played some festivals this year, and I'm glad that it's planning a US release sometimes this year (date TBD). The film follows a 35-year-old coyote who immigrated to New York from Morocco. The film is about her relationship with her mother, and the way her queerness impacts their connection. It looks and sounds like a thought-provoking and intimate film, one that's approached with empathy and creativity. In other words, extremely my shit.

Bouchra

6) Shaun the Sheep: The Beast of Mossy Bottom (TBD) - I will always be happy to watch anything from Aardman, the purveyors of so many claymation pleasures. The previous Shaun the Sheep movies were absolute delights, as I'm sure this one will be. This time, our silent hero goes into mad scientist mode to help fix the farm's trashed pumpkin patch ahead of Halloween. The Farmer is missing, there's a beast in the woods...we've got everything we need for a fun, spooky adventure.

5) Julián (TBD) - That this is the latest feature from Cartoon Saloon is reason enough for Julián to make the list. That studio is so consistent in turning out great work, so it's always exciting to see what they've made. This pops extra for me thanks to its wonderful premise. Julián is a young boy who goes to spend the summer with his abuela in New York City. They don't know each other, but as they grow closer, Abuela shares stories that open Julián's eyes to worlds of possibility, leading him to explore his identity, gender, and family history. (Also, he wants to be a mermaid -- relatable.) I'm already crying over this one.

Julián

4) Forgotten Island (September 25) - DreamWorks has been on something of a hot streak lately, ranging from emotional powerhouses like The Wild Robot to goofy-fun adventures like Gabby's Dollhouse: The Movie. This year, they have Forgotten Island comes out, which sounds like it'll fall more into the former camp (which makes me very, very excited). The film, which draws inspiration from Filipino mythology, follows two friends who are stranded on a (yes) forgotten, fantastical island. To escape, they may have to sacrifice all of their memories of their life together. In addition to the fantastic premise, the film also boasts a stellar voice cast, including Hollywood's hottest actor Manny Jacinto, H.E.R., Lea Salonga, Dave Franco, and Jenny Slate. 

3) The Last Blossom (TBD) - Already released in Japan, The Last Blossom should hopefully be making its way around the globe this year. It already has distribution lined up for a few countries in Europe, so I'm hoping the US will also get it figured out (GKIDS, I'm looking at you). The film looks and sounds so lovely, about a dying prisoner reflecting on his life, guided through his memories by a flower that reminds him of the final days he lived as a free man. I'll be anxiously awaiting any news of how I can see this one.

The Last Blossom

2) Hoppers (March 6) - I always prefer Pixar when they're delivering original stories rather than sequels. (This year, Elio was one of my favorite movies, and WALL-E is my favorite movie of all time.) So I'm very hyped for the studio's newest movie, in which a teenager's mind is put into a lifelike robotic beaver, allowing her to interact with the animal kingdom. She ends up becoming a key figure in the animal world's revolution against humanity, and it looks bonkers and silly and awesome. I'm expecting a lot of laughs and some great underlying messages here.

Hoppers

1) Wildwood (TBD) - Are you experiencing a little deja vu? Yes, Wildwood topped this list last year, but it was sadly delayed, so here we are again. I feel pretty confident that this won't threepeat, but you never know. LAIKA is arguably the standard-bearer in animation when it comes to never missing, so my expectations for Wildwood are high. The film, based on a book, follows a girl and her friend on a quest to rescue her baby brother within a magical forest near Portland. LAIKA has released some images and a little footage, and everything looks as gorgeous as you'd expect. I can't wait to bask in another beautiful, magical LAIKA production. 

Wildwood