Animated Sequels Are Back, Led by Disney’s ‘Zootopia 2,’ but Pixar Counters with Original ‘Elio’

It’s another year of high-profile animated sequels, led by Disney’s “Zootopia 2,” DreamWorks’ “The Bad Guys 2,” and Nickelodeon/Paramount’s “The SpongeBob Movie: Search for Square Pants” and the “Untitled Smurfs Animated Film.”

But there are plenty of attention-grabbing originals in 2025: “Pixar’s sci-fi “Elio,” DreamWorks’ “Dog Man,” Sony Pictures Classics’ “The Magnificent Life of Marcel Pagnol,” and Laika’s highly anticipated “Wildwood” (a tentative release). In addition, Netflix offers another diverse slate: “In Your Dreams,” “K-Pop: Demon Hunters” (working title, with Sony Pictures), “Lost in Starlight” (the streamer’s first Korean-language animated film), “Plankton: The Movie” (with Nickelodeon), “Pookoo” (with Skydance Animation), and “The Twits” from Roald Dahl. Plus, Crunchyroll/Sony Pictures offer the theatrical anime event of the year with “Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle” (“Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle”).

Additionally, there are three Oscar-qualifying holdovers from 2024: “Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl,” “The Colors Within,” and “The Day the Earth Blew Up: A Looney Tunes Movie.”

In terms of Oscar potential next season, “Zootopia 2” is expected to be in the running, given that “Zootopia” won the prize in 2017. “Elio” has the Pixar pedigree going for it, despite its lighter tone and troubled start (director Adrian Molina was replaced by Domee Shi and Madeline Sharafian). “The Magnificent Life of Marcel Pagnol,” directed by Sylvain Chomet (“The Triplets of Belleville”), is in contention for its fantastical look at French filmmaker Pagnol (“César”). For Netflix, “The Twits” is a standout for its twisted Dahl sensibility. And, of course, should “Wildwood” qualify, it carries the Laika pedigree of five previous nominations.

‘The Magnificent Life of Marcel Pagnol’Sony Pictures Classics

Here is a rundown of 2025 animated releases, with updates to come. 

“Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl” (Netflix/Aardman, January 3)

The potential Oscar nominee this season (directed by franchise creator Nick Park and Merlin Crossingham) finally got its North American streaming date on Netflix. It pits the obsessive, cheese-loving inventor and his canine pal against arch enemy Feathers McGraw (from “The Wrong Trousers”) in a cautionary AI comedy-adventure with an out-of-control “smart gnome,” Norbot (Reece Shearsmith).

“The Colors Within” (GKids, January 28)

While there have yet to be any new releases announced by GKids (which was acquired last year by Toho), “The Colors Within” will have its theatrical bow after debuting last year at Annecy and winning the Audience Award at Animation Is Film. The acclaimed anime directed by Naoko Yamada (“A Silent Voice”), with animation by Science SARU, concerns a high school student who forms a band with the ability to see the “colors” of others (bliss, excitement, serenity).

“Dog Man” (DreamWorks/Universal, January 31)

DreamWorks presents the superhero comedy adapted from Dav Pilkey’s hugely popular children’s graphic novel series (a spin-off of “Captain Underpants”), with a playful and rough hand-drawn aesthetic from Jellyfish Pictures. It’s about a policeman and his pet dog who are fused together after a near-fatal accident, becoming the titular hybrid creation. They fight crime and must stop the evil Petey the Cat (Pete Davidson) from taking over their city. Directed by Peter Hastings (“The Epic Tales of Captain Underpants”), who provides the vocal effects of Dog Man, the voice cast also includes Isla Fisher, Stephen Root, and Ricky Gervais.

“Attack on Titan: The Last Attack” (Crunchyroll/Sony Pictures, February 10 Only)

This brings the final two episodes of the highly acclaimed anime series, “Attack on Titan,” into one film. Based on the award-winning manga by Hajime Isayama, the series is set many years ago, when the last remnants of humanity was forced to retreat behind the towering walls of a fortified city to escape the massive, man-eating Titans that roamed the land outside. 

“The Witcher: Sirens of the Deep” (Netflix, February 11)

The second anime feature based on Netflix’s popular live-action series about mutated monster hunter Geralt of Rivia, director Kang Hei Chul tackles an adventure in which the anti-hero investigates a series of attacks by mer-people as part of a long-standing conflict between two kingdoms.

“The Day the Earth Blew Up: A Looney Tunes Movie” (Warner Bros. Animation/Ketchup Entertainment, February 28)

Ketchup picked up the “Looney Tunes” feature from Warner Bros. last year for release in 2025. The franchise’s first fully 2D-animated theatrical feature stars Daffy Duck and Porky Pig (both voiced by Eric Bauza), who try to thwart a secret alien plot to take over the world via mind control and chewing gum. Director Pete Browngardt (“Looney Tunes Cartoons”) captures the essence of Daffy and Porky with wit and warmth, channeling the outrageous Bob Clampett.

“Night of the Zoopocalypse” (Viva Pictures, March 7)

A group of animals become zombies after their zoo is hit by a meteorite. Directed by Ricardo Curtis and Rodrigo Perez-Castro. The voice cast includes David Harbour, Paul Sun-Hyung Lee, and Scott Thompson. The production companies consist of Copperheart Entertainment, House of Cool, Atelier Animation, and Mac Guff.

“Sneaks” (Briarcliff Entertainment, April 18)

Screenwriter Rob Edwards (“The Princess and the Frog”) makes his directorial debut on this comedy adventure about a pair of designer sneakers (Anthony Mackie and Chloe Bailey) who are stolen by The Collector (Laurence Fishburne) in New York City. The voice cast also includes Martin Lawrence and Mustard. The production companies are Lengi Studios, Cinema Gypsy Productions, House of Cool, and GFM Animation.

“Elio” (Pixar/Disney, June 13)

Pixar’s celestial coming-of-age comedy adventure boasts eye-popping intergalactic aliens and phosphorescent-looking environments. It’s about 11-year-old Elio (Yonas Kibreab), a one-eyed, alien-obsessed social misfit, who beams up to an inter-planetary paradise, where he gets mistaken as Earth’s leader. He has a blast making new friends while navigating an intergalactic crisis without being found out. This passion project from director Adrian Molina (“Coco” co-director) hit a creative snag mid-production. Chief creative officer Pete Docter replaced Molina with Shi (“Turning Red”) and Sharafian (the “Burrow” short). “Elio” is produced by Mary Alice Drumm (associate producer of “Coco”).

Untitled Smurfs Animated Film (Nickelodeon/Paramount, July 18)

Paramount Animation and Nickelodeon Movies in partnership with Smurfs brand owner Peyo Company have embarked on a musical fantasy reboot. Director Chris Miller (“Puss in Boots”) and co-director Matt Landon work from a script by Pam Brady (“South Park”). Rihanna voices Smurfette and is joined by an all-star voice cast, including Nick Offerman, Natasha Lyonne, Dan Levy, Amy Sedaris, Nick Kroll, James Corden, Octavia Spencer, Hannah Waddingham, Sandra Oh, Alex Winter, Billie Lourd, Kurt Russell, and John Goodman.

“The Bad Guys 2” (DreamWorks/Universal, August 1)

In the comedy crime heist sequel (once again directed by Pierre Perifel with an eye-popping 2D aesthetic), the Bad Guys are pulled out of retirement by an all-female gang of criminals known as The Bad Girls. The voice cast includes Sam Rockwell, Zazie Beetz, Awkwafina, Anthony Ramos, Alex Borstein, Marc Maron, Craig Robinson, Lilly Singh, and Richard Ayoade.

“Zootopia 2” (Disney, November 22)

Detectives Judy Hopps (Ginnifer Goodwin) and Nick Wilde (Jason Bateman) go undercover nine years later in Marsh Market in pursuit of a mysterious snake named Gary (Ke Huy Quan). There they encounter Nibbles the beaver (Fortune Feimster). The sequel is written and directed by Oscar-winner Jared Bush (“Zootopia,” “Encanto”), Disney’s chief creative officer, and produced by Yvett Merino (“Encanto”).

“The SpongeBob Movie: Search for Squarepants” (Nickelodeon/Paramount, December 19)

Written and directed by Derek Drymon (“Hotel Transylvania Transformania”), the fourth film in the franchise finds SpongeBob (Tom Kenny) facing off against the legendary Flying Dutchman (Mark Hamill).

“Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle” (Crunchyroll/Sony Pictures, TBD 2025)

Infinity Castle is the setting for the impending all-out war between the Demon Slayer Corps and demonic leader Muzan Kibutsuji in the first of a trilogy that represents the final arc of the hugely popular and award-winning anime shonen series.

“In Your Dreams” (Netflix, TBD 2025)

Stevie and her brother Elliot use magic to enter the realm of dreams on a quest to find The Sandman to save their parents’ marriage. From Kuku Studios, it’s directed by Alex Woo and Erik Benson, and features a voice cast that includes Craig Robinson, Simu Liu, Omid Djalili, and Bob Bergen.

“K-Pop: Demon Hunters” (Netflix, TBD 2025)

From Sony Pictures Animation and Netflix, this is a trippy-looking musical action-adventure about a world-renowned K-Pop girl group, who balance their busy lives in the musical spotlight with their their secret identities as bad-ass demon hunters. Maggie Kang and Chris Appelhans direct and Michelle Wong produces.

“Lost in Starlight” (Netflix, TBD 2025)

Produced by Climax Studio and directed by Korean animation director Han Ji-won, this cosmic love story between astronaut Nan-young and musician Jay bridges Earth and Mars. It features the voices of K-drama stars Kim Tae-ri and Hong Kyung.

“The Magnificent Life of Marcel Pagnol” (Sony Pictures Classics, TBD 2025)

Chomet’s hand-drawn film concerns a 60-year-old Pagnol who starts doubting himself in 1955. By tapping into childhood memories through a weekly column, he seizes the opportunity to return to the roots of his writing. When his younger self magically appears, he more closely examines his successes and failures and joys and sorrows.

“Plankton: The Movie” (Nickelodeon/Netflix, TBD 2025)

The second of three “SpongeBob” spin-offs finds the villainous green Plankton (Mr. Lawrence) totally confused when his plans for world domination are thwarted. Dave Needham directs a script by Kaz, Chris Viscardi, and Lawrence. The voice cast includes Lawrence, Jill Talley, Kenny, Bill Fagerbakke, Carolyn Lawrence, and Clancy Brown.

“Pookoo” (Skydance Animation/Netflix, TBD 2025)

The second feature in the pact between Skydance and the streamer is a buddy comedy about two sworn enemies — a small woodland creature and a majestic bird — who magically trade places and set off on an adventure in their Valley. Written and directed by Nathan Greno (“Tangled”).

“The Twits” (Netflix, TBD 2025)

The Dahl adaption, directed by Phil Johnston (“Zootopia,” “Wreck-It Ralph”), finds mean, nasty, and smelly Mr. and Mrs. Twit running an idiotic amusement park, but a brave group of orphans and magical animals team up to thwart them. Jellyfish Pictures did the appropriately odd-looking animation. The voice cast features Margo Martindale, Johnny Vegas, Natalie Portman, and Emilia Clarke.

“Wildwood” (Laika, TBD)

Laika’s sixth film marks the studio’s first fantasy adventure set in the natural beauty of hometown Portland, Oregon, based on the YA novel by Colin Meloy of Portland’s The Decemberists. “Wildwood” is directed by Laika president Travis Knight (“Kubo and the Two Strings”), produced by Joe Aguilar (“Puss in Boots”), scripted by Chris Butler (“Missing Link,” “ParaNorman”), and lensed by legendary cinematographer Caleb Deschanel (“The Black Stallion”). It concerns 13-year-old Prue (Peyton Elizabeth Lee) on a quest to find her younger brother in the eponymous forest. The voice cast also includes Carey Mulligan, Mahershala Ali, Jacob Tremblay, Awkwafina, and Angela Bassett. A teaser trailer last summer connected “Wildwood” with “Coraline” as a natural hand-off from Coraline to Prue. Distribution has not yet been announced and we will keep you posted on the release date.