Warner Bros Animation has announced the cast for their upcoming animated feature adaptation of Dr. Seuss' The Cat in the Hat, with Bill Hader set to play the title role. The film, directed and written by Alessandro Carloni and Erica Rivinoja, is scheduled for a global theatrical release on March 6, 2026. The project is produced by Daniela Mazzucato and Jared Stern, with Hader and Susan Brandt serving as executive producers. This marks the first animated feature to debut as part of a slate of projects developed by Warner Bros. Pictures Animation and Dr. Seuss Enterprises.
Disney's animated feature "Wish," starring Ariana DeBose and Chris Pine, will premiere on Disney+ on April 3rd. The original musical comedy, co-written by Disney Animation chief Jennifer Lee and Allison Moore, follows the story of Asha and a cosmic force called Star as they confront the ruler of Rosas to save their community. Despite high hopes, the film disappointed both critically and commercially, but still received a Golden Globe nomination. Disney Animation also has plans for sequels to "Moana" and "Zootopia," as well as the release of "Inside Out 2" and "Elio" from Pixar.
"Spider-Verse" star Shameik Moore apologized for his reaction to the film losing the Oscar for best animated feature, acknowledging that he was a sore loser but emphasizing the impact of the franchise. He teased the upcoming "Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse" and expressed respect for the winners, particularly praising Miyazaki as a master of animation. Miyazaki's "The Boy and the Heron" won the award, marking his second Oscar for animated feature at 83 years old.
Hayao Miyazaki, the legendary Japanese filmmaker and co-founder of Studio Ghibli, won the Academy Award for best animated feature for "The Boy and the Heron," making him the only Asian director to achieve this honor. The film, partly inspired by Miyazaki's childhood, follows a boy who lost his mother during World War II and encounters a talking heron. Despite retirement rumors, Miyazaki's fans await his next work, as he has a history of returning to filmmaking after retiring.
Megan Ellison, the founder of Annapurna Pictures, saved the animated movie "Nimona" after Disney planned to shutter Blue Sky Studios, which was set to release the film. The movie, with LGBTQ themes, faced obstacles and pushback from Disney, but Ellison backed the project, providing creative freedom and financial support. "Nimona" has received critical acclaim and an Oscar nomination, and Ellison's Annapurna Animation is now developing more original content.
As the Academy Awards nominations approach, there are several longshot candidates that deserve recognition, including performances in films like "Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret," "American Fiction," "Past Lives," "All Of Us Strangers," and "BlackBerry." Additionally, there's hope for recognition in categories such as Best Director and Best Original Song, with potential nominees like "Asteroid City" and "It Never Went Away." The article also highlights the potential for a first-time Oscar nomination for composer Joe Hisaishi for his work on "The Boy And The Heron," and the possibility of genre films like "Godzilla Minus One" and "Nimona" receiving nominations in their respective categories.
At 82, legendary filmmaker Hayao Miyazaki won his first Golden Globe for his semi-autobiographical fantasy film The Boy and the Heron, marking the first win for both himself and Studio Ghibli, the animation studio he co-founded. The movie, set in Japan, is also the first non-English language animated feature to win a Golden Globe. This achievement adds to Miyazaki's illustrious career, which includes an Oscar win for Spirited Away and an Academy Honorary Award.
The new Babylon 5 animated feature, "The Road Home," explores alternate timelines and sets up a potential reboot for the entire show. The story follows Sheridan as he becomes "unstuck in time" and jumps into different timelines. The movie ends with a rebooted universe where the Shadow War never happened, leaving the future wide open. While there are no official plans for an ongoing animated reboot, the film presents a possibility for a new version of Babylon 5 with the original cast.
Netflix has released the official trailer for its upcoming animated feature Nimona, which will world premiere at the Annecy Festival before releasing on the platform worldwide on June 30. Nimona is directed by Spies in Disguise duo Nick Bruno and Troy Quane and is adapted from ND Stevenson’s eponymous National Book Award-nominated NYT bestselling graphic novel. The film's directors, Stevenson, and producers Karen Ryan and Julie Zackary will present an Annecy Making Of panel on Thursday.
The Super Mario Bros. Movie, starring Chris Pratt, is on track to earn $1 billion from worldwide audiences, becoming the third pandemic-era movie to do so. The movie recently became the biggest film of 2023 and earned $92.5 million from domestic moviegoers during its second weekend of release. Despite mixed reviews from critics, the movie was a hit with fans and several cast members have expressed interest in producing spinoffs centered on their respective characters.
"The Super Mario Bros. Movie" is a consistently inventive animated feature that builds its dreams (and nightmares) around that most mundane but essential of grown-up concerns: plumbing. The movie takes more twists and turns than the plumbing under your sink. The artistry is enough to keep children and adults watching. At its 8-bit heart, "The Super Mario Bros. Movie" is ultimately about family. The film's PG rating is due to intense apocalyptic imagery and mild cartoon violence.
Disney and Pixar have released the first full-length trailer for their upcoming animated feature, Elemental, which follows the journey of Ember and Wade in a city where fire, water, land, and air residents live together. The film is set to hit theaters on June 16th and will be accompanied by the Pixar short "Carl's Date," featuring the beloved Up characters of Carl and Dug. The voice cast includes Leah Lewis, Mamoudou Athie, Ronnie del Carmen, Shila Ommi, Wendi McLendon-Covey, Catherine O'Hara, Mason Wertheimer, and Joe Pera.
