Disney Confirms Its 5 Major Animated Movies Releasing In the Next Year

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At this year’s Destination D23 event in Florida, Disney peeked behind the scenes at their future animation projects. Over the next two years, they plan to release new movies starting from 2025. This sneak peek provided fans with a glimpse of the forthcoming wave of enchanting narratives. These announcements were part of a series of significant unveilings during the weekend, and a few more films have been added to an already impressive lineup produced by Disney Animation.

Lately, Disney Animation and Pixar have experienced some significant ups and downs. For instance, Disney Animation made a fortune with movies like “Frozen II” and an unnamed sequel to “Moana”, and also produced culturally impactful films such as “Encanto”. However, films like “Strange World” and “Wish” didn’t perform so well at the box office.

Pixar experienced a similar journey: following pandemic-era movies such as “Soul” and “Turning Red” bypassing cinemas, the studio struggled slightly with “Lightyear>”, but then made a strong comeback with “Inside Out 2>”. They dared to try a streaming release for this sequel, breaking records as a result.

In unison, these two sectors retain a capability to spearhead some of Disney’s most lucrative ventures in the future, however, projects such as the postponed “Elio” serve as reminders of the ongoing risks that lurk even for their most reliable trademarks.

Regardless of some unsteadiness, there’s much to look forward to for both Disney and enthusiasts, as we anticipate blockbuster sequels and innovative fresh concepts on the horizon.

Zootopia 2

During Destination D23, Disney officially announced that Zootopia 2 is set to be released in cinemas on November 26, 2025. This puts the film among Disney’s top anticipated releases for the year.

In 2016, the original movie “Zootopia” earned more than $1 billion globally. Its sequel is anticipated to receive similar acclaim due to its dedicated fanbase and strategic holiday launch. The filmmakers, Jared Bush and Byron Howard, have announced some new cast members for the sequel. Yvette Nicole Brown will portray The Bearoness and EMT Otter, while Patrick Warburton will voice Mayor Winddancer, a charming stallion character.

The audience at the event was not only able to enjoy the movie but also got a special treat with behind-the-scenes footage, plus the exciting presence of Judy Hopps, Nick Wilde, and Clawhauser on stage!

Diary of a Wimpy Kid Christmas: The Last Straw

In the animated movie franchise “Diary of a Wimpy Kid,” titled “The Last Straw,” is set to debut on Disney+ on December 5th. Creator Jeff Kinney unveiled this new project at Destination D23 through a special message, sharing that it’s based on the third book in the series and focuses on Greg Heffley’s struggles against his father’s expectations.

This represents the fourth installment in the revamped animated series, as Disney remade it following their acquisition of 21st Century Fox.

In 2021, the first movie titled “Diary of a Wimpy Kid” was remade, reviving the Heffley family for fans while maintaining the artistic style from Kinney’s original books in its character designs. A year later, Disney+ unveiled “Rodrick Rules” (2022), followed by “Cabin Fever” (2023), which carried a festive theme and was part of a dedicated Disney+ playlist during the Christmas season last year.

The animated franchise, titled The Last Straw, carries on with its tradition of releasing during holidays, making it a dependable yearly spectacle on Disney+.

Hoppers

On March 6, 2026, Pixar unveiled a preliminary glance at its humorous movie titled Hoppers. During this presentation, Director Daniel Chong showed exclusive footage and voice actors Piper Curda (portraying Mabel) and Bobby Moynihan (as King George) shared their parts.

Though the response was quite lively, appreciating its comedic elements, the movie encounters a challenging climb in terms of box office success. Over the last five years, Pixar has found it difficult to convert unique narratives into significant box-office successes.

Toy Story 5

Furthermore, during Destination D23, Pixar revealed the initial sneak peek of Toy Story 5, scheduled to hit cinemas on June 19, 2026 – approximately seven years following Toy Story 4. At this event, it was announced that Conan O’Brien had joined the voice cast as a fresh character named Smarty Pants. The first three minutes of the movie were also unveiled to enthusiastic fans.

Instead of the initial Pixar films like “Hoppers,” this sequel is expected to achieve significant box office success due to the franchise’s history as one of Disney’s most consistent moneymakers. Each main “Toy Story” release has garnered hundreds of millions globally, with both “Toy Story 3” and “Toy Story 4” surpassing the $1 billion mark.

Hexed

One surprising announcement made by Disney Animation is the unveiling of “Hexed”, an original animated feature slated for release in November 2026. Jared Bush, the chief creative officer, revealed this project that centers around an introverted teenager and his meticulous mother. Their lives take a magical turn when they unexpectedly tap into his latent powers, leading them to a concealed realm of sorcery.

Upon initial viewing, the concept art and animated opening titles suggested a vibrant, enchanting style reminiscent of beloved Disney productions such as Encanto and Raya and the Last Dragon. Fans were quick to notice these similarities.

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2025-09-11 13:06