Top 10 Animated Films To Watch In 2026: A Comprehensive Guide

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2026 looks like a huge year for movies, and that includes some really promising animated films. We can expect a variety of exciting adventures, action-packed stories, and fantastical worlds to hit the big screen, with several potentially becoming major box office hits.

2026 promises a strong year for animated movies, with both fresh, new ideas from studios like Disney and DreamWorks, and exciting continuations of popular franchises. We can look forward to sequels – including the third films in two different series, and the fifth installment of another – all designed to build excitement for animation.

Forgotten Island

These days, we’re seeing fantastic animated movies from studios like Disney, Pixar, Studio Ghibli, and Sony. DreamWorks is consistently producing excellent films too, but it doesn’t always get the recognition it deserves.

Despite a recent delay of Shrek 5 to 2027, the studio consistently releases excellent films. Recent examples include Puss in Boots: The Last Wish (2022) and The Wild Robot (2024). In 2026, they only have one film currently scheduled for release: Forgotten Island, which is planned for September 25th.

Details about Forgotten Island are scarce, but the movie centers around best friends Jo and Raissa stranded on a magical island. They discover the only way to return home is to completely erase each other from their memories. With a voice cast including H.E.R., Jenny Slate, and Manny Jacinto, this promises to be a deeply moving film.

Hexed

Walt Disney Animation Studios is planning to release a brand new movie in 2026, similar to DreamWorks. You might not know much about it yet – called Hexed – because it’s coming out between the highly anticipated Zootopia 2 in 2025 and the expected blockbuster Frozen 3 in 2027.

The new film, Hexed, boasts a talented team. Jason Hand, a director on Moana 2, is co-directing alongside Josie Trinidad, who previously contributed to beloved movies like The Princess and the Frog and Encanto. Trinidad also directed episodes of the Zootopia+ series, marking her first time as a director.

The new Disney movie, Hexed, is about a teen with hidden magical abilities who, along with his mother, is unexpectedly taken to a magical world. Details are scarce beyond the November 25th release date, but Disney’s track record speaks for itself.

The Cat In The Hat

The classic Dr. Seuss book, The Cat in the Hat, was made into a live-action movie in 2003. While Mike Myers’ portrayal of the Cat was quite strange, the film wasn’t a critical success, though it has gained a bit of a cult following for its oddness.

The first movie wasn’t well-received, so plans for a second film were dropped. Now, after a long wait, a new version of The Cat in the Hat is finally coming out. This one will be animated, which is a great fit for the book’s playful style, and it’s scheduled to be released in theaters on November 6th.

The plot stays true to the original, but considering how much audiences have enjoyed other animated Dr. Seuss movies, this one has potential. It also boasts a fantastic voice cast, including Bill Hader in the lead role, alongside stars like Xochitl Gomez, Matt Berry, Quinta Brunson, Giancarlo Esposito, and America Ferrera.

Goat

The upcoming animated film, Goat, stands out with a truly original idea. It’s a unique sports movie – rare in the animation world – and tells the story of Will Harris, a goat who dreams of becoming a roarball champion. Roarball is a basketball-like sport, and Will is determined to be the best player ever.

Basketball fans have a good reason to be excited: NBA superstar Steph Curry is a producer and will also voice a character in the show. He’s joined by a talented cast including Clabe McLaughlin, Gabrielle Union, Nick Kroll, Jennifer Hudson, and others.

Sony Pictures Animation, the studio behind hits like Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, The Mitchells vs. the Machines, and KPop Demon Hunters, is releasing Goat. Given their track record, Goat, which comes out on February 13th, is definitely something to anticipate.

The Legend Of Aang: The Last Airbender

Many consider Avatar: The Last Airbender to be one of the greatest TV shows ever made, whether it’s animated or live-action. It’s gained widespread praise, and even those who haven’t seen it are likely familiar with its reputation, along with that of its sequel, The Legend of Korra.

Even though those shows haven’t been on TV for a while, fans still love them and are excited about the new movie. The movie, The Legend of Aang: The Last Airbender, takes place between the two original shows, offering a fresh look at the characters and a different time period.

The Legend of Aang: The Last Airbender tells the story of Aang’s journey to discover a powerful, ancient ability that could save his people. He and his friends will set out on an adventure to find it. The movie will be available to stream on Paramount+ starting October 9th.

The Angry Birds Movie 3

When discussing good movies based on video games, people often mention recent releases like Sonic the Hedgehog, Detective Pikachu, and The Super Mario Bros. Movie. However, The Angry Birds Movie 2 is often overlooked in these conversations.

While the first Angry Birds movie received a mixed reaction, critics generally liked the sequel. Although it wasn’t a huge success in theaters, a third movie, The Angry Birds Movie 3, is now scheduled for release on December 23, 2026, bringing more adventures from the popular mobile game to the big screen.

The storyline is still under wraps, but the overall quality looks promising, just like the last installment – it’s likely to be a hit. Many of the original actors, including Jason Sudeikis and Rachel Bloom, are returning, and they’ll be joined by new cast members like Emma Myers, Keke Palmer, Lily James, Tim Robinson, and others.

Minions 3

It’s hard to think of any original characters created in the last two decades that are more popular than the Minions. They first appeared in Despicable Me and quickly became incredibly well-known. Their own movies have each earned over $900 million at the box office.

It’s no surprise that people are really looking forward to Minions 3. Unfortunately, details about the movie – like the story or who’s voicing the characters – are still scarce. The current release date is set for July 1st.

Illumination Studios is confident that Minions 3 will be a financial success, and most of the Minions movies have been popular with audiences, including the first Minions sequel. If it follows the pattern of previous films, it’s likely to be enjoyable.

Hoppers

Pixar is planning to release a completely new, original animated film in 2026, joining other major studios doing the same. While their films haven’t been as consistently successful as they were in their early years, they appear to be finding their footing again.

Pixar had a mixed year: Elemental unexpectedly succeeded, Inside Out 2 became a huge blockbuster earning over $1 billion, but Elio didn’t perform well at the box office. The success of their new film, Hoppers, is still uncertain, though early signs are promising and the trailer suggests it could be very popular with audiences.

Hoppers is a story about Mabel, a teen who loves animals. She magically switches bodies with a beaver, allowing her to talk to animals and work with them to protect their home from being destroyed. Many are excited, believing it could be a return to the quality of classic Pixar films, starting March 6th.

The Super Mario Galaxy Movie

The Super Mario Galaxy Movie is likely to be the highest-grossing film of 2026, which is impressive considering it will be released alongside major blockbusters like Avengers: Doomsday. The first movie was a huge success, earning over $1 billion, and fans are very excited for the sequel.

I’m really excited that almost everyone involved in making the first Super Mario Bros. Movie is back for the sequel! It’s great to see familiar faces behind the camera, and I think Brie Larson will be an amazing Rosalina. Plus, I’m so intrigued to see Benny Safdie as Bowser Jr. – I have a feeling he’ll be fantastic!

The new movie follows Mario, Luigi, Princess Peach, and Toad as they travel to space to stop Bowser Jr. from getting revenge on his father. The trailer is promising, the animation looks fantastic, and the characters seem like they’ll be a lot of fun when the movie is released on April 3rd.

Toy Story 5

Let’s be real, when it comes to animated movies, nothing is bigger than Toy Story. The first one wasn’t just a hit, it completely revolutionized animated films back in 1995. And honestly, the first three movies? A lot of people consider them the best trilogy ever made – and I’m inclined to agree.

With over $1 billion in earnings and positive reviews, Toy Story 4 proved the series is still popular, leading to the announcement of Toy Story 5 coming out on June 19th. While Toy Story 4 was a good movie, many fans didn’t feel it matched the quality of the original trilogy, so there’s some worry about whether Toy Story 5 will live up to expectations.

Despite the long wait, people are still really excited for the new Toy Story movie. The story feels relevant today, focusing on how Bonnie’s toys feel neglected now that she’s spending all her time with a new tablet. This kind of heartfelt story is what Toy Story has always been known for.

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2026-01-02 00:34