Most Wanted: The Most Exciting Animation Projects In Production Now (2025)
It's been a year or two, but we are finally back with our Most Wanted list of the most exciting animation films and series in production now. A lot has changed in the animation world since we last did one of these but a lot of the names here will be comfortably familiar. How many of your most anticipated made the list? Let us know via our social media channels. Now, join us as we take a journey into animation's not-too-distant future...
Wildwood
We haven't seen anything new from LAIKA since 2018's Missing Link. So to say that the studio's return is eagerly anticipated is putting it mildly. LAIKA CEO Travis Knight returns to the director's chair for the first time since Kubo And The Two Strings (a couple of live-action films aside) for this adaptation of Colin Meloy's novel. It follows a young girl named Prue who journeys into a hidden magical forest after her baby brother is stolen by crows.
ETA: 2025 TBC
Spider-Man: Beyond The Spider-Verse
Sony's mindblowing sequel left us all hanging with that cliffhanger back in the summer of 2023. And we've been desperate to see the resolution ever since. The mind boggles at what delights this threequel will mine from the extensive history of the Spider-Verse. How will the film advance the art of animation itself? But most of all, we're dying to find out what will happen to Miles Morales, who we last saw coming face-to-face with an evil alternative-universe version of himself. Now, if only we could get a firm release date...
ETA: TBA
Zootopia 2
It's finally time to return to Zootopia (Zootropolis in the UK and other countries) in the sequel to Disney's billion-dollar hit. We still don't know a ton about the plot but Nick and Judy are now official partners in the police. The sequel will introduce a raft of new species, including reptiles, birds and primates, as we explore previously unseen parts of the city. Hopefully, we can expect a first trailer soon.
ETA: November 2025
Star Wars Visions: Volume 3
LucasFilm's animation anthology has allowed some of the world's foremost animation talent to play around in the Star Wars Universe. Volume one featured Japanese and Korean creators, and the second volume opened up to creators from around the world. For volume three, the anthology is headed back to Japan and features some of the most well-regarded studios in the country, including Production IG, Wit Studio, Polygon Pictures, and returning contributor Trigger. If the previous volumes are anything to go on, we should be in for a treat when this lands on Disney+ later this year.
ETA: 2025 TBA
Julián
The next feature film from Cartoon Saloon, Julian is the story of a little boy who wants to be a mermaid. Set in New York City, young Julian is spending the summer with his Abuela (grandmother). Expecting family friction, Julian finds that the colourful chaos of Abuela's world and the stories she tells him awakens something within him. Through Abuela's world he explores his identity, gender expression and the hidden heritage of his family. Julian is the directorial feature debut of Louise Bagnall (Late Afternoon)
ETA: TBA
Penelope Of Sparta
Fortiche, the studio behind the phenomenal Arcane, follow up their breakthrough with an original feature. Set to be made in their trademark style, and with Arcane scriptwriter Amanda Overton on board, this promises to be very exciting indeed. Set in a world based on Ancient Greece, Penelope attends an Elite High school along with teenage versions of several other mythical Greek figures such as Achilles, Helen, Circe, Agamemnon and Odysseus. But Penelope is on a secret mission to free her people from Athens's control.
ETA: TBA
The Night Gardener
LAIKA's second entry on this list. This second film, however promises to be a very different film from Wildwood. Described as a "gritty neo-noir folktale" set in rural Missouri, it features a man trying to hold his family together in the wake of a tragedy. Not the subject matter of your average animation studio film... and surely LAIKA's most adult film to date. Travis Knight is set to direct, presumably when he's finished with Wildwood.
ETA: TBA
Hoppers
Pixar's new original film is from We Bare Bears creator Daniel Chong. The film features a little girl with the ability to swap her mind into a robot beaver to infiltrate the world of animals. There she befriends a royal beaver named King George and helps unite the animal kingdom against the plans of a greedy real-estate developer. It's a killer concept and the concept art released so far is full of chaotic fun. This looks like it could be Pixar's best for a while.
ETA: 2026
Aang: The Last Airbender
The first movie spin-off of the groundbreaking Avatar: The Last Airbender and the first release from Avatar Studios. The theatrically-released feature will continue the story of the series and take the main cast into their young adult years. The film features the voices of Dave Bautista, Eric Nam, Dionne Quan, Jessica Matten, and Román Zaragoza, and is directed by Lauren Montgomery.
ETA: January 2026
Ray Gunn
Brad Bird returns in a new sci-fi/noir about the last human private detective in a world inhabited by aliens and humans. The film is a passion project that Bird has been trying to make for nearly 30 years. Languishing in development hell for years, the film has been revived at Skydance Animation and Netflix. Originally intended as a hand-drawn feature, it has now been changed into CG. Hopefully, the film will retain its retro charms despite the added dimensions.
ETA: 2026
Iyanu: Child Of Wonder
A collaboration between Lion Forge Entertainment, Cartoon Network Studios and Max, Iyanu: Child Of Wonder is adapted from the graphic novels published by Dark Horse Comics and YouNeek Studios. The series promises to bring a uniquely African perspective to the superhero and fantasy genres, and features an all-Nigerian voice cast. This should bring something genuinely fresh to the animation world, where Western (generally American) perspectives dominate.
ETA: 2025 TBA
Eyes Of Wakanda
Marvel Animation takes us back into the history of the fictional kingdom of Wakanda, home of The Black Panther. This 4-part mini-series will hopefully provide fans with never-seen-before details and secrets from the technologically advanced African nation. With What If..?, Your Freindly Neighbourhood Spider-Man and X-Men '97, Marvel Animation is on a roll... we hope that this continues with Eyes Of Wakanda.
ETA: 2025 TBA
Toy Story 5
We know- this is a sequel we could do without, but the same could be said about Toy Story 4, and that turned out to be a perfectly charming and emotionally affecting film. The concept is intriguing and timely- Toys versus electronics vying for kids' attention- as long as it doesn't stray into preachy territory. But we should be in good hands, with this fourth sequel being written and directed by Andrew Stanton (Finding Nemo, Wall-E) one of Pixar's 'old guard'.
ETA: 2026
Demon Slayer: Kimetsu No Yaiba: Infinity Castle
The anime phenomenon returns to the cinema, in the follow-up to smash hit Mugen Train. Following directly on from the fourth season, Infinity Castle is the first part in a planned three part film series that will bring the franchise to its epic conclusion.
ETA: Summer 2025
The Magnificent Life of Marcel Pagnol
The return of Sylvain Chomet (Belleville Rendezvous, The Illusionist) to animated features is much anticipated by animation connoisseurs. The French director brings us the story of Marcel Pagnol, one of France's most beloved and prolific writers of the 20th Century. Using a magically realist device, Pagnol revisits his past life, accompanied by a younger version of himself. This will surely be a must-see for 2D animation lovers.
ETA: 2025 TBA
