Annecy 2026: Warner Bros Pictures Animation Previews Their Slate
Annecy International Animation Film Festival is underway once again. The luminaries of the animation world are gathering in France to offer inside information and previews of their releases of the next few years. Among those presenting this year was Warner Bros Pictures Animation, who previewed " a new era" in their panel.
The big news was the announcement that they would be collaborating with Vivienne Medrano aka VivziePop on a new animated musical, Prehistoria. The film will mark her feature directing debut. Best known for creating Hazbin Hotel and Helluva Boss, Medrano has gone from creating videos for YouTube to producing TV series for Amazon Prime and A24. Her videos have racked up billions of views across platforms, and she has become something of an icon in independent animation.
“Since I began my animation journey,” Medrano said, “my biggest dream was to be part of a feature film. Now to be creating an original story that I have been holding for years, and with Warner Bros. Pictures Animation, a studio whose characters and stories have been a huge part of my life, is truly a dream come true. I’m SO excited to share this fossil fantasy world with everyone!”
The film will take place outside the "Hellaverse", where her previous series have been set. The film underscores WBPA's commitment to collaborating with bold, creator-driven voices.
Warner also shared the latest on Bad Faries, the latest feature from London's Locksmith Animation (Ron's Gone Wrong, That Christmas). Director Megan Nicole Dong and co-director Olivier Staphylas took to the stage and offered more details about their original punk musical. They screened two work-in-progress clips and the film's main song Live Out Loud, performed by Cynthia Erivo (Wicked) and Serrana Su-Ling Bliss, voicing Fei.
They announced that previously announced voice stars Cynthia Erivo and Ncuti Gatwa (Doctor Who, Sex Education) would be joined by hilarious English comedian James Acaster, voicing Stickers and legendary voice actor Dee Bradley Baker (American Dad, Avatar The Last Airbender) voicing Groundbeef.
Bad Faries is directed by Megan Nicole Dong and co-directed by Oliver Staphylas, based on an original screenplay by Deborah Frances-White. The original songs are written by Tony-award-winning duo Toby Marlow and Lucy Moss (Six: The Musical), with Isabella “Machine” Summers (Florence + The Machine) composing the score and contributing to the songs.
The film's creative team also includes producer Carolyn Soper (Tangled), editor Sim Evan-Jones (Shrek 2, Shaun the Sheep), cinematographer James C.J. Williams, character designer Uwe Heidschötter, heads of story Rikke Asbjoern and Chris Garbutt, and production designers Justin Hutchinson-Chatburn and .Mike Redman. The film is currently underway in London. DNEG are serving as digital partners.
Bad Faries is the first film due out as part of a first-look deal between Locksmith Animation and Warner Bros. The second film in the partnership is The Lunar Chronicles, which is due to release worldwide in 2028. A first-look clip was revealed to the audience.
WBPA also previewed extensive footage from the fully-animated Cat In The Hat movie, due out this November.
They also previewed Dynamic Duo from Swaybox Studios, produced in association with DC Studios and 6th And Idaho. Described as "a groundbreaking fusion of puppetry, practical artistry, and cutting-edge technology," the movie is a coming-of-age tale with DC Legacy characters, with both Batman and Red Hood making an appearance.
WBPA President Bill Damaschke said “Under Arthur Mintz’s leadership, the Swaybox team is pushing the medium of animation forward, building on the pioneering puppetry of visionaries like Jim Henson while redefining what’s possible with today’s tools and techniques.”
Damaschke also paid tribute to the characters that built Warner Bros animation, The Looney Tunes. Daffy Season, the first theatrical Looney Tunes short in over a decade was premiered to a raptuous reception by the enthusiastic crowd.
All in all, the future for Warner Bros Picture Animation is looking pretty bright, with a full slate of seven features and one short scheduled to release between 2026-2028.
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