2023 is looking great on the animation front. With new releases from the likes of Disney, Pixar, DreamWorks, Aardman, Netflix, and some international tear-jerkers that we don’t yet have an exact date set for release, below are the most anticipated animated movies of 2023.
The Super Mario Bros – April 5th
This computer-animated fantasy film is based on Nintendo’s Mario video game franchise. Produced by Illumination, Universal Pictures, and Nintendo, and directed by Aaron Horvath, the movie has a voice cast that includes Jack Black, Chris Pratt, and Anya Taylor-Joy.
Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse – June 2nd
Produced by Columbia Pictures and Sony Pictures Animation in association with Marvel Entertainment, this animated movie features the Marvel Comics character of Miles Morales / Spider-Man. It is the sequel to Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse of 2018 and is set in a shared multiverse of alternate universes called the “Spider-Verse”. In this new take, Miles embarks on an adventure across the multiverse with a new team of Spider-People, known as the Spider-Force.
Elemental – June 16th
Produced by Walt Disney Pictures and Pixar Animation Studios, this animated romantic drama is set in a world inhabited by anthropomorphic elements of nature, and it tells the story of a fire element called Ember and a water element called Wade, who in spite of not being able to touch each other they will bond over the many things they have in common.
Ladybug & Cat Noir: The Movie – July 5th
This French 3D musical superhero movie is an adaptation of the animated television series Miraculous: Tales of Ladybug & Cat Noir. It tells the story of two Parisian teenagers, Marinette and Adrien, who transform into the superheroes Ladybug and Cat Noir to protect the city from supervillains.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem – August 4th
After years of being sheltered from the human world, the Turtle brothers—Donatello, Leonardo, Michelangelo, and Raphael—seek to be accepted as normal teenagers while fighting a mysterious crime syndicate and an army of mutants. The ensemble voice cast includes Jackie Chan, Ice Cube, John Cena, Paul Rudd, Rose Byrne, and Post Malone.
Dragonkeeper – August
This Spain-China animated co-production is set in an epic, magical, and classic China during the Han Dynasty. The story follows the adventures of a slave girl that has to help the last imperial dragon in its quest across China to bring a dragon egg to the only place it can hatch, the coast. This girl who believes she is not worthy even of a name will find the strength and courage to make a most dangerous journey, surpassing every obstacle as she becomes a true dragon keeper.
Wish – November 22nd
This musical adventure tells the story of a young girl named Asha who one day perceives a darkness in her kingdom and after making a plea, she brings down an actual star. Asha will undertake an epic adventure through the stars and universes with her pet goat, Valentino.
To celebrate its 100th anniversary, Disney has prepared a movie to reveal the origin of the wishing star, which has made an appearance in so many Disney movies.
Escape from Hat – Date to be confirmed
Leek is a magical rabbit who embarks on an impossible quest to escape from inside a magician’s hat and return to his human family. Directed by Mark Osbourne of Kung Fu Panda and distributed by Netflix, Escape from Hat was announced to release this year, but the exact date has not yet been confirmed.
