Following its Academy Award win for Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio and acquisition of Animal Logic, Netflix reveals details for nine must-watch animated films to be released over the next 18 months.
Highlights include two new feature films coming in 2024: Saving Bikini Bottom: The Sandy Cheeks Movie and In Your Dreams. Netflix also announces the ensemble voice cast for its summer 2023 release, Nimona. Netflix’s upcoming slate is filled with films that are sure to delight viewers of all ages. There is truly something for everyone.
Netflix’s 2023-2024 Feature Animation Slate can be found below. These movies join Netflix’s growing portfolio of animated films, which has garnered seven Oscar nominations for Best Animated Feature, the most of any individual animation studio since its inception in 2018.
What To Expect From Netflix Animation In 2023-2024
Nimona – Summer 2023
This summer, Netflix will release the highly anticipated Nimona, based on the bestselling graphic novel by ND Stevenson. Nimona follows Ballister Boldheart, a knight framed for a crime he didn’t commit, and the titular shapeshifter who sets out to help him prove his innocence.
Previously announced cast members include Chloë Grace Moretz (Nimona), Riz Ahmed (Ballister Boldheart), and Eugene Lee Yang (Ambrosius Goldenloin). Today Netflix reveals the supporting cast of Frances Conroy, Lorraine Toussaint, Beck Bennett, RuPaul Charles, Indya Moore, Julio Torres, and Sarah Sherman. Nimona is directed by Nick Bruno and Troy Quane.
The Monkey King – Summer 2023
The Monkey King is an action-packed family comedy that follows a charismatic Monkey and his magical fighting Stick on an epic quest for victory over 100 demons, an eccentric Dragon King, and Monkey’s greatest foe of all —his own ego! Along the way, a young village girl challenges his self-centered attitude and shows him that even the smallest pebble can have a big effect on the world.
The Boxtrolls director Anthony Stacchi is at the helm of this film. Joining him are Producer Peilin Chou, Executive Producer Stephen Chow, and a stellar cast of Jimmy O. Yang, Bowen Yang, Jolie Hoang-Rappaport, Jo Koy, Ron Yuan, Hoon Lee, Stephanie Hsu, Andrew Pang, Andrew Kishino, Jodi Long, James Sie, and BD Wong.
Leo – Fall 2023
Actor and comedian Adam Sandler (Hotel Transylvania, The Wedding Singer) delivers signature laughs in this coming-of-age animated musical comedy about the last year of elementary school – as seen through the eyes of a class pet. Jaded 74-year-old lizard Leo (Sandler) has been stuck in the same Florida classroom for decades with his terrarium-mate turtle (Bill Burr).
When he learns he only has one year left to live, he plans to escape to experience life on the outside but instead gets caught up in the problems of his anxious students — including an impossibly mean substitute teacher. It ends up being the strangest but most rewarding bucket list ever…
Leo has three directors, Robert Marianetti, Robert Smigel, and David Wachtenheim. It is produced by Happy Madison, and the cast includes Adam Sandler, Bill Burr, Cecily Strong, Jason Alexander, Rob Schneider, Sadie Sandler, Sunny Sandler, Jackie Sandler, Heidi Gardner, Nick Swardson, Nicholas Turturro, Robert Smigel, Jo Koy, Stephanie Hsu.
Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget – Fall 2023
From the multi-Academy and BAFTA award-winning animation company Aardman (Creature Comforts, Wallace & Gromit, and Shaun the Sheep), and Academy Award and BAFTA-nominated director Sam Fell (ParaNorman and Flushed Away, respectively), comes Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget, the eagerly anticipated sequel to the beloved and highest-grossing stop-motion animated film of all time, Chicken Run.
Having pulled off a death-defying escape from Tweedy’s farm, Ginger has finally found her dream — a peaceful island sanctuary for the whole flock, far from the dangers of the human world. When she and Rocky hatch a little girl called Molly, Ginger’s happy ending seems complete. But back on the mainland, the whole of chicken-kind faces a new and terrible threat. For Ginger and her team, even if it means putting their own hard-won freedom at risk — this time, they’re breaking in!
Directed by Sam Fell, this story is written by Karey Kirkpatrick & John O’ Farrell from a screenplay by Karey Kirkpatrick, John O’ Farrell, and Rachel Tunnard. Producers are Steve Pegram and Leyla Hobart and Executive Producers are Peter Lord, Nick Park, Carla Shelley, Paul Kewley, and Karey Kirkpatrick. The all-star cast includes Thandiwe Newton, Zachary Levi, Bella Ramsey, Imelda Staunton, Lynn Ferguson, David Bradley, Jane Horrocks, Romesh Ranganathan, Daniel Mays, Josie Sedgwick-Davies, and Nick Mohammed.
In Your Dreams – 2024
A perfect family? Siblings who get along? Yeah… in your dreams. This is a comedy adventure about Stevie and her brother Elliot who magically travel into the world of dreams with the mission of finding The Sandman who will grant them their ultimate wish — saving their parents’ marriage.
The kids are total opposites, making them an unlikely duo to navigate the absurdity of their own subconscious. Along their journey, they discover that as long as they have each other, they can face anything, even their worst nightmare. Director Alex Woo and Co-Director Erik Benson are at the helm of In Your Dreams, with producers Gregg Taylor and Tim Hahn.
Saving Bikini Bottom: The Sandy Cheeks Movie – 2024
When Bikini Bottom and all its denizens are suddenly scooped out of the ocean, Sandy Cheeks and SpongeBob SquarePants journey to Texas to save the town from a villainous plot.
The Last of Us director Liza Johnson is helming the project with a teleplay by Kaz and Tom Stern, based on the SpongeBob SquarePants series that was created by Stephen Hillenburg The well-known cast includes Carolyn Lawrence, Tom Kenny, Wanda Sykes, Clancy Brown, Bill Fagerbakke, Mr. Lawrence, Rodger Bumpass, Johnny Knoxville, Craig Robinson, Grey DeLisle, Ilia Isorelýs Paulino and Matty Cardarople.
That Christmas – 2024
Based on the successful series of children’s books by BAFTA winner and Academy Award nominee Richard Curtis (Four Weddings and a Funeral, Love Actually, Yesterday), Locksmith Animation’s heartwarming film marks the feature film directorial debut of renowned character animation and story artist veteran Simon Otto (Love, Death & Robots, How to Train Your Dragon trilogy).
That Christmas follows a series of entwined tales about love and loneliness, family and friends, and Santa Claus making a big mistake, not to mention an enormous number of turkeys! Nicole P. Hearon (Moana, Frozen) and Adam Tandy (The Thick of It, Detectorists) are producers. Simon Otto directs alongside producers Nicole P. Hearon and Adam Tandy. Writer Richard Curtis has adapted his books to this film.
Thelma The Unicorn – 2024
Thelma is a small-time pony who dreams of becoming a glamourous music star. In a pink and glitter-filled moment of fate, Thelma is transformed into a unicorn and instantly rises to global stardom. But this new life of fame comes at a cost. Thelma the Unicorn is a hilarious, quirky, and heartfelt ride from directors Lynn Wang (Unikitty!) and Jared Hess (Napoleon Dynamite). It is directed by Jared Hess and Lynn Wang and produced by Pam Coats.
Ultraman – 2024
Based on the beloved Japanese character, Netflix’s Ultraman follows baseball superstar Ken Sato as he returns to his home country of Japan to pick up the mantle of the Earth-defending superhero Ultraman. He soon finds more than he bargained for when he’s forced to raise the offspring of his greatest foe. Ken must go on a heroic journey, balancing parenthood, his estranged father, and the relentless Kaiju Defense Force to rise beyond his ego and discover what it truly means to be Ultraman. Director Shannon Tindle also wrote the story with Marc Haimes, with John Aoshima co-directing.
