The year 2026 is a big year for people who love cartoons. There are not just one or two movies coming out. There is a long line of new stories. These stories will show up on the big screen at the theater and on your TV at home. In the past, we saw a lot of superhero movies and live-action remakes. But 2026 does not feel like those years.
This year feels different. The people who make movies are giving us new worlds. These worlds are full of magic. There are faraway islands to explore. There are talking toys that feel like old friends. And there are brave heroes who are not afraid to be scared.
If you are looking for the best upcoming animated movies 2026 has to give you, you came to the right place. This guide will tell you about everything. That includes the big Disney films. It also includes the cool new new animation movies 2026 Netflix is putting right into your living room.
The Biggest Movies Hitting Theaters This Year
This year, movie theaters will have a lot of people coming in. Every few weeks, you get a fresh reason to buy popcorn. You sit in a dark room. The screen is very big. These are the movies that whole families wait in line to watch.
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Toy Story 5 (June 19, 2026)
Pixar is going back to its old toys. You know Woody. You know Buzz. You know Jessie. You grew up watching them. In this new part of the story, the toys run into a different kind of problem. It is not a bad kid. It is not a broken toy that needs fixing.
A new toy joins the group. This toy looks like a frog, but it is also a tablet. The frog-tablet can do many smart things. It can show videos and play games. The other toys do not know if they can trust it. Maybe the frog-tablet will help them stay important to kids. Or maybe it will make the kids forget about old toys even faster.
The person who leads the movie making is Andrew Stanton. He is the director. Before this movie, he made Finding Nemo. He also made WALL-E. Those movies made people feel many things. Some parts made people laugh. Some parts made people cry. Andrew Stanton is very good at telling stories about love and loss and friendship. So this new Toy Story movie will also have a big heart. It will not just be a silly cartoon. It will be a smart story that grown ups and kids can both enjoy.
Minions & Monsters (July 1, 2026)
The little yellow pills of chaos are back. We cannot get rid of them. And honestly, we do not want to. This time, the Minions are going back in time to the 1920s. They are in Hollywood. They want to make a scary movie . But these are the Minions. They do not know how to be scary. They only know how to be silly.
Expect a lot of running, screaming, and banana jokes. Pierre Coffin is directing again. He is the voice of the Minions. This is one of the most fun upcoming animated movies 2026 has on the schedule.
The Super Mario Galaxy Movie (April 1, 2026)
Mario is doing it again. Last time, he saved the Mushroom Kingdom. This time, he is going to space. The movie is called The Super Mario Galaxy Movie. It is based on the video game where Mario flies from planet to planet . Jack Black is coming back as Bowser. That is always a good thing. We also get to see Yoshi. The green dinosaur is finally on the big screen .
This movie came out in April. By the time you read this, it might already be playing. It is one of the biggest upcoming animated movies 2026 and it is already making a lot of money at the box office.
Hexed (November 25, 2026)
Disney is trying something new. For a long time, Disney made sequels. Now, they are making Hexed. This is an original story. It is about a teenage boy who feels weird. He does not fit in. But soon, he learns that his weirdness is actually magic . His mom is also part of the story. She is very organized and strict.
The movie comes out in the fall. Disney says it feels like Frozen or Zootopia, but there are no songs . It is just a magic adventure. That is rare for Disney. If you like magic and family stories, watch for this one.
Forgotten Island (September 25, 2026)
DreamWorks is making this movie. The same people who made Puss in Boots: The Last Wish are in charge . That movie looked amazing. It looked like a painting. Forgotten Island is inspired by stories from the Philippines . Two best friends get trapped on a magic island. To leave the island, they have to give up their memories .
Shaun the Sheep: The Beast of Mossy Bottom (September 18, 2026)
Shaun is back. This is a stop-motion movie. That means the characters are made of clay and moved bit by bit. It takes a long time to make, but it looks very real. In this movie, Shaun tries to fix the pumpkin patch. He uses science. But things go wrong. A beast shows up in the woods . There is no big Hollywood voice cast. There are no pop songs. It is just a funny, smart, quiet movie. For people who like gentle humor, this is a must-see.
What to Watch on Netflix: New Animation Movies 2026 Netflix
You do not have to go to the theater to see good cartoons. Netflix has a lot of great movies this year. If you search for new animation movies 2026 Netflix, here is what you will find.
Swapped (May 1, 2026)
This is a body-swap movie. But it is not two people swapping bodies. It is a small furry animal and a big bird. Michael B. Jordan voices the furry animal. Juno Temple voices the bird . They are enemies. They hate each other. But when they swap bodies, they have to work together to survive.
It is a buddy comedy. It is about learning to see things from someone else’s point of view. This is one of the best new animation movies Netflix put out in the spring of 2026.
I Am Frankelda (June 12, 2026)
This movie is different. It is dark. It is a little scary. Guillermo del Toro helped make this happen. He loves monsters and fairy tales . The movie takes place in Mexico in the 1800s. Frankelda is a writer. No one listens to her. She gets pulled into her own imagination. The monsters she wrote about are real .
It is stop-motion. The puppets look beautiful and creepy. This is not for little kids who get scared easily. But for older kids and adults who like dark fantasy, this is the best new animated movie of 2026 Netflix has for you.
The Ribbon Hero (Date TBA)
This is an anime. Anime is a style of cartoon from Japan. The Ribbon Hero is about a hero who fights against a bad destiny . The action scenes are smooth. The world looks soft and pretty. Yuki Igarashi is directing. This is his first long movie .
Iyanu: The War of Twin Princes (July 11, 2026)
This movie comes from Africa. It is based on Nigerian stories. The animation studio is Lion Forge. They won an Oscar .
The story is about twin brothers. They are princes. Their father is the king. The king has to pick one twin to be the next king. But he cannot choose. This starts a war . The art is bright and colorful. The music is big. It feels like an epic fantasy. You can watch it on Cartoon Network and HBO Max.
The Complete Schedule of Upcoming Animated Movies 2026
Here is a simple list of dates. Mark your calendar.
April 2026
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April 1: The Super Mario Galaxy Movie (Theaters)
May 2026
- May 1: Swapped (Netflix)
- May 29: Return of the Jungle (Theaters - India)
If you are looking specifically for upcoming animated movies May 2026, these two are the main events. Swapped is perfect for a family night at home. Return of the Jungle is for those who want to see Indian animation on the big screen.
June 2026
- June 12: I Am Frankelda (Netflix)
- June 19: Toy Story 5 (Theaters)
July 2026
- July 1: Minions & Monsters (Theaters)
- July 11: Iyanu: The War of Twin Princes (HBO Max/Cartoon Network)
September 2026
- September 18: Shaun the Sheep: The Beast of Mossy Bottom (Theaters)
- September 25: Forgotten Island (Theaters)
November 2026
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November 25: Hexed (Theaters)
Coming Later in 2026 or 2027
- The Legend of Aang: The Last Airbender (October 2026)
- Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse (Date not fixed yet)
Stories from Around the World
Hollywood is not the only place making cartoons. This year, we get movies from India, Africa, and other places. These stories feel fresh because they come from different cultures.
Return of the Jungle (May 29, 2026)
This movie comes from India. The studio that made it is the only one in India that was nominated for an Emmy award . It is based on the Panchatantra. The Panchatantra is a very old book of animal stories from India. Kids have been hearing these stories for hundreds of years .
The movie is about animals in a jungle. It has comedy, adventure, and drama. The trailer looks colorful and fast. This is a big deal for Indian animation.
Forgotten Island (Philippines Inspiration)
We talked about Forgotten Island earlier. But it is worth repeating. This movie uses stories from the Philippines . We do not see that a lot in big American movies.
The directors, Joel Crawford and Januel Mercado, did research to get the culture right. The voice cast includes Filipino actors like Liza Soberano . This makes the movie feel real and respectful.
Why 2026 is a Special Year for Cartoons
There is a reason why there are so many movies this year. Animation is popular again. Everyone watches cartoons. Kids watch them. Parents watch them. Even grandparents watch them.
The technology is also better. The colors are brighter. The movements are smoother. Movies like Forgotten Island look like moving paintings. Also, the writers are getting better. They are not just making dumb jokes for kids. They are writing real stories about friendship, memory, and growing up.
For example, Forgotten Island asks: Would you give up your memories to save yourself? That is a deep question for a cartoon.
Hexed asks: What if the thing that makes you weird is actually your greatest power?
These are not just "kids' movies." These are movies for human beings.
How to Choose What to Watch
You cannot watch everything. There is not enough time. So here is a simple guide to help you pick.
Pick Toy Story 5 if...
You want to feel emotional. You grew up with these toys. You want to see where they go next.
Pick Minions & Monsters if...
You just want to laugh. You do not want to think too hard. You want yellow chaos.
Pick Forgotten Island if...
You like art. You like movies that look beautiful. You also like stories that make you think about your own friends.
Pick I Am Frankelda if...
You like scary things. You like stop-motion. You like movies that feel like a dark dream.
Pick Swapped if...
You are staying home on a Friday night. You want something light and fun. You want to see Michael B. Jordan act like a bird.
Pick Return of the Jungle if...
You want to see something different. You are tired of the same Hollywood stories. You want bright colors and fast action.
The Final Look
The movies coming in 2026 are not just fillers. They are not just noise to calm down a child. These are true films. Real people made them. Real writers put the words together. Real directors chose every shot. Real artists drew every frame. They care about their work. You can feel it when you watch.
You might go to the theater for Toy Story 5. You might stay on your couch for Swapped on Netflix. You might look for Return of the Jungle in May. It does not matter where you watch. Something good is waiting for you.
So get your popcorn ready. Find your favorite spot on the sofa or in the theater. The cartoons are here. And they are better than they have ever been.
