Honestly, looking at the slate for the next couple of years, it feels like we’re entering a time machine. If you’ve been tracking the new animated movies coming out, you might have noticed a pattern that’s either incredibly exciting or a little bit exhausting, depending on how much you love nostalgia.
We are basically living through the "Year of the 5s." Toy Story 5. Shrek 5. Even Minions 3.
But it’s not just about the big numbers. There is some seriously weird, experimental stuff happening behind the scenes at Pixar and Warner Bros that actually might save us from sequel fatigue. Let's break down what's real, what's delayed, and what you actually need to clear your calendar for.
The Heavy Hitters: 2026 Release Dates You Can Bank On
The schedule for 2026 is getting crowded. Fast.
The biggest shocker? The Super Mario Galaxy Movie. After the first one basically printed money for Nintendo and Illumination, they’ve confirmed the sequel for April 3, 2026. Chris Pratt is back, obviously. But the title change to Galaxy suggests we’re heading into space, likely pulling from the Wii-era gravity mechanics that everyone obsessed over.
Then you’ve got the green ogre. Shrek 5 is officially landing on July 1, 2026. It’s been sixteen years. Sixteen. Most kids who watched the last one are now paying mortgages. But DreamWorks got the band back together: Mike Myers, Eddie Murphy, and Cameron Diaz are all locked in.
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Quick Release Calendar for 2026
- Hoppers (Pixar): March 6, 2026
- The Super Mario Galaxy Movie: April 3, 2026
- Toy Story 5: June 19, 2026
- Shrek 5: July 1, 2026
- PAW Patrol: The Dino Movie: August 14, 2026
- The Cat in the Hat: November 6, 2026
Pixar’s Big Identity Crisis (And Why It’s Good)
Pixar is in a weird spot. On one hand, they are leaning hard into their legacy. Toy Story 5 is scheduled for June 19, 2026, and the plot is... surprisingly dark? Andrew Stanton is directing, and the core conflict is "Toy meets Tech." Basically, Woody and Buzz have to compete for a kid’s attention against iPads and electronics.
It feels a bit meta.
But then you have Hoppers. This is the "original" Pixar we’ve been missing. It’s about a girl named Mabel who "hops" her consciousness into a robotic beaver to talk to animals. It sounds insane. It sounds like Avatar but with more wood-chewing. Directed by Daniel Chong (the We Bare Bears creator), this is the one to watch if you’re tired of seeing the same characters every three years.
The Dr. Seuss Cinematic Universe?
Warner Bros is trying something bold with The Cat in the Hat. Forget that 2003 live-action fever dream with Mike Myers. This is a fully animated, Bill Hader-led reboot coming November 6, 2026.
They aren't just making one movie. They’re building a "Seuss-verse." There’s a Thing One and Thing Two spin-off already in the works, and Oh, the Places You’ll Go! is slated for 2028. Hader is playing the Cat as a bit of an "agent of chaos" for an organization called the I.I.I.I. (the Institute for the Institution of Imagination and Inspiration).
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What Happened to Frozen 3 and Spider-Verse?
If you were hoping to see Elsa or Miles Morales this year, I’ve got bad news.
Frozen 3 was originally rumored for 2026, but Disney officially pushed it to November 24, 2027. Jennifer Lee mentioned at D23 that the story they’re telling is "too big for one movie," which basically confirms that Frozen 4 is being made simultaneously. They’re going the Avengers: Infinity War route.
And then there's Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse.
The production on this has been famously complicated. While some rumors suggested a 2026 window, the most reliable industry trackers and production updates now point to June 18, 2027. The animators need time. Given how "Across the Spider-Verse" looked, nobody is complaining about them taking an extra year to get the visuals right.
The Under-the-Radar Picks
Don't sleep on the smaller studio releases. The SpongeBob Movie: Search for SquarePants is eyeing a January 2026 window. It’s a deep-sea rescue mission directed by Derek Drymon.
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Also, keep an eye on GOAT. It’s an animated sports comedy about a goat named Will who wants to play "roarball." It hits theaters February 13, 2026. It sounds goofy, but the talent behind it is legit.
Why the Delay Culture Matters
We’ve seen a lot of new animated movies coming out get shuffled around lately. Why? Because the "crunch" in animation has become a massive talking point. Studios like Sony and Disney are realizing that if they rush these 1,000-person animation teams, the quality (and the box office) tanks.
The move of Frozen 3 to 2027 isn't a sign of trouble; it's a sign that Disney is terrified of messing up their biggest brand. They want "Frozen" to stay "event cinema," not just another streaming drop.
How to Stay Ahead of the Hype
If you want to actually see these movies without the crowds, your best bet is to look for the "Limited" release dates usually hidden in the trades.
- Follow the directors, not just the studios. When Andrew Stanton or Brad Bird (who is working on Incredibles 3) starts talking, the release dates usually follow shortly after.
- Watch the June/November windows. Animation is seasonal. If a movie doesn't have a date but says "Summer 2026," it's almost certainly aiming for the third week of June.
- Check the trades for "Untitled Disney Animation." Disney often "parks" dates years in advance. Currently, they have a massive slot for November 2026 that is likely the original project Hexed.
The next two years are going to be a battle between the safety of sequels and the risk of new ideas. Whether you’re team Shrek or team Hoppers, the theater is going to be a very busy place.
Keep an eye on the official studio socials for trailer drops, which usually happen exactly six months before the release dates listed above. If Mario Galaxy is coming in April, expect a teaser by October of this year.