Get ready to embark on a journey filled with laughter, adventure, and heartwarming moments as we take a sneak peek into the exciting lineup of upcoming animated movies in 2024. From beloved classics making a comeback to new tales unfolding, animation enthusiasts are in for a treat with a diverse range of stories and characters set to hit the screens. Let’s delve into the enchanting world of animation and discover what awaits us in the coming months.
1. The Garfield Movie
This time around Garfield, the world-famous, Monday-hating, lasagna-loving indoor cat, is about to have a wild outdoor adventure! After an unexpected reunion with his long-lost father – scruffy street cat Vic – Garfield and his canine friend Odie are forced from their perfectly pampered life into joining Vic in a hilarious, high-stakes heist.
DNEG Animation has worked on bringing this animated feature to life. Sony Pictures Entertainment India releases The Garfield Movie in English, Hindi and Tamil, also in 3D.
Where to watch: Theatres
Director: Mark Dindal
Producers: John Cohen, Broderick Johnson, Andrew A. Kosove, Steven P. Wegner, Craig Sost and Namit Malhotra.
Releasing: 17 May
2. Thelma the Unicorn
Thelma is a small-time pony who dreams of becoming a glamorous 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 quirky, hilarious, and heartfelt ride from directors Jared Hess (Napoleon Dynamite) and Lynn Wang (Unikitty!).
Mikros Animation has provided the animation for Thelma the Unicorn.
Where to watch: Netflix
Directors: Jared Hess and Lynn Wang
Producer: Pam Coats
Releasing: 17 May
3. Inside out 2
Disney and Pixar’s Inside Out 2 returns to the mind of newly minted teenager Riley just as headquarters is undergoing a sudden demolition to make room for something entirely unexpected: new Emotions! Joy, Sadness, Anger, Fear and Disgust, who’ve long been running a successful operation by all accounts, aren’t sure how to feel when Anxiety shows up. And it looks like she’s not alone.
Maya Hawke lends her voice to Anxiety, alongside Amy Poehler as Joy, Phyllis Smith as Sadness, Lewis Black as Anger, Tony Hale as Fear, and Liza Lapira as Disgust.
Where to watch: Theatres
Director: Kelsey Mann
Producer: Mark Nielsen
Releasing: 14 June
4. Despicable Me 4
Despicable Me 4 begins a new chapter as Gru (Oscar nominee Steve Carrell) and Lucy (Oscar nominee Kristen Wiig) and their girls —Margo (Miranda Cosgrove), Edith (Dana Gaier) and Agnes (Madison Polan)—welcome a new member to the Gru family, Gru Jr., who is intent on tormenting his dad. Gru faces a new nemesis in Maxime Le Mal (Emmy winner Will Ferrell) and his femme fatale girlfriend Valentina (Emmy nominee Sofia Vergara), and the family is forced to go on the run.
Where to watch: Theatres
Director: Chris Renaud
Producers: Chris Meledandri and Brett Hoffman
Releasing: 3 July
5. Saving Bikini Bottom: The Sandy Cheeks Movie
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.
Where to watch: Netflix
Director: Liza Johnson
Producer: Jack Petrik
Releasing: 2 August
6. Moana 2
Walt Disney Animation Studios’ epic animated musical Moana 2 takes audiences on an expansive new voyage with Moana, Maui and a brand-new crew of unlikely seafarers. After receiving an unexpected call from her wayfinding ancestors, Moana must journey to the far seas of Oceania and into dangerous, long-lost waters for an adventure unlike anything she’s ever faced.
Directed by Dave Derrick Jr. with music by Grammy winners Abigail Barlow and Emily Bear, Grammy nominee Opetaia Foa’i, and three-time Grammy winner Mark Mancina.
Director: David Derrick
Producer: Osnat Shurer
Releasing: 27 November 2024
Where to watch: Theatres
7. The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim
Helm Hammerhand, a courageous and fierce leader, is tasked with defending Rohan against invading forces while facing internal political turmoil. The film explores Helm’s rise to power, his struggles to protect his people, and the sacrifices made during this tumultuous period. It also delves into the deep-rooted animosity between the Rohirrim and the Dunlendings, shedding light on the historical tensions between the two factions.
Director: Kenji Kamiyama
Producers: Philippa Boyens and Joseph Chou
Releasing: 13 December 2024
Where to watch: Theatres
8. Mufasa: The Lion King
Mufasa: The Lion King enlists Rafiki to relay the legend of Mufasa to young lion cub Kiara, daughter of Simba and Nala, with Timon and Pumbaa lending their signature schtick. Told in flashbacks, the story introduces Mufasa as an orphaned cub, lost and alone until he meets a sympathetic lion named Taka—the heir to a royal bloodline. The chance meeting sets in motion an expansive journey of an extraordinary group of misfits searching for their destiny—their bonds will be tested as they work together to evade a threatening and deadly foe.
Director: Barry Jenkins
Produced by: Adele Romanski and Mark Ceryak
Releasing: 20 December 2024
Where to watch: Theatres
