Market movies are majorly marketed toward kids, but let’s be real, some of the best films of all time have come from animation. If you have seen movies like the Toy Story franchise, Woody and Buzz always have an amazing tale to share with some of the best messages. Even Lightning McQueen’s redemption in Cars is proof that animation isn’t just for kids.
Animated films have the ability to bend stories easily due to a lack of realism, and this gives creators great freedom in creating movies and stories that would be hard to make with real-life actors. Signs of a good animated movie will have a balance of stunning visuals, a heartfelt story, and good humor.
Coming to 2025, the lineup of animated movies looks promising, some being long-awaited sequels and some new releases with fresh and original stories that promise to keep both kids and adults holding on to their seats with excitement. Whether you’re a die-hard animation fan or just looking for the next big family movie night selection, these films are guaranteed to do the trick.
Here are the 10 upcoming animated movies you absolutely can’t miss in 2025.
10. The Minecraft Movie
One of the best-selling games of all time is Minecraft, which gained widespread popularity due to its sandbox-type nature. As players, you have immense freedom to create and destroy whatever you can imagine. So when Warner Bros. partnered with Minecraft to launch a movie, the whole gamer community was in a chokehold.
The movie is expected to be released on April 4, and the best part is they did a great job at replicating the essence of the game. From the main character Steve (Jack Black), portals, zombies, villagers, and creating whatever you want, the trailer had it all. From what we see in the trailer, a bunch of humans somehow find a portal to the world of Minecraft and try to save the world from the wrath of Wither Boss, Hoglins, and Piglins.
The movie has a huge crowd excited for it, and it’s one of the best additions to the list of animated movies in 2025.
9. Elio
Elio is another great addition from Pixar Animation Studios, the same company behind Cars, Toy Story, Up, and Inside Out. They already have a great reputation for making some of the best-animated movies to date. Because of that reputation, they have already set high expectations for their upcoming film Elio, which is set to release on June 13.
This time, Pixar is taking viewers on an intergalactic adventure with Elio, a sci-fi fantasy that follows the story of an 11-year-old boy whose imagination runs wild. Looking at the trailer, has the magic touch of Pixar that can be clearly seen with the stunning animations, and it also brushes on topics like friendship and bonds.
Viewers will get to see a new theme play out as Elio takes on a journey that goes beyond our galaxy—new creatures, aliens, and galaxies. Pixar is bringing the big guns with this one.
8. Dogman
What happens when a man’s best friend becomes the man himself? Well—that’s Dogman for you. DreamWorks is bringing the beloved Dogman book series to life this April 25, and fans of Dav Pilkey’s wildly popular graphic novels couldn’t be more excited! Known for his work in Captain Underpants, Pilkey has a knack for blending goofy humor with surprisingly good stories, and the same trend is followed in Dogman as well.
This interesting animated movie follows a half-man, half-dog crime fighter who takes on villains in a world packed with over-the-top action and slapstick comedy. Viewers are quite happy that the creators did not give an unnecessary voice to the character and kept him silent like in the books. If they continue to keep the original story going, then it’s guaranteed to be filled with plenty of laughter.
With a massive fanbase already in place, Dogman has the potential to be a major hit, especially for younger audiences.
7. K-pop: Demon Hunters
K-pop, a music genre hailing from South Korea, is huge right now, and Sony and Netflix have teamed up to capitalize on it. K-Pop: Demon Hunters is set to bring a wild fusion of music and action to the big screen in 2025. The final release date is not confirmed, but it might come out late in the year.
In the film, a chart-topping K-pop girl group is secretly a team of fierce demon hunters, protecting the world from supernatural threats—all while keeping up their idol appearance. The animation is filled with high energy and a lot of flashing colors, and it also hints at a lot of fights. So if you are a K-pop fan, an animation lover, or just in for a unique action-packed ride, this is one 2025 release you won’t want to miss.
6. The Bad Guys 2
They say people don’t change—well, The Bad Guys are here to prove you wrong. DreamWorks is bringing back everyone’s favorite gang of stylish, smooth-talking ex-criminals in The Bad Guys 2! After the first film became a hit in 2022, fans are eager to find out what’s next for Mr. Wolf, Mr. Snake, and the rest of the crew as they continue their journey from villains to heroes—while still keeping things a little mischievous.
In the film, the bad guys have turned good but are required to become notorious for one last mission. With DreamWorks on a hot streak, The Bad Guys 2 has the potential to be another great addition to the list. If you are a fan of the first film or someone who likes movies like Zootopia or The Secret Life of Pets, then this would be a great addition to your list.
5. Zootopia 2
After nearly a decade, Disney finally got down to Zootopia 2, and it looks like they are making it happen. Fans could not be more excited. The 2016 movie was a classic, and it stood out in the modern animation department.
This time, it looks like it’s not just Judy Hopps and Nick Wilde who will return for an action-packed adventure. Looking at the trailer, it seems like the movie has a lot of characters pumped and jumping around, making things happen. While the details and story of the film are kept tight under wraps, we just have to wait and watch if Hopps will take on a new case or what adventures await a newly minted officer—Nick.
The movie is a much-awaited film, and only with time will we get to have a deeper look into the story, which is expected to be released on November 26
4. Lilo and Stitch
A show created by Disney, this one holds a deep sense of nostalgia for many viewers today. It was one of the best after-school watches—perfect for kicking back on the sofa with snacks in hand. The show originally ran for almost two seasons but remained a staple on the Disney Channel with frequent reruns.
This year, Disney is bringing back the beloved story—but with a twist. This time, it’s a live-action/CGI hybrid remake of the 2002 animated classic. The heartwarming tale of a Hawaiian girl and her mischievous blue alien “dog” is set to return to theaters on May 23. Lilo & Stitch is one of Disney’s most unique and beloved films, blending sci-fi chaos with themes of family and loyalty.
While remaking Lilo & Stitch is a bold move, Disney has proven that its live-action adaptations can be major box-office hits. Films like Aladdin, Beauty and the Beast, and Dumbo have already shown that Disney knows how to successfully bring animated classics to life.
3. The SpongeBob Movie: Search for SquarePants
As a kid, I remember screaming SpongeBob SquarePants! every time the theme song played. The show was packed with some of the best storylines and animation, and now, Paramount Pictures is bringing SpongeBob back for another big-screen adventure—sparking nostalgia for longtime fans.
The SpongeBob Movie: Search for SquarePants is set to release in 2025, marking the fourth SpongeBob film. If history is any indication, this one will be filled with the franchise’s signature wacky humor, surreal animation, and plenty of nostalgia for fans of all ages. While plot details are still under wraps, knowing SpongeBob’s history, we can expect absurd shenanigans, over-the-top visuals, and a few hilarious celebrity cameos.
If you grew up watching SpongeBob SquarePants on Nickelodeon, this is the perfect chance to relive those childhood memories. The movie is set to hit theaters on December 19.
2. The Smurfs
The tiny blue humanoid creatures are making a big comeback in 2025 with The Smurfs, a brand-new animated musical from Paramount and Nickelodeon. This film will bring the beloved blue characters back to the big screen, but what really has fans buzzing is the long-awaited return of Rihanna.
Not only is Rihanna producing the film, but she’s also voicing Smurfette! Like previous Smurfs movies that blended live-action with CGI, this version will follow a similar approach. The film will see a group of Smurfs embark on an adventure to Paris to rescue Papa Smurf after he is kidnapped. His ominous warning about an impending threat to Smurf Land throws their peaceful world into chaos.
The movie is set to hit theaters on July 18, and with Rihanna’s involvement and a fresh creative team, The Smurfs could breathe new life into the franchise.
Sneaks
We all love our sneakers—keeping them crease-free, side-eyeing anyone who steps on them, and preserving them like prized possessions. Sneaker culture has been thriving for decades, even before the rise of iconic shoes like Jordans. Now, imagine bringing those sneakers to life, just like Toy Story did with toys.
That’s exactly what Sneaks aims to do. What makes this film stand out is its deep connection to hip-hop and sneaker culture. The movie boasts a star-studded voice cast, including Anthony Mackie, Martin Lawrence, Laurence Fishburne, Roddy Ricch, Quavo, and Chloe Bailey. Adding to the hype, the film’s music is produced by award-winning producer Mustard, promising an energetic soundtrack to match the film’s stylish concept.
Set to hit theaters on April 18, Sneaks is shaping up to be one of the most unique animated films of the year.
This post belongs to FandomWire and first appeared on FandomWire
