2019 is here, and with it comes at least 20 animated films that should be on your radar over the course of the upcoming calendar year. Every month has at least one major animated movie scheduled release, though more are sure to be announced, especially when it comes to smaller studios and domestic releases of foreign films. We’ll have more on those flicks throughout the year, but to get you started as you gear up for this year’s feature-length animated releases, we’ve put together the 20 that you should be aware of now.
This month includes two less-traditional theatrical releases, starting with the latest installment in DC Comics' excellent, long-running original animated universe movies,Reign of the Supermen.This film picks up where the first part,The Death of Superman, left off, and it’ll be the first time the second part of the story is seen on the big screen. (Read on below to see how you can get your hands on some free tickets!) Another less conventional movie release this month isDragon Ball Super: Broly, the highly anticipated new anime from theDragon Ballfranchise. The movie may have opened in Japan already, but the U.S. release promises to be a big event for fans across the country.
And that’s just for starters! The rest of the year heats up even more after that with sequels toThe LEGO MovieandHow to Train Your Dragoncoming early on, along with newcomers and hopeful franchise-starters likeWonder ParkandUglyDollsarriving later. Then, it’s a likely battle of the computer-generated juggernauts with Disney’sToy Story 4andThe Lion King, opening about a month apart, followed by the sure-fire billion-dollar-earner inFrozen 2. Hopefully, everyone will have enough holiday spirit left in the tank to check outKlaus,a new feature from the co-creator ofDespicable Me. There’s something here for everyone!
Reign of the Supermen
Release Date:January 13th (limited theatrical), January 15th (digital), January 29th (Blu-ray)
Director:Sam Liu
Writers:James Krieg, Tim Sheridan
Cast:Rosario Dawson, Nathan Fillion, Rainn Wilson, Rebecca Romijn, Jerry O’Connell, Cameron Monaghan, Christopher Gorham, Shemar Moore, Jason O’Mara, Brenda Strong, Cress Williams, Tony Todd, Patrick Fabian, Jennifer Hale, Toks Olagundoye, Charles Halford, Erica Luttrell, Trevor Devall, Rocky Carroll, Max Mittelman, Nyambi Nyambi, Paul Eiding
Reign of the Supermenfinds Earth’s citizens – and the Man of Steel’s heroic contemporaries – dealing with a world without Superman. But the aftermath of Superman’s death, and the subsequent disappearance of his body, leads to a new mystery – is Superman still alive? The question is further complicated when four new super-powered individuals – Steel, Cyborg Superman, Superboy and the Eradicator – emerge to proclaim themselves as the ultimate hero. In the end, only one will be able to proclaim himself the world’s true Superman.
Reign of the Supermenis the second half of a two-partDC Universe Moviesexperience that began in August 2018 withThe Death of Superman– the two films telling a more faithful animated version of “The Death of Superman,” DC’s landmark 1992-93 comic phenomenon.Superman Doomsday, the inaugural film in theDC Universe Moviesseries, told an abridged version of that comics story, but with a runtime of 75 minutes, the film was only able to focus on a core, singular storyline.The Death of SupermanandReign of the Supermenrestore many of the moments and characters that fans hold dear to their hearts.
A limited number of free tickets are available to the general public.
The subject of all fan email entries should include which location (LA or NY) they wish to attend. Thebodyof all fan RSVP emails need ONLY include the (1) name of the entrant, (2) number of tickets requested (limit four per entry), and (3) valid email address (again, within the body of the email text). Fans should keep their entry simple – here’s an example ofexactlyhow the body of the RSVP email should appear:
Tickets to the event will be distributed on a “first come, first served” basis, and fans will be notified via email.
Dragon Ball Super: Broly
Release Date:January 16th (US)
Director:Tatsuya Nagamine
Writer:Akira Toriyama
Cast:Sean Schemmel, Christopher Sabat, Vic Mignogna, Chris Ayres, Sonny Strait, Emily Neves, Monica Rial, Kara Edwards, Alexis Tipton, Jason Douglas, Ian Sinclair
Dragon Ball Super: Brolycomes to theaters in North America on July 29, 2025!
A planet destroyed, a powerful race reduced to nothing. After the devastation of Planet Vegeta, three Saiyans were scattered among the stars, destined for different fates. While two found a home on Earth, the third was raised with a burning desire for vengeance and developed an unbelievable power. And the time for revenge has come. Destinies collide in a battle that will shake the universe to its very core! Goku is back to training hard so he can face the most powerful foes the universes have to offer, and Vegeta is keeping up right beside him. But when they suddenly find themselves against an unknown Saiyan, they discover a terrible, destructive force.
The LEGO Movie 2: The Second Part
Release Date:February 8th
Directors:Mike Mitchell, Trisha Gum (co-director)
Writers:Michelle Morgan, Dominic Russo, Phil Lord, Christopher Miller, Matthew Fogel, Raphael Bob-Waksberg
Cast:Chris Pratt, Elizabeth Banks, Alison Brie, Margot Robbie, Jonah Hill, Stephanie Beatriz, Channing Tatum, Tiffany Haddish, Nick Offerman, Will Arnett, Charlie Day
The much-anticipated sequel to the critically acclaimed, global box office phenomenon that started it all,The LEGO Movie 2: The Second Part,reunites the heroes of Bricksburg in an all new action-packed adventure to save their beloved city. It’s been five years since everything was awesome and the citizens are facing a huge new threat: LEGO DUPLO invaders from outer space, wrecking everything faster than they can rebuild.
The battle to defeat them and restore harmony to the LEGO universe will take Emmet, Lucy, Batman and their friends to faraway, unexplored worlds, including a strange galaxy where everything is a musical. It will test their courage, creativity and Master Building skills, and reveal just how special they really are.
Reprising their starring roles from the first film are Chris Pratt as Emmet, Elizabeth Banks as Lucy (aka Wyldstyle), Will Arnett as LEGO Batman, Nick Offerman as Metal Beard, and Alison Brie as Unikitty. They are joined by Tiffany Haddish, Stephanie Beatriz, and Arturo Castro as, respectively, new characters Queen Watevra Wa-Nabi, Sweet Mayhem and Ice Cream Cone.
How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World
Release Date:February 22nd
Director:Dean DeBlois
Writers:Dean DeBlois, Cressida Cowell (books)
Cast:Jay Baruchel, America Ferrera, Cate Blanchett, Jonah Hill, Gerard Butler, Kit Harington, Kristen Wiig, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Ólafur Darri Ólaffson, F. Murray Abraham, Craig Ferguson
From DreamWorks Animation comes a surprising tale about growing up, finding the courage to face the unknown…and how nothing can ever train you to let go. What began as an unlikely friendship between an adolescent Viking and a fearsome Night Fury dragon has become an epic adventure spanning their lives. Welcome to the most astonishing chapter of one of the most beloved animated franchises in film history:How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World.
Now chief and ruler of Berk alongside Astrid, Hiccup has created a gloriously chaotic dragon utopia. When the sudden appearance of female Light Fury coincides with the darkest threat their village has ever faced, Hiccup and Toothless must leave the only home they’ve known and journey to a hidden world thought only to exist in myth. As their true destines are revealed, dragon and rider will fight together—to the very ends of the Earth—to protect everything they’ve grown to treasure.
For How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World, series director Dean DeBlois returns alongside the all-star cast. The film is produced by Brad Lewis (Ratatouille, ANTZ) and Bonnie Arnold (Toy Story, How to Train Your Dragon,How to Train Your Dragon 2).
Wonder Park
Release Date:March 15th
Directors:N/A
Writers:Josh Appelbaum, André Nemec, Robot Gordon
Cast:Brianna Denski, Jennifer Garner, Ken Hudson Campbell, Kenan Thompson, Mila Kunis, John Oliver, Ken Jeong, Norbert Leo Butz, Matthew Broderick, Sofia Mali
Wonder Parktells the story of a magnificent amusement park where the imagination of a wildly creative girl named June comes alive. The feature film from Paramount Pictures will also serve as inspiration fora new animated seriescoming to Nickelodeon, premiering sometime around the film’s Spring 2019 release.
Missing Link
Release Date:April 12th
Director:Chris Butler
Writer:Chris Butler
Cast:Hugh Jackman, Zach Galifianakis, Emma Thompson, Zoe Saldana, Timothy Olyphant, Stephen Fry, Amrita Acharia, David Walliams, Matt Lucas
This April, meet Mr. Link: 8 feet tall, 630 lbs, and covered in fur, but don’t let his appearance fool you… he is funny, sweet, and adorably literal, making him the world’s most lovable legend at the heart ofMissing Link, the globe-trotting family adventure from LAIKA. Tired of living a solitary life in the Pacific Northwest, Mr. Link recruits fearless explorer Sir Lionel Frost to guide him on a journey to find his long-lost relatives in the fabled valley of Shangri-La. Along with adventurer Adelina Fortnight, our fearless trio of explorers encounter more than their fair share of peril as they travel to the far reaches of the world to help their new friend. Through it all, the three learn that sometimes you can find a family in the places you least expect.
Release Date:May 3rd
Director:Kelly Asbury
Writers:Alison Peck, Erica Rivinoja, Vivian Wang
Cast:Janelle Monáe, Emma Roberts, Nick Jonas, Bebe Rexha, Kelly Clarkson, Blake Shelton, Gabriel Iglesias, Wanda Sykes, Charli XCX, Pitbull, Leehom Wang, Lizzo
Unconventionality rules inUGLYDOLLS, STXfilms’ new animated musical adventure starring the acting and singing voices of Kelly Clarkson, Nick Jonas, Janelle Monáe, Blake Shelton and Pitbull. The film is inspired by the unique and beloved global plush toy phenomenon launched in 2001.
In the adorably different town of Uglyville, weird is celebrated, strange is special and beauty is embraced as more than simply meets the eye. Here, the free-spirited Moxy and her UglyDolls friends live every day in a whirlwind of bliss, letting their freak flags fly in a celebration of life and its endless possibilities, occasionally looking to the sky, where a new UglyDoll will appear and be embraced by the community.
Moxy (Kelly Clarkson) loves her square-peg life in this round-hole town, but her curiosity about all things leads her to wonder if there’s something – anything – on the other side of the mountain which nestles Uglyville. Moxy gathers a group of her closest friends and sets off to find what’s on the other side. They discover another world – Perfection – a town where more conventional dolls are trained in protocols before they graduate and are sent to the “real” world to find the love of a child.
In Perfection, Moxy and her crew are subject to the manipulations of Lou (Nick Jonas), the perfect doll in charge of training recruits. Here, the UglyDolls will confront what it means to be different, struggle with their desire to be loved, and ultimately discover that you don’t have to be perfect to be amazing because who you truly are is what matters most.
Also starring in the voice cast ofUGLYDOLLSare Wanda Sykes, Emma Roberts, Gabriel Iglesias, and Wang Leehom.
The Secret Life of Pets 2
Release Date:June 7th
Director:Chris Renaud
Writer:Brian Lynch
Cast:Patton Oswalt, Eric Stonestreet, Kevin Hart, Lake Bell, Dana Carvey, Albert Brooks, Hannibal Buress, Bobby Moynihan, Tiffany Haddish, Nick Kroll, Tara Strong, Jenny Slate, Harrison Ford, Ellie Kemper
The Secret Life of Pets 2will follow summer 2016’s blockbuster about the lives our pets lead after we leave for work or school each day. Illumination founder and CEO Chris Meledandri and his longtime collaborator Janet Healy will produce the sequel to the comedy that had the best opening ever for an original film, animated or otherwise.The Secret Life of Pets 2will see the return of writer Brian Lynch (Minions) and once again be directed by Chris Renaud (Despicable Me series, Dr. Seuss’ The Lorax).
Toy Story 4
Release Date:June 21st
Director:Josh Cooley
Writers:John Lasseter, Andrew Stanton, Pete Docter, Lee Unkrich, Will McCormack, Stephany Folsom, C.S. Anderson
Cast:Tom Hanks, Joan Cusack, Tim Allen, Patricia Arquette, Keanu Reeves, Michael Keaton, Jordan Peele, Annie Potts, Laurie Metcalf, Kristen Schaal, Wallace Shawn, Bonnie Hunt, Keegan-Michael Key, Timothy Dalton, Jodi Benson, Jeff Garlin, Estelle Harris, Tony Hale
InToy Story 4, Woody has always been confident about his place in the world and that his priority is taking care of his kid, whether that’s Andy or Bonnie, but when Bonnie adds a reluctant new toy called “Forky” to her room, a road trip adventure alongside old and new friends will show Woody how big the world can be for a toy.
Directed by Josh Cooley (“Riley’s First Date?”) and produced by Jonas Rivera (Inside Out, Up) and Mark Nielsen (associate producer “Inside Out”), Disney•Pixar’sToy Story 4ventures to U.S. theaters on June 15, 2025.
The Queen’s Corgi
Release Date:July 5th (UK)
Director:Ben Stassen
Writers:Rob Sprackling, Johnny Smith
Cast:Julie Walters, Jack Whitehall, Sheridan Smith, Ray Winstone, Matt Lucas
The Queen’s Corgifollows Rex, the British monarch’s most beloved dog, who loses track of his mistress and stumbles across a fight club with dogs of all kinds confronting each other. During his epic journey to find the queen again, Rex falls in love and discovers his true self. The spirit ofThe Queen’s Corgihas been compared to Disney’s classic cinematic canine stories likeThe Fox and the HoundandLady and the Tramp.
Stassen’s last film,The Son of Bigfoot, has grossed over $47 million since opening earlier this summer.
