This year’s slate, which begins February 2 with the new DreamWorks and Charlie Kaufman comedy, includes spring release dates for ‘The Casagrandes Movie,’ ‘Thelma the Unicorn,’ and ‘Woody Woodpecker Goes to Camp;’ dates for ‘Ultraman: Rising,’ ‘The Imaginary,’ ‘Saving Bikini Bottom: The Sandy Cheeks Movie,’ ‘That Christmas,’ and ‘Spellbound’ yet to be announced.
Netflix has revealed its jam-packed 2024 feature film animation slate, with Charlie Kaufman’s animated feature Orion and The Dark from DreamWorks Animation kicking things off tomorrow, February 2. Films coming later in 2024 with dates not yet announced include The Imaginary, Saving Bikini Bottom: The Sandy Cheeks Movie, Spellbound, That Christmas, and Ultraman: Rising.
Check out what’s coming in 2024:
February 2 - Orion and The Dark
Orion seems a lot like your average elementary school kid –– shy, unassuming, harboring a secret crush. But underneath his seemingly normal exterior, Orion is a ball of adolescent anxiety, completely consumed by irrational fears of bees, dogs, the ocean, cell phone waves, murderous gutter clowns, even falling off a cliff. But of all his fears, the thing he’s the most afraid of is what he confronts on a nightly basis: the dark. So, when the literal embodiment of his worst fear pays a visit, Dark whisks Orion away on a roller coaster ride around the world to prove there is nothing to be afraid of in the night. As the unlikely pair grows closer, Orion must decide if he can learn to accept the unknown –– to stop letting fear control his life and finally embrace the joy of living.
From DreamWorks Animation, Orion and The Dark is directed by Sean Charmatz, written by Charlie Kaufman, and produced by Peter McCown. Executive producers are Walt Dohrn and Bonnie Arnold.
The film features the voices of Jacob Tremblay; Paul Walter Hauser; Angela Bassett; Colin Hanks; Natasia; Demetriou; Golda Rosheuvel; Nat Faxon; Aparna Nancherla; Ike Barinholtz; Carla Gugino; MattDellapina; Nick Kishiyama; Mia Akemi Brown; Shannon Chan-Kent; Jack Fisher; and Werner Herzog.
March 22 - The Casagrandes Movie
After a surprise family trip to Mexico derails Ronnie Anne’s birthday plans, she is determined to prove that she’s old enough to do her own thing – even if it means confronting an ancient preteen demigod whose angst has apocalyptic potential!
From Nickelodeon Animation Studios, The Casagrandes Movie is directed by Miguel Puga, written by Tony Gama-Lobo & Rebecca May, Lalo Alcaraz & Rosemary Contreras, with Michael Rubiner serving as executive producer.
The film features the voices of Izabella Alvarez; Sumalee Montano; Paulina Chávez; Angélica Aragón; Sonia Manzano; Kate del Castillo; and Cristo Fernández.
May 17 - Thelma the Unicorn
Thelma is a small-time pony who dreams of becoming a glamourous 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.
Directed by Jared Hess (Napoleon Dynamite) and Lynn Wang (Unikitty!) and produced by Pam Coats, Thelma the Unicorn is based on the books by Aaron Blabey. The film is written by Jared Hess & Jerusha Hess. Blabley and Patrick Hughes serve as executive producers with music by John Powell.
The voice cast includes a star-studded lineup with Brittany Howard; Will Forte; Jemaine Clement; Edi Patterson; Maliaka Mitchell; Ally Dixon; Fred Armisen; Zach Galifianakis; and Jon Heder.
April 12 - Woody Woodpecker Goes to Camp
After getting kicked out of the forest, Woody thinks he's found a forever home at Camp Woo Hoo — until an inspector threatens to shut down the camp.
From Universal 1440 Entertainment, based on the character “Woody Woodpecker” created by Walter Lantz, the film is directed and executive produced by Jon Rosenbaum, with a screenplay by Cory Edwards, Jim Martin, and Stephen Mazur. The story is by Mazur and Cory Edwards and produced by Jon Kuyper.
The voice cast features Eric Bauza.
Coming in 2024 – Dates to be announced:
The Imaginary
An unforgettable adventure of love, loss, and the healing power of imagination, the The Imaginary portrays the depths of humanity and creativity through the eyes of young Amanda and her imaginary companion, Rudger. Their fantastical adventures launched from her attic, lead them to discover a magical world of creatures and places never before seen until a sinister force threatens to destroy their imaginary world and the friendship within it.
From Studio Ponoc, The Imaginary is directed by animator Yoshiyuki Momose (Spirited Away, The Tale of The Princess Kaguya) and produced by two-time Academy Award nominee Yoshiaki Nishimura (The Tale of The Princess Kaguya, When Marnie Was There).
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.
Based on the series SpongeBob SquarePants created by Stephen Hillenburg, Saving Bikini Bottom: The Sandy Cheeks Movie is directed by Liza Johnson, written by Kaz and Tom Stern, with a teleplay by Kaz. Executive producers are Marc Ceccarelli and Vincent Waller, the animation supervisor is Piero Piluso, and the music supervisor is Karyn Rachtman.
The voice cast features Carolyn Lawrence; Tom Kenny; Wanda Sykes; Clancy Brown; Bill Fagerbakke, Mr. Lawrence; Rodger Bumpass; Johnny Knoxville; Craig Robinson; Grey DeLisle; Ilia Isorelýs Paulino; and Matty Cardarople.
Spellbound
Spellbound follows the adventures of Ellian, the tenacious young daughter of the rulers of Lumbria, who must go on a daring quest to save her family and kingdom after a mysterious spell transforms her parents into monsters.
Directed by Vicky Jenson (Shrek) with an original score from EGOT-winning composer Alan Menken (Beauty and the Beast) and lyrics by Glenn Slater (Tangled), Spellbound is a Netflix Film from Skydance Animation. It is written by Lauren Hynek & Elizabeth Martin, and Julia Miranda and produced by John Lasseter, David Ellison, Dana Goldberg, and Bruce Anderson for Skydance Animation.
The all-star voice cast is led by Rachel Zegler; Nicole Kidman; Javier Bardem; John Lithgow; Jenifer Lewis; Nathan Lane; and Tituss Burgess.
That Christmas
Based on the charming trilogy of children's books by multi-award-winning writer/director Richard Curtis (Four Weddings and a Funeral, Notting Hill, Love Actually, Yesterday), That Christmas follows a series of entwined tales about family and friends, love and loneliness, and Santa Claus making a big mistake, not to mention an enormous number of turkeys!
On the film, from Locksmith Animation, Curtis serves as the writer (alongside Peter Souter) and executive producer with Simon Otto (Love, Death & Robots, How to Train Your Dragon films) directing. Nicole P. Hearon (Moana, Frozen) and Adam Tandy (The Thick of It, Detectorists) produce, with John Powell composing.
Ultraman: Rising
When Tokyo is threatened by rising monster attacks, an all-star athlete reluctantly returns home to take on the mantle of Ultraman, discovering that his greatest challenge isn’t fighting giant monsters- it’s raising one.
Directed by Shannon Tindle, co-directed by John Aoshima, and written by Tindle and Marc Haimes, Ultraman: Rising is produced by Tom Knott and Lisa Poole.
The voice cast features Christopher Sean, Gedde Watanabe, Tamlyn Tomita, Keone Young, and Julia Harriman.
Source: Netflix
Debbie Diamond Sarto is news editor at Animation World Network.
