2026 in animation

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2026 in animation is an overview of notable events, including notable awards, list of films released, television show debuts and endings, and notable deaths.

Events

January

• January 1: Clarabelle Cow, Blondie, Pluto, Flip the Frog, and The first Betty Boop cartoon Dizzy Dishes enter the public domain in the United States. ^[1]
• January 11: Season 3 of Primal premiered on Adult Swim.
• January 15: A third Phineas and Ferb film is announced by Disney Branded Television to be in the works. ^[2]
• January 16: The final two episodes of the fifth season of Phineas and Ferb premiere on Disney Channel and Disney XD simultaneously. ^[3]
• January 17: The final ten episodes from the fifth season of Phineas and Ferb were released on Disney+. ^[4]
• January 30: NEON's Arco will be released.

February

• February 13: Sony Pictures Animation's Goat will be released.
• February 15: The season 37 finale (also promoted as its 800th episode) of The Simpsons will premiere on Fox.
• February 21: The 53rd Annie Awards will be held.
• February 22: American Dad! will return to Fox after airing on TBS for 12 years with the 22nd season.
• February 27: Doraemon: New Nobita and the Castle of the Undersea Devil will be released.

March

• March 6: Pixar's Hoppers will be released.
• March 15: The 98th Academy Awards will be held.
• March 20: The eighth episode of The Amazing Digital Circus will be released on YouTube.

April

• April 3: Illumination's film adaptation of The Super Mario Galaxy Movie , based on the video game, will be released.

May

• May 1: Angel Studios' Animal Farm will be released.

June

• June 19: Pixar's Toy Story 5 will be released.

July

• July 1: Illumination's Minions 3 will be released.

August

• August 14: Paramount Pictures and Nickelodeon's Paw Patrol: The Dino Movie will be released.
• August 28: Warner Bros.'s Coyote vs. Acme (a once-cancelled movie based on Looney Tunes's Wile E. Coyote) will be released.

September

• September 18: Paramount Pictures and Nickelodeon's The Legend of Aang: The Last Airbender will be released exclusively for Paramount+. ^[5]
• September 25: DreamWorks Animation's Forgotten Island will be released.

October

• October 23: Laika's Wildwood will be released.

November

• November 6: Warner Bros. Pictures Animation's film adaptation The Cat in the Hat , based on the Dr. Seuss book of the same name, will be released.
• November 25: Walt Disney Animation Studios' Hexed, will be released.

December

• December 23: Paramount Pictures' The Angry Birds Movie 3 will be released.

Specific date unknown

• Aardman's Shaun the Sheep: The Beast of Mossy Bottom will be released.
• Skydance Animation's third feature film Swapped will be released as a Netflix exclusive.
• Skydance Animation's Ray Gunn will be released as a Netflix exclusive.
• Mating Season will premiere on Netflix.
• Adventure Time: Side Quests will be released on Cartoon Network.
• Part 2 of the third and final season of Beastars will premiere on Netflix.
• Sofia the First: Royal Magic will premiere on Disney Jr.
• An eighth season of Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood will be released. ^[6]
• An untitled crossover series between Cocomelon and Hello Kitty will be released. ^[7]
• The season 6 finale of Miraculous: Tales of Ladybug & Cat Noir will premiere on TF1 in France.
• The 16th season finale of Bob's Burgers will premiere on Fox.
• The season 24 finale of Family Guy will premiere on Fox.
• Season 38 of The Simpsons will premiere on Fox.
• Season 17 of Bob's Burgers will premiere on Fox.
• Season 25 of Family Guy will premiere on Fox.
• The ninth season of Rick and Morty will premiere on Adult Swim.
• Season 15 of King of the Hill will premiere on Hulu.
• Season 11 of Futurama will premiere on Hulu.
• Season 3 of Helluva Boss will premiere on Prime Video (and then on YouTube the following month).
• The ninth and final episode of The Amazing Digital Circus will be released on YouTube.
• The third season of Pupstruction will premiere on Disney Jr. in the United States.
• The fifth season of Big City Greens will premiere on Disney Channel and Disney XD simultaneously.
• The third season of Kiff will premiere on Disney Channel and Disney XD simultaneously.
• The sixth season of Phineas and Ferb will premiere on Disney Channel and Disney XD simultaneously.
• The fourth season of Chibiverse will premiere on Disney Channel and Disney XD simultaneously.
• Season 7 of Miraculous: Tales of Ladybug & Cat Noir will premiere on TF1 in France.
• Season 4 of Smiling Friends will premiere on Adult Swim.
• Season 29 of South Park will premiere on Comedy Central.
• The third season of Hazbin Hotel will premiere on Amazon Prime Video.

Awards

• Academy Award for Best Animated Feature: TBA
• Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film: TBA
• American Cinema Editors Award for Best Edited Animated Feature Film: TBA
• Annecy International Animation Film Festival Cristal du long métrage: TBA
• Annie Award for Best Animated Feature: TBA
• Annie Award for Best Animated Feature – Independent: TBA
• Annie Award for Best Animated Television Production: TBA
• Astra Film Award for Best Animated Film: TBA
• Austin Film Critics Association Award for Best Animated Film: KPop Demon Hunters
• BAFTA Award for Best Animated Film: TBA
• BAFTA Award for Best Short Animation: TBA
• Boston Society of Film Critics Award for Best Animated Film: Endless Cookie
• Central Ohio Film Critics Association Awards for Best Animated Feature: Little Amélie or the Character of Rain
• César Award for Best Animated Film: TBA
• Chicago Film Critics Association Award for Best Animated Film: KPop Demon Hunters
• Critics' Choice Movie Award for Best Animated Feature: KPop Demon Hunters
• Critics' Choice Television Award for Best Animated Series: South Park
• Dallas–Fort Worth Film Critics Association Award for Best Animated Film: KPop Demon Hunters
• European Film Award for Best Animated Feature Film: TBA
• Florida Film Critics Circle Award for Best Animated Film: Little Amélie or the Character of Rain
• Golden Globe Award for Best Animated Feature Film: KPop Demon Hunters
• Golden Reel Award for Outstanding Achievement in Sound Editing – Sound Effects, Foley, Dialogue and ADR for Animated Feature Film: TBA
• Goya Award for Best Animated Film: TBA
• Japan Academy Film Prize for Animation of the Year: TBA
• Kids' Choice Award for Favorite Animated Movie: TBA
• Los Angeles Film Critics Association Award for Best Animated Film: Little Amélie or the Character of Rain
• Mainichi Film Award for Best Animation Film: TBA
• Minnesa Film Critics Alliance Award for Best Animated Feature: KPop Demon Hunters
• National Board of Review Award for Best Animated Film: Arco
• New York Film Critics Circle Award for Best Animated Film: KPop Demon Hunters
• Online Film Critics Society Award for Best Animated Film: TBA
• Producers Guild of America Award for Best Animated Mion Picture: TBA
• San Diego Film Critics Society Award for Best Animated Film: KPop Demon Hunters
• San Francisco Bay Area Film Critics Circle Award for Best Animated Feature: KPop Demon Hunters
• Saturn Award for Best Animated Film: TBA
• Seattle Film Critics Society Award for Best Animated Feature: KPop Demon Hunters
• St. Louis Film Critics Association Award for Best Animated Feature: Zootopia 2
• Tokyo Anime Award: TBA
• Toronto Film Critics Association Award for Best Animated Film: Endless Cookie
• Visual Effects Society Award for Outstanding Visual Effects in an Animated Feature: TBA
• Washington D.C. Area Film Critics Association Award for Best Animated Feature: KPop Demon Hunters

Films released

Main article: List of animated feature films of 2026

Television series debuts

Main article: List of animated television series of 2026

Date	Title	Channel, Streaming
January 13	Hey A.J.!	Disney Jr., Disney+
February 2	Phoebe & Jay	PBS Kids
February 20	Strip Law	Netflix
March	Breaking Bear	Tubi
TBA	Rooster Fighter	Adult Swim, HBO Max
	SuperMutant Magic Academy
	Adventure Time: Side Quests	Cartoon Network, HBO Max
	Star Wars: Maul – Shadow Lord	Disney+
	The Sunnyridge 3
	BeddyByes	Disney Jr.
	Sofia the First: Royal Magic
	Alley Cats	Netflix
	Mating Season
	Stranger Things: Tales from '85
	DJ Gold's Smile Playhouze with TeenNick	TeenNick
	HexVets and Magic Pets	Nickelodeon, Nick Jr.
	Super Why's Comic Book Adventures	PBS Kids

Television series endings

Date	Title	Channel, Streaming	Year	Notes
March	Beastars	Netflix	2019–2026	Ending
TBA	The Amazing Digital Circus	YouTube	2023–2026
	Dora	Paramount+, Nickelodeon	2024–2026	Canceling
	Molly of Denali	PBS Kids	2019–2026	Ending

Television season premieres

Date	Title	Season	Channel, Streaming
January 11	Primal	3	Adult Swim, HBO Max
February 22	American Dad!	22	Fox [a]

Television season finales

Date	Title	Season	Channel, Streaming
January 16	Phineas and Ferb	5	Disney Channel, Disney XD
February 15	The Simpsons	37	Fox

Deaths

January

• January 8: Guy Moon, American composer ( Cartoon All-Stars to the Rescue , Hanna-Barbera, Nickelodeon Animation Studios, Grim & Evil , The Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle , Johnny Test ), dies at age 63. ^{[8] [9] [10] [11]}
• January 9:
  • Bill Millar, English visual effect artist and title card artist ( The Transformers: The Movie , G.I. Joe: The Movie ), dies at age 79. ^[12]
  • T. K. Carter, American actor (voice of Alex in Turbo Teen , Sledgehammer O'Possum in the What a Cartoon! episode "Sledgehammer O'Possum: What's Going on Back There?", Monstar Nawt in Space Jam , Anthony Julian in Jem , Rocksteady in The Transformers episode "Auto-Bop"), dies at age 69. ^{[13] [14]}
• January 13: Scott Adams, American cartoonist and producer ( Dilbert ) dies at age 68. ^{[15] [16] [17]}
• January 14: Gloria Rocha, Mexican voice actress (Latin American dub voice of Olive Oyl in Popeye , Sorceress in He-Man and the Masters of the Universe and She-Ra: Princess of Power , Tweety in Looney Tunes , Melody in Josie and the Pussycats , Velma Dinkley in Scooby-Doo ), and voice director ( Dragon Ball Z , Sailor Moon ), dies at age 94. ^{[18] [19] [20]}
• January 16:
  • Mark Jones, American director, screenwriter ( Super Friends , Saturday Supercade , Skysurfer Strike Force , Mister T , Heathcliff , Wild West C.O.W.-Boys of Moo Mesa , Captain Caveman and the Teen Angels , James Bond Jr. , Rubik, the Amazing Cube , The Puppy's Further Adventures ) and producer (Rubik, the Amazing Cube, The Puppy's Further Adventures), dies at age 72. ^{[21] [22]}
  • Kianna Underwood, American actress (voice of Fuchsia Glover in Little Bill ), dies at age 33. ^[23]
• January 18: Roger Allers, American director ( The Lion King , Open Season , The Prophet ), screenwriter ( The Emperor's New Groove , Brother Bear , Aladdin , Beauty and the Beast , The Lion King 1½ ) and animator ( Rock & Rule , Open Season, The Little Mermaid , Little Nemo: Adventures in Slumberland , Brother Bear 2 ), dies at age 76. ^{[24] [25] [26] [27]}
• January 19: Stefan Gossler, German actor (German dub voice of Master Monkey in the Kung Fu Panda franchise, King Julien in the Madagascar franchise, Splinter in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem , Cell in Dragon Ball Z ), dies at age 70. ^{[28] [29] [30]}

Notes

1. Returned to Fox after airing on TBS from 2014 to 2025.

References

1. "copyright". LII / Legal Information Institute. Archived from the original on October 10, 2021. Retrieved December 12, 2025.
2. Petski, Denise (January 15, 2026). "New 'Phineas And Ferb' Movie Gets Disney Greenlight". Variety . Retrieved January 15, 2026.
3. Disney Television Animation News (December 4, 2025). "Disney Networks Highlights - January, 2026". Tumblr . Retrieved December 4, 2025.
4. Reif, Alex (October 12, 2025). ""Phineas and Ferb" Lead a Music-Packed NYCC Panel with an Episode Debut - "Bend It Like Doof"". Laughing Place.com. Retrieved October 15, 2025.
5. D'Alessandro, Anthony (December 23, 2025). "'The Legend Of Aang: The Last Airbender' Won't Play Theaters, Will Debut On Paramount+ Instead". Deadline . Retrieved December 31, 2025.
6. Zahed, Ramin (June 23, 2025). "PBS Kids to Pounce on Eighth Season of 'Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood' in '26". Animation Magazine. Retrieved June 27, 2025.
7. Milligan, Mercedes (June 25, 2025). "Moonbug & Sanrio Ink New Content Collab Deal". Animation Magazine. Retrieved June 27, 2025.
8. Del Rosario, Alexandra (January 12, 2026). "Guy Moon, Emmy-nominated composer of beloved Nickelodeon animated shows, dies at 63". Los Angeles Times . Retrieved January 13, 2026.
9. Oganesyan, Natalie (January 10, 2026). "Guy Moon Dies: Emmy-Nominated 'Fairly OddParents' Composer Was 63". Deadline Hollywood . Retrieved January 11, 2026.
10. Staff, TMZ (January 11, 2026). "Emmy-Nominated Composer Guy Moon Dies In Tragic Auto Accident". TMZ . Retrieved January 11, 2026.
11. Clarendon, Dan (January 11, 2026). "Guy Moon, 'The Fairly OddParents' & 'Danny Phantom' Composer, Dies at 63 After Accident". TV Insider . Retrieved January 11, 2026.
12. Bill Millar
13. "T.K. Carter - Filmbug". www.filmbug.com. Retrieved June 26, 2023.
14. "'The Thing' Actor T.K. Carter Dead at 69". TMZ. January 10, 2026. Retrieved January 10, 2026.
15. Scott Adams, Creator of the ‘Dilbert’ Comic Strip, Dies at 68
16. Smith, Harrison (January 13, 2026). "Scott Adams, Dilbert creator who poked fun at bad bosses, dies at 68". The Washington Post . Retrieved January 13, 2026.
17. Sandomir, Richard (January 13, 2026). "Scott Adams, Audacious Creator of the 'Dilbert' Comic Strip, Dies at 68". The New York Times . Retrieved January 13, 2026.
18. "¿Quién era Gloria Rocha, "La Madrina" en el doblaje de Dragon Ball en México?". El Universal (in Spanish). Retrieved January 15, 2026.
19. "Luto en el doblaje: Fallece Gloria Rocha, la arquitecta de Sailor Moon y Dragon Ball". Kudasai (in Spanish). January 14, 2026. Retrieved January 15, 2026.
20. "Gloria Rocha: falleció "la madrina" de tu anime favorito". Animal Politico (in Spanish). January 14, 2026. Retrieved January 15, 2026.
21. Dunn, Jack (January 17, 2026). "Mark Jones, 'Leprechaun' and 'Rumpelstiltskin' Director, Dies at 72". Variety . Retrieved January 17, 2026.
22. Korngut, Josh (January 17, 2026). "Mark Jones, Writer-Director Behind Leprechaun and Rumpelstiltskin, Dies at 76". Dread Central . Retrieved January 17, 2026.
23. Saperstein, Pat (January 16, 2026). "Kianna Underwood, Who Appeared on Nickelodeon's 'All That,' Killed in Brooklyn Hit-and-Run". Variety. Retrieved January 17, 2026.
24. Thomas, Carly (January 18, 2026). "Roger Allers, 'The Lion King' Co-Director, Dies at 76". The Hollywood Reporter . Retrieved January 19, 2026.
25. Garner, Glenn (January 18, 2026). "Roger Allers Dies: 'The Lion King' Co-Director Was 76; Bob Iger Pays Tribute To "Creative Visionary"". Deadline Hollywood . Retrieved January 19, 2026.
26. Dunn, Jack (January 18, 2026). "Roger Allers, 'The Lion King' Director, Dies at 76". Variety . Retrieved January 19, 2026.
27. Zahed, Ramin (January 18, 2026). "Disney Veteran, 'The Lion King' Director Roger Allers Dies at Age 76". Animation Magazine . Retrieved January 19, 2026.
28. "Stefan Gossler". synchronkartei.de (in German). Retrieved 20 January 2026.
29. "Fox and the Crew - Inside Synchrons Beitrag". Facebook . January 20, 2026. Retrieved January 20, 2026.
30. Nadine Buderath (January 17, 2026). "Er lieh Jackie Chan seine Stimme: Siegener Schauspieler Stefan Gossler gestorben". Siegener Zeitung (in German). Retrieved January 21, 2026.

External links

• Animated works of the year, listed in the IMDb.