Netflix Annecy Presentation Recap: The Streamer Reveals Its Upcoming Animation Slate

Netflix’s Animation Showcase Reveals the Streamer's Further Foray Into Animated Programming, with new and returning franchises at the forefront

This past week, at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival, Netflix unveiled their upcoming slate of animated projects. The streamer has found great success with animated programming, from awards contenders like Guillermo Del Toro’s Pinocchio, Klaus, and Nimona, as well as acclaimed series such as Arcane, Castlevania, and Scott Pilgrim Takes Off. The newly announced projects seem to be in-line with Netflix’s previous animated catalogue, promoting new stories and revitalizing existing franchises, while providing animated stories for all ages and demographics. Without further ado, let’s break down some of the key announcements and reveals.

ARCANe: Season two

Netflix found a massive hit on their hands in 2021 with Arcane, an animated series set within the fictional world of the hit League of Legends video-game series. Arcane made history for Netflix as the first ever streaming series to win a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Animated Program. After three years, the series returns for a highly anticipated second, and final season, which will see lead characters Vi (Hailee Steinfeld) and Jinx (Ella Purnell) return for more action. The new season is expected to bow on Netflix in November of 2024.

Twilight of the gods

Since signing a first-look deal with Netflix in 2021, to call filmmaker Zack Snyder’s output for the streamer as both a director and producer fruitful would be an understatement. After bringing Netflix four feature films, Snyder brings his trademark sensibilities with mythological epics to Twilight of the Gods, a new adult-focused animated series set to adapt Norse mythologies. The series also marks a reunion between Snyder and legendary composer Hans Zimmer, in his first foray into animated television. Twilight of the Gods will be available on Netflix on September 19th, 2024.

WALLACE AND GROMIT: Vengeance Most Fowl

Stop-motion giant Aardman Animation’s ongoing collaboration with Netflix reaches a milestone, with a new feature film with the studio’s flagship characters, Wallace and Gromit. The two beloved characters make their grand return in Vengeance Most Fowl, their first film in two decades. The film will follow the titular characters and the return of Feathers McGraw, famed villain of 1993 Aardman short The Wrong Trousers, back for revenge on Wallace and Gromit, if the title is any indicator. The film will first debut on the BBC Network in the UK in late 2024, followed by a worldwide Netflix release at a later date.

Spellbound

Spellbound marks the second feature film from Skydance Animation, and their first for Netflix, who acquired the film from Apple in October of 2023. The film inhabits a world of magic called Lumbria, where a young girl, Ellian (Golden Globe winner Rachel Zegler) must undo a kingdom-dividing spell to save Lumbria. The film marks director Vicky Jenson’s return to the world of animation, after helming the likes of Shrek and Shark Tale earlier in her career. Starring alongside Zegler are Nicole Kidman, Javier Bardem, Nathan Lane, John Lithgow, Titus Burgess, and more. Spellbound releases on Netflix on November 22, 2024.

GHOSTBUSTERS

On the heels of the two new legacy sequels to the famed comedy classic, it was announced that directors Jason Reitman and Gil Kenan are bringing a new Ghostbusters animated series to Netflix. The Ghostbusters franchise is no stranger to the animated world, with the 80’s animated series The Real Ghostbusters having sustained a large cult following. Whether the new Ghostbusters series will follow the original band of characters from the first films, or the new characters from the recent sequels is yet to be announced.

LEVIATHAN

This original science-fiction anime series follows a young fugitive prince meeting a girl board a bioengineered airship, the HMS Leviathan, on the brink of war, in a turn of events that will threaten the course of history. Much is unknown about this series, but it will feature several original songs and an original score from renowned composer and Golden Globe nominee Joe Hisaishi. This new series will debut on the streamer sometime during 2025.

TERMINATOR ZERO

After being on ice since the underperformance of Dark Fate in 2019, the Terminator franchise has found a spark of life in the form of Terminator Zero, an eight-episode anime series which tells a new story in the Terminator world. The series will follow Japanese AI programmer Malcolm Lee, a new character who finds himself and his family on the run from a Terminator assassin, with a mysterious soldier sent from the future to protect him. The series comes from The Batman scribe Mattson Tomlin, with Timothy Olyphant (Deadwood) set to provide the voice of the iconic Terminator. The series arrives on Netflix for August 29th, to coincide with the famous ‘Judgement Day’ event in the Terminator world.

THE TWITS

Academy Award Nominee Phil Johnston (Ralph Breaks The Internet) will write, direct, and produce this animated adaptation of the Roald Dahl book of the same name. The film will follows Mr. and Mrs. Twit — the miserable owners of a dangerous amusement park as they arise to new power in their small town, with a community of magical animals out to stop their rise. Johnston cites his longtime love of Dahl’s story and the moral ambiguity of the characters as what drew him to the project. Natalie Portman, Emilia Clarke, and Margo Martindale are set to headline the voice cast. The Twits will release on Netflix sometime in 2025.

MINECRAFT

The ever-popular videogame franchise is not only expanding into the world of feature film with Jason Momoa, but also a new animated series for Netflix. The series is set to tell an original story within the Minecraft world with familiar characters, using CG animation. The series is set to be animated by WildBrain, a studio who has previously found success with Netflix titles like Carmen Sandiego and Sonic Prime.

Jentry Chau vs. The Underworld

This brand-new 2D animated series follows Jentry Chau (voiced by Emmy Winner Ali Wong), a Chinese-American teen living in small-town Texas, who must evade demonic entities who seek her secret powers. Jentry and her similarly powered family must contend with the powers of evil, while Jentry also struggles to maintain a life as a normal teen at high-school. Also in the series’ ensemble are Bowen Yang, Lucy Liu, and Jimmy O’Yang. Jentry Chau vs. The Underworld will release sometime in late 2024 on Netflix.

Tomb Raider: The Legend of Lara Croft

In yet another game adaptation, the Tomb Raider franchise is expanding on the story of its original games with this new animated series, set to follow its titular lead Lara Croft (now played by Hayley Atwell) in a new globetrotting adventure. Fans won’t have to worry about this series becoming an ancient ruin Croft herself would investigate, only debuting on October 10th of this year on Netflix.

THAT CHRISTMAS

Oscar Nominee Richard Curtis embarks on his first foray into the world of animation with That Christmas, an adaptation of his children’s book trilogy of the same name. The story, like Curtis’ beloved Love, Actually, follows an intertwined series of adventures about friendship, love, and togetherness in the holiday season. Curtis’ established stature has pulled in a cast full of the U.K’s finest performers, headlined by Emmy Winner Brian Cox as Santa Claus. The rest of the voice cast includes the likes of Jodie Whittaker, Fiona Shaw, Bill Nighy, Guz Khan, and many more. That Christmas is set to release on Netflix sometime during December 2024, to coincide with the holiday season.

Other notable projects featured at the showcase included Spongebob spin-offs Plankton: The Movie and Saving Bikini Bottom: The Sandy Cheeks Movie, new seasons of Big Mouth and Jurassic World: Chaos Theory, and many, many more.