There is a big market for animated movies today and Disney and Pixar have proved this fact more than once. When it comes to talking about animated movies, the omnipresent Disney is never too far away from being mentioned, considering it’s what they built their empire on. However, there are many other studios which have successfully ventured into the field and have done well. Disney might be the flag bearer of animated movies but since the past decade many other production houses have realized how big this market is and have ventured into the world of animation. These are some upcoming Non-Disney animated movies that will hit the big screen in the near future and are in production right now:
1. Croods 2
The first movie received positive reviews and had some good writing and jokes. The sequel was confirmed soon after the first movie came out and even though there were some complications concerning the production houses, the news confirming that the cast of Ryan Reynolds, Nicolas Cage and Emma Stone will be returning came out. The movie will come out in 2020.
2. Wonder Park
This is a Spanish/ American production that is a story about an amusement park with some magical elements. The movie already boasts a few big names in the cast such as Mila Kunis and Jennifer Garner. The story revolves around a little girl named June who will be voiced by a newcomer. The movie is set to release in 2019. With the original director, former Pixar animator Dylan Brown being fired from the project, the movie has now welcomed veteran director David Feiss, creator of the downright weird but awesome Cow and Chicken and I Am Weasel as a replacement.
3. Trolls 2
Another sequel in the works is for the 2016 hit movie Trolls. After the first movie got a good response, the studio soon decided to work on the sequel. Justin Timberlake and Anna Kendrick will reprise their roles as Branch and Poppy in Trolls 2, with a bunch of new voices joining the crew. This series is targeted more at a younger audience rather than having the all-ages appeal which reduces the viewers for the movie but hopefully, it will be a good watch.
4. Sing 2
It seems like the future for animated cinema is in sequels only as most of these movies in the list are a sequel to some successful movie. The first movie was a multi starrer with a lot of big names that were headlining the film like Mathew McConaughey, Scarlet Johanssen, Reese Witherspoon etc. The movie was about animals participating in a talent show and there were some great musical moments. The sequel will probably come out in 2020 and not much has been revealed about it.
5. Bob’s Burgers
The Emmy award-winning show is soon to hit the big screen and we’ll be able to see new shenanigans of the Belcher family. The fans of the show will be much excited about this new movie which will probably reach theatres around 2020. The movie has big shoes to fill because the show has a huge fanbase. The show’s creator, Loren Bouchard, seemed excited about bringing the show to the big screen in his statement to the press, but he also recognized the difficult challenge ahead.
6. Uglydolls
If you haven’t heard of this brand then you should know that Uglydolls is a brand of cute toys that have been rather popular since the past few years and are now getting their own movie (if Barbie can do that then why not other toys right?). Singer and rapper Pitbull is involved in the project and not much information has been released yet. The movie looks to be intended to start a franchise, including a Hulu TV series and video games, so the studios behind the movie must be hoping for big things from the film.
7. Sonic the Hedgehog
Sonic is one of the most iconic video game characters but it has never reached the popularity of the Italian plumber. The filmmakers for this movie have hoped that Sonic will translate well to the big screen and have signed up for a live-action/CGI animation hybrid movie. Although this is the first Sonic movie, the character has appeared in films before, most notably Wreck-It Ralph and Ready Player One. The movie is set to hit screens on November 15th, 2019.
8. Secret Life of Pets 2
Another sequel that is in production is the second installment of Secret Life of Pets which will hit the screen in 2019. The concept is similar to the mega-successful Toy story series but with animals instead of toys. The cast includes some famous comedians such as Tiffany Haddish, Eric Stonestreet and Kevin Hart. Producers are expecting this one to be a bigger hit than the first one.
9. The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part
Another movie based on a famous toy was the lego movie that came out in 2014. It is intriguing that a toy with no characters or story behind it could have a successful movie but it did and now there is a sequel to it. There is a huge star cast involved which includes Chris Pratt, Elizabeth Banks and Tiffany Haddish and we cannot wait for this one.
10. Spongebob Movie: It’s a wonderful Sponge
This is not the first Spongebob movie but in fact the third one. Whilst the first movie was more traditionally animated, It’s a Wonderful Sponge will follow Sponge out of Water’s example and be a CGI/2D animation hybrid. The plot of the movie is unknown but it is being speculated that it is inspired by an original Spongebob episode where he wishes he had never been born and Bikini bottom is shown without him. The original cast of the show is set to return and the movie will hit the theatres in 2020.
11. Scooby
The love for Scooby Doo and his gang is eternal as the classic has been remade and has had so many versions and series and still does not get old. Scooby Doo is one of those characters that can entertain children and adults alike and therefore another movie is set to hit the screen in 2020. The movie is called ‘Scooby’ and our beloved characters will be seen fighting off ghostly forces to save mankind once again. The movie will be co-directed by animation veteran Tony Cervone, best known for his work on Animaniacs, Duck Dodgers and Wes Anderson’s Fantastic Mr. Fox. Cervone teams with Dax Shepard.
12. Minions 2
This is probably the most obvious entry in this list as with the success of the first Minions movie which was a blockbuster hit, it is not surprising at all that there is going to be a sequel for it. The little adorable yellow creatures are all set to return to entertain their fans in another movie that will come out in 2020. It is being predicted that if this sequel becomes as successful as the first one then the minions will probably get more movies.
13. Super Mario Bros.
If there is one video game that has been played by most kids from the 90s then it is super Mario. There was a disappointing live action movie but since then Mario has not had an appearance on the big screen. The production house that is bringing the Mario bros on screen now is best known for producing Illumination’s other big hits like the Despicable Me movies, Minions and Sing. The release date for the movie is not known yet but it will not be coming out before 2020.
14. Angry Birds 2
The mega successful videogame has become a legend and a hub for merchandising since its launch. The first movie received mixed critical reviews but earned well on the box office. The sequel is set to hit the screens in 2019 on the 10th anniversary of the launch of the game. The original cast is set to return for the sequel along with some new cast members.
15. How To Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World
The first movie of the series came out in 2010 and got a lot of praise from audience and critics alike. This is the story of a young Viking named Hiccup and his dragon friend Toothless and this story struck a chord with the audience of all ages. After the first movie got a lot of success, the series got a sequel which was equally loved and even a TV series. It is safe to say that a lot is at stake for this third installment and we are rooting for it. The film’s release date has been changed and delayed thrice and now is set to release in 2019.
