Movies20 New Animated Movies of 2020 (Updated!)

20 New Animated Movies of 2020 (Updated!)

Do you love animation and appreciate how far it has come over the years? Discover all of the known upcoming cartoon movies in our mega list below.

2019 was a great year for animated movies, and now that the year has come to a close, we thought now would be the perfect time to take a look at the landscape for all upcoming cartoon movies of 2020, as well as the films that we know about that are coming in 2020 and even beyond.

Looking at the slate of upcoming animated films, it appears as though we have some truly potentially great movies coming soon to a theater near you.

The below list of movies strictly contains new animated movies that are currently slated for release in 2020 and beyond, and we’ll keep this list updated as humanly possible as we learn about new films coming, release date changes, and as we get more details for each of the movies on the list.

Check out all of the new animated movies for kids for 2020 2021, and beyond:

Onward

Release Date: March 6, 2020
Starring: Tom Holland, Chris Pratt, Julia Louis-Dreyfus
Director: Dan Scanlon

Stream it on Disney+ Now

Disney Pixar’s next BIG hit is going to be 2020’s Onward, a suburban fantasy starring two teenage elf bros (Holland and Pratt, of course) who are on the hunt to determine whether or not there is still magic out there. Aside from Holland, Pratt, and Louis-Dreyfus, there’s also a slew of well-known names attached to this film, including the hilarious Ali Wong, Octavia Spencer, and That 70s Show‘s Wilmer Valderrama.

After receiving their father’s mysterious magical staff that allows the brothers to bring back their father for 24 hours, they only actually receive half of their dad. Now, they’re looking to figure out how to get back the other half. It should go without saying that Pratt and Holland on-screen together should be magical, itself, and when there’s actually fantasy elements and magic in the film, it has all of the makings to be a huge hit.

Trolls World Tour

Release Date: April 10, 2020
Starring:
Justin Timberlake, James Corden, Rachel Bloom, Ozzy Osbourne
Directors: Walt Dohrn, David. P. Smith

Somehow, Trolls became a hit among kids, and that’s why it’s getting a sequel. The new film is called Trolls World Tour, and it’ll star Justin Timberlake, Rachel Bloom, and James Corden this time around.

In Trolls World Tour, Poppy and Branch find out that there are five other different Troll tribes scattered in five different locales around the world, each of which are devoted to a different kind of music: Funk, Country, Techno, Classical, Pop, and Rock.

Update 4/10/20: Dreamworks had to forego a theatrical release due to the Coronavirus, which means you can stream Trolls World Tour now on Amazon Video.

Scoob!

Release Date: May 15, 2020 [via Variety]
Starring: 
Mark Wahlberg, Mckenna Grace, Amanda Seyfried
Director: Tony Cervone

The next Scooby-Doo movie to hit theaters will be 2020’s Scoob!, and honestly, it could go either way. It doesn’t look too bad, judging by the couple of Scoob! trailers we’ve seen so far, but it also doesn’t look too good. The film has an all-star cast that includes Mark Wahlberg, Mckenne Grace, Amanda Seyfriend, Zac Efron, Gina Rodriguez, and many more.

The story will follow Scooby and the gang as they uncover a plot to unleash the ghost dog, Cerberus, upon the world. While on the case, Shaggy, Scooby and co. discover that Scoob is destined for great things.

The Spongebob Movie: Sponge on the Run

spongebob movie sponge on the run

Release Date: May 22, 2020
Starring: Keanu Reeves, Awkwafina, Clancy Brown
Director: Tim Hill

Gary gets snail-napped, leaving Spongebob and Patrick no other choice but to embark on an epic adventure to the Lost City of Atlantic City to get the beloved snail back.

Watch the trailer here.

Minions: The Rise of Gru

minions the rise of gru

Release Date: July 3, 2020
Starring: 
Steve Carell, Taraji P. Henson, Lucy Lawless
Directors: Kyle Balda, Brad Ableson

The long-awaited Minions sequel, The Rise of Gru, is set to hit theaters this summer. This time around, it’ll tell the story of Gru’s rise to villainy as a 12-year-old boy in the suburbs.

The One and Only Ivan

Release Date: August 14, 2020
Starring: 
Sam Rockwell, Angelina Jolie, Bryan Cranston
Directors: Thea Sharrock

The One and Only Ivan is an upcoming animated movie that follows Ivan, a gorilla in captivity who teams up with an elephant named Stella to figure out how to escape.

Ivan is voiced by Rockwell while the elephant, Stella, is voiced by Jolie. The cast for this one is STACKED, including some big names like Danny DeVito, Helen Mirren, and Bryan Cranston.

The movie is based on the book of the same name, which is actually based on a true story of Ivan, who also lived in captivity for nearly three decades.

The Croods 2

Release Date: December 23, 2020
Starring: Ryan Reynolds, Emma Stone, Nicolas Cage

The Croods sequel will follow the prehistoric family, The Croods, on a new adventure in a strange new world. It was initially cancelled by Dreamworks, but in September 2017, the production company put it back on their schedule, this time for 2020.

The Willoughbys

Release Date: TBA 2020
Starring: 
Will Forte, Martin Short, Alessia Cara
Director: Kris Pearn, Cory Evans

The Willoughbys is an upcoming animated movie based on the classic children’s book of the same name. The story follows the children of the Willoughby family as they attempt to send their parents on a vacation in order to live on their own and prove they’d be better off raising themselves.

More Upcoming Animated Movies

Rumble

rumble 2021

Release Date: January 29, 2021
Starring: 
Ben Schwartz, Will Arnett, Geraldine Viswanathan
Director: Hamish Grieve

Paramount Pictures presents an upcoming animated movie about wrestling monsters, properly named Rumble. It’s slated to hit in January 2021 and will star Ben Schwartz (Sonic the Hedgehog, Parks and Recreation) and Geraldine Viswanathan (Blockers, Miracle Workers). It’ll also star Brooklyn Nine-Nine’s Terry Crews.

On top of that, we’ll get some interesting and well-known sports-related voices in the movie, including Stephen A. Smith and Michael Buffer.

Now, I’m sure Rumble will be a funny movie, but I’m surprised to see Paramount go with a monsters theme, given the fact that one of their competitors has, you know, that other Monsters animated franchise.

The Boss Baby 2

boss baby 2 release date

Release Date: March 26, 2021
Starring: 
Alec Baldwin, James McGrath
Director: Tom McGrath

A concept as old as time: talking babies with a serious attitude. The Boss Baby will see its sequel, The Boss Baby 2, release in March 2021. We don’t have any plot details regarding the new animated movie, but Alec Baldwin and James McGrath will both return.

Blazing Samurai

Release Date: June 10, 2021
Starring: 
Samuel L. Jackson, Michelle Yeoh, Djimon Hounsou
Director: Mark Koetsier, Paul Stodolny

Blazing Samurai is a movie that has been in development hell since it was first pushed back in 2017…and then again in 2018…and then indefinitely. Now, we’re told that the upcoming animated film will finally see the light of day in Summer 2021.

The movie will have the same spirit as Mel Brooks’ Blazing Saddles and will follow a samurai who hopes to make his dreams come true.

Sing 2

Release Date: July 2, 2021
Starring: 
Scarlett Johansson, Matthew McConaughey, Taron Egerton
Director: Garth Jennings

The Sing sequel is now slated to release in Summer 2021.

B.O.O.: Bureau of Otherworldly Operations

animation movies

Release Date: TBA
Starring: Melissa McCarthy, Seth Rogen, Bill Murray, Rashida Jones, Matt Bomer
Director: Tony Leondis

B.O.O.: Bureau of Otherworldly Operations is a super classified agency that is dedicated to protecting humans from hauntings, with one kicker: the agents are actually ghosts, themselves. Two brand new members of the force (Melissa McCarthy and Seth Rogen) will partner up to take on the agency’s Most Wanted Haunter.

The Sword in the Stone

Release Date: TBA
Starring: TBA
Director: Juan Carlos Fresnadillo

Okay, so technically this is a live-action film, but it’s a live-action remake of Disney’s animated film from the 1960s of the same name.

The Billion Brick Race

Release Date: TBA
Starring: TBA

It’s LEGO-related.

Popeye

Release Date: TBA
Starring: TBA

Sony is preparing a CG Popeye that is to be released in 3D. It was being directed by Genndy Tartakovsky who jumped ship over the direction the movie was being taken. We don’t know what sort of trouble we’ll see Popeye in this time around, since the story is being kept hushed for now, although we know Olive Oyl, Bluto and Swee’Pea will all be involved. Without a director, though, it’s extremely unlikely we’ll see Popeye in its originally planned release year of 2016.

The Ark and the Aardvark

Release Date: TBA
Starring:
Miles Teller, Aubrey Plaza, Stephen Merchant, Jenny Slate
Director: John Stevenson

Kung Fu Panda director John Stevenson will helm The Ark and the Aardvark, which will follow the story of Noah’s Ark from a perspective of the animals. The film will center around Gilbert (voiced by Miles Teller), an outcast aardvark who becomes the leader of a group of misfit animals on their way to the ark. While on his journey to the Ark, Gilbert will discover his own inner strength.

Danger Mouse

danger mouse animated movie

Release Date: TBA
Starring: TBA

Sony has announced a Danger Mouse cartoon movie is on the way, based on the wildly successful British cartoon series of the same name. There aren’t any story details just yet, but stay tuned.

Danger Mouse is still in the early production phase, but we’ll keep you posted as we learn more.

Ghostbusters Animated Film

ghostbusters cartoon

Release Date: TBA
Starring: TBA

A Ghostbusters cartoon movie is on the way, and we now know that it will be directed by newcomer Fletcher Moules, whose only known credits to date are the ongoing series of Clash of Clan commercials. The film is being produced by Ghostbusters co-creator and director Ivan Reitman, according to Slash Film. Hopefully, we’ll learn more about the upcoming Ghostbusters animated movie soon.

Melody

Release Date: TBA
Starring: 
TBA
Director: Chris Columbus, Jeremy Zag

A dreamer named Melody with a passion for music doesn’t believe in her voice, but when her musical idol Rose Stellar visits her in the park one day, Melody’s life changes forever. We have no idea who will be starring in this musical animated film just yet, but we know it’s in capable hands with Chris Columbus, director of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone and Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets.

Or You Can Stream Plenty of Animated Movies on Amazon Prime Video

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Bobby Bernstein
Bobby is the Co-Owner of Nerd Much?. He's the former Games Editor and current Shopping Editor at Heavy.com, former Editor in Chief of Den of Geek, and former bylines at HiConsumption, Slickdeals, Gamedeveloper.com, and more! He is also on Opencritic. He has been writing about nerdy stuff on the web for over 10 years. The best way to reach him is on Twitter.

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