Movies to Look Out for This Year

Recently, I haven't found much enjoyment or excitement in going to the theaters, so I decided to see what movies are due this year, and these are some I am personally looking forward to!

1. First up we have Kung Fu Panda 4 is set to be released on March 8, 2024. It is directed by Mike Mitchell and Stephanie Stine, and produced by Rebecca Huntley.

With Po selected as the spiritual leader of the Valley of Peace, he is tasked with training a new warrior. Yet, when a shape-shifting sorceress targets his Staff of Wisdom, he joins forces with a clever corsac fox to defeat her.

2. Inside Out 2 is another highly anticipated film, with its first film coming out almost 10 years prior. We meet a new emotion, Anxiety, voiced by Maya Hawke. It’s coming out this summer, June 14, 2024. It’s been directed by Kelsey Mann and produced by Mark Nielsen.

3. Another highly anticipated film is Despicable Me 4. Directed by Chris Renaud and produced by  Chris Meledandri and Brett Hoffman. It follows Gru’s son, Gru Jr., who's intent on tormenting his dad. However, criminal mastermind Maxime Le Mal escapes prison and vows revenge against Gru. This movie will be in theaters July 3, 2024.

4. The announcement of the Garfield movie was surprising as well. And even sparked discussion of casting opinions online. In the movie, Garfield runs into his long-lost father, a street cat who draws him into a high-stakes heist. 

It will be released to theaters on May 24, 2024. It’s directed by Mark Dindal and produced by Namit Malhotra, John Cohen, Andrew Kosove, Broderick Johnson, Steven P. Wegner, and Craig Sost.

5. Mufasa is a sequel/prequel to The Lion King done in CGI. It will be a musical about Simba’s father, Mufasa’s life. The music is done by Hans Zimmer; Pharrell Williams; and Nicholas Britell. It’s directed by Barry Jenkins, and written by Jeff Nathanson. This musical comes out on December 20, 2024.

6. Usman Riaz directs The Glassworker, an anticipated Urdu-language animated film from Pakistan. Marking the nation's fifth venture into animation, this film boasts anime-inspired visuals. Notably, it stands as Pakistan's first-ever 2D animated feature and is scheduled for release in 2024.

7. The Day the Earth Blew Up is the first-ever fully animated Looney Tunes feature-length movie created for a cinema audience. Directed by Pete Browngardt and written by Kevin Costello. We follow Porky Pig and Daffy Duck race to save the world in a sci-fi comedy adventure. Its exact date hasn't been released but it’s estimated to be 2024.

8. Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim is an animated rendition of Tolkien's saga, unfolding 183 years before The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers. It chronicles the valiant struggle of Helm Hammerhand, Rohan's fabled king, against the encroaching Dunlendings. This film’s director is Kenji Kamiyama, with Joseph Chou as Producer. The film is to come out on December 13, 2024.

9. For Spongebob fans, we have Saving Bikini Bottom: The Sandy Cheeks Movie. We follow Sandy Cheeks and SpongeBob as they head to Sandy’s home state, Texas. This movie marks the fourth theatrical installment in the SpongeBob franchise. Liza Johnson is the director with a script by cartoonist Kaz and Tom Stern. Originally this film was set to come out last year, however, due to the SAG strike it got pushed back to sometime this year, 2024. And another Spongebob film is set to come out in December 2025.

   

10. Lastly, we have Spellbound, the second feature film from Skydance Animation, director Vicky Jenson brings to life the tale of a young princess in the enchanted realm of Lumbria. Tasked with undoing the curse that transformed her parents into monstrous beings, she embarks on a courageous journey. The musical score for this magical adventure is crafted by the acclaimed duo Alan Menken and Glenn Slater. Produced under the guidance of John Lasseter, "Spellbound" promises to captivate audiences with its whimsical charm and heartfelt storytelling.

    

11. Additionally, Orion and the Dark is a movie that was just released and I definitely recommend it. It’s adorable and great for the family. This movie is a film adaption of a book by Emma Yarlett, the movie centers on an anxious boy whose biggest fear is the Dark, who takes him for a ride to help him conquer his fears. It just came out this month on Netflix February 2, 2024. Sean Charmatz is the director with Peter McCown as the producer.

    

I hope you guys check out these new animations and enjoy them.

Happy drawing,

ArtBeat