The Animation Blog

Stewie Gets His Own ‘Family Guy’ Spin-Off with Seth MacFarlane Starring and Executive Producing

March 13, 2026 / The Animation Blog / 0 Comments

Release date: 2027-2028 on FOX and Hulu in the U.S., and Disney+ internationally.

Synopsis: After getting kicked out of his old preschool, Stewie is enrolled in a new one where he must make new friends and deal with an outspoken class turtle.

All the kids are miserable until Stewie brings out his homemade devices to take them on daily adventures throughout space and time.

Stewie (working title) received a two-season order, likely 13 episodes per season, and is executive produced by Seth MacFarlane, Kirker Butler and Kara Vallow.

‘Rick and Morty’ Season 9 Trailer, Release Date and First-Look Images

March 12, 2026 / The Animation Blog / 0 Comments

(Sneak peek. We’ll update this post when the official trailer drops.)

U.S. release date: May 24, 2026 on Adult Swim. Streaming August 31, 2026 on HBO Max.

European release date: May 25, 2026 on HBO Max.

Synopsis: Rick and Morty is back, baby! Season 9 is all certified bangers. No AI slop! Just Grade A organic slop, made by real humans with real human traits like back hair and cysts. Please watch, or we’ll have neglected our families for nothing.

Executive Produced by Dan Harmon and Scott Marder, who also serves as showrunner.

Voice cast:
Ian Cardoni as Rick Sanchez
Harry Belden as Morty
Sarah Chalke as Beth
Chris Parnell as Jerry
Spencer Grammer as Summer

‘Rooster Fighter’ Anime Trailer and Release Date: Action Comedy Manga Gets Adaptation on Adult Swim, Hulu and Disney+

March 11, 2026 / The Animation Blog / 0 Comments

Release date: March 14, 2026 on Adult Swim. Next day on Hulu (U.S.) and Disney+ (International).

Synopsis: Keiji is more than just an ordinary rooster — he’s humanity’s greatest defender! When strange creatures suddenly appear and start attacking, he confronts them head-on. His opponents may be ten stories tall, but nothing is bigger than his stout heart and his fearsome battle cry — “Kokekokko!”

Adult Swim will air the 12-episode series in English every Saturday evening at midnight.

Directed by Daisuke Suzuki.

Written by Hiroshi Seko.

Music composed by Tetsuya Takahashi.

Based on the manga by Shu Sakuratani.

‘The Super Mario Galaxy Movie’ Final Trailer: Donald Glover, Luis Guzmán and Issa Rae Will Voice Yoshi, Wart and Honey Queen

March 10, 2026 / The Animation Blog / 0 Comments

U.S. theatrical release date: April 1, 2026

Japanese release date: April 24, 2026

Directed by Aaron Horvath and Michael Jelenic.

Written by Matthew Fogel.

Produced by Chris Meledandri of Illumination and Shigeru Miyamoto of Nintendo.

Original score by Brian Tyler.

Voice cast:
Chris Pratt as Mario
Anya Taylor-Joy as Princess Peach
Charlie Day as Luigi
Jack Black as Bowser
Keegan-Michael Key as Toad
Kevin Michael Richardson as Kamek
Brie Larson as Rosalina
Benny Safdie as Bowser Jr.
Donald Glover as Yoshi
Luis Guzmán as Wart
Issa Rae as Honey Queen

Music Video Spotlight: Gorillaz – The Mountain, The Moon Cave and The Sad God

March 9, 2026 / The Animation Blog / 0 Comments

“The Mountain” feat. Dennis Hopper & Amaan and Ayaan Ali Bangash.

“The Moon Cave” feat. Asha Puthli, Bobby Womack, Dave Jolicoeur, Jalen Ngonda and Black Thought.

“The Sad God” feat. Black Thought, Ajay Prasanna and Anoushka Shankar.

From The Mountain, the ninth studio album by Gorillaz.

Directed by Jamie Hewlett, Tim McCourt, Max Taylor and Jonathan Djob Nkondo.

Short Film Spotlight: The Balcony

March 8, 2026 / The Animation Blog / 0 Comments

Synopsis: Matt goes out to his balcony and has a brief connection with someone across the way.

Written and directed by Anya Martin.

Backgrounds by Ty Wilson.

Sound Mix by Daniel Eaton.

Sound Design by Anya Martin.

Voice cast:
Ty Wilson as Matt
Isabella Spadone as The Girl
Will Wibisono as Grumpy Man
Peter Foltz as Pizza Guy

Short Film Spotlight: Wings

March 7, 2026 / The Animation Blog / 0 Comments

Synopsis: In this story of kindness, friendship, and the fear of being left behind, a friendship takes flight as a mouse that wants to fly and an injured bird cross paths.

Written and directed by Casey McDonald.

Music and Sound Design by Colin Andrew Grant.

‘Wonder Pets: In the City’ Season 2 Trailer and Release Date: Apple TV Musical Adventure Series Returns with 13 New Episodes

March 6, 2026 / The Animation Blog / 0 Comments

Release date: March 20, 2026 on Apple TV

Synopsis: By day, they’re classroom pets living in a New York City kindergarten, but when animals need help, Izzy, Tate and Zuri travel all around the globe in their amazing “Jetcar” to rescue animals in musical, mini-opera-themed adventures.

No matter the challenge, they always remember to combine their talents and abilities and work together to save the day — because together, there’s nothing they can’t do!

Developed by Jennifer Oxley.

Based on the original Wonder Pets! series created by Josh Selig.

Voice cast:
Victoria Scola-Giampapa as Izzy
Christopher Sean Cooper Jr. as Tate
Vanessa Huszar as Zuri

Short Film Spotlight: Théâtre de Guerre (Theater of War)

March 5, 2026 / The Animation Blog / 0 Comments

Synopsis: During a theatrical performance featuring puppets glorifying war, a wounded soldier is taken backstage where he unveils the truth about war.

Directed by:
Arthur Lecocq
Gabriel Delcroix
Arthur Delcroix
Romuald Gouriou
Julien Vanas
Noëmie Ivelou
Clarence Delehaye

Original Music by Jordan Philipe.

Sound Design by Arthur Lecocq.

Sound Editing by Pierre-Antoine Naline.

Sound Mix by Christian Cartier.

‘Magicampers’ Preschool Series Coming to Disney Platforms: Trailer, Release Date, Synopsis, Theme Song and Poster Revealed

March 4, 2026 / The Animation Blog / 0 Comments

Release date: March 23, 2026 on Disney Jr. and Disney Jr. On Demand, with six episodes streaming the next day on Disney+ in the U.S. and select regions internationally.

Synopsis: Magicampers follows the adventures of best friends Darly and Loomis at a day camp for magical creatures on a fantastical island.

Darly is half-pig and half-Pegasus, Loomis is half-donkey and half-unicorn, and their young friends are also mythical mashups of all stripes.

Every day, they go on incredible journeys of discovery and dream of becoming legendary, having their stories told and retold for all time.

At the heart of the series, Darly and Loomis will learn that becoming a legend isn’t about mastering magic powers or winning the biggest prize — it’s about understanding and accepting yourself and others and working together with all kinds of friends.

Created by Obie Scott Wade.

Directed by Daniel Dubuis.

Written by Ashley Mendoza, Simon Nicholson and Elizabeth Kamir.

Original Music by Christophe Henrotte.

‘Zootopia 2’ Disney+ Release Date Set for March 11

March 3, 2026 / The Animation Blog / 0 Comments

Disney+ release date: March 11, 2026

Synopsis: After cracking the biggest case in Zootopia’s history, rookie cops Judy Hopps and Nick Wilde find their partnership isn’t as solid as they thought when Chief Bogo orders them to join the Partners in Crisis counseling program.

But it doesn’t take long for their partnership to be put to the ultimate test when they find themselves on the twisting trail of a mystery tied to the arrival of a venomous snake in the animal metropolis.

Written by Jared Bush.

Directed by Jared Bush and Byron Howard.

Zootopia 2 has grossed $1.859 billion as of March 3, 2026.

‘BeddyByes’ Premieres on Disney Platforms: Cozy Preschool Series Supports Healthy Sleeping Habits

March 2, 2026 / The Animation Blog / 0 Comments

Release date: March 2, 2026 on Disney Jr. and Disney Jr. On Demand, with 20 episodes streaming the next day on Disney+ in the U.S. and select regions internationally.

The series is currently available on BBC iPlayer, CBeebies, and RTÉ Player.

Synopsis: BeddyByes invites audiences to join best friends MeMo and BaBa as they travel across Planet BeddyByes, meeting new and familiar faces on their mindful and soothing journey to bedtime. The animated series supports healthy daily routines and sleeping habits for preschoolers.

Executive Produced by Alan Shannon.

Directed by Niall Mooney.

Written by Dave Ingham.

Original Music by Lucie Treacher.

Short Film Spotlight: Inspecteur Gallimard

March 1, 2026 / The Animation Blog / 0 Comments

Note: Switch the audio track to French. The English track is auto-generated.

Synopsis: In New York, Detective Gallimard, an anthropomorphic goat, investigates a murder. In reality, he is just the neighborhood madman, dressed in a bathrobe, propelling himself into a delirious quest, bothering everyone he encounters.

Original Concept by Thomas Soulé.

Directed by:
Valentin Asensi
Alexi Azibert
Clara Cledes
Hadrien Clement
Ariana Da Cunha Oliveira
Fanny Drevet
Léna Milla Duffaut
Karina Estanol
Thomas Soulé

Music by Antoine Galvani.

Sound by José Vicente, Tristan Le Bozec, Yoann Poncet, Sofia Guttierez-Restrepo and Antoine Smets.

Voice cast:
Emmanuel Curtil as Gallimard
Véronique Augereau as Pipa
Serge Faliu as Spike / Cochon
Alexis Tomassian Alexis as Léon

Short Film Spotlight: Forever

February 28, 2026 / The Animation Blog / 0 Comments

Synopsis: Garden gnomes want revenge on the neighboring golf course.

Directed by:
Theo Djekou
Pierre Ferrari
Cyrine Jouini
Pauline Philippart
Anissa Terrier

Original Score by Jérémie Esperet.

Sound Editing by Théo Djekou.

Sound Mix by Pierre-François Renouf.

‘Unicorn Academy: Secrets Revealed’ Official Trailer, Release Date and Stills

February 27, 2026 / The Animation Blog / 0 Comments

Release date: March 19, 2025 on Netflix

Synopsis: Follow Sophia and her friends as they embark on a glimmering quest to unlock Unicorn Island’s mysteries and banish Grimoria — and Ravenzella — for good!

Voice cast:
Sara García as Sophia Mendoza
Sadie Laflamme-Snow as Ava Banji
Kamaia Fairburn as Layla Fletcher
Gabriella Kosmidis as Isabel Armstrong
Kari Wong as Valentina Furi
Kolton Stewart as Rory Carmichael
Jennifer Hale as Ravenzella

Created by Michelle and Robert Lamoreaux.