Top 10 Anticipated Animated Movies of 2020
Whether it’s 2D, 3D, traditional or CGI animation you want, 2020’s got all that - and more! Welcome to MsMojo and today we’ll be counting down our picks for the Top 10 Anticipated Animated Movies of 2020.
For this list, we’re taking a look at animated films set to come out in 2020, although keep in mind that release dates are subject to change.
#10: “Over the Moon”
Release Date: TBA 2020
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Glen Keane was the character animator for some of Disney’s most iconic protagonists, from Ariel in “The Little Mermaid” to Rapunzel in “Tangled.” As of late, Keane’s been branching out with animated shorts like “Duet” and the Academy Award-winning “Dear Basketball.” Keane’s feature directorial debut puts a contemporary spin on a Chinese myth, centering on a girl who takes off in her homemade rocket in search of the Moon Goddess. This musical adventure is being produced at Pearl Studio, which has worked on various DreamWorks projects like “Abominable.” The distribution is being handled by Netflix, which has made a significant impression on the animation front as of late, with films like “Klaus” and “I Lost My Body.” We’re already over the moon for this one.
#9: “The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge on the Run”
Release Date: May 22, 2020 [U.S.]
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The third theatrical “SpongeBob Movie” is a first for the franchise, transitioning from traditional animation to a stylized CG look. The plot is reminiscent of the episode “Have You Seen This Snail?” where Gary ran away from home. Gary has once again gone missing, although this time he’s been “snailnapped.” Along with Patrick, SpongeBob sets out to find his beloved pet in The Lost City of Atlantic City. While the show’s main voiceover cast will reprise their roles, the film also features a shoal of big names like Snoop Dogg, Awkwafina, and the all-knowing Keanu Reeves. The film additionally serves as something of a backdoor pilot for a television spin-off entitled “Kamp Koral,” which will focus on a 10-year-old SpongeBob’s days at summer camp.
#8: “Trolls World Tour”
Release Date: April 17, 2020 [U.S.]
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If you’ve seen the musical TV series “Crazy Ex-Girlfriend,” you know that Rachel Bloom was born to voice an animated villainess. In the sequel to “Trolls,” Bloom plays the punky Queen Barb, who wishes to wipe out all other music genres in favor of hardcore rock. Poppy and Branch, once again voiced by Anna Kendrick and Justin Timberlake, respectively, thus travel to the other music-based kingdoms to unite them all in harmony. This premise not only makes leeway for a lot of different musical styles, ranging from techno to funk, but a wide variety of inventive visuals as well. Where the first film painted with all the colors of a rainbow, “Trolls World Tour” looks like it’ll pack in more color than a Crayola factory.
#7: “Bob’s Burgers: The Movie”
Release Date: July 17, 2020 [U.S.]
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The Belcher family is going Hollywood! According to creator Loren Bouchard, “the movie has to scratch every itch the fans of the show have ever had, but it also has to work for all the good people who’ve never seen the show.” Bouchard has also hinted that the film may delve into how Louise got her legendary rabbit ear hat. Louise’s nightlight Kuchi Kopi is also likely to factor into the movie’s plot. For anyone who still has “Electric Love” stuck in their head, you’ll be happy to know that “Bob’s Burgers: The Movie” will serve up plenty of musical moments. We can only assume that means Gene will be breaking out his keyboard and fart sound effects.
#6: “Minions: The Rise of Gru”
Release Date: July 3, 2020 [U.S.]
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Say it with us: “Banana!” Whatever your thoughts on the Minions are, most people would agree that they work best when Felonius Gru is in the mix. This follow-up to 2015’s “Minions” will explore how the little, yellow menaces became loyal followers of a younger Gru. This means we’re inclined to see more of Gru being a despicable villain before he was a dedicated family man. Steve Carell returns as Gru while Pierre Coffin naturally voices the Minions. Coffin was also the director of the past four films in this franchise, although he hands the reins over to Kyle Balda this time around. Balda is co-directing “The Rise of Gru” with Brad Ableson, who worked as a storyboard artist for several years on “The Simpsons.”
#5: “The Croods 2”
Release Date: December 23, 2020 [U.S.]
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“The Croods” was a financial success and an Oscar nominee for Best Animated Feature. Although a sequel quickly went into development, the project’s fate grew increasingly uncertain during NBCUniversal/Comcast’s acquisition of DreamWorks. It was even announced in 2016 that the movie had gone the way of the dinosaurs. The following year, however, the film reentered production with Joel Crawford of “Trolls Holiday” directing. Along with the original’s cast, “The Croods 2” will introduce a few new characters voiced by Kelly Marie Tran, Leslie Mann, and Peter Dinklage. Before leaving DreamWorks for Sony, former director Kirk DeMicco said motherhood would be a key theme. While the plot may’ve evolved since then, we can expect to see the Croods clash with a rival family called the Bettermans.
#4: “Scoob!”
Release Date: May 15, 2020 [U.S.]
Scooby-Doo has starred in numerous movies over the decades, although his theatrical outings have all been in live-action. “Scoob!” remains faithful to the long-running franchise’s animated roots, albeit with a CG update. The great Frank Welker is back voicing Scooby, although Warner Bros. is enlisting household names to voice the four human members of the gang. Among the cast are Will Forte as Shaggy, Zac Elfron as Fred, Amanda Seyfried as Daphne, and Gina Rodriguez as Velma. This film will not only serve as an origin story for Scooby and Mystery Inc., but also a potential launching point for a Hanna-Barbera Cinematic Universe. So, don’t be surprised if you see the likes of Dick Dastardly, the Blue Falcon, and Captain Caveman.
#3: “Soul”
Release Date: June 19, 2020 [U.S.]
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Working on “Inside Out,” director Pete Docter and Pixar came up with a ton of creative ideas that ultimately got left on the cutting room floor. One can’t help but wonder if some of those ideas will find a second life in “Soul,” which has a similar setup. Where “Inside Out” was all about the inner-workings of the human mind, however, Docter’s latest film is an exploration of humanity’s spiritual side. Jamie Foxx voices Joe, a middle school music teacher who wants to be remembered for his jazz skills. Joe may miss his chance at the big time, though, when an accident leaves his soul separated from his physical self. With echoes of “Up” and “Coco” as well, plan on bringing tissues into this one.
#2: “Onward”
Release Date: March 6, 2020 [U.S.]
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After a decade of primarily producing sequels, Pixar is moving onward with… well, “Onward.” One of two original Pixar movies we’ll be getting this year, the other of course being “Soul,” this buddy picture blurs the lines between reality and fantasy. If you couldn’t get enough of Spider-Man and Star-Lord in “Infinity War,” you’re in luck. Tom Holland and Chris Pratt voice a pair of elf brothers who try resurrecting their father. Let’s just say that they do a halfway decent job, leaving them with only a day to complete the spell. It’s rare that we see Pixar delve into high-fantasy territory, which should make “Onward” a unique experiment. At the same time, we can expect the studio’s signature heart, humor, and magic.
Before we get to our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions:
“Wolfwalkers”
Release Date: TBA 2020
“Tom and Jerry”
Release Date: December 23, 2020 [U.S.]
“Phineas and Ferb the Movie: Candace Against the Universe”
Release Date: TBA 2020
#1: “Raya and the Last Dragon”
Release Date: November 25, 2020 [U.S.]
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Interestingly enough, 2020 will see the release of two animated features about dragons. “Wish Dragon,” a collaboration between Sony Pictures Animation and Jackie Chan’s Sparkle Roll Media, is a modern twist on the “genie-in-a-bottle” trope. In Disney’s “Raya and the Last Dragon,” Awkwafina voices a water dragon who can take on a human form. Cassie Steele stars as the titular Raya, a warrior who sets out to find the last dragon in the mystical land of Kumandra. Adele Lim of “Crazy Rich Asians” scribed the script while Paul Briggs and Dean Wellins make their feature directorial debuts. In addition to various Disney films, Briggs also notably worked on a couple episodes of “Avatar: The Last Airbender,” another western animation with a strong eastern influence.
