To date, Walt Disney Studios have released 55 theatrical animated movies. The latest, Zootopia, premiered earlier this year.
But what’s next? What other new films does Disney have in the works? As a matter of fact, Disney has announced their animated slate all the way through the year 2020. So let’s take a look at what’s next for the House of Mouse:
Moana
Pronounced “moe-ah-nah,” this new Disney animated film hits theaters on November 23, 2016.
Moana stars Dwayne Johnson as Polynesian demigod Maui. The film takes place centuries ago on the mystic island of Oceania in the South Pacific. Young princess Moana must team up with Maui as they search for a legendary island.
John Musker and Ron Clements directed Moana, their first CGI-animated film. The duo have a long and successful track record at Disney, though. They previously directed The Great Mouse Detective, The Little Mermaid, Aladdin, Hercules, Treasure Planet, and The Princess and the Frog.
Wreck-It Ralph 2
On March 9, 2018, Wreck-It Ralph and his video games friends will return to the big screen.
John C. Reilly will return as the voice of Ralph. Sarah Silverman is also set to return as Vanellope Von Schweetz.
On June 30, 2016, the first details on the sequel were released. Apparently, Wreck-It Ralph 2 will find Ralph leaving the arcade and exploring the internet.
Gigantic
Later in 2018, a new original Disney animated film will arrive in theaters. Gigantic is loosely based on the classic fairytale, Jack and the Beanstalk.
The film is set in Spain during the Age of Exploration (roughly the 15th and 16th century). The protagonist Jack discovers a world high above the clouds. It’s a world ruled by giants, and he quickly befriends a young giantess named Inma. She treats him like a living doll and is described as “11 years old, 60 feet tall, fiery, feisty and a lot to control.”
Frozen composers Robert Lopez and Kristen Anderson-Lopez will write new songs for Gigantic. Tangled co-director Nathan Greno is directing the film.
Gigantic is scheduled to hit theaters on November 21, 2018.
Frozen 2
Though it has no release date scheduled, pre-production is underway on a sequel to 2013’s Frozen.
Screenwriter Jennifer Lee will pen the sequel’s script. Lee will also return as co-director alongside Chris Buck. Kristen Bell, Idina Menzel, and Josh Gad are the only confirmed cast members returning at this point. It’s widely expected the other voice actors will return as well.
According to Bell, the production team is taking their time to make sure they get the story right. In the meantime, Bell, Menzel, and Gad have recently recorded dialogue for a new Frozen TV special. The animated Christmas special will star Olaf as the main character. It air on ABC in the winter of 2017.
Untitled 2020 Film
Though no title, plot, or other details have been released, Disney has announced a new animated film for 2020. The only thing we know about it is that it will be released on November 25, 2020.
Rumored projects have included a full-length Mickey Mouse movie, or a film based on Philip K. Dick’s short story, “King of the Elves.”
