The streamer has both changed and finalized theatrical and streaming dates for its slate of animated films coming to audiences starting this October.
This summer, Netflix shared a slew of sneak peeks at Annecy 2022 of its Fall animation lineup slated to roll out beginning September 1. Further announcements included new Anime titles kicking off next month as well as some kids and family titles, including Shannon Tindle and Peter Ramsey’s new four-part live-action/animated series Lost Ollie (now streaming) and Not Quite Narwhal and Dew Drop Diaries joining its popular preschool slate.
Today, Netflix released some updates on both theatrical and streaming dates for its upcoming lineup of animated films hitting audiences starting this October:
Coming to select theaters October 21 and streaming October 28:
Wendell & Wild – From Henry Selick and Jordan Peele comes an animated tale about scheming demon brothers Wendell (Keegan-Michael Key) and Wild (Peele), who enlist the aid of Kat Elliot — a tough teen with a load of guilt — to summon them to the Land of the Living. But what Kat demands in return leads to a brilliantly bizarre and comedic adventure like no other, an animated fantasy that defies the law of life and death, all told through the handmade artistry of stop-motion.
Written by Selick and Peel, the film is directed by Selick, who also serves as producer. Peele, Ellen Goldsmith-Vein, and Win Rosenfeld also produce with Lindsay Williams, Eddie Gamarra, Kamil Oshundara, and Ian Cooper serving as executive producers.
The voice cast features Key; Peele; Lyric Ross; Angela Bassett; James Hong; Tamara Smart; Natalie Martinez; Tantoo Cardinal; Igal Naor; Gary Gatewood; Gabrielle Dennis; David Harewood; Maxine Peake; Ramona Young; Sam Zelaya; Seema Virdi; and Ving Rhames.
Coming to select theaters and streaming in November:
My Father’s Dragon – Struggling to cope after a move to the city with his mother, Elmer runs away in search of Wild Island and a young dragon who waits to be rescued. Elmer's adventures introduce him to ferocious beasts, a mysterious island, and the friendship of a lifetime.
Inspired by the Newbery-honored children’s book “My Father's Dragon” by author Ruth Stiles Gannett, the film is directed by Academy Award-nominated director Nora Twomey (The Breadwinner), and written by Meg LeFauve, with Bonnie Curtis, Julie Lynn, and Paul Young serving as producers. Executive producers include LeFauve, John Morgan, Tomm Moore, Gerry Shirren, Ruth Coady, and Alan Moloney.
My Father’s Dragon is produced by the Academy Award-nominated animation studio Cartoon Saloon (The Secret of Kells, Song of the Sea, Wolfwalkers).
The voice cast features Jacob Tremblay; Gaten Matarazzo; Golshifteh Farahani; Dianne Wiest; Rita Moreno; Chris O’Dowd; Judy Greer; Alan Cumming; Yara Shahidi; Jackie Earle Haley; Mary Kay Place; Leighton Meester; Spence Moore II; Adam Brody; Charlyne Yi; Maggie Lincoln Jack Smith; Whoopi Goldberg; and Ian McShane.
Coming to select theaters November 18 and streaming December 2:
Scrooge: A Christmas Carol
Timeless Films, in association with Axis Studios, and director Stephen Donnelly adapt Charles Dickens' ageless Christmas story in the upcoming CG animated feature Scrooge: A Christmas Carol, retold as a supernatural, time-traveling, musical. With his very soul on the line, Scrooge has but one Christmas Eve left to face his past and build a better future.
The film stars Luke Evans (Scrooge); Olivia Colman (Past); Jessie Buckley (Isabel Fezziwig); Johnny Flynn (Bob Cratchit); Fra Fee (Harry Huffam); Giles Terera (Tom Jenkins); Trevor Dion Nicholas (Present); James Cosmo (Mr. Fezziwig); and Jonathan Pryce (Jacob Marley).
Ralph Kamp, Oscar winner Leslie Bricusse OBE, and Andrew Pearce produce. Music and lyrics are by Bricusse, with songs arranged, produced, and scored by Jeremy Holland-Smith.
Streaming December 9, with a theatrical release yet to be announced:
Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio
The famed filmmaker reinvents Carlo Collodi's classic tale of the wooden marionette who is magically brought to life in order to mend the heart of a grieving woodcarver named Geppetto. This whimsical, stop-motion musical follows the mischievous and disobedient adventures of Pinocchio in his pursuit of a place in the world.
Similar to del Toro’s Pan’s Labyrinth, a dark fantasy fable set against the backdrop of Franco-fascist Spain, Pinocchio will take place in Benito Mussolini’s fascist Italy of the 1930s.
The film stars David Bradley as Geppetto and introduces Gregory Mann as Pinocchio. Other cast members include Ewan McGregor; Finn Wolfhard; Cate Blanchett; John Turturro; Ron Perlman; Tim Blake Nelson; Burn Gorman; Christoph Waltz; and Tilda Swinton.
For this adaptation, del Toro shares directing duties with Mark Gustafson (The PJs). The film is written by del Toro and Patrick McHale; producers include del Toro, Lisa Henson (Jim Henson Company), Alex Bulkley, Corey Campodonico (ShadowMachine) and Gary Ungar. Jason Lust serves as executive producer.
Guy Davis serves as production designer, with Curt Enderle serving as co-production designer. Rob Desue is the film’s art director; Brian Hansen, the animation supervisor; Frank Passingham, the director of photography; Ken Schretzmann, the editor; and Georgina Hayns, the puppet supervisor.
Dan Sarto is Publisher and Editor-in-Chief of Animation World Network.
