Courtney Howard // Film Critic
In Annecy today, Netflix announced their animated film slate for 2026 and it’s sure to impress. Featuring new films from Brad Bird (RAY GUNN), John Ripa and Alyce Tzue (STEPS), as well as Yuki Igarashi (THE RIBBON HERO). As you might’ve already noticed, the company picked up IN WAVES during Cannes amidst rave reviews. Not only do we now have release dates for their releases, there are a few new images from the films themselves.
IN WAVES
Synopsis: In Los Angeles, AJ, a shy teenager, meets Kristen. She lives for surfing; he loves skateboarding and drawing. They fall madly in love, and a happy future seems within reach. But everything changes when Kristen faces a sudden illness. Together, they face adversity, driven by the strength of their love, their friends, and their newly shared passion for surfing and the ocean.
Director: Phuong Mai Nguyen
Writers: Fanny Burdino, Samuel Doux (Based on the graphic novel by AJ Dungo)
Cast: Will Sharpe, Stephanie Hsu
Release date: December 11, 2026
STEPS
Synopsis:Think you know Cinderella’s “evil” stepsisters? Think again. Sick of living in Cinderella’s shadow, Lilith (Ali Wong) steals the Fairy Godmother (Bette Midler)’s magic wand and hijacks the Royal Ball with her sister Margot (Stephanie Hsu), breaking the Cinderella story as we know it and dooming the kingdom to the tyrannical rule of Priscilla (Nikki Glaser), a villainous schemer who swoops in and snatches the throne. Now, Lilith must team up with Cinderella (Amanda Seyfried) to fight biker trolls, outrun evil henchmen, and escape the Screaming Woods on an epic quest to save the kingdom, but most importantly, their relationship.
Produced by: Amy Poehler, Jane Hartwell, Kim Lessing. Poehler and Lessing producing for Paper Kite Productions.
Screenplay By: Ava Tramer, James Madejski, Jen Chuck, Dana Schwartz, Felicia Ho
Story By: Ava Tramer, James Madejski, Dana Schwartz, Felicia Ho, Riki Lindhome, Kate Micucci
Cast: Ali Wong, Amanda Seyfried, Stephanie Hsu, Nikki Glaser, Bette Midler
Release date: November 20, 2026
THE RIBBON HERO
Synopsis: The film depicts the story of a lone hero who chooses to defy a harsh destiny, set in a delicately crafted world and brought to life through polished action.
Director: Yuki Igarashi
Inspired By: “Princess Knight” by Osamu Tezuka
Original Character Design: Kei Mochizuki
Character Design Cooperation: Mai Yoneyama
Animation Character Design: Issei Arakaki
Art Director: Cedric Herole
Release date: August 8, 2026
RAY GUNN
Synopsis: In Metropia, a gigantic city in an alternate future as seen from 1939, private eye Raymond Gunn is drawn into a case involving aliens, murder and a multimedia star named Venus Nova.
Director: Brad Bird
Cast: Sam Rockwell, Scarlett Johansson, Tom Waits
Animation Studio: Skydance Animation
Release date: December 18, 2026
