Animated Movies to Look Forward to in 2016
A variety of style and tone with great voice casts
Zootopia (March 4, 2016)
Directors: Byron Howard and Rich Moore, Co-Director: Jared Bush
Cast: Ginnifer Goodwin (Once Upon a Time), Jason Bateman (Arrested Development), Idris Elba (Beasts of No Nation, Thor: The Dark World), J.K. Simmons (Whiplash), Bonnie Hunt (Jumanji), Octavia Spencer (The Help), Nate Torrence (She’s Out of My League), Tommy Chong (That ‘70s Show), Alan Tudyk (Firefly) and Tommy “Tiny” Lister (The Fifth Element)
Studio: Walt Disney Animation Studios, Walt Disney Pictures
Plot Synopsis: “The modern mammal metropolis of Zootopia is a city like no other. Comprised of habitat neighborhoods like ritzy Sahara Square and frigid Tundratown, it’s a melting pot where animals from every environment live together—a place where no matter what you are, from the biggest elephant to the smallest shrew, you can be anything. But when optimistic Officer Judy Hopps arrives, she discovers that being the first bunny on a police force of big, tough animals isn’t so easy. Determined to prove herself, she jumps at the opportunity to crack a case, even if it means partnering with a fast-talking, scam-artist fox, Nick Wilde, to solve the mystery. Walt Disney Animation Studios’ Zootopia, a comedy-adventure directed by Byron Howard (Tangled, Bolt) and Rich Moore (Wreck-It Ralph, The Simpsons) and co-directed by Jared Bush (Penn Zero: Part-Time Hero), opens in theaters on March 4, 2016” (movies.disney.com/zootopia).
The Little Prince (Limited Release: March 18, 2016, Expands: March 25, 2016)
Director: Mark Osbourne
Cast: Jeff Bridges (Ironman), James Franco (127 Hours), Rachel McAdams (Spotlight), Marion Cotillard (The Dark Knight Rises), Benicio Del Toro (Sicario) and Paul Giamatti (The Illusionist)
Studio: Paramount Animation
Plot Synopsis: “Based on the classic children's novel by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, The Little Prince tells the story of a pilot who crashes in the Sahara Desert (as de Saint-Exupéry was and did in real life) and who meets a young Prince, who lives on an asteroid called B-612. The Prince is currently on Earth as part of a journey to travel the universe, meeting adults on different planets and hearing their stories” (www.comingsoon.net/movie/the-little-prince-2016).
Angry Birds (May 20, 2016)
Directors: Fergal Reilly and Clay Kaytis
Cast: Jason Sudeikis, Peter Dinklage, Josh Gad, Bill Hader, Maya Rudolph, Danny McBride, Keegan-Michael Key, Kate McKinnon, Tony Hale, Ike Barinholtz, Hannibal Buress and Jillian Bell
Screenplay: Jon Vitti
Studio: Rovio Entertainment, Columbia Pictures, Sony Pictures
Plot Synopsis: “In the 3D animated comedy, The Angry Birds Movie, we'll finally find out why the birds are so angry. The movie takes us to an island populated entirely by happy, flightless birds – or almost entirely. In this paradise, Red (Jason Sudeikis, We're the Millers, Horrible Bosses), a bird with a temper problem, speedy Chuck (Josh Gad in his first animated role since Frozen), and the volatile Bomb (Danny McBride, This is the End, Eastbound and Down) have always been outsiders. But when the island is visited by mysterious green piggies, it’s up to these unlikely outcasts to figure out what the pigs are up to. Featuring a hilarious, all-star voice cast that includes Bill Hader (Trainwreck, Inside Out), Maya Rudolph (Bridesmaids), and Peter Dinklage (Game of Thrones), as well as Keegan-Michael Key (Key & Peele), Kate McKinnon (Saturday Night Live, next year's Ghostbusters), Tony Hale (Veep, Arrested Development), Ike Barinholtz (The Mindy Project, Neighbors), Hannibal Buress (Broad City, Why? With Hannibal Buress), Jillian Bell (22 Jump Street), Danielle Brooks (Orange is the New Black), Latin music sensation Romeo Santos, and YouTube stars Smosh (Ian Hecox and Anthony Padilla), the Columbia Pictures/Rovio Entertainment film is directed by Fergal Reilly and Clay Kaytis, produced by John Cohen and Catherine Winder, screenplay by Jon Vitti, and executive produced by Mikael Hed and David Maisel” (www.angrybirds-movie.com).
The Secret Life of Pets (July 8, 2016)
Director: Chris Renaud (Despicable Me, Despicable Me 2), Co-Director: Yarrow Cheney
Cast: Louis C.K. (Louie), Eric Stonestreet (Modern Family), Kevin Hart (Ride Along), Ellie Kemper (Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt), Lake Bell (Childrens Hospital), Jenny Slate (Bob’s Burgers), Bobby Moynihan (The Awesomes), Albert Brooks (Finding Nemo), Steve Coogan (Night at the Museum) and Dana Carvey (Wayne’s World)
Written by: Brian Lynch and Cinco Paul & Ken Daurio
Studio: Illumination Entertainment, Universal Pictures
Plot Synopsis: “The film takes place in a Manhattan apartment building. Max’s life promptly changes when his owner brings home a mutt named Duke. However, they must put their differences aside when they find out that Snowball, a white bunny, is building an army of abandoned pets, seeking revenge on all the happy-owned pets and their owners” (www.thewrap.com/the-secret-life-of-pets-holiday-teaser-offer-cuteness-un...).
