Frozen 3 and More: Disney Unveils Its Animated Movie Future at D23
- Aug 16
- 5 min read
The announcements also included Zootopia 3, the original features Clay and Ghost Market, and new installments of Coco, The Incredibles and Ice Age. Disney also revealed new details about Hexed, Gatto and The Bluey Movie, expanding its theatrical animation slate through 2029.
By Fábio Borges, in Anaheim, California.
Disney used the opening night of D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event to showcase the future of its animated movie slate, revealing new projects, returning franchises, first looks and release dates for films heading to theaters over the next several years.
The Disney Entertainment Showcase at the Honda Center brought together filmmakers, voice performers and executives from Walt Disney Animation Studios and Pixar Animation Studios.
Among the animated films presented during the showcase were:
Frozen 3
Disney saved one of its biggest animation reveals for the finale. Kristen Bell, Idina Menzel and Josh Gad, the voices of Anna, Elsa and Olaf, respectively, took the stage to perform new material connected to Frozen 3. Bell and Menzel performed a new version of “Frozen Heart,” while Gad introduced a new song called “Ooooh, Samantha,” described by Disney as a love song for Olaf’s first crush.
The songs were written by Oscar-winning composers Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez, who also created the music for the previous Frozen films.
The presentation then delivered a first look at new animation featuring Anna, Elsa, Olaf, Kristoff and Sven. The footage hinted at a new villainess whose powers could rival Elsa’s.
Anna, Elsa, Kristoff and Olaf will return for another adventure in the new film, which is directed by Academy Award winner Jennifer Lee and Trent Correy and produced by Christina Chen.
Frozen 3 will be released exclusively in theaters on November 24, 2027.
Zootopia 3
Disney Animation Chief Creative Officer Jared Bush confirmed that Zootopia 3 is officially in early development.
Bush was joined onstage by Zootopia 2 stars Ginnifer Goodwin and Ke Huy Quan, who helped reveal the news and presented an exclusive sequence created specifically for the D23 audience.
Disney has not yet announced a theatrical release date for the third installment.
The announcement extends one of Walt Disney Animation Studios’ most successful modern franchises, bringing Judy Hopps, Nick Wilde and the world of Zootopia back for another feature-length adventure.
Clay
Jared Bush also unveiled Clay, the working title for an original animated feature currently in production at Walt Disney Animation Studios.
Academy Award winner Kieran Culkin will voice Flip, a rebellious misfit living in a magical forest filled with fantastical creatures.
According to Disney, Flip is unwillingly chosen during an annual ritual to mentor Mushy, a young and impressionable ball of clay. The unlikely pair then embark on what Disney describes as a chaotic, funny and ultimately life-changing adventure.
Clay is directed by Fawn Veerasunthorn and produced by Academy Award winner Peter Del Vecho.
The film is scheduled for an exclusive theatrical release in 2028.
Hexed
Disney also presented a major casting update for Hexed, an original animated coming-of-age fantasy scheduled to arrive in theaters later this year.
Hailee Steinfeld voices Billie Doe, an unconventional teenager who discovers that she possesses magical abilities.
At D23, Disney revealed that Walton Goggins will voice Beef Roger Crummchuk, a reclusive magical three-eyed cat who forms an uneasy alliance with Billie and her mother, Alice, voiced by Rashida Jones.
Two-time Academy Award winner Jodie Foster will voice Queen Celeste, a sinister figure determined to maintain her power over the magical realm of Hexe.
Disney’s Hexed is directed by Fawn Veerasunthorn and Jason Hand, co-directed by Josie Trinidad, and produced by Roy Conli and Yvett Merino.
The film is scheduled to open in theaters on November 25, 2026.
The Bluey Movie
Disney also debuted a new teaser trailer and poster for The Bluey Movie, the CG-animated feature based on the popular series.
The movie follows Bluey and her family through an action-packed day when a major surprise changes everything for them.
Created and directed by Joe Brumm, the film is produced by Ludo Studio in collaboration with BBC Studios, with distribution through Walt Disney Studios.
The Bluey Movie is scheduled to hit theaters on August 6, 2027.
Ice Age: Boiling Point
The beloved Ice Age franchise also returned to the D23 spotlight with Ice Age: Boiling Point.
Queen Latifah and Denis Leary introduced an exclusive clip featuring Scrat, Baby Scrat and a new prehistoric character named Jurassic Scrat.
The movie sends Manny, Sid, Diego, Ellie, Buck, Scrat and the rest of the herd into the dangerous Lost World in an adventure involving dinosaurs and volcanic lava. John C. Donkin directs the film, with Lori Forte producing.
Ice Age: Boiling Point will be released exclusively in theaters on February 5, 2027.
The Incredibles 3
Pixar opened its portion of the showcase with an exclusive first look at Incredibles 3, bringing the popular superhero family back into action.
The film is directed by Peter Sohn, with Academy Award winners Dana Murray and Brad Bird producing.
The Parr family will return to the big screen when Incredibles 3 opens exclusively in theaters on June 16, 2028.
Coco 2
Pixar also revealed new details about Coco 2, including concept art showing Miguel as a teenager.
Benjamin Bratt, who voices Ernesto de la Cruz, joined Pixar Chief Creative Officer Pete Docter onstage and confirmed that the character will return in the sequel. His comeback will help trigger another life-changing journey for Miguel into the Land of the Dead.
The original creative team is returning, including Academy Award-winning director Lee Unkrich and co-director Adrian Molina. Mark Nielsen produces.
Coco 2 is scheduled for an exclusive theatrical release in November 2029.
Ghost Market
Pixar also announced a brand-new original feature, Ghost Market. The film takes audiences to ʻOno Market, a small plate-lunch shop hidden on the North Shore of Oʻahu that serves spirits who are caught between life and death.
The story begins when Kyle, a fast-talking child, becomes the first living person to enter the mysterious location, triggering an unexpected supernatural adventure.
Ghost Market is directed by Trevor Jimenez and Jesse Andrews and produced by Academy Award winner Becky Neiman-Cobb.
The film is scheduled for theatrical release in March 2028.
Gatto
Pixar also offered D23 audiences a new look at Gatto, an animated adventure set in Venice, Italy.
The story follows Nero, a black cat who begins questioning whether he has lived his life the right way after years navigating Venice’s canals and superstitious underworld.
After becoming indebted to Rocco, a ruthless feline mob boss, Nero is forced into an unexpected friendship that could finally lead him toward his purpose. Directed by Enrico Casarosa and produced by Andrea Warren, the team behind Luca, Gatto is scheduled to open in theaters on March 5, 2027.
About the Author
Fábio Borges is an award-winning international journalist and founder of Every Media Productions. Since 1996, he has reported from the Americas, Europe, and Asia, producing more than 4,000 news and entertainment stories throughout his career.
