KPop Demon Hunters 2 & 7 More Upcoming Animated Sequels We Can’t Wait To See

The animated film KPop Demon Hunters quickly became a cultural phenomenon. Released on Netflix on June 20, 2025, and directed by Maggie Kang and Chris Appelhans, it became the platform’s most popular film ever. This success led to numerous awards, including wins at the Golden Globes and Critics’ Choice Awards. At the 98th Academy Awards, the film was the clear frontrunner and ultimately won both Best Animated Feature and Best Original Song (“Golden”). This historic win made Kang and Appelhans the first filmmakers of South Korean descent to win an Oscar in the animated category.

Just before the Oscars, Netflix announced a sequel to KPop Demon Hunters, and signed creators Kang and Appelhans to a multi-year deal to write and direct it. They plan to take the story in exciting new directions for the main characters – Rumi (voiced by Arden Cho), Mira (voiced by May Hong), and Zoey (voiced by Ji-young Yoo) – and aim to release the sequel in 2029, mirroring the original’s demanding production schedule. While KPop Demon Hunters 2 is still a few years away, many other highly anticipated animated sequels are planned between now and then, including the return of long-dormant franchises and continuations of stories fans have waited years to see resolved.

7) The Legend of Aang: The Last Airbender

The first project from Avatar Studios – the team behind the original series, led by Michael DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko – is The Legend of Aang: The Last Airbender. Directed by Lauren Montgomery, this new story takes place after Avatar: The Last Airbender and before The Legend of Korra, focusing on a young adult Aang (voiced by Eric Nam) as a rediscovered ancient power puts the Air Nomads in danger. The movie boasts impressive animation and a fantastic cast, including Steven Yeun as Zuko, Dave Bautista as the villain, and supporting roles played by Taika Waititi, Ke Huy Quan, and Geraldine Viswanathan. Dee Bradley Baker also returns to voice multiple characters, just as he did in the original series. The Legend of Aang: The Last Airbender finished production in early 2026 and will premiere on Paramount+ on October 9, 2026. Although many fans are disappointed it won’t be in theaters – a decision the director has publicly questioned – the film itself looks to be a high-quality production.

6) Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem 2

The movie Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem made $181 million worldwide on a $70 million budget, and proved to Paramount and Nickelodeon that the franchise could be a hit with both moviegoers and critics. The ending of the first film hinted at the sequel’s plot: Cynthia Utrom (voiced by Maya Rudolph) hires Shredder to defeat the Turtles. Director Jeff Rowe intentionally focused the sequel on the villain, comparing introducing Shredder to saving a major character like the Joker for a later reveal. The original voice cast—Nicolas Cantu, Brady Noon, Micah Abbey, Shamon Brown Jr., and Ayo Edebiri—is returning, and Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg are producing again through their company, Point Grey Pictures. The sequel was originally planned for October 2026, but will now be released on August 13, 2027.

5) Shrek 5

It’s been 17 years since the last Shrek movie, Shrek Forever After – the longest gap ever for a major computer-animated franchise. This means the original fans are now grown up, and their children haven’t experienced Shrek in theaters. The new film, Shrek 5, focuses on Shrek and Fiona’s teenage kids, with Zendaya voicing their daughter Felicia and Marcello Hernández and Skyler Gisondo playing their sons, Fergus and Farkle. The movie also brings back the original stars: Mike Myers, Eddie Murphy, and Cameron Diaz, who is returning to acting after a 10-year break. While some fans didn’t like the first look at the updated character designs – which are smoother and have bigger eyes – it’s worth remembering that DreamWorks’ Puss in Boots: The Last Wish faced similar criticism before becoming a critically acclaimed hit. Shrek 5 is scheduled to be released on June 30, 2027.

4) The Super Mario Galaxy Movie

Following the massive success of The Super Mario Bros. Movie – which earned $1.36 billion worldwide and became the highest-grossing video game adaptation ever – Illumination and Nintendo are making a sequel, The Super Mario Galaxy Movie. Directors Aaron Horvath and Michael Jelenic are building on that momentum, sending Mario (Chris Pratt), Luigi (Charlie Day), Princess Peach (Anya Taylor-Joy), and Toad (Keegan-Michael Key) into space. The new adventure begins when Bowser Jr. (Benny Safdie) crashes Peach’s birthday party as part of a plan to rebuild his father’s empire. The sequel also introduces fan favorites Rosalina (voiced by Brie Larson) and Yoshi (voiced by Donald Glover), along with new characters King Wart (Luis Guzmán) and the Honey Queen (Issa Rae). Brian Tyler returns as composer, featuring a 70-piece orchestra performing music from the Super Mario Galaxy games, expanding on the orchestral feel hinted at in the first film. The Super Mario Galaxy Movie is scheduled for release on April 1, 2026.

3) Toy Story 5

Both Toy Story 3 and Toy Story 4 were huge box office successes, earning over $1 billion worldwide. This creates significant commercial expectations for Toy Story 5, more than any other upcoming Pixar sequel. The new film also needs to prove its worth to audiences who felt Toy Story 4 provided a satisfying ending to the series. To meet these expectations, the original cast – Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, Joan Cusack, and Annie Potts – are all returning. The story will focus on a new conflict the franchise hasn’t tackled before: the rise of technology. The main villain is Bonnie’s AI-powered tablet, voiced by Keanu Reeves, which threatens the traditional toys. Andrew Stanton, who co-wrote the original Toy Story and directed Finding Nemo and WALL-E, is co-directing with McKenna Harris. Toy Story 5 is scheduled to be released on June 19, 2026.

2) The Incredibles 3

Incredibles 2 broke records when it came out, earning $1.24 billion worldwide in 2018 after fans waited 14 years for a sequel. Now, Incredibles 3 is asking fans to wait even longer – another decade. Brad Bird, who wrote and directed the first two films, is returning for the third, and he’s been keeping details closely guarded. While Craig T. Nelson, Holly Hunter, and Samuel L. Jackson will reprise their voice roles, very little else is known. Disney announced the project in August 2024, initially aiming for a 2026 release, but has now pushed it back to June 16, 2028. This delay suggests Disney is focused on making a high-quality third film, even if it means waiting longer to capitalize on the franchise’s popularity. Given Brad Bird’s history, this extra time will likely be worth it.

1) Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse

The last film, Across the Spider-Verse, left Miles Morales stuck in another dimension, pursued by former allies, and unable to help his family from a mysterious danger. Beyond the Spider-Verse was meant to pick up that story, with the same directors and writers returning to finish the trilogy. They’ve said this installment is the most emotionally intense yet, showing Miles on the run with very few people he can trust. The filmmakers also created brand new animation styles, especially to visually expand the character of The Spot. However, due to production issues, a rewritten script, and the actors’ strike, the movie’s release has been delayed. Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse is now scheduled to arrive in IMAX and other premium formats on June 18, 2027.

What animated movie sequels are you looking forward to the most? Share your thoughts in the comments and join the discussion on the ComicBook Forum!

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2026-03-21 11:11