Oscar for Best Animated Feature 2026

[Sotiris]

Previously: Oscar for Best Animated Feature 2025

The eligible features for the 2026 Academy Awards are the following.

Allah Is Not Obliged
All You Need Is Kill
The Angry Birds Movie 3
Animal Farm
Another World
Bebefinn Sing-Along Movie: Into the Pinkfong World
The Cat in the Hat
Cosmic Princess Kaguya!
Decorado
Fleak
Forgotten Island
GOAT
Hexed
Hoppers
I Am Frankelda
In Waves
Iron Boy
Jinsei
Julián
The Land of Sometimes
The Legend of Aang: The Last Airbender
Minions & Monsters
Paw Patrol: The Dino Movie
Ray Gunn
The Ribbon Hero
Shaun the Sheep: The Beast of Mossy Bottom
Steps
Sunny
The Super Mario Galaxy Movie
Swapped
Tamala 2030: A Punk Cat in Dark
Toy Story 5
Wildwood


Notes

• The Amazing Digital Circus: The Last Act received a limited theatrical release in the U.S. on June 04, 2026 but not an Oscar-qualifying run.

• Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War — The Calamity received a limited theatrical release in the U.S. on June 25, 2026 but not an Oscar-qualifying run.

• Buffalo Kids received a limited theatrical release in the U.S. on February 06, 2026 but not an Oscar-qualifying run.

• Charlie the Wonderdog received a limited theatrical release in the U.S. on January 16, 2026 but not an Oscar-qualifying run.

• Coyote vs. Acme which was released in the U.S. on August 28, 2026 may not be eligible since it is an animated/live-action hybrid.

• The Dangers in My Heart: The Movie received a limited theatrical release in the U.S. on February 16, 2026 but not an Oscar-qualifying run.

• Disclosure Day which was released in the U.S. on June 12, 2026 may not be eligible since it is an animated/live-action hybrid.

• Dune: Part Three which was released in the U.S. on December 18, 2026 may not be eligible since it is an animated/live-action hybrid.

• Emi Martínez: The Kid Who Stops Time which was released in the U.S. on May 28, 2026 may not be eligible since it is an animated/live-action hybrid.

• The End of Oak Street which was released in the U.S. on August 14, 2026 may not be eligible since it is an animated/live-action hybrid.

• Godzilla Minus Zero which was released in the U.S. on November 06, 2026 may not be eligible since it is an animated/live-action hybrid.

• Hope which was released in the U.S. in Fall 2026 may not be eligible since it is an animated/live-action hybrid.

• Hypnosis Mic: Division Rap Battle — Interactive Movie received a limited theatrical release in the U.S. on February 27, 2026 but not an Oscar-qualifying run.

• I Love Boosters which was released in the U.S. on May 22, 2026 may not be eligible since it is an animated/live-action hybrid.

• Jumanji: Open World which was released in the U.S. on December 25, 2026 may not be eligible since it is an animated/live-action hybrid.

• Kingdom Games received a limited theatrical release in the U.S. on July 24, 2026 but not an Oscar-qualifying run.

• Klara and the Sun which was released in the U.S. on October 23, 2026 may not be eligible since it is an animated/live-action hybrid.

• Labyrinth received a limited theatrical release in the U.S. on May 10, 2026 but not an Oscar-qualifying run.

• The Last Whale Singer received a limited theatrical release in the U.S. on June 05, 2026 but not an Oscar-qualifying run.

• Lupin the IIIrd: The Movie — The Immortal Bloodline received a limited theatrical release in the U.S. on January 04, 2026 but not an Oscar-qualifying run.

• The Magic Faraway Tree which was released in the U.S. on August 21, 2026 may not be eligible since it is an animated/live-action hybrid.

• Mars received a limited theatrical release in the U.S. on February 20, 2026 but not an Oscar-qualifying run.

• Masters of the Universe which was released in the U.S. on June 05, 2026 may not be eligible since it is an animated/live-action hybrid.

• Moana which was released in the U.S. on July 10, 2026 may not be eligible since it is an animated/live-action hybrid.

• Mobile Suit Gundam: Hathaway — The Sorcery of Nymph Circe received a limited theatrical release in the U.S. on May 15, 2026 but not an Oscar-qualifying run.

• Mortal Kombat II which was released in the U.S. on May 15, 2026 may not be eligible since it is an animated/live-action hybrid.

• The Odyssey which was released in the U.S. on July 17, 2026 may not be eligible since it is an animated/live-action hybrid.

• Out of the Nest received a limited theatrical release in the U.S. on January 09, 2026 but not an Oscar-qualifying run.

• The Pout-Pout Fish received a limited theatrical release in the U.S. on March 20, 2026 but not an Oscar-qualifying run.

• Practical Magic 2 which was released in the U.S. on September 11, 2026 may not be eligible since it is an animated/live-action hybrid.

• Project Hail Mary which was released in the U.S. on March 20, 2026 may not be eligible since it is an animated/live-action hybrid.

• The Quran which was released in the U.S. on March 19, 2026 may not be eligible since it is an animated/live-action hybrid.

• Ramayana: Part I which was released in the U.S. on November 08, 2026 may not be eligible since it is an animated/live-action hybrid.

• Scary Movie 6 which was released in the U.S. on June 05, 2026 may not be eligible since it is an animated/live-action hybrid.

• The Sheep Detectives which was released in the U.S. on May 08, 2026 may not be eligible since it is an animated/live-action hybrid.

• Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu which was released in the U.S. on May 22, 2026 may not be eligible since it is an animated/live-action hybrid.

• Stranger Things: Tales From '85 received a limited theatrical release in the U.S. on April 18, 2026 but not an Oscar-qualifying run.

• Street Fighter which was released in the U.S. on October 16, 2026 may not be eligible since it is an animated/live-action hybrid.

• Tafiti: Across the Desert received a limited theatrical release in the U.S. on January 30, 2026 but not an Oscar-qualifying run.

• Takeover which was released in the U.S. on May 08, 2026 may not be eligible since it is an animated/live-action hybrid.

• That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime the Movie: Tears of the Azure Sea received a limited theatrical release in the U.S. on May 01, 2026 but not an Oscar-qualifying run.

• Time Hoppers: The Silk Road received a limited theatrical release in the U.S. on February 07, 2026 but not an Oscar-qualifying run.

• Tom and Jerry: Forbidden Compass received a limited theatrical release in the U.S. on September 09, 2026 but not an Oscar-qualifying run.

• Umamusume: Pretty Derby — Beginning of a New Era received a limited theatrical release in the U.S. on February 27, 2026 but not an Oscar-qualifying run.

• Whoever Steals This Book received a limited theatrical release in the U.S. in 2026 but not an Oscar-qualifying run.

• Zombie Land Saga: Yumeginga Paradise received a limited theatrical release in the U.S. on January 19, 2026 but not an Oscar-qualifying run.

[Sotiris]

Currently, the frontrunners for the 2026 Oscar are:

Forgotten Island
Hexed
Hoppers
The Legend of Aang: The Last Airbender
Ray Gunn
Shaun the Sheep: The Beast of Mossy Bottom
Toy Story 5
Wildwood

[Farerb]

2026 is going to be more competitive than 2025.

[Sotiris]

Coming Attractions: 26 Pics in the Mix in ’26
https://www.animationmagazine.net/2025/ ... mix-in-26/

Upcoming Animated Movies Calendar: A Look At 2026 Feature Animation Releases
https://www.cartoonbrew.com/feature-fil ... 57835.html

A Too Early Look at the 2026 Best Animated Feature Oscars Race
https://www.indiewire.com/features/comm ... 235185341/

Why 2026 Is a High Stakes Year for Original Animated Films
https://www.thewrap.com/creative-conten ... originals/

[Sotiris]

The Legend of Aang: The Last Airbender is going straight to streaming. It's unknown whether it will still receive a limited theatrical run to qualify for awards.

‘Legend of Aang: The Last Airbender’ Will Skip Theaters and Debut on Paramount+ Alongside New ‘Seven Havens’ Series
https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/ ... 236457907/

[PatchofBlue]

Rather selfish on their part, since that's the exact kind of movie that might just get kids back to the theaters.

And I'm not even sure it's that financially sound. I might be curious enough to voyage to the theaters to check it out. But I aint adding another streaming service to my catalogue just for one movie.

[Sotiris]

Looks good so far. I think it may have a real chance of winning.

Set Your Sights on Brad Bird’s Animated Detective Noir Ray Gunn
https://www.netflix.com/tudum/articles/ ... first-look

[PatchofBlue]

It looks really neat. I'll be keeping my eyes on this one for sure.

My valid concern remains whether it'll gain any lasting traction as a streaming exclusive. Even the interesting movies that land there never seem to hold anyone's attention for very long.

I know I'm writing this in the wake of "K-POP: Demon Hunters," but that was a bit of a rarity. Very few movies that skip theaters find that kind of stride. Until streaming services start radically reshaping how they exhibit their content, I fear they're just throwing everything into the blender and pressing puree.

[Sotiris]

Annecy Festival Reveals Feature Film Selections, Program Highlights & More
https://www.animationmagazine.net/2026/ ... ghts-more/

[PatchofBlue]

Trailer for Laika's "Wildwood" dropped this morning and it looks like it might be the one to beat

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=POneS8h1jyU

[PatchofBlue]

Brad Bird’s Passion-Project Ray Gunn Is Finally Real – And Will Be ‘A Really Good Time’, He Promises
https://www.empireonline.com/movies/new ... exclusive/

Some more teases for Ray Gunn

Anyways, right now my predictions/hopes are

1. Hoppers
2. Ray Gunn
3. Wildwood
4. Hexed
5. Some smaller-studio/overseas film

I also think that "Forgotten Island" looks really nice and could imagine it filling the last spot. "The Legend of Aang" or "Toy Story 5" could also sneak in. And hey, given how much The Academy loves the Toy Story movies, that could also end up taking home the prize. "Hexed" probably has more to prove than "Hoppers." Even if it gets decent buzz and box office, The Academy has always just asked Disney Animation to work harder than Pixar.