6 Animated Features Hitting the Screen in Latter Half of 2018

GKIDS' latest 'Fireworks' opens July 4, whereas 'Wreck-It Ralph 2' and 'The Grinch' arrive this fall.


It's shaping up to be a big year in animation, with Disney/Pixar's Incredibles 2 currently leading the box office pack by earning $656.6 million worldwide. Other animated releases have also included Sony's live action/animation hybrid Peter Rabbit ($350 million gross) and Wes Anderson's solid grossing indie Isle of Dogs, with $63 million.


Despite varied animated films already have been released, there is still an array of films on the horizon for the latter of the year, including several titles from indie distributor GKIDS, whose Fireworks opens July 4. The family animated feature Hotel Transylvania 3: Summer Vacation hits theaterson July 20, followed by Disney's Ralph Breaks the Internet: Wreck-It Ralph 2 and Illumination's The Grinch hitting the big screen this fall.


Here's a look at six anticipated animated titles that will crowd the second half of the year.


Fireworks

GKIDS

Indie distributor GKIDS—which has fielded 10 Oscar nominations for best animated feature since 2010—is back in theaters on July 4 with the appropriately titled Fireworks, a film by Akiyuki Shinbo and Nobuyuki Takeuchi. It arrives from producer Genki Kawarmura, who previously produced 2016’s anime mega-hit Your Name. Fireworks is another tale of star-crossed teenage loves with a sci-fi fantasy twist.


Additional titles from GKIDS are also arriving in the fall, such as MIrai, a fantasy from Japan’s Studio Chizu that follows a young boy who feels forgotten by his family when his little sister arrives. The film also screened at Cannes in the Directors’ Fortnight section. Also on the way is The Big Bad Fox and Other Tales, helmed by Patrick Imbert and Benjamin Renner, who was nominated for an Academy Award for Ernest & Celestine. Earlier this year, the film won France's Cesar Award for best animated film.


Hotel Transylvania 3: Summer Vacation

Sony Pictures Animation


Drac and his family are back in Sony Pictures Animation’s Hotel Transylvania 3: Summer Vacation, which opens July 13. In this new installment of the franchise, again helmed by Genndy Tartakovsky, the gang embarks on a cruise. The returning characters include: Count Dracula (voiced by Adam Sandler), his daughter Mavis (Selena Gomez) and Jonathan (Andy Samberg).


The first two films in the monster franchise earned a combined $831.6 million worldwide.


Ralph Breaks the Internet: Wreck-It-Ralph 2

Disney


Ralph Breaks the Internet: Wreck-It Ralph 2, the sequel to the 2012 Oscar-nominated video-game-world-set hit, finds Ralph (John C. Reilly) and Vanellope (Sarah Silverman) entering the world of the Internet.


The trailer has already revealed a comedic scene during which Vanellope meets the Disney princesses and lovingly skewers the Disney animated classics. Many of the original voice actors of the princesses returned for the scene, including Jodi Benson (Ariel), Paige O'Hara (Belle), Linda Larkin (Jasmine), Anika Noni Rose (Tiana) and Kelly Macdonald (Merida).


Helmed by Rich Moore (who won an Oscar for Zootopia) and Phil Johnston, the film opens Nov. 21.


The Grinch

Illumination

Illumination Entertainment's The Grinch – which is set to open Nov. 9 – won't just be a remake of the 1966 TV classic, How The Grinch Stole Christmas. Instead, the film will be an origin story about Dr. Seuss' iconic creature, who will be voiced by Benedict Cumberbatch. His faithful dog Max also joins him in snowy Whoville. The film is set to hit theaters on Nov. 9.


Spiderman: Into the Spider Verse

Sony Pictures Animation


Columbia, Sony Pictures Animation and Marvel's anticipated Spiderman: Into the Spiderverse brings Marvel’s Miles Morales/Spider-Man character to the big screen, voiced by actor Shameik Moore.


The stylized CG film was developed by The Lego Movie’s Phil Lord and Christopher Miller; co-directed by Bob Persichetti, Peter Ramsey and Rodney Rothman; and the voice cast includes Hailee Steinfeld as Gwen Stacy. The film is set to be released on Dec. 14.


Smallfoot

Warner Bros. Pictures


Based on the book Yeti Tracks from Sergio Pablos, Warner Animation Group's adaptation, Smallfoot, is a Yeti comedy co-written and directed by Karey Kirkpatrick.


The film includes a voice cast of Channing Tatum, James Corden, Zendaya, Common, Gina Rodriguez and Danny DeVito. The film opens Sept. 28.