^{Credit: The Bluey Movie, Frozen 3, Gatto (Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures)}

Disney made several exciting announcements at D23 in 2026. Beyond casting for the next X-Men film, footage for Star Wars: Starfighter, and confirmation that Romy and Michele 2 is still happening, Disney mapped out their animated feature slate for the next few years. In 2027, Disney will release at least five films that will be eligible for Best Animated Feature consideration at the 100^th Academy Awards. They are:

Ice Age: Boiling Point (20th Century Animation) – Release Date: February 5, 2027

Gatto (Pixar Animation Studios) – Release Date: March 5, 2027

The Bluey Movie (Ludo Studio, BBC Studios) – Release Date: August 6, 2027

The New Simpsons Movie (20th Century Animation, Gracie Films) - Release Date: September 3, 2027

Frozen 3 (Walt Disney Animation Studios) – Release Date: November 24, 2027

Many of the aforementioned titles have Oscar ties. Boiling Point is the sixth theatrical entry in the Ice Age franchise, albeit the first without any involvement from Blue Sky Studios, which Disney shut down in 2021. While the original Ice Age was nominated for Best Animated Feature in 2003, the franchise hasn’t been able to break back into that race since. Ice Age had better luck with Gone Nutty and No Time for Nuts, which were both nominated for Best Animated Short. Similarly, The Simpsons franchise scored a Best Animated Short nomination for 2012’s The Longest Daycare, but 2007’s The Simpsons Movie was denied a Best Animated Feature nomination.

Movies based on shows have historically struggled to break through in Best Animated Feature. As such, The Bluey Movie, which gives the Aussie phenomenon a CGI makeover, may face an uphill battle even if reviews and box office are glowing. That said, Bluey should make some serious green if its streaming success is any indication. Frozen 3 perhaps has the strongest financial prospects, given that its two predecessors both crossed $1 billion. Where the original Frozen won Best Animated Feature and Best Original Song for “Let It Go,” Frozen II was only nominated for the tune “Into the Unknown.” Frozen 3 might bring the franchise back into the animation race.

Pixar’s Gatto is the only original animated film that Disney has on their slate for 2027. Centered on a black cat in Venice, Gatto is new territory for Pixar, being their first feature to blend CGI with 2D hand-painted artistry. While it’s hard to imagine Gatto out-grossing Frozen 3, it may have the best shot at an Oscar nomination, being an entirely new property that takes a swing visually. Of course, we can’t properly judge any of these films until they’re released. It’s never too early to make Oscar predictions, however.

^{Credit: Clay, Incredibles 3, Ghost Market (Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures)}

Disney will also have at least three animated features in the Oscar conversation for 2028:

Ghost Market (March 10, 2028) – Release Date: Pixar Animation Studios

Incredibles 3 (June 16, 2028) - Release Date: Pixar Animation Studios

Clay (November 2028) - Release Date: Walt Disney Animation Studios

Trevor Jimenez, who helmed the Oscar-nominated short Weekends, is directing Ghost Market, which takes Pixar into supernatural territory. Incredibles 3 marks the first entry in the super franchise not directed by Brad Bird. Peter Sohn (Elemental, The Good Dinosaur) takes over as director, although Bird is still writing the script, telling a story that centers more on the Parr child as they try to establish themselves as heroes. Clay is an original animated feature with a lead voiceover performance from Kieran Culkin. Looking ahead, Zootopia 3 was announced as well, but Disney didn’t give a release window for that bird-centric sequel. What we do know is that Pixar has Coco 2 slated for November 2029, with a now-teenage Miguel again encountering Ernesto de la Cruz.

^{Credit: Coco 2 (Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures)}

Speaking of Coco, Sora will be venturing to the Land of the Dead in Kingdom Hearts IV, which is (hopefully) coming out in late 2027. Fans of the billion-dollar game franchise were equally ecstatic to hear that a Kingdom Hearts anime series is in development as well. Headed to Disney+ and Disney Channel, Kingdom Hearts: The Series won’t be a straightforward adaptation of the games, but rather, a reimagining. While Disney hasn’t given us a release date, the show could be a potential contender at the Primetime Emmys or Children’s and Family Emmys, depending on where it’s submitted.

^{Credit: Kingdom Hearts: The Series, Oswald (Disney+)}

The same goes for Jon Favreau’s three-episode miniseries centered on Oswald the Lucky Rabbit. Blending live-action and 2D hand-drawn animation, Oswald will premiere on February 17, 2027, just in time for the rabbit’s 100^th anniversary. Sergio Pablos, a former Disney artist and director of the Oscar-nominated Klaus, will be heading up the miniseries’ animation team. Oswald will more than likely be a Children’s and Family Emmys contender, especially since Disney has seen more luck at that award show with projects like Pixar’s Win or Lose. Depending on the tone Favreau goes for, though, perhaps Oswald could be submitted at the Primetime Emmys like The Mandalorian.

For all the announcements that D23 brought, there was little noise about Disney’s next animated feature Hexed, which releases on November 25, 2026. Disney did share that Jodie Foster and Walton Goggins had joined the fantasy adventure’s cast. Disney Animation CCO Jared Bush also mentioned that the film wouldn’t be a traditional Disney musical. Music will still be present in Hexed, indicating it might have a Best Original Song contender. As for Best Animated Feature, Hexed will have to compete with two Pixar films, Toy Story 5 and Hoppers, not to mention several outside competitors in what’s been a stacked year for the medium. Will next year be even more stacked for animation, though? D23’s output suggests so.

Nick Spake is the Author of Bright & Shiny: A History of Animation at Award Shows Volumes 1, 2, and 3. Available Now!