Netflix Animation offers a sneak peek at its 2023 slate at Annecy!

Netflix is among the many studios gathering in France this month to showcase their hot new animated offerings at the Annecy Festival. Here are some exclusive first-look images and quotes from the creative teams behind the features and series:

Director Sam Fell

Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget

Premieres Dec. 22, 2023

“Like the first Chicken Run movie, Dawn of the Nugget is a major milestone for Aardman. We’ve thrown everything we’ve got at this one — it’s a one of a kind, lovingly handcrafted stop-motion marvel — the culmination of 40 years of Aardman’s technical and creative development. We didn’t just make it to stand out this year, but for decades to come. We want the audience to walk away having been totally entertained — to have had a laugh, shed a tear and been on the edge of their seats to the final frame. If they think a bit more like chickens as the credits roll then that’s no bad thing, either! “

Director Anthony Stacchi

The Monkey King

Premieres Aug. 2023

“We hope that our Monkey King origin story will introduce the Journey to the parts of the world that have never heard of it before and give a fresh, fun take on the story for folks who have grown up with this wonderful tale. One thing that makes our movie special is our cast — Jimmy O. Yang, Jolie-Hoang Rappaport and Bowen Yang show levels of emotional acting, singing and fun that we’ve never seen from them before, and they are just the top of our all Asian cast of gods and demons.”

Producer Peilin Chou

The Monkey King

“I’m so excited for audiences to discover The Monkey King! It’s such a beloved and iconic tale that I grew up with, so it’s particularly exciting to share it in a global animated film for the very first time. I also really love the themes in our film, particularly the notion of writing your own scroll, and the belief that we all have the ability to do great things if we believe in ourselves and are true to who we are.

“We have some of the most authentic and dynamic kung fu action fighting sequences I have ever seen in animation. We had a truly fantastic fight choreographer based out of Beijing (named Siwei) who designed each fight to be complex and totally unique. Also, our cast is truly amazing, particularly Bowen Yang and Jimmy O. Yang in such memorable roles that really land the irreverent Stephen Chow-esque comedic tone throughout our film in the most satisfying way. We also have fantastic songs written by Toby Marlow and Lucy Moss (Tony Award winners for Broadway’s Six). Though our film is not a musical, there are some really exciting and hilarious musical moments that kind of steal the show throughout the film. Fair warning: Once you hear the Monkey King theme song, it will not leave your head!”

Directors Robert Marianetti, Robert Smigel & David Wachtenheim

Leo

Premieres Nov. 2023

“A comedy about talking class pets will, of course, have plenty of goofy moments, and a lot of humor that resonates with both kids and parents. But we hope people are touched by what the characters learn over the course of the movie … the importance of finding someone to share your concerns and anxieties with, and the incredible inherent rewards in being a good teacher, mentor or friend.

“With Adam Sandler, Bill Burr, Cecily Strong, a great script and silly songs, we hope people will find it one of the funniest animated films of the year. But, while we›ve collaborated on many crazy projects, going back to our SNL TV Funhouse cartoons, Leo is a little different. Aside from the central character being a very old class pet, our story is also about honest emotions and situations that every kid (and parent) experiences in elementary school. People of all ages will relate to it. And so will talking lizards!”

Creator/Writer/Executive Producer

Amber Noizumi

Blue Eye Samurai

Premieres Late 2023

“We hope the mature themes and content, produced like in live action — complete with a world-class stunt coordinator, costume designer, previs artists and historians — elevate our show into animation no one has ever seen. We want the audience to feel an attachment to our mixed-race hero — feeling her pain, her rage — as if she were played by a live-action actor, and a story they can’t put down.”

Directors Nick Bruno & Troy Quane

Nimona

Premieres June 30, 2023

“With so many animated films to be excited for this year, only one … is punk! Set in a techno-medieval future, Nimona is a spiky, spunky, shapeshifting ball of limitless capability and chaos who is sure to help us all realize that what makes us awesome is worth fighting for. This movie is a love letter to all those who have ever felt different, or misunderstood.

“As directors, we believe it is our responsibility to think about what kind of conversation viewers will have after watching our film. For Nimona, the message is simple: Get to know people! Look beyond the labels and opinions others have created. By forming our own opinions and questioning the opinions that came before, we can see others for their authentic selves. That’s all any of us could ever want.” ◆