Top Animated Sequels Coming to Theaters This Summer

The latest installment in the beloved franchise features Gru, Lucy, and the girls facing a new threat from Vector's son and a mysterious new villain. With enhanced 3D animation and familiar humor, it promises to expand the Minions' universe while delivering heartfelt family dynamics and chaotic comedy for all ages.

Buster Moon and his friends face their biggest challenge yet by staging an opera in a glamorous new theater. This sequel expands the ensemble cast with new musical talents and offers stunning musical sequences, combining heartwarming stories of redemption with high-energy performance numbers that captivate audiences.

While technically released in 2023, it continues to dominate summer box office charts and streaming discussions as the definitive video game adaptation. Featuring iconic characters like Mario, Luigi, and Bowser, the film revitalizes the franchise with vibrant visuals and faithful nods to gaming history, appealing to both nostalgia and new fans.

This critically acclaimed sequel explores themes of mortality and redemption as Puss faces his past demons in a darkly fairytale-inspired world. With a distinctive artistic style that blends 2D and 3D animation, it offers a mature yet accessible narrative that stands out as one of the most emotionally resonant animated films in recent years.

Miles Morales returns for a cosmic adventure that shatters the multiverse, introducing a vast array of Spider-People from different dimensions. The film pushes the boundaries of animation with unique visual styles for each universe, delivering a complex narrative about destiny and identity that resonates deeply with modern audiences.

Pixar’s original story explores the relationship between fire and water elements in a city where each element lives with others. It uses this metaphor to discuss themes of assimilation, prejudice, and family expectations, wrapped in stunning visual effects that bring the physical properties of fire, water, earth, and air to life.

Poppy and Branch travel across the globe to save their music genres from Queen Barb, ruler of the Rock Trolls. This sequel expands the musical palette to include country, hip-hop, and heavy metal, offering a colorful and energetic celebration of diversity and self-expression through catchy songs and vibrant character designs.

The Madrigal family faces a new crisis when their magical house begins to crack, revealing cracks in their familial bonds. This Academy Award-winning original story celebrates Colombian culture and music while exploring the pressure of perfection and the importance of individual identity within a loving but demanding family structure.

A prequel exploring young Gru’s journey from aspiring villain to iconic supervillain, featuring his early encounters with the Minions. The film captures the charm of Gru’s childhood dreams and the chaotic loyalty of his new friends, offering a humorous and heartwarming look at the origins of the beloved franchise.

Buzz Lightyear’s origin story reimagines the character as a real space ranger rather than a toy, facing time dilation and lost time with his team. The film combines sci-fi adventure with emotional depth, exploring themes of legacy and heroism while showcasing state-of-the-art animation that brings the Star Command universe to life.

Disney and Pixar’s coming-of-age story follows a teenage girl who transforms into a giant red panda when she gets emotional. It tackles the complexities of puberty, cultural identity, and parent-child relationships with humor and warmth, offering a fresh and relatable perspective on growing up in a traditional Chinese-Canadian household.

A group of criminal animals attempts to go straight but finds themselves embroiled in a new heist gone wrong. With a sleek, stylish animation aesthetic and a fun, heist-driven plot, the film subverts expectations of villainy, offering a lighthearted comedy that appeals to both children and adults with its witty dialogue and action sequences.

In a fantasy realm divided into five lands, Raya seeks the last dragon to save her world from dark creatures. This Disney epic emphasizes trust and unity, featuring stunning Southeast Asian-inspired art design and martial arts action, while delivering a poignant message about healing divisions through cooperation and compassion.

Sonic teams up with Tails to stop the evil Dr. Robotnik, who enlists the powerful shadowy figure Knuckles. This sequel expands the universe with new characters and more elaborate action sequences, balancing the humor of the live-action/CGI hybrid format with thrilling video game-inspired set pieces that delight franchise fans.

A quirky family road trip is interrupted by a robot apocalypse, requiring them to use their unique skills to save the world. This Netflix original offers a visually innovative animation style that mimics various digital art forms, delivering a hilarious and heartfelt commentary on technology, family dynamics, and embracing individuality.

Po must train a new warrior, the fox Zhen, while preparing to face a powerful sorceress who steals martial arts skills. This latest entry continues Po’s journey of self-discovery and mentorship, blending classic kung fu action with comedic moments and emotional growth, maintaining the franchise’s appeal for new and returning audiences.

Emmet and his friends face a new threat from aliens in this sequel that expands the meta-narrative about creativity and play. It features a vibrant musical score and diverse Lego minifigures, offering a playful exploration of friendship and adaptation while maintaining the self-aware humor that made the first film a critical and commercial success.

Two young sea monsters experience the ultimate summer on the Italian Riviera, exploring themes of friendship and acceptance. Pixar’s vibrant depiction of the Ligurian coast serves as a backdrop for a charming coming-of-age story that emphasizes the beauty of diversity and the courage it takes to embrace one’s true self.

Fei Fei builds a rocket to the moon to prove the existence of the moon goddess Chang’e, embarking on a magical journey. This Netflix animated film features stunning watercolor-inspired visuals and original songs, weaving a tale about processing grief and finding joy, while celebrating Chinese mythology and culture with warmth and wonder.

A music-loving guinea bird named Vivo travels from Havana to Miami to deliver a love song for his owner’s former partner. This musical adventure from Netflix and Sony Pictures Animation features lively Latin rhythms and heartfelt performances, offering a colorful and energetic story about love, music, and the bonds that connect people across distances.