PREVIEW: 2013 Animated Features
This list of animated features coming out in 2013 focuses primarily on animated films produced by the major Hollywood studios set for release in the U.S. We’ve rounded it out with a few foreign animated movies of note. Stay tuned to Cartoon Brew’s homepage for extensive coverage of foreign and indie animated films throughout the year.
Escape from Planet Earth (2/14/13)
Astronaut Scorch Supernova finds himself caught in a trap when he responds to an SOS from a notoriously dangerous alien planet.
Director: Callan Brunker
Production Company: Blue Yonder Films
Distributor: Weinstein Company
Technique: CG
Voice Cast: Jessica Alba, Sarah Jessica Parker, Brendan Fraser
Film Website
The Croods (3/22/13)
The world’s very first prehistoric family goes on a road trip to an uncharted and fantastical world.
Directors: Kirk De Micco, Chris Sanders
Production Company: Dreamworks
Distributor: 20th Century-Fox
Technique: CG
Voice Cast: Emma Stone, Nichloas Cage, Ryan Reynolds
Film Website
Epic (5/24/13)
A teenager finds herself transported to a deep forest setting where a battle between the forces of good and the forces of evil is taking place.
Directors: Chris Wedge
Production Company: Blue Sky
Distributor: 20th Century-Fox
Technique: CG
Voice Cast: Josh Hutcherson, Amanda Seyfried, Colin Ferrell
Film Website
Monsters University (6/21/13)
A look at the relationship between Mike and Sulley during their days at the University of Fear — when they weren’t necessarily the best of friends.
Director: Dan Scanlon
Production Company: Pixar
Distributor: Disney
Technique: CG
Voice Cast: Billy Crystal, John Goodman, Steve Buscemi
Film Website
Despicable Me 2 (7/3/13)
Gru, the girls, the unpredictably hilarious minions and a host of new characters return.
Directors: Pierre Coffin, Chris Renaud
Production Company: Illumination
Distributor: Universal
Technique: CG
Voice Cast: Steve Carrel, Al Pacino, Kristen Wiig.
Film Website
Turbo (7/19/13)
A garden snail with dreams of becoming the fastest snail in the world experiences a freak accident that might just allow him to realize his goal.
Directors: David Soren
Production Company: Dreamworks
Distributor: 20th Century-Fox
Technique: CG
Voice Cast: Ryan Reynolds, Paul Giamatti, Samuel L. Jackson
Film Website
The Smurfs 2 (7/31/13)
The Smurfs team up with their human friends to rescue Smurfette, who has been kidnapped by Gargamel since she knows a secret spell that can turn the evil sorcerer’s newest creation – creatures called the Naughties – into real Smurfs.
Director: Raja Gosnell
Production Company: Sony Animation
Distributor: Columbia Pictures
Technique: Live Action/CG
Voice Cast: Katy Perry, George Lopez, Jonathan Winters
Film Website
Planes (8/9/13)
An animated adventure that follows a young crop-duster named Dusty as he looks to compete in a perilous around-the-world race.
Director: Klay Hall
Production Company: Disneytoon Studios
Distributor: Disney
Technique: CG
Voice Cast: Jon Cryer, Carlos Alazraqui
Film Website
Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2: Revenge of the Leftovers (9/27/13)
Flint Lockwood now works at The Live Corp Company for his idol Chester V. But he’s forced to leave his post when he learns that his most infamous machine is still operational and is churning out menacing food-animal hybrids.
Directors: Cody Cameron, Kris Pearn
Production Company: Sony Pictures Animation
Distributor: Columbia Pictures
Technique: CG
Voice Cast: Bill Hader, Anna Faris and Will Forte
Film Website
Free Birds (formerly Turkeys) (11/1/13)
Two turkeys travel back in time to remove turkey from the Thanksgiving holiday menu.
Director: Jimmy Hayward
Production Company: Reel FX
Distributor: Relativity
Technique: CG
Voice Cast: Woody Harrelson, Owen Wilson, Amy Poehler, Dan Fogler, Lesley Nicol, George Takei, Colm Meaney, Keith David
Frozen (12/14/13)
A mountain climber and a young girl named Anna journey through snowy peaks and dangerous cliffs to find the legendary Snow Queen and end the perpetual winter prophecy that has fallen over their kingdom.
Directors: Chris Buck, Jennifer Lee
Production Company: Disney Animation Studios
Distributor: Disney
Technique: CG
Voice Cast: Kristen Bell, Idina Menzel, Jonathan Groff
Disney Animation Studios Website
Foreign Films
Metegol “Foosball” (Argentina and Spain)
The film tells the story of Amadeo, a shy but talented boy, and of a foosball team that is trying to get back together after having been dismantled.
Directors: Juan José Campanella
Production Companies: 100 Bares, Catmandú Entertainment, Plural-Jempsa, Antena 3 Films, Canal +, La Sexta
Distributor: Universal Pictures International
Technique: CG
Voice Cast: Pablo Rago, Miguel Angel Rodriguez, Fabian Gianola
Official Website
Ernest and Celestine (French)
The story of an unlikely friendship between a bear, Ernest, and a young mouse named Celestine.
Directors: Stephane Aubier, Vincent Patar, Benjamin Renner
Production Companies: La Parti Productions, Les Armateurs, Maybe Movies
Distributor: Gkids (in the U.S.)
Technique: Hand-drawn
Voice Cast: Pauline Brunner, Lambert Wilson, Anne-Marie Loop
Les Armateurs Website
The Wind is Rising (Japan)
A look at the life of Jiro Horikoshi, the man who designed Japanese fighter planes during World War II.
Director: Hayao Miyazaki
Production Company: Studio Ghibli
Official Website
The Tale of Princess Kaguya (Japan)
A princess named Kaguya is discovered as a baby inside the stalk of a glowing bamboo plant.
Director: Isao Takahata
Production Company: Studio Ghibli
Official Website
