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May 2021 streaming May 2021 streaming

Welcome to our monthly guide to streaming animation.

We’ve rounded up the shows and films — new and old alike — coming to Netflix, Disney+, and HBO Max in May (in the U.S.). Fully animated and hybrid titles are included, as are documentaries about subjects related to animation.

Check out our three picks of the month, then scroll on down for the full list.

Adventure Time: Distant Lands — Together Again. The Land of Ooo has been annexed by HBO Max, which (in the U.S.) exclusively premieres the hour-long Adventure Time specials known as Distant Lands. This, the third special of four, reunites Jake the dog and Finn the human for “the adventure of their lifetimes.” (HBO Max, May 20)

Love, Death & Robots. Netflix’s Emmy-winning anthology series of sci-fi shorts is back, with a new grab bag of stories, styles, and filmmakers. We don’t yet know much about the contents of volume two but, judging by the trailer below, the uncanny valley features prominently. Jennifer Yuh Nelson (Kung Fu Panda 2, 3) joins series creator Tim Miller as supervising director. (Netflix, May 14)

Star Wars: The Bad Batch. Dave Filoni, a supervising director on Cartoon Network’s Star Wars: The Clone Wars, has created a spin-off that follows the exploits of clone troopers from the original series. “It’s very much in the vein of Clone Wars,” promises Filoni. The first episode drops on May the Fourth (naturally), with a new one premiering every Friday thereafter. (Disney+, from May 4)


Netflix
  • Angelina Ballerina, seasons 5–6 (series; May 1)
  • Madagascar 3: Europe’s Most Wanted (feature; May 1)
  • Miniforce: Super Dino Power, season 1 (series; May 1)
  • Open Season (feature; May 1)
  • The Land Before Time (feature; May 1)
  • The Land Before Time II: The Great Valley Adventure (feature; May 1)
  • The Yeti Adventures (feature; May 1)
  • Trash Truck, season 2 (series; May 4)
  • Castlevania, season 4 (series; May 13)
  • Jungle Beat: The Movie (feature; May 14)
  • Love, Death & Robots, volume 2 (series; May 14)
  • Kuroko’s Basketball, season 2 (series; May 15)
  • Jurassic World Camp Cretaceous, season 3 (series; May 21)
  • Home (feature; May 25)
  • Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure, season 3 (series; May 26)
  • Eden, season 1 (series; May 27)
  • Dog Gone Trouble (feature; May 28)

Disney+
  • Star Wars: The Bad Batch (series; May 4, 7, 14, 21, 28)
  • Wander over Yonder, seasons 1–2 (series; May 7)
  • Everyone’s Hero (feature; May 7)
  • Special Agent Oso, seasons 1–2 (series; May 14)
  • Special Agent Oso: Three Healthy Steps, season 1 (series; May 14)
  • Inside Pixar: Unpacked (series; May 21)
  • Big City Greens, season 2 (series; May 21)
  • Mickey Mouse Mixed-Up Adventures, season 1 (series; May 21)
  • Tinker Bell and the Legend of the Neverbeast (feature; May 21)
  • Bluey, season 2 (series; May 28)

HBO Max
  • Happy Feet (feature; May 1)
  • Happy Feet Two (feature; May 1)
  • Igor (feature; May 1)
  • Re:Zero − Starting Life in Another World, season 2 (series; May 8)
  • Jujutsu Kaisen, season 1, subtitled, episodes 13–24 (series; May 10)
  • Apple & Onion, season 2a (series; May 19)
  • Adventure Time: Distant Lands — Together Again (special; May 20)
  • Curious George (feature; May 26)
  • Cats (feature; May 31)
  • Jetsons: The Movie (feature; May 31)
  • Lego: Justice League: Attack Of The Legion Of Doom! (feature; May 31)

Images at top, left to right: “Star Wars: The Bad Batch,” “Adventure Time: Distant Lands — Together Again,” “Love, Death & Robots”

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Alex Dudok de Wit

Alex Dudok de Wit is Deputy Editor of Cartoon Brew.

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