At Disney’s Destination D23 today, Walt Disney Animation Studios unveiled a new original feature, Hexed. The film is slated for release in November 2026,
Jared Bush, chief creative officer of Walt Disney Animation Studios, revealed the film’s title and logo during the showcase, held at Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort. Directed by Josie Trinidad (Zootopia+) and Jason Hand (Moana 2), and produced by Roy Conli and Juan Pablo Reyes Lancaster-Jones, Hexed centers on an awkward teenage boy whose unusual traits turn out to be something far more powerful: real magical abilities. When his Type-A mom becomes entangled in the discovery, their lives and a hidden world of magic are flipped upside down.
Disney has announced its fall 2026 feature release. We’ll get something posted when we know a bit more.pic.twitter.com/kz1DZKwJpV
— Cartoon Brew (@cartoonbrew) August 30, 2025
Directors Trinidad and Hand are both Disney Animation veterans. Trinidad previously served as head of story on Zootopia and Ralph Breaks the Internet, as well as directing episodes of the Disney+ series Zootopia+. Hand, meanwhile, was head of story for Encanto and co-directing the studio’s blockbuster Moana 2.
Bush described the story as one that balances comedy, wonder, and emotional resonance. “It’s about the magic that can be found in being different, and how families navigate that together,” he told the crowd. Early concept art and the animated logo suggest a vibrant, fantasy visual style in line with Disney’s recent originals like Encanto and Raya and the Last Dragon.
The Hexed reveal was just one highlight of the packed Disney Entertainment Showcase, which spanned upcoming films from Pixar, Walt Disney Pictures, and more.
Earlier this year, it was revealed that a new Ice Age movie was in the works, and now both its title and release date have been confirmed. Ice Age: Boiling Point, hitting theaters on February 5, 2027, will see the franchise’s favorite characters embark on an adventure through never-before-seen regions of the perilous Lost World. Other details, including involved talent, have yet to be revealed.
Pixar unveiled fresh looks at Toy Story 5, featuring Conan O’Brien as the new character Smarty Pants, as well as the original comedy Hoppers, due in 2026. Fans also learned that the original Toy Story will return to theaters in September to mark its 30th anniversary.
Disney Animation also shared updates on the hotly anticipated Zootopia 2, introducing new cast members including Patrick Warburton and Yvette Nicole Brown, and screening exclusive clips that won’t be available again until the film hits theaters this holiday season.
But the day’s biggest news was, undoubtedly, the announcement of Hexed, which will hit theaters in November 2026.