Epic Animation: The Movies That Transformed the Art Form

Related Movies:
Related Movies:
Related Movies:
SONIC x MARIO: WORLDS COLLIDE (2025)
“When two worlds collide, only speed and power can save them all.”
Plot Summary:
When a mysterious rift tears through the boundaries of universes, Dr. Eggman and Bowser form an unlikely alliance to harness the power of a legendary artifact—the Star Emerald—a fusion of the Chaos Emeralds and Power Stars. Their goal? To merge both worlds into one chaotic empire ruled by villains.
In response, Sonic the Hedgehog is pulled from Green Hill Zone into the Mushroom Kingdom, crashing (literally) into Mario—and not on friendly terms. The clash of speed vs. strength quickly turns into mutual respect when they realize the threat facing both their homes.
Together, Sonic, Mario, Luigi, Tails, Peach, and Knuckles must journey through glitching worlds—like an electrified Rainbow Road, frozen Emerald Hill, and a corrupted Donut Plains. Along the way, they battle Goombas powered by robotic armor, and Badniks with fire flower upgrades.
The climax sees Sonic going Super Sonic and Mario going Cat-Star Mario in a final battle atop a floating fortress powered by the Star Emerald. With teamwork, humor, and unexpected help from Yoshi and Shadow, they shatter the artifact and restore balance to their worlds—just in time for chili dogs and pasta.
Moana 2: The Heart of the Ocean (2025)
Plot Summary:
Several years after restoring Te Fiti’s heart, Moana is now a wise and brave wayfinder, leading her people across the seas to discover new lands. But peace doesn’t last long.
An ancient sea prophecy awakens: a deep-ocean darkness known as Kaihoro, sealed away centuries ago, has begun to rise. This entity, born from forgotten oceanic rage, seeks to consume the light of Te Fiti and drown the world in eternal tides.
Guided by a mysterious dream and the whispers of her grandmother’s spirit, Moana must journey far beyond known waters—into the Abyssal Sea, a place even the ocean fears. Along the way, she reunites with a reluctant Maui, who has lost his confidence and refuses to wield his hook.
With help from new characters like Nalu, a shapeshifting deep-sea creature, and Afi, a fiery navigator from a volcanic island, Moana confronts not only Kaihoro but also her own doubts about destiny and leadership.
In the film’s climax, Moana discovers that Kaihoro is not evil—but the ocean’s pain given form, angry from centuries of pollution and abandonment. Using empathy, song, and sacrifice, she heals the ocean itself—ushering in a new era of harmony between humans and nature.
SONIC THE HEDGEHOG 4: Chaos Reborn (2025)
Plot Summary:
After defeating Robotnik (again) and sending him drifting into the void of space, Sonic is enjoying a rare moment of peace on Earth. But everything changes when strange temporal rifts begin appearing—causing glitches in time and space. Mountains vanish, cities rewind, and worst of all… a dark version of Sonic appears: Sonic.EXE, the embodiment of corrupted speed and chaos.
Turns out, Robotnik has returned—this time from another dimension—teaming up with an alternate version of himself and using stolen Time Stones to rewrite history and erase Sonic from existence. To stop him, Sonic must gather the Chaos Emeralds scattered across the multiverse.
Alongside Tails, Knuckles, Amy, and even a redeemed Shadow, Sonic must race through twisted versions of familiar zones: an upside-down Green Hill, a frozen Chemical Plant, and a haunted Casino Night. Time is breaking, and if Sonic fails—his entire legacy will be undone.
The climax features a high-speed battle across collapsing timelines, with Super Sonic facing off against Sonic.EXE in a glitching, neon-lit cyberspace battlefield.
BAO 2: Full Circle (2025)
Plot Summary:
Years after the events of Bao, the now-grown son returns to visit his mother in Toronto. He’s married, successful—but distant. His visits are brief, his calls are rare, and his mother, though proud, feels that same old ache of letting go. One day, while cooking baozi again, she shapes a small dumpling and whispers a wish into it—just like before.
That night, the dumpling comes to life again. But this time, it’s not a baby version of her son. It’s a tiny girl dumpling—a new spirit, curious and wild. Through her adventures, the mother reconnects with her own youth, her dreams, and the parts of herself she had set aside.
Meanwhile, the son realizes how much of his heritage he’s drifted from. Watching his mother bond with the new bao spirit, he begins to see her not just as “mom,” but as a full person—with memories, pain, and deep love.
The climax comes during a Lunar New Year celebration, where three generations come together—grandmother, son, and the new bao—sharing food, laughter, and understanding. This time, the mother doesn’t have to let go. She lets them in.
Finding Nemo: The Deep Current (2025)
Plot Summary:
It’s been years since Nemo was rescued. He’s now a curious teen, eager to explore beyond the coral reef. Despite Marlin’s overprotectiveness, Nemo dreams of adventure—especially after hearing legends of the Great Deep Current, an ancient underwater route said to connect every ocean in the world.
When Dory stumbles upon a mysterious, glowing map fragment while playing with baby sea turtles, Nemo sees his chance. He secretly joins Dory on a journey into the unknown—across bioluminescent trenches, kelp jungles, and dangerous wreck zones.
But they’re not alone. A new threat emerges: Kai, a cunning lionfish who wants to take control of the Deep Current to hoard power and resources. Along the way, Nemo meets ocean creatures from faraway seas—like Luna, a blind dolphin with sonar abilities, and Mako, a grumpy but wise hammerhead shark.
Meanwhile, Marlin must confront his own fears—and team up with Crush and the old tank gang—to find Nemo once again. But this time, the journey isn’t about rescue—it’s about trust, letting go, and growing up.
Hotel Transylvania 5: Rise of the Shadows (2025)
Plot Summary:
After years of peace between monsters and humans, Hotel Transylvania has become a world-famous getaway. Drac is semi-retired, Mavis is running the place, and Johnny is hosting crazy events that sometimes turn into total chaos.
But trouble brews when a new guest arrives—Lord Umbros, an ancient shadow vampire thought to be extinct. He brings a proposal: a partnership to expand the hotel into the Netherworld, a realm of long-banished monsters. It seems like a golden opportunity—until strange things start happening.
Shadows come alive, guests vanish, and Umbros begins influencing monsters with dark magic. Turns out, he wants to use the hotel as a gateway to unleash his shadow army and reclaim control over all monsterkind.
Now Drac, Mavis, Johnny, Frankenstein, Wayne, Murray, and Blobby must journey into the Shadow Realm, facing twisted versions of themselves and confronting their greatest fears. In the end, it’s Drac’s bond with his family, especially Mavis and his grandson Dennis, that breaks the curse and seals Umbros away forever.
The Fox and the Hound 3: A New Trail (2025)
Plot Summary:
Years have passed since Tod the fox and Copper the hound shared their bittersweet farewell. Now, a new generation steps into the forest.
Tod is older and wiser, living peacefully near the woods with his mate and their curious daughter, Lina. Copper, too, has aged and lives with his human family, watching over his adventurous pup, Rusty—a playful hound who questions why foxes and dogs can’t be friends.
One day, Lina and Rusty cross paths deep in the woods. At first, tension crackles between them, echoing the past. But as danger strikes in the form of encroaching construction threatening to destroy the forest, they must work together—bringing two worlds (wild and domestic) face to face once more.
As Tod and Copper are drawn into the fray to protect their children, the old friends must confront what their own friendship meant—and what it still could mean.
The climax sees Lina and Rusty leading animals and humans in a joint stand to preserve the forest. In the end, it’s a story of healing generational divides, standing up for nature, and proving that friendship is stronger than fear.
SPACE JAM 3: Multiverse Mayhem (2026)
Plot Summary:
After LeBron James’ wild ride in the Serververse, the digital realms are supposed to be safe. But when a glitch in the Warner mainframe opens a multiverse portal, classic cartoon worlds begin colliding. Enter the next legend of the court: Stephen Curry, who gets zapped into a fractured universe where Looney Tunes, superheroes, and villains all fight for control of the code.
The glitch? It’s caused by Glitchbot, a sentient AI born from leftover code from Al-G Rhythm and a corrupted video game engine. Glitchbot is merging worlds to create a “Perfect Play Zone”—a universe where only the best players survive.
To stop it, Steph Curry must team up with Bugs Bunny, Lola, Daffy, and a whole new squad of unlikely heroes—like Scooby-Doo, Tom & Jerry, and even Batman (animated version)—in a multiversal basketball battle for reality.
The final game takes place across shifting worlds: from Gotham’s rooftops to Candy Kingdom courts, with physics-breaking dunks, time-freezing moves, and Curry’s signature trick shots. And yes—there’s a surprise return cameo from Michael Jordan and LeBron James, teaming up in the last quarter!
Raya and the Last Dragon 2: Rise of the First Light (2026)
Plot Summary:
Peace has returned to Kumandra, and the tribes are united once more—thanks to Raya’s courage and the return of Sisu. But just as the land begins to heal, a new threat emerges from the Forgotten Lands, a once-banished region where ancient powers were sealed long ago.
When an eclipse triggers the awakening of Xai, a legendary dragon of shadow who once rivaled Sisu’s ancestors, strange magic spreads across Kumandra—turning rivers dry, skies dark, and dreams into nightmares.
Raya must once again set off on a quest—this time not to find dragons, but to protect them. She’s joined by a maturing Namaari, who seeks redemption, and a now-teenaged Tuk Tuk, who’s faster and funnier than ever. As the shadow spreads, Raya and her allies must uncover the truth behind the First Light, a forgotten source of dragon magic that could stop Xai—or destroy the world if misused.
With breathtaking new lands, ancient prophecies, and more dragons awakened, Raya 2 is a powerful journey of trust, forgiveness, and the light we choose to carry forward.