This is a list of theatrical animated feature films released byUniversal Pictures, the film division ofComcast'sNBCUniversal.
Universal Pictures releases films from Universal-owned and non-Universal owned animation studios. Most films listed below are fromIllumination which began as the feature animation department of Universal, producing its first feature-length animated filmDespicable Me in 2010. Beginning withHow to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World in 2019, Universal also itself released animated films byDreamWorks Animation, which were originally released under their thenDreamWorks Pictures film production label, but the company was later acquired by NBCUniversal in 2016.[1][2][3] Other studio units have also released films theatrically, includingUniversal Animation Studios, which now focuses mainly on animating television shows and direct-to-video films, andAmblimation, which was DreamWorks Animation's predecessor.
The studio's distribution unit acquires film rights from outside animation studios to release films under the Universal Pictures orFocus Features film labels. For example,Laika's stop-motion animated features were released by Universal through its Focus Features label. Other studios globally have released films through Universal Pictures which maintains distribution rights in certain territories.
| Amblimation (1991–95) | |
| Universal Animation Studios (2006–present) | |
| Illumination (2010–present) | |
| DreamWorks Animation (2019–present) Pearl Studio | |
| Other Universal studio | |
| Third-party studio | |
| Live-action/animation hybrid sold as animation | S |
| Live-action/animation hybrid sold as live-action | SL |
| Distribution only | D |
| Anadult animated production | A |
| Title | Intended theatrical release date byUniversal Pictures | Animation studio | |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Super Mario Galaxy Movie | April 3, 2026[39][40] | Illumination and Nintendo | |
| Minions 3 | July 1, 2026[41][42] | Illumination | |
| Forgotten Island | September 25, 2026[43] | DreamWorks Animation | |
| LarryBoy | 2026[44][45] | Big Idea Entertainment and Kingstone Studios | |
| Cocomelon: The Movie[D] | February 26, 2027[46] | DreamWorks Animation,Moonbug Entertainment, Flywheel Media, andPrime Focus Studios | |
| Untitled Illumination film | April 16, 2027[42][47] | Illumination | |
| Shrek 5 | June 30, 2027[48][49][50][51][52][42][47] | DreamWorks Animation | |
| Untitled DreamWorks Animation film | September 24, 2027 | ||
| Untitled Illumination film | April 14, 2028 | Illumination | |
| Untitled DreamWorks Animation film | September 22, 2028 | DreamWorks Animation | |
| Lego[S] | TBA[53] | The Lego Group andRideback | |
| Title | Original theatrical release date[rls 4] | Animation studio | |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Abrafaxe – Under The Black Flag[D] | October 25, 2001(German)[st 1] | Abrafaxe Trickfilm | |
| Momo[D] | December 21, 2001(Italy)[st 1] | Taurus Produktion | |
| Coraline[D] | February 6, 2009 | Laika[st 2] | |
| Curious George 2: Follow That Monkey! | July 10, 2009(Denmark)[rls 5] | Universal Animation Studios and Imagine Entertainment | |
| 9[A] | September 9, 2009 | Starz Animation[st 2] | |
| Nikté[D] | December 18, 2009(Mexico)[st 1] | Animex Producciones | |
| Judy Moody and the Not Bummer Summer[SL] | June 10, 2011[st 1] | Relativity Media and Smokewood Entertainment | |
| ParaNorman[D] | August 17, 2012 | Laika[st 2] | |
| Underdogs[D] | July 18, 2013(Argentina)[st 1] | Prana Studios and 100 Bares Producciones | |
| Moshi Monsters: The Movie[D] | December 20, 2013[st 1] | Spider Eye Productions | |
| Song of the Sea[D] | September 6, 2014(Ireland)[st 1] | StudioCanal andCartoon Saloon | |
| The Seventh Dwarf[D] | September 25, 2014(Germany)[st 1] | Zipfelmützen Film GmbH & Co. KG | |
| The Boxtrolls[D] | September 26, 2014 | Laika[st 2] | |
| Yellowbird[D] | October 11, 2014[st 1] | TeamTO | |
| Ratchet & Clank[D] | April 29, 2016 | Rainmaker Entertainment and Blockade Entertainment[st 3] | |
| Kubo and the Two Strings[D] | August 19, 2016 | Laika[st 2] | |
| Ethel & Ernest[D] | October 28, 2016[st 1] | Cloth Cat Animation | |
| The Breadwinner[D] | September 8, 2017(Canada)[st 1] | Elevation Pictures, StudioCanal, and Cartoon Saloon | |
| Woody Woodpecker[SL] | October 5, 2017(Brazil)[rls 5] | Universal Animation Studios and Cinemotion | |
| The Boss Baby | March 21, 2018(Japan)[st 4] | DreamWorks Animation | |
| The Addams Family[D] | October 11, 2019[st 1] | Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer andCinesite[st 5] | |
| The Addams Family 2[D] | October 1, 2021[st 1][54][55] | ||
| Marcel the Shell with Shoes On[D][SL] | February 17, 2023(United Kingdom)[56] | A24,Cinereach, You Want I Should, Human Woman, Sunbeam Television & Films, and Chiodo Bros. Productions[st 2] | |
| Mavka: The Forest Song[D] | March 29, 2023(France)[st 1][57] | Animagrad Animation Studio andFilm.UA | |
| Piece by Piece[D] | October 11, 2024[58] | The Lego Group,Tremolo Productions, andI Am Other[st 2] | |
This list does not include films combining live-action with animation.
| Rank | Film | Worldwide gross | Studio | Year | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Super Mario Bros. Movie | $1,363,298,473 | Illumination andNintendo | 2023 | [59] |
| 2 | Minions | $1,159,398,397 | Illumination | 2015 | [60] |
| 3 | Despicable Me 3 | $1,034,799,409 | 2017 | [61] | |
| 4 | Despicable Me 2 | $970,761,885 | 2013 | [62] | |
| 5 | Despicable Me 4 | $968,240,710 | 2024 | [63] | |
| 6 | Minions: The Rise of Gru | $939,628,210 | 2022 | [64] | |
| 7 | The Secret Life of Pets | $875,457,937 | 2016 | [65] | |
| 8 | Sing | $634,151,679 | [66] | ||
| 9 | Kung Fu Panda 4 | $546,362,086 | DreamWorks Animation | 2024 | [67] |
| 10 | Despicable Me | $543,113,985 | Illumination | 2010 | [68] |
Release Notes
Studio/Production Notes
Rights Notes
Culton, who made her directorial debut with Sony's Open Season, is currently writing and directing a film about a young girl and a Yeti for DWA with the working title Everest.
