Orion and the Dark and 8 new animated Netflix movies coming in 2024

Netflix has become an important studio and streamer when it comes to animation, especially coming off of 2023 when Netflix took home the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature Film for Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio. After that win, it's not surprising that the streamer has chosen to buff up its animation slate. Besides Pinocchio, several of Netflix's other animated movies have been nominated for Academy Awards, such as Nimona, The Mitchells vs. The Machines, The Sea Beast, and Klaus.

There are several highly-anticipated animated movies on the horizon this year for Netflix subscribers, including a new SpongeBob SquarePants movie, an adaptation of a Roald Dahl story, and the acquirement of Studio Ponoc's upcoming films.

Orion and the Dark

Orion (Jacob Tremblay) is an adolescent boy plagued by his fears of the unknown. Scared of everything from bees to the ocean, Orion faces each day riddled with anxiety. One night, he's visited by a manifestation of his worst fear, the dark. "Dark" (Paul Walter Hauser) tries to make Orion see that the world is not as scary as it might initially appear.

He takes Orion on an adventure in the hopes that he can embrace the unknown and stop letting himself be held back by fear. Orion and the Dark is one of the first of many new animated movies arriving this year and will begin streaming on Netflix this Friday, February 2. It's based on the children's book of the same name by Emma Yarlett and marks the feature directorial debut of Sean Charmatz, based on a script written by acclaimed screenwriter Charlie Kaufman, who wrote the scripts for Being John Malkovich, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, I'm Thinking of Ending Things, and more.

The Imaginary

The Imaginary is a special film because it marks the first release from the new collaboration between Netflix and Studio Ponoc. Netflix recently acquired the studio's upcoming film slate and The Imaginary is the first among them to be released.

The film, which is directed by Yoshiyuki Momose (Modest Heroes, Tomorrow’s Leaves), follows a young girl named Amanda who embarks on a fantastical adventure with her imaginary friend Rudger as they travel to a land brimming with colorful creatures. Together, they must keep it safe from the forces threatening to destroy their imaginary world. The Imaginary will be released on Netflix later this year after an exclusive theatrical run in Japan.

Thelma the Unicorn

Thelma the Unicorn comes from Napoleon Dynamite director Jared Hess and Lynn Wang (Unikitty!). Thelma is an adorable pony with big dreams of becoming a music sensation. She gets a taste of that fame when she's transformed into a unicorn and reaches global stardom, but her new life comes with a cost. No release date has been announced for this movie yet. Brittany Howard, Jon Heder, Zach Galifianakis, Will Forte, Fred Armisen, Jemaine Clement, and more star.

In Your Dreams

The Sandman is back! Sort of. Okay, not the Neil Gaiman one we all love, but the more traditional Sandman who supposedly leaves the crust in your eyes each night when you sleep. He's at the center of the upcoming film In Your Dreams from Emmy-winning producer Alex Woo, who makes his directorial debut with this film alongside co-director Erik Benson. In Your Dreams follows a brother and sister who journey to the world of dreams to find the Sandman and ask him to grant their wish of saving their parents' marriage.

More animated movies coming to Netflix in 2024:

• That Christmas
• The Twits
• Ultraman: Rising
• Saving Bikini Bottom: The Sandy Cheeks Movie

Stay tuned to Netflix Life for more information on Netflix's upcoming animated movie slate. We'll keep you posted as we get more details, trailers, and release dates!