Netflix Previews Animation Slate at Annecy
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- Brad Bird took the Annecy stage with Peter Lord to reveal new images and clips from his sci-fi noir feature 'Ray Gunn,' set for a Dec. 18 release and percolating in his mind for over 30 years.
- Netflix dropped a first teaser for 'The One Piece' anime, produced by WIT Studio and directed by Masashi Koizuka, with Mayumi Tanaka voicing Luffy; the series hits global release in February 2027.
- Sony Pictures Animation unveiled first-look footage and concept art for 'Ghostbusters: Night Shift,' an animated series set five years after the original film, executive produced by Jason Reitman, Gil Kenan, and Dan Aykroyd.
- Ricky Gervais's adult comedy 'Alley Cats' arrives Aug. 7, while 'Charlie vs the Chocolate Factory' (Taika Waititi as Wonka) and 'Steps' (Nov. 20) also got new footage shown to Annecy audiences.
- Netflix framed the slate as building on unprecedented momentum: 'KPop Demon Hunters' won two Academy Awards and became Netflix's most popular film ever, while anime programming topped 1.5 billion views in 2025.
- 'The One Piece' deliberately separates from the 25-year-running TV anime by returning to the East Blue saga's origin, with Koizuka citing the need for 'awe-inspiring' ocean waters uncharted by prior adaptations.
Why it matters: Netflix's Annecy showcase comes on the heels of 'KPop Demon Hunters' becoming Netflix's most popular film ever and anime views crossing 1.5 billion in 2025, giving the streamer genuine leverage against animation incumbents. With Brad Bird, Sony Pictures Animation, and WIT Studio all sharing the same stage, Netflix is positioning itself as a one-stop animation buyer across adult comedy, legacy IP, and prestige anime.
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