Oscar-nominated animator Cordell Barker, best known for The Cat Came Back, is returning with The Anta Claus of the South Pole, a new animated holiday special from the National Film Board of Canada and Tonic DNA.
He’s back, and no, I’m not talking about the feline who stole my heart back in the day. Coming soon from Cordell Barker is The Anta Claus of the South Pole. While not everyone may recognize his name, many animation fans know his work. Barker crafted the wonderful animated short The Cat Came Back, a tale about Mr. Johnson, a man pushed to the edge by a feline who keeps finding a way to this hooman’s home. He wants nothing to do with the cat and, much like Wile E. Coyote, becomes increasingly inventive in his attempts to get rid of it rather than simply accepting its presence.
But when cartoon logic rules the universe, every trip home reveals the critter waiting inside, tearing up a carpet, couch, or something even worse. This short is hand-drawn and surprisingly elegant. Some viewers might liken it to an old Tex Avery cartoon. When every gag lands like a mousetrap with a marching band inside it, the shock and surprise is all worth it. And when the beat is set to the folk tune of the same name, we know that this cat is not using up all of his nine lives.
Barker has a knack for turning escalating chaos into comedy, and every homage he makes shows why he is one of Canada’s masters of animated catastrophe.
From fantasy adventures to animated oddities and supernatural intrigue, the top streaming films (and series) to see in June may seem slim, but these are the titles worth checking out.
Nearly every anxious Netflix subscriber is counting down to the live-action Avatar: The Last Airbender season two, coming June 25, but there’s plenty else to watch while we wait. As for what other top streaming films or series there are, the mileage will vary depending on tastes.
The former service is running a bit light right now. Stranger Things carried it for years, and Tales from ’85 didn’t really fill that gap. The Boroughs is here. Both debuted last month, and tried as I might to watch, they didn’t hold my attention that well. Also, without the Duffer Brothers in the director’s chair, since they’re producing, not directing, it doesn’t have the same pull. It’s also more sci-fi than supernatural, which changes the vibe considerably.
So here are my top five picks for June. The streamers seem to know better than to drop heavy hitters in summer heat, which works out fine for us.
I Am Frankelda
(Netflix) June 12
This dark fantasy stop-motion feature feels like a bizarre love child of del Toro’s nightmarish aesthetic and Tim Burton’s stop-motion sensibility, and that’s absolutely a compliment. Part gothic fairy tale, part horror-lite, the scares hit just right. It’s “just a film,” sure, but anyone who falls for Frankelda is going to want more. Worth your evening.
From steampunk anime and folk fantasy to surreal satire, musical odysseys, and unsettling horror from around the world, Annecy 2026 promises to have a bit of everything for fans of animation. That includes previews on upcoming streaming series.
Every year, the Annecy International Animation Film Festival offers a fantastic glimpse into what’ll be headed to theatres, streaming or television soon. While not everything will be made available for other regions, especially with European made works, I’m always holding out hope. At Annecy 2026, this year’s selections have me excited. From steampunk alternate histories and existential animated satire to folk fantasy and deeply personal musical odysseys. Several projects also continue the growing trend of international co-productions blending artistic traditions from Europe and Asia in ways that feel genuinely fresh.
Here are some of the standout titles currently catching our attention.
Although not every Chinese animated film makes it to international distribution, they are worth seeking out for the die hard donghua fan.
China’s animation scene is quietly doing something interesting. Not everything has to preach Confucianism or Daoism from the mountaintop. Some challenge it, and others interpret it. As for what’s upcoming, the more interesting Chinese animated films of 2026 are leaning into practical adventures. They fold history, folklore, comedy, and mystery into stories aimed either with or beyond the usual mythological spectacle.
That matters because this industry still mostly focuses on younger audiences. Certain familiar IPs still need to be mentioned, but studios are also stretching into historical storytelling. Light Chaser Animation, in particular, looks ready to make history its next big playground. And while fans are still waiting for the final instalment of Ne Zha, here’s an update on what came out this month and what’s still ahead for the remainder of 2026.
Three Kingdoms Part One:
Struggle for Luoyang
(三国第一部：争洛阳)
Release Date: 10 July 2026
Light Chaser Animation’s next major historical epic is now dated for July 10. The studio’s official channel identifies the film as Three Kingdoms: The Beginning. Earlier reports connect the project to Cao Cao, Yuan Shao, and the larger collapse of the Eastern Han order, which makes this less of a simple battlefield retelling and more of a political origin story. Early trailers suggest a style similar to Chang An, where the focus is on certain players before the big fight. If that approach holds, this could become one of 2026’s major Chinese animation events.
Master Zhong
(钟馗)
Release Date: 16 June 2023 Festival, 30 May 2026 Wide
This one has now firmed up for a May 30, 2026 theatrical release in China. Reports describe it as a family-friendly mythological animated feature built around Zhong Kui, the demon-quelling figure from Chinese folklore. Production credits vary slightly by outlet, so I’d avoid overloading the paragraph with names unless using the film’s official materials. The widely reported core is that iQIYI Pictures is involved, and the story follows a human girl, Chujiu, after she enters the underworld and becomes tangled in Zhong Kui’s fight against demonic forces.
The Great Sage Rises
(大圣崛起)
Release Date: 10 July 2026
Sun Wukong returns to the summer animation race with The Great Sage Rises, now dated for July 10, 2026. This is not being positioned as Tian Xiaopeng’s direct sequel to : Hero Is Back, so that distinction is worth making clear. Reports identify October Sky Pictures, one of the key companies behind Hero Is Back, as part of this project, with Wang Chuan of Kuiba attached as producer and/or screenwriter depending on the source. The story reportedly digs into hidden conflicts behind the Journey to the West legend, including Sun Wukong, Liu’er, and new figures such as Bifang and Bo Xun.
A Story About Fire
(燃比娃)
Release Date: 28 April 2026
Shanghai Animation Film Studio’s A Story About Fire has already opened in China through the National Arthouse Alliance circuit. This is the studio’s first feature-length xuan paper hand-painted animated film, and reports note that the production used more than 50,000 hand-painted sheets. Its story draws from Qiang mythology, following a young hero and his dog on a journey tied to fire, warmth, growth, and origin. This one is less about franchise muscle and more about preserving a handmade Chinese animation tradition in a modern feature format.
Demon Agent
(大唐妖探)
Release Date: Summer 2026
Directed by Cheng Teng, co-director of Jiang Ziya / Legend of Deification, this 3D animated Tang dynasty detective fantasy is set in Chang’an, where humans and demons share the same streets. The film follows a wolf demon accused of murder who joins forces with a human trickster tied to the Di Renjie tradition. What makes this one stand out is the genre blend: part buddy comedy, part fantasy mystery, and part mechanical Tang dynasty spectacle. Chinese coverage has described it as the country’s first comedy-detective animated feature, with a summer 2026 release window.
GG Bond: Race Through Time
Release Date: May 1, 2026
The 11th theatrical instalment in the GG Bond franchise keeps pushing the series past its TV roots. Sometimes compared to Boonie Bears, which had its latest release over Chinese New Year, GG Bond is not tied to a celebration. The series often preaches more than it tells a story, but given the audience it’s designed for, friendship, integrity, and perseverance are woven in rather than tacked on. Alongside Phoebe, Super Q, Bobby, S-Daddy, and Dr. Mihoo, the little pig has built a steady audience over the years.
This time around, GG Bond befriends Star Navi, a fierce leopard racer with a complicated home situation. When Navi’s father suffers a career-ending injury, the two travel back in time to change the outcome. It’s a heavier emotional hook than the franchise usually reaches for, which suggests Winsing is testing whether the series can grow with its audience. The film has already opened in China and is now being positioned for international distribution.
Hong Kong
Another World
Release Date: June 2026
Read our movie review here.
Out of all the films slated for release this year, there are only two confirmed to have an international release. It’s a small world when GKIDS is involved with getting this gem out. The story follows Gudo, a Keeper who guides souls to the afterlife, as he bonds with a young girl whose unresolved rage keeps her stuck. Helping her move on means Gudo has to reckon with his own emotions, and the consequences of letting that anger loose.
Hong Kong produces far fewer animated features than the mainland, which makes this one stand out on its own. It also took home Best Animated Feature at the Golden Horse Awards, giving it real pedigree going into its wider release. And after its screening at the LA Asian Pacific Film Festival, word of mouth has been strong. This one lands emotionally, and apparently doesn’t let go.
The Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival offered a strong slate of animated short films this year, with stories ranging from quiet science fiction to cultural memory, climate anxiety, and personal identity.
After certain events, sometimes it’s hard to get all my thoughts compressed down fast, especially after watching some short films. The time even spent remotely becomes a blur. And for events that span less than a week, it can feel like a weekend. As a result, it’s hard to believe the Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival is over. May the Fourth brought its own challenges for obvious reasons, so offering the last day online was a smart call. Not only can those not able to attend catch a selection from home, but also, what’s offered isn’t always geolocked.
This year, I opted to focus almost entirely on animated works, and the shorts since they rarely get their due. And what’s covered here are my thoughts on those pieces that really impressed me:
And we have an interview too! When Trading Cards is one of eight shorts as part of the LAAPFF’s Almost Ordinary programming block, they programmers have certainly saved the best for last.
Radheya Jang’s short film Trading Cards is a work that will have viewers consider the line between ordinary fixation and something far more consuming. Whether that comes from fear, uncertainty, or overthinking a situation, almost everyone faces that need for reassurance at some point in life. What’s explored here is about more than using a thin piece of cardboard to look into the future. Instead, it’s about looking back. Jang’s latest caught my attention because it deals with what may be the greatest compulsion of all: am I okay?
For Jay Jay Jegathesan, who performs the narration, what’s presented in the first few minutes is a look at a kid with a handful of cards. As the writer/director’s father, he had plenty of emotion to draw from. “That creates a different emotional terrain,” he said. “I have watched his inner world take shape across years, and with Trading Cards, I felt I was recognising parts of that landscape in a way that was both beautiful and confronting. Rather than trying to impose emotion onto the words, I found myself returning to real moments, real silences, and the emotional undercurrents that families often understand without ever fully speaking aloud.”
The National Film Board of Canada
Nearly every anxious 
I Am Frankelda
Every year, the 
China’s animation scene is quietly doing something interesting. Not everything has to preach Confucianism or Daoism from the mountaintop. Some challenge it, and others interpret it. As for what’s upcoming, the more interesting Chinese animated films of 2026 are leaning into practical adventures. They fold history, folklore, comedy, and mystery into stories aimed either with or beyond the usual mythological spectacle.
Release Date: May 1, 2026
Release Date: June 2026
After certain events, sometimes it’s hard to get all my thoughts compressed down fast, especially after watching some short films. The time even spent remotely becomes a blur. And for events that span less than a week, it can feel like a weekend. As a result, it’s hard to believe the 
Playing today at LAAPFF 2026