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The Animated Selections of Fantasia 2025 Guide

When this year’s slate of animated films is terrific, perhaps it’s time to travel to Quebec for Fantasia 2025!

Fantasia 2025 Movie Poster Fantasia 2025 will soon be here, and this year looks very promising because of its animation slate. I always gravitate to this section since the films are often quick to continue playing at other events and head to distribution faster than the live-action works. Plus, when instant fans of the first entry in this list can see it even without attending, the presence is more than feline.

That’s because I’m a cat enthusiast. And when Takashi Miike is involved, just what’s offered may well top what last year’s Night of the Zoopocalypse did! This particular film (movie review link) did not screen at Fantasia, but I’m sure it would have been a contender had it finished post-production. Without further ramblings, I offer a list of feature length animated works to look forward to at this event at Montreal, Quebec.

Once when the event releases its full guide, I’ll also offer a top ten picks on what to see too.

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When Venturing Into the Wonderwoods, The Dangers Are Real!

Come join Angelo Into the Wonderwoods where imagination and reality intertwines. This coming of age fantasy is certainly different than visiting Wonderland!

Shout! Studios
Coming to Digital This Week

After a long run at various film festivals, Into the Wonderwoods, is headed to streaming and the coming of age story about Angelo (Dario Hardouin Spurio in the original and Kristen McGuire for the dub) is rather wild. After getting “accidentally” left behind at a rest stop, this kid has to find his way to grandmother’s house and I definitely had a certain “Over the River and Through the Woods” song stuck in my head afterwards.

Fortunately, the family is on the last leg of their long road trip, so he can probably find his own way there. However, when they do not notice he’s not in the car, in the real world, to know what the parents are like is very unsettling.

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The Qaqsoss naka Wahuntuhsis is More Than An Enchanting Fable

The Qaqsoss naka Wahuntuhsis is very easily the highlight of the Victoria Film Festival’s F1RST, A Celebration of Aboriginal Films. It’s an all-ages product that’ll entertain!

Playing at F1RST FIlm Festival June 22, 2025
Moxy Fox Studio

The Qaqsoss naka Wahuntuhsis (which literally translates to Fox and the Tiny Demon) is a wonderfully animated film which is like a children’s graphic novel come to life. When Tara Audibert from the Tobique First Nation in New Brunswick came up with the idea about the struggles this animal has to face, I’m sure the decision on how to bring it to life and relatable to the human condition was tough. . She wanted the narrative to deal with mental illness, an idea reasonably well conveyed, and show how this critter can deal with those personal demons.

And when there’s a literal one appearing occasionally during this fox’s wanderings through a magical forest, the fact this young cub doesn’t always take notice is amusing. But at some point, this supernatural force will have to appear!

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When Endless Cookie Offers A Touch of the Surreal

No, this film isn’t about food, but the metaphors are certainly evident in Endless Cookie. It’s a very quirky slice-of-life work by animator/filmmaker Seth Scriver.

Now playing at select cinemas in Canada. Please check local listings (or see below)

Unlike similarly styled comedy sketches that were popular in its day, Endless Cookie is an animated film that’s basically a vignette of moments about two half-brothers. What this work delves into concerns what life is like between Seth Scriver (who is white and lives in Toronto) and Peter Scriver (who is Indigenous, from the Shamattawa First Nation in northern Canada). It premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in 2025 and is certainly heartfelt. After it’s run at imagineNATIVE Film Festival, it’s now playing at select cinemas across Canada which started June 13th.

When compared to the shenanigans on what I recall from SCTV and The McKenzie Brothers, the situations are similar. And the approaches to making a subtle social commentary are dead on. While these live-action skits are certainly more of a parody of Canadian identity, this animated biography goes much further.

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10 Top Picks On What Exciting Films To See At Annecy 2025

Although Annecy is not screening Coyote vs. Acme after news this movie has been saved from being shelved, there’s plenty of other works to look forward to, and I got my top picks!

Runs from June 8th to 14th

When the Annecy International Animation Film Festival is the destination to see what’s coming in this genre, I’m always excited to look at what this event will screen. Not only will some mainstream works get their premiere but also it’s the place to showcase truly art house works! Although I can’t afford to travel there, I can always look from afar!

Also, The National Film Board of Canada often has a work or two to showcase. What I offer are my top picks in what to see for those able to attend. Some films have been entered official competition and others will make their debuts. The quotes are from Annecy’s webpage and I’ve included some commentary on other works I have knowledge on.

There’s a few that even have a date for regular release, and I can’t wait! The movies with known dates will have this entry.

A Magnificent Life
by Sylvain Chomet
Release date Oct 15, 2025.
Wild Bunch Distribution

“Sylvain Chomet makes his comeback with this feature film dedicated to Marcel Pagnol. It is such a delight to see the filmmaker’s sophisticated graphics again, and for the first time he uses dialogue to capture the musical Marseille accent.”

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Mad Cave Studio’s Fate: The Winx Saga, The Shadow War Makes Its Mark!

All the latest news and info regarding The Winx Saga is recounted here, which updates fans on both the graphic novel and animated front!

Release Date
July 22, 2025

The live-action Fate: The Winx Saga breathes life to a franchise I miss watching. While the latest is a good Netflix series, it does not have the same appeal as the original. Iginio Straffi’s character designs made it unique, and despite changes in directions in later seasons, I enjoyed it. And until the rumoured animated reboot series gets broadcast (more on this later). I’ll take what’s there and eagerly give Fate: The Winx Saga, The Shadow War, volume two of the graphic novel series, a read!

Mad Cave Studios and Rainbow Group are pleased to announce this upcoming graphic novel, and they got more information about it.

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