VFX #SaturdaySpecial: Upcoming October animated releases that has got us excited -

#SaturdaySpecial: Upcoming October animated releases that has got us excited

October brings in the festive fervour with tons of new content that will leave you spoilt for choice. All the streaming services are adding new entries to their libraries and animation fans are going to love it. Some fresh seasons of beloved shows and a couple of brand-new ones, the ongoing month has plenty in store for you. 

Comedy, romance, family drama and adventure rides, these shows and feature films span across all genres and are packed with both laughs and screams. We’ve enlisted some upcoming October animated releases that has got us excited. Check out the list below and enjoy your binge-watching sessions in the holiday season.

1) Oddballs (7 October)
Where to watch: Netflix

Synopsis: Oddballs follows James, a bubble-shaped boy, whose observations on life fuel his comedic rants at everyday annoyances and elevates them to laughably absurd heights. Along with his best friends Max (a talking crocodile) and Echo (a girl who claims to be from the future), James’ ridiculous schemes to question norms often result in disaster.

Oddballs is Netflix’s brand new animated comedy series created by YouTube channel TheOdd1sOut’s James Rallinson. The YouTuber will produce the series and provide his voice as well.

Rallison and Ethan Banville both serve as executive producers on the series alongside Carl Faruolo and Michael Zoumas. Netflix Animation, in partnership with Atomic Cartoons, are the production companies behind Oddballs.

2) Exception (13 October)
Where to watch: Netflix

Exception is an upcoming Japanese Netflix Original animated horror sci-fi series created by Otsuichi, the award-winning novelist of Goth and ZOO. First look images of Exception were revealed by Netflix during Geeked Week 2022. 

The characters of Exception have been designed by the legendary Japanese artist Yoshitaka Amano, the man behind the beautiful art of the Final Fantasy franchise. Outside of his work on Japanese media, Amano collaborated with Neil Gaiman on Sandman: The Dream Hunters, earning a Bram Stoker award for his work.

Synopsis: In the distant future, human beings have been forced to leave earth and migrate to another galaxy. An advanced team of spacecraft arrives at a planet that is to be terraformed. Each member of the team is output by a biological 3D printer.

3) Trick or Treat Scooby-Doo! (15 October)

Where to watch: HBO Max

Synopsis: Mystery Inc. has cracked the case to top all cases! They’ve tracked down Coco Diablo, the head of the notorious costume crime syndicate that includes The Black Knight, Space Kook and the Ghost Diver. With Coco and her kitty in prison, Mystery Inc. thinks that they can finally enjoy a break. Wrong! Suddenly, menacing doppelgänger ghosts of the Scooby crew and favourite classic foes show up in Coolsville to threaten Halloween. Now it’s up to the meddling kids – and their unlikely new partner Coco – to unmask the latest scoundrel and save Halloween! For Shaggy and Scooby-Doo, with trick-or-treating on the line – this time it’s personal!

The new animated feature, Trick or Treat Scooby-Doo!, has been the talk of animation circles because it confirms the long-speculated sexuality of the series’ fan-favourite sleuth Velma. As much of the Scooby-Doo fandom continues to celebrate that momentous event, the news of Velma’s LGBTQ+ confirmation has raised the profile of both the series and its new Halloween special in multiple ways.

4) Spider–Man: The New Animated Series (19 October)
Where to watch: Disney+

Synopsis: When a nasty bite by an irradiated spider endows teenager Peter Parker with miraculous, arachnid-like powers, his death-defying heroism wins him admiration from those in need and makes him a vigilante in the eyes of the police. While being a superhero definitely has its drawbacks — especially when you’re in college — Peter tries to meet the challenge by exercising his superhuman, strange, and wonderful powers for the good of all.

Neil Patrick Harris (Undercover Brother, Starship Troopers), Ian Ziering (Beverly Hills, 90210), and singer-songwriter Lisa Loeb lend their voices to this thrilling, computer-animated version of the comic book classic and mega-hit feature film, Spider-Man.

The series ran for one season in 2003 and aired on MTV and Freeform. This series was created by Sony and Disney has done a deal to get more access to Sony’s library.

5) Alice’s Wonderland Bakery (19 October)
Where to watch: Disney+

A vibrant new take on the classic 1951 film, the series centers on Alice, the great-granddaughter of the original heroine and a budding young baker at the enchanted Wonderland Bakery, where her magical treats help bring a new generation of friends and families together. The series celebrates the culture and creativity of food, highlights self-expression, and imparts age-appropriate social and emotional lessons about friendship and the importance of community.

Featuring reimagined versions of familiar iconic characters and introducing memorable new ones, the series stars newcomer Libby Rue as the voice of Alice and a slew of celebrity guest stars.

Each episode of Alice’s Wonderland Bakery comprises two 11-minute stories, revolving around Alice’s magical recipe adventures with her best pals, who join her in the bakery to whip up whimsical cakes and treats for friends and neighbours with enchanted kitchen tools and ingredients to help them.

6) Oni: Thunder God’s (21 October)

Where to watch: Netflix

A new four-part kids series that mixes CGI and stop-motion is going to release on Netflix in October 2022. Oni: Thunder God’s Tale comes from Tonko House. The show was first announced for Netflix in November 2019 but has been in development for far longer. 

Tonko House and Netflix partnered with two Japanese animation studios for the project: Megalis VFX (whose past clients include Warner Bros. and Marvel) for the CG elements, and Dwarf Studios (Rilakkuma and Kaoru) for the stop motion.

Synopsis: In a world filled with the oddball gods and monsters of Japanese mythology, one of the creature’s free-spirited daughters, Onari, is determined to follow in the footsteps of the mighty heroes of lore, but her unique powers are yet to be revealed. Does she have what it takes to protect her peaceful village from the encroaching presence of the mysterious “Oni” who threaten the gods?

7) Romantic Killer (27 October)

Where to watch: Netflix

Romantic Killer is an exciting new romantic comedy anime series. Adapted from Wataru Momose’s manga of the same name, Romantic Killer is one of the first anime to be confirmed to be coming to Netflix this fall. The adaptation of the award-winning manga will be directed by Kazuya Ichikawa.

The manga first debuted as a webcomic in LINE Manga Indies, and amongst other sites before officially beginning its serialisation in Shounen Jump+ on 30 July 2019. In total there are four volumes and 39 chapters of the manga.

Synopsis: Anzu Hoshino is a “non-heroine type” high school girl who pays no attention to fashion or romance and spends every day playing video games. When the wizard Riri suddenly appears, Anzu is forced to participate in the Magical World’s project to stop population decline. This romantic comedy depicts what happens when Anzu goes from living a life immersed in her three favourite things — video games, chocolate, and cats — to being surrounded by handsome guys. Anzu is steadfast in her claim that she never wanted to live in a dating simulation game. She meets a handsome guy who is so popular it hurts, a clean-cut and athletic childhood friend, and a beautiful rich young guy who is naive about the outside world. By meeting Anzu, they all begin to change gradually.

8) Wendell & Wild (28 October)

Where to watch: Netflix

Of the many upcoming animated feature films coming to Netflix, Wendell & Wild is perhaps one of the most anticipated. Netflix is developing this new animated dark comedy feature which reunites Keegan-Michael Key and Jordan Peele as two scheming demons.

First announced way back in 2015, Wendell & Wild is directed by Oscar nominee Henry Selick, whose credits include Coraline, The Nightmare Before Christmas, and more. The script is written by Selick and Jordan Peele. Acclaimed Argentinian artist Pablo Lobato designed the characters for Wendell & Wild. The film will be produced by Ellen Goldsmith-Vein and Bruno Coulais is the composer.

Synopsis: Wendell & Wild is an animated tale about scheming demon brothers Wendell (Keegan-Michael Key) and Wild (Peele) – who enlist the aid of 13-year-old Kat Elliot – a tough teen with a load of guilt – to summon them to the Land of the Living. But what Kat demands in return leads to a brilliantly bizarre and comedic adventure like no other, an animated fantasy that defies the laws of life and death, all told through the hand-made artistry of stop motion.

~ Hope you enjoyed the list!

VFX