2016 furry movie preview

2016 is shaping up to be a benchmark year for furry movies. Though movies featuring talking or otherwise anthropomorphic animals are hardly uncommon, this year looks to be exceptionally full, and many of the movies coming out have impressive pedigrees. It should also be noted that there is a ridiculously high number of foxes featured, for those of us who find that important.

Cartoon Brew has a list of 47 animated movies planned to be released next year, where most of these movies are drawn from; not all of them contain furry characters, but many do. There are also a few live action titles that can be counted on to be furry. Notably, 2016 release Zootopia's first trailer provided a list of unique features it contained, including bipedal, tech-using, clothed talking animals in a human free world; though these attributes are uncommon, if not actually original, 2016 will contain six movies that meet these requirements (Kung Fu Panda 3, Rock Dog, Sing, Sly Cooper, Spark and Zootopia).

The following list is mostly aimed towards an audience living in the United States of America; release dates listed are American. Some of the movies listed do not have solid release dates, and may fail to be shown; others may have had release dates outside the U.S. earlier this year. Also, movies listed contain only anthropomorphic animal movies; movies featuring anthropomorphic characters not based on specific animals are not listed.

Furry movies with set American release dates

Norm of the North

IMDB summary: "Displaced from their Arctic home, a polar bear named Norm and his three lemming friends wind up in New York City, where Norm becomes the mascot of a corporation he soon learns is tied to the fate of his homeland."

Release date: January 15

Kung Fu Panda 3

IMDB summary: "Continuing his 'legendary adventures of awesomeness', Po must face two hugely epic, but different threats: one supernatural and the other a little closer to his home."

Release date: January 29

Zootopia

IMDB summary: "In the animal city of Zootopia, a fast-talking fox who's trying to make it big goes on the run when he's framed for a crime he didn't commit. Zootopia's top cop, a self-righteous rabbit, is hot on his tail, but when both become targets of a conspiracy, they're forced to team up and discover even natural enemies can become best friends."

Release date: March 4

The Little Prince

IMDB summary: "A little girl lives in a very grown-up world with her mother, who tries to make sure she is prepared for it. Her neighbor, The Aviator, introduces the girl to an extraordinary world where anything is possible, the world of The Little Prince."

Release date: March 18
Note: This is the English dub's American release date; different language versions of this movie first came out this year.

The Jungle Book

IMDB summary: "An orphan boy is raised in the jungle with the help of a pack of wolves, a bear, and a black panther."

Release date: April 15

The Angry Birds Movie

IMDB summary: "Bird Island is an untouched paradise inhabited by birds who are naive and innocent, who know nothing of the outside world. They treasure eggs, and are all carefree and easygoing, except for few."

Release date: May 20

Alice Through the Looking Glass

IMDB summary: "Alice returns to the whimsical world of Wonderland and travels back in time to save the Mad Hatter."

Release date: May 27

Finding Dory

IMDB summary: "The friendly-but-forgetful blue tang fish reunites with her loved ones, and everyone learns a few things about the true meaning of family along the way."

Release date: June 17

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows

IMDB summary: "The Turtles return to save the city from a dangerous threat."

Release date: June 3

The Secret Life of Pets

IMDB summary: "Taking place in a Manhattan apartment building, Max's life as a favorite pet is turned upside down, when his owner brings home a sloppy mongrel named Duke. They have to put their quarrels behind when they find out that an adorable white bunny named Snowball is building an army of abandoned pets determined to take revenge on all happily-owned pets and their owners."

Release date: July 8

Ice Age: Collision Course

IMDB summary: "Scrat's epic pursuit of his elusive acorn catapults him outside of Earth, where he accidentally sets off a series of cosmic events that transform and threaten the planet."

Release date: July 22

Pete's Dragon

IMDB summary: "A young orphan seeks refuge from his abusive adoptive parents with the help of a pet dragon and a couple who live in a lighthouse."

Release date: August 12

Storks

IMDB summary: "Storks deliver babies...or at least they used to. Now they deliver packages for global internet giant Cornerstore.com. Junior, the company's top delivery stork, is about to be promoted when he accidentally activates the Baby Making Machine, producing an adorable and wholly unauthorized baby girl."

Release date: September 23

Sing

IMDB summary: "A koala named Buster recruits his best friend to help him drum up business for his theater by hosting a singing competition."

Release date: December 21

Furry movies with no set American release date

El Americano, Animal Crackers, April and the Extraordinary World, The Nut Job 2, Ping Pong Rabbit, Robinson Crusoe, Rock Dog, Sheep and Wolves, Sly Cooper and Spark.