Animation Coming To Disney+, Netflix, Prime Video And Paramount+ In December 2023

Every month, a tsunami of shows and movies flood streaming services as if heralded by Ponyo herself. Sorting through all those titles can be challenging, so we compiled a list of some of the most interesting animated titles coming to U.S. platforms in December.

This list is not intended to be an exhaustive rundown of every single title coming to every single service. If we miss a show or movie you’re looking forward to, please let us know in the comments. For now, here are eight titles to get excited about in December 2023.

Disney+

Disney+’s big-ticket December release is the next entry in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), What If… Following the format established in 2021’s first season, the next batch of episodes will propose animated alternate MCU histories, which are either brand-new concepts or expand on the worlds of previous episodes. In a new move for the streamer, episodes will drop daily between December 22 and 30.

Countless Christmas specials are set to hit streaming platforms next month, including Disney’s Diary of a Wimpy Kid Christmas: Cabin Fever. Following up on last year’s Rodrick Rules, director Luke Cormican and writer Jeff Kinney return with the franchise’s now-familiar 2d stylized cg aesthetic. Cabin Fever releases on December 8.

Netflix

It’s been 23 years since Ginger and Rocky, the stars of Aardman Animations’ Chicken Run, first hit the big screen. Now, thanks to Netflix, audiences will have access to the next chapter in their story. Dawn of the Nugget brings back plenty of familiar characters, if not familiar voices, with actors Mel Gibson and Julia Sawalha replaced by Zachary Levi and Thandiwe Newton. There’s a fresh face behind the camera, too, with Sam Fell picking up the story from Peter Lord and Nick Park. In the sequel, the once-cooped chickens will have to break into a farm to save one of their own. Dawn of the Nugget drops on December 15.

Another title from the Netflix stop-motion department is Pokémon Concierge. A break in aesthetics from the familiar Pokémon anime, Concierge promises a fresh look at the popular video game world through its vibrant and tactile art style. The show follows the day-to-day life of Haru, a concierge on a Pokémon resort, exploring a specific corner of the universe largely untapped by games and other media. December 28 is your check-in date for Pokémon Concierge.

Netflix will also be the streaming home to 2023’s biggest animated success story, Illumination’s The Super Mario Bros. Movie. Directed by Aaron Horvath and Michael Jelenic, the film exceeded expectations and became the highest-grossing video game adaptation of all time. Netflix has enjoyed a lot of success with its animated feature acquisitions, and they don’t come much bitter than the Mario movie, which hits the platform on December 3.

Prime Video

Merry Little Batman is Prime Video’s push for an animated Christmas banger. Finnish studio Gigglebug handled animation on this Warner Bros. Animation holiday adventure starring the caped crusader rendered in an exaggerated 2d art style. The series will feature several Batman favorites, including Joker, Bane, and Damian Wayne, flying all over the place in a must watch for DC fans. Merry Little Batman hits Prime on December 8.

Max

It may not be animated, but animation fans won’t want to miss the theatrical version of Spirited Away, which finds its way to Max on December 24. This adaptation of this Studio Ghibli classic has been met with praise from critics. Two recordings will hit Max on Christmas Eve, each with a different lead actress but with the same enchanting story of Chihiro’s magical coming of age.

Paramount+

Baby Shark’s Big Movie is set to be an undeniably huge release this the holiday season. The follow up to Baby Shark’s Big Show is a collaboration between Nickelodeon and original “Baby Shark Dance” creators Pinkfong, who aim to continue their viral success through another musical adventure. This time, the franchise will unspool in its biggest environment yet and feature a huge cast of underwater characters. It’s an undeniable aesthetic glow-up for a franchise that started as a Youtube music video for toddlers. Baby Shark’s Big Movie drops on December 8.