World Animation Day: which film to watch in cinemas right now?

Did you know: World Animation Day is celebrated every year on October 28. It’s a chance to head to the cinema and catch the animated films currently playing in theaters!

As is so often the case in history, there's much debate as to who is the very first animated film. As techniques rapidly evolve, different works can claim to be the first of their kind, in the category of animated cinema. However, several bodies have agreed on one fact, allowing the creation of a World Animated Film Day.

This worldwide day is held every year on October 28, commemorating the first screening of the work ofEmile Reynaud, inventor of optical theater. On October 28, 1892, Emile Reynaud unveiled his cartoon Pauvre Pierrot at the Musée Grévin in Paris. An event in the world of cinema!

To celebrate this (French) achievement, a worldwide day was created in the early 2000s. To mark the occasion, cinemas, museums and other venues dedicated to the 7th art can organize events, screenings, exhibitions... But what we really want is to experience this art form in a darkened room, with our eyes riveted to a giant screen!

So we're taking advantage of the All Saints' vacation to pop into our nearest cinema and discover the latest animated films.

Animated films to catch in theaters right now:

Shaun the Sheep: The Halloween Beast Is in Theaters
Shaun the Sheep: The Halloween Beast, Aardman Studios’ new stop-motion film, hits theaters on October 21, 2026. Watch the trailer. [Read more]

The Island of Memories is now playing in theaters.
The Island of Memories, formerly titled The Forgotten Island, will hit theaters on October 21, 2026. The DreamWorks film follows two friends who find themselves stranded on an island inspired by Philippine myths. [Read more]

The Corset: Louis Clichy’s animated feature hits theaters
Presented in Un Certain Regard at the 2026 Cannes Film Festival, Le Corset, Louis Clichy’s animated feature, arrives in theaters on October 14, delivering a coming‑of‑age story set in the Beauce. [Read more]

Mochy, the ugliest dog in the world: the animated film is now playing in theaters.
Mochy, the ugliest dog in the world, an animated film by Jérémie Degruson and Yanis Belaïd, hits cinemas on October 14, 2026. A family-friendly adventure about embracing difference and self-acceptance. [Read more]

Cars in theaters: Lightning McQueen marks 20 years on the big screen.
Cars returns to nearly 300 cinemas in France today. The Pixar film starring Lightning McQueen marks its 20th anniversary on the big screen. [Read more]

Joyful Jungle! in theaters: a family adventure in the tropical rainforest
Elizabeth sets off to find her little brother in the tropical forest in Joyful Jungle!, a family-friendly animated film opening in theaters today. [Read more]

My Samurai Family: An animated film that bridges Brazil and Japan
My Samurai Family, Célia Catunda's animated feature adapted from the novel Nihonjin, hits theaters on September 16, 2026. Watch the trailer. [Read more]

And on streaming platforms:

Dragons is on Netflix now: discover the moment Hiccup meets Toothless
Dragons, the animated film that tells the story of the first meeting between the young Viking Hiccup and his dragon Toothless, is available on Netflix from October 11, 2026. [Read more]

How to Train Your Dragon 2 is available on Netflix: Hiccup and Toothless take to the skies again
Dragons 2, the second installment of Hiccup and Toothless' animated adventures, is now available on Netflix as of October 11, 2026. [Read more]

How to Train Your Dragon 3: The Hidden World is now available on Netflix
How to Train Your Dragon 3: The Hidden World, which concludes the adventures of Hiccup and Toothless, is available on Netflix starting October 11, 2026, alongside the first two films in the saga. [Read more]