Animation

Pakistan animation industry is small but full of ambition. PakistaniArt covers its studios, its independent animators, and the films and series breaking through locally and beginning to attract serious international attention.

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An anime screenshot features Orihime Inoue from Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War standing in a dimly lit, dark red cavernous environment. She wears a white Arrancar-style outfit with a prominent heart-shaped chest cutout, long white sleeves, and a long skirt. Her long, dark orange hair flows behind her, and her expression is serious and determined as she looks slightly to her right. The background is filled with glowing, jagged purple crystal structures and faint floating pink petals or embers against a dark, moody atmosphere.

Bleach TYBW Episode 45 Ends With Orihime's Shocking Sacrifice

Studio Pierrot's boldest anime-original move yet rewrites 'The Calamity' finale, splits the fandom, and leaves episode 46 without a preview

Zoya Mahroosh ZulfiqarAUG 23, 2026
The illustration depicts a side profile of Motoko Kusanagi, a woman with distinctive short, jagged blue hair, in a contemplative or dormant state. She is a full-body cyborg, shown with various mechanical interfaces and wires connected to ports on her back and arms. She wears a white, form-fitting bodysuit with cutouts that reveal additional cybernetic detailing on her shoulders and spine. The background is a sterile, high-tech environment filled with numerous tangled data cables and industrial hazard-striped pillars, set in a pale blue and white color palette. An Amazon Prime Video logo is visible in the bottom-left corner, indicating the series' global streaming home.

New 'Ghost in the Shell' Trailer and English Dub Cast Arrive Ahead of July Premiere

Science SARU's cyberpunk anime reboot, the first faithful adaptation of Masamune Shirow's original manga, reveals its English voice lineup, with Suzie Yeung leading as Major Motoko Kusanagi

Zoya Mahroosh ZulfiqarJUN 23, 2026

Latest in Animation

GamesSEP 13, 2026

Fortnite Leaks Point to Black Clover and One Piece Drops

Zarvan Zeshan
A dynamic digital promotional artwork formatted like a 3D video game crossover event featuring three anime characters from Black Clover styled in a Fortnite aesthetic. On the left stands Yuno, a young man with messy black hair wearing a tan capelet with blue fur trim, extending his right hand forward as yellow magical butterflies swirl around him. In the center is Asta, a muscular boy with spiky silver-grey hair and a black headband, wide-eyed and yelling mid-battle as he wields a massive, dark broadsword over his shoulder. On the right is Noelle Silva, a girl with silver hair tied into high pigtails, wearing a dark blue capelet and white dress, gritting her teeth as stylized splashes of transparent blue water swirl around her. The characters are positioned behind a roaring bed of orange and yellow flames and fractured grey rocks. In the foreground, the bold white logo for Fortnite sits next to a stylized black-and-white "Black Clover" logo with a central clover icon, separated by a white "X". The background depicts a blurred, smoky European-style city square with stone buildings under an overcast, dramatic sky.
AnimationSEP 6, 2026

'One Piece Film God Valley' Set for Summer 2027

Zoya Mahroosh Zulfiqar
The promotional image features a textured, monochromatic title card for One Piece Film: God Valley. The title "GOD VALLEY" is presented in a large, distressed white typeface that mimics weathered stenciling or cracked concrete, set against a dark, gritty charcoal background. A stylized glass fracture effect runs through the letter "D," adding a dynamic sense of impact or conflict. Underneath the primary English title, the text is translated into sleek Japanese katakana scripts, which sit directly above the official "ONE PIECE FILM" branding, complete with the iconic Straw Hat Pirates' skull-and-crossbones emblem integrated into the letter "O."
AnimationSEP 6, 2026

Fans Swarm Over Nico Robin and Gaban Duo in 'One Piece' Clip

Zoya Mahroosh Zulfiqar
An action-packed medium shot from the One Piece anime series shows a small, elderly, white-haired warrior crouching defensively on top of a giant's massive hand. The old warrior wears a bright red shirt adorned with yellow floral patterns, dark shorts, black wristbands, and a white, fluffy mane-like collar around his neck. He has a long white beard and mustache, large glasses, and holds the handle of a massive, broad battle axe resting across his back. In the background, a person with dark hair in a blue top and purple shorts stands near a large wooden boat hull. To the right, a young woman with bright pink hair styled in braids, wearing a green and brown outfit, looks onward with an intense, straining expression.
AnimationAUG 24, 2026

Every Fandom Is Suddenly United Against 'Lesbian Space Princess'

Zoya Mahroosh Zulfiqar
The image displays a colorful and stylized promotional poster for the adult animated sci-fi comedy film Lesbian Space Princess (2025). The illustration features three central characters on a rocky purple planet against a starry space background with vibrant pink goo or liquid floating around them. In the center stands the introverted main character, Princess Saira, a girl with dark curly hair and large anxious eyes, holding her royal battleaxe (Labrys) tightly across her chest. To her left, a character with short pink hair and sunglasses stands tied up with ropes around their torso, wearing a worried or annoyed expression. To her right, a cheerful character with bright aqua-green hair, large glasses, and pointed elf-like ears joyfully strumming a black guitar while waving one hand in the air. In the upper right corner, small white carton-like characters with faces peak out from behind a large pinkish-purple moon.
TelevisionAUG 23, 2026

Bleach TYBW Episode 45 Ends With Orihime's Shocking Sacrifice

Zoya Mahroosh Zulfiqar
An anime screenshot features Orihime Inoue from Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War standing in a dimly lit, dark red cavernous environment. She wears a white Arrancar-style outfit with a prominent heart-shaped chest cutout, long white sleeves, and a long skirt. Her long, dark orange hair flows behind her, and her expression is serious and determined as she looks slightly to her right. The background is filled with glowing, jagged purple crystal structures and faint floating pink petals or embers against a dark, moody atmosphere.
AnimationAUG 23, 2026

One Piece Announces Its First Canon Movie, 'Film God Valley,' for Summer 2027

Zoya Mahroosh Zulfiqar
An official promotional poster for the anime movie One Piece: Stampede showcases the entire Straw Hat Pirate crew gathered together in vibrant, festive outfits against a purple-hued sky filled with confetti. In the center, Monkey D. Luffy sits triumphantly atop a massive wooden treasure chest filled with gold coins, wearing an oversized, ornate festival hat over his signature straw hat. Flanking him on the left are Usopp in yellow overalls, Nico Robin in a purple coat, Roronoa Zoro in dark attire, and Franky in Roman-inspired blue armor. On the right stand Brook in a pink suit, Sanji in a green vest, Tony Tony Chopper wearing a pink cap, and Nami in orange overalls. Looming large and menacingly in the background are the silhouettes of the film's antagonists, Douglas Bullet on the far left with headphones, and Buena Festa on the far right with a sinister grin.
AnimationAUG 20, 2026

Netflix Fans Get Fresh Look at 'The One Piece' Remake

Zoya Mahroosh Zulfiqar
A promotional poster for the Netflix anime series "The One Piece" features Monkey D. Luffy in the foreground, widely grinning with his arms outstretched while wearing his signature straw hat, red vest, and denim shorts. To his right, Nami cheers joyfully in a striped shirt and orange skirt. Behind them, members of the Red Hair Pirates are visible, including Shanks with his distinct red hair looking back with a smile, Yasopp, Lucky Roux holding a piece of meat, and Benn Beckman. A black pirate flag with a skull and crossbones waves in the upper right. The background is a vibrant blue sky filled with white clouds, flying seagulls, and falling gold coins. At the bottom, text reads "NEW DAWN, NEW ADVENTURE," "ONLY ON NETFLIX," and "FEBRUARY 2027."
AnimationAUG 16, 2026

Everything Disney Just Revealed About 'Frozen 3' at D23

Zoya Mahroosh Zulfiqar
Frozen 3 is officially scheduled to release in theaters on November 24, 2027, following a strategic delay by Disney to allow the creative team more time to properly develop what is planned as the first half of a massive, interconnected multi-part story that will eventually conclude in Frozen 4. The upcoming animated musical fantasy film reunites the original core voice cast—including Idina Menzel as Elsa, Kristen Bell as Anna, Josh Gad as Olaf, and Jonathan Groff as Kristoff—with Jennifer Lee returning to write and co-direct alongside Trent Correy. The plot expands the lore of Arendelle and the origins of magic, triggered by unpredictable changes in the Northern Lights that signal an ancient power awakening far beyond the Enchanted Forest. This crisis forces Elsa and Anna to journey to unexplored lands where magic was first born, an adventure that early D23 Expo concept art hints will feature a mysterious floating castle in the sky and a horned antagonist tied to Norse mythology. Alongside these high-stakes magical threats, the narrative will also focus on personal milestones, heavily hinting at a grand royal wedding for Queen Anna and Kristoff. To bring this epic journey to life, acclaimed songwriters Robert Lopez and Kristen Anderson-Lopez are expected to return to pen a brand-new slate of musical numbers aimed at capturing the emotional depth of the sisters' evolving roles as protectors of their respective realms.
AnimationAUG 15, 2026

Olaf Found Love Before Elsa, and 'Frozen 3' Fans Have a Lot of Questions About Samantha

Zoya Mahroosh Zulfiqar
The image depicts Olaf, the cheerful snowman from Disney’s Frozen, standing on a glossy, reflective ice skating rink and sharing a warm hug with a female snowman character. The female snowman features braided hair, a colorful patterned skirt, and a carrot nose, closely mirroring Olaf's whimsical appearance. They look at each other with wide, happy smiles while locking their stick arms together. The background is a dreamy, romantic setting filled with soft purple and pink hues, decorated with glowing heart-shaped lanterns hanging from an ornate arched structure. Their figures cast a clear, mirrored reflection onto the smooth ice surface below them.
AnimationAUG 13, 2026

Crunchyroll and Sony Secure Makoto Shinkai's Next Film for Global Theatrical Release

Zoya Mahroosh Zulfiqar
An artistic graphic featuring a stylized, grayscale portrait of Japanese anime director Makoto Shinkai against a vibrant orange and black background. Shinkai is positioned in the lower-center of the frame, facing slightly left, wearing round spectacles, a dark button-down shirt, and a blazer jacket. His portrait is cutout with a thick cream-colored border, layering it over a large orange circular graphic that dominates the bottom half of the image. This circular background is embellished with white, shimmering starburst sparkles and black, abstract architectural outlines reminiscent of cityscapes. Behind this entire composition, the upper section features the large, bold orange typography of the "Crunchyroll" logo, with a smaller, white "SONY" logo printed directly beneath the letters "roll." The topmost layer of the background contains a dark, textured pattern resembling stylized camouflage or abstract paint brushstrokes in shades of black and charcoal grey, completing the energetic and modern promotional design layout.
AnimationJUL 28, 2026

Makoto Shinkai's "Your Name" Returns to U.S. Theaters in 4K for Its Tenth Anniversary

Zoya Mahroosh Zulfiqar
Your Name. (Kimi no Na wa) is a masterpiece of modern animation that blends romance, fantasy, and destiny. Directed by Makoto Shinkai and released in 2016, the film follows Mitsuha, a high school girl in a rural mountain village, and Taki, a high school boy living in Tokyo. The two teenagers are inexplicably bound together when they begin periodically swapping bodies, forcing them to navigate each other's lives and leave behind digital diaries to manage the chaos. Just as a deep emotional connection forms between them, the phenomenon abruptly stops, prompting Taki to search for Mitsuha in the Japanese countryside. This search reveals a stunning twist: their experiences are separated by a three-year time gap, and Mitsuha's hometown was tragically destroyed by a comet fragment years earlier. Utilizing ancient Shinto traditions and a magical meeting at twilight, Taki races against time to alter past events, evacuate the town, and preserve their fading memories of one another. Visually breathtaking, the movie is celebrated for its hyper-realistic depictions of Tokyo, vibrant skies, and an iconic, emotionally resonant soundtrack composed by the rock band RADWIMPS. It became a massive global box office phenomenon, cementing Shinkai's reputation as a legendary storyteller and serving as the first entry in his unofficial "disaster trilogy," which also includes Weathering with You and Suzume.
AIJUL 21, 2026

Why 'Ainak Wala Jin' The Movie Is Dividing Pakistani Cinema

Awais Shaukat
The nostalgic 90s classic Ainak Wala Jin has officially crossed into the future with Asia's first AI-generated feature-length movie, releasing nationwide in Pakistani cinemas on July 24, 2026. Produced and directed by Farhan Khan, this groundbreaking 85-minute animated family adventure has been built entirely through advanced artificial intelligence tools to lower production costs while maintaining stunning, fast-paced digital visuals. The hype around this AI transformation initially ignited through a highly popular digital tribute series created by the content platform Reelwind. Reelwind began releasing episodic AI-animated shorts on YouTube and Instagram to honor the classic PTV characters, which generated viral nostalgia and paved the way for this cinematic breakthrough. The full-length theatrical film centers around a young boy navigating a rigid human world of rules until his eccentric, visually impaired neighbor—the gentle genie Nastoor—opens a magical portal into the mythical realm of Koh-e-Qaf. Iconic legacy characters like the hilarious Zakoota Jin, the mischievous Bil Batori, and the wicked sorcerer Hamoon Jadoogar have all been visually reimagined for a new generation through generative AI. Blending childhood nostalgia with next-gen automated animation technology, the film represents a historic, albeit polarizing, shift for Pakistan's digital film industry.
AnimationJUL 15, 2026

Amazon's 'The Ghost in the Shell' English Dub Arrives Amid Subtitle Complaints and Lingering AI Trust Issues

Zoya Mahroosh Zulfiqar
The Ghost in the Shell (2026) is a brand-new cyberpunk anime television series produced by the animation studio Science SARU. The series officially premiered on July 7, 2026.Unlike previous iterations that heavily drew inspiration from Mamoru Oshii's iconic 1995 film, this 2026 adaptation is a faithful reboot that brings Masamune Shirow's original 1989–1991 manga directly to life, embracing its specific mix of fast-paced action, philosophy, and goofy humor.Key Details & Creative TeamProduction Studio: Animated by Science SARU, known for Dandadan and Devilman Crybaby.Director: Directed by Mokochan (Toma Kimura), making his formal directorial debut. He highlighted that the team utilized zero generative AI, opting for a traditional hand-drawn feel to emphasize humanity.Writer: Series composition and scripts are written by renowned science fiction author EnJoe Toh (Godzilla Singular Point).Character Design: Handled by Shuhei Handa (Scott Pilgrim Takes Off).Music: Ending theme "Blue" is performed by MILLENNIUM PARADE featuring Saya Gray and Daniel Caesar.Voice Cast: Major Motoko Kusanagi is voiced by Maaya Sakamoto (recasting the late Atsuko Tanaka), alongside Kenjiro Tsuda and Yuji Ueda.
AnimationJUL 9, 2026

Ghibli Park's First Original Short Film 'Night in the Valley of Witches' Begins Exclusive Screenings

Zoya Mahroosh Zulfiqar
"Night in the Valley of Witches" (Majo no Tani no Yoru) is an exclusive, 14-minute animated short film produced by Studio Ghibli that premiered on July 8, 2026, at Ghibli Park in Aichi, Japan. Co-directed by Gorō Miyazaki and Akihiko Yamashita, the short follows a new park employee whose after-hours chores spiral into magical chaos as iconic structures from the park's real-life "Valley of Witches" area—such as Howl's Castle and Kiki's Guchoki Bakery—come to life. The film is accompanied by an exhibition of handcrafted panorama boxes designed by Hayao Miyazaki and can only be viewed in person at the park's Cinema Orion located inside Ghibli's Grand Warehouse.
AnimationJUN 27, 2026

Disney's 'Hexed' Trailer Ignites Fierce Debate Over Center-Focused Framing and TikTok-Ready Composition

Zoya Mahroosh Zulfiqar
Hexed is an upcoming original American animated coming-of-age fantasy comedy film produced by Walt Disney Animation Studios. Serving as the 65th film in the Disney Animated Canon, it is scheduled to be released theatrically in the United States on November 25, 2026.Movie Overview & PlotThe movie follows Billie (voiced by Hailee Steinfeld), an impulsive and unconventional teenage girl who constantly feels miscast and out of place in her ordinary suburban life. When she accidentally unleashes secret, untamed magical abilities, she is expelled from school and sucked through a portal into Hexe, a vast, hidden realm of witches.Billie is forced to team up with her cautious, Type-A single mother, Alice (voiced by Rashida Jones), who enters the realm to find her. Together, the mother-daughter duo explores Hexe, hones Billie's magical powers, and uncovers long-held family secrets that could alter the world of witches forever.The Cast & Creative TeamThe film features a prominent voice cast and seasoned Disney creators:Hailee Steinfeld as Billie, the headstrong teenage protagonist.Rashida Jones as Alice, Billie's strict, cautious mother.Tracey Ullman as Ms. Quill, an enchanted, talking feather quill pen that greets Billie in Hexe.Stephen Fry as Elias Quire, a whimsical, talking magical journal.Directors: Fawn Veerasunthorn (Wish) and Jason Hand (Moana 2), with Josie Trinidad serving as co-director.Producers: Roy Conli (Big Hero 6, Tangled) and Yvett Merino (Encanto).Production Designer: Lorelay Bové, known for her vibrant visual work on Encanto and The Princess and the Frog.Behind-the-Scenes & EvolutionWhen Hexed was initially announced at Destination D23 in August 2025, the narrative was centered on an awkward teenage boy and his mother. By April 2026, Disney updated the creative direction to focus on a teenage girl, shifting the central theme heavily into a mother-daughter dynamic. Early footage shown at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival in June 2026 highlighted Disney's experimentation with a fresh, highly saturated, and stylized non-CGI aesthetic blend.
AIJUN 25, 2026

Annecy Defends Director Hisko Hulsing After Anti-AI Protest Disrupts 'Danse Macabre' Premiere

Zoya Mahroosh Zulfiqar
This image is a frame from the apocalyptic animated short film Danse Macabre (2026), directed by Dutch filmmaker and painter Hisko Hulsing. Set to the second movement of Dmitri Shostakovich's Symphony No. 10, the film uses over 75 hand-painted oil canvases combined with 2D and CG animation to create a nightmarish, hand-crafted aesthetic. The scene depicts a skeletal soldier wearing a helmet peering through a library window into a room with crystal goblets, against a backdrop of a city engulfed in orange flames.
AIJUN 23, 2026

Tom Hanks Warns Disney Could Use AI to Voice Woody in 'Toy Story 6' Without His Involvement

Zoya Mahroosh Zulfiqar
Sheriff Woody Pride remains the iconic vintage pull-string cowboy doll we all know, but Toy Story 6 has not yet been officially released or detailed. Following the theatrical release of Toy Story 5, discussions regarding Woody's future role in a potential sixth installment have centered heavily on a major behind-the-scenes update regarding his voice actor, Tom Hanks.
AnimationJUN 23, 2026

New 'Ghost in the Shell' Trailer and English Dub Cast Arrive Ahead of July Premiere

Zoya Mahroosh Zulfiqar
The illustration depicts a side profile of Motoko Kusanagi, a woman with distinctive short, jagged blue hair, in a contemplative or dormant state. She is a full-body cyborg, shown with various mechanical interfaces and wires connected to ports on her back and arms. She wears a white, form-fitting bodysuit with cutouts that reveal additional cybernetic detailing on her shoulders and spine. The background is a sterile, high-tech environment filled with numerous tangled data cables and industrial hazard-striped pillars, set in a pale blue and white color palette. An Amazon Prime Video logo is visible in the bottom-left corner, indicating the series' global streaming home.
TelevisionJUN 21, 2026

'Higurashi: When They Cry' Gets New TV Anime as Studio DEEN and Original Cast Return

Zoya Mahroosh Zulfiqar
Higurashi: When They Cry (Japanese: Higurashi no Naku Koro ni) is an acclaimed murder mystery and psychological horror multimedia franchise. Created by Ryukishi07 and 07th Expansion, it originated as a series of independent visual novels in 2002. The plot takes place in June 1983 within the isolated, rural village of Hinamizawa. It follows a transfer student named Keiichi Maebara and his school friends as they become entangled in a cycle of paranoia, horrific murders, and supernatural anomalies linked to the local village deity, Oyashiro-sama.
AnimationJUN 16, 2026

DreamWorks Animation Drops First 'Shrek 5' Teaser Trailer With Returning Cast and New Adventure

Zoya Mahroosh Zulfiqar
An animated group of four characters from the Shrek franchise stands together with varied expressions of shock and confusion against a blurred, rustic background. On the far left, Princess Fiona, an ogre with red hair in a green dress, smiles with wide eyes. Next to her, Donkey looks upward with an exaggerated, wide-eyed grimace, showing his teeth. In the center, Shrek, a large green ogre wearing his signature white tunic and brown textured vest, clenches his teeth and fists in an uneasy, defensive posture. To his right stands a female teenage ogre with long, messy ginger hair tied in a partial topknot, a nose ring, and a green textured top, looking anxiously to the side with her hand pressed to her chest.
AnimationJUN 14, 2026

Tokyo Revengers Closes Out Its Manga Adaptation With a New Director and Arc

Zoya Mahroosh Zulfiqar
The official third trailer for Tokyo Revengers: War of the Three Titans Arc (Season 4) has officially confirmed that the highly anticipated anime will premiere globally on October 2, 2026. Set to stream exclusively on Disney+ worldwide, this upcoming season kicks off the explosive final saga of the series, focusing on the brutal three-way conflict between the Tokyo Manji Gang, Rokuhara Tandai, and Brahman syndicates. The newly released promotional footage has already generated massive hype by showcasing updated character designs, teasing intense high-stakes action, and introducing key voice cast members who will shape the climactic gang war.

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