Netflix utilized both its recent Los Angeles press preview and its official Annecy Festival presentation to highlight several significant upcoming animated projects.

A major focus at both events was Brad Bird’s long-anticipated feature, *Ray Gunn*, with Netflix confirming its debut date and offering an in-depth look.

During the Annecy Festival, Bird joined Aardman co-founder Peter Lord for an extensive discussion about *Ray Gunn*, where it was announced that the film will premiere on December 18.

This confirmation provides a concrete timeline for a project Bird has discussed publicly for years, offering audiences a clearer expectation for its release.

Annecy attendees were treated to a substantial preview of the film, including its opening seven minutes and an additional sequence from later in the story.

The feature follows a detective named Ray Gunn, voiced by Sam Rockwell, in a retro-futuristic world inhabited by both humans and aliens.

Scarlett Johansson lends her voice to Venus Nova, while Tom Waits voices an alien character named Ira.

Bird shared that the film's origins trace back to a misunderstanding, where he initially mistook The B-52s’ “Planet Claire” for the theme from “Peter Gunn.” This led to the idea of “Ray Gunn” as the character's name and subsequently, a detective story set in a future envisioned through the lens of 1930s design.

Bird described the aesthetic as “Buck Rogers meets The Maltese Falcon,” drawing inspiration from designers like Hugh Ferriss and Raymond Loewy.

The footage and production artwork shown in Annecy depicted a sprawling city with towering skyscrapers, streamlined vehicles, and vibrant neon signage.

Bird noted that the film explores an optimistic vision of a city that still harbors “desperate characters and slimeballs and corruption.” Beyond the detective framework, Bird indicated that *Ray Gunn* delves into themes of identity and the different facets of ourselves we present to the world.

A clip showcased Ray searching for a replacement weapon, highlighting the film’s blend of comedy, character acting, and detailed world-building as he encounters an eccentric shop owner.

Bird and Lord also discussed the broader context of animation, with Bird expressing his long-standing view that the medium should not be confined to children's entertainment.

He emphasized that animation's strength lies in caricature and its ability to distill essence, allowing for greater emotional range and flexibility than live-action.

The conversation also touched upon the project's extended development history.

Bird clarified that while *Ray Gunn* has been in development for decades, much of that time saw the project dormant.

He eventually regained control of the property and secured financing, allowing the film to finally move forward.

## Other Netflix Animation Highlights

Netflix also provided updates on other animated projects.

*Ghostbusters: Night Shift*, an upcoming animated series, is set in 1994 and follows a new generation of Ghostbusters in New York City.

Filmmaker Jason Reitman and showrunners Ben Hibon and Elliott Kalan emphasized the series' darker, scarier tone, aiming for an “official continuity, in-canon chapter” of the *Ghostbusters* saga.

The visual style draws heavily from early 1990s New York, with a focus on grittiness and repurposed technology for the Ghostbusters' gear.

Additionally, *Charlie vs.

the Chocolate Factory* was previewed, an animated continuation of Roald Dahl’s world.

Netflix Animation Studios head Hannah Minghella clarified that this is not a retelling but features “the same Wonka but an entirely different Charlie.” Directors Jared Stern and Elaine Bogan revealed that the story follows Willy Wonka, voiced by Taika Waititi, after a stint in prison for turning a child into a blueberry, as he returns to his factory to make the world sweeter.

The film, set in modern-day London, is slated for release in 2027.

These presentations underscore Netflix's strategy to diversify its animation offerings, targeting various demographics with projects like *Ghostbusters: Night Shift* for older fans, *Charlie vs.

the Chocolate Factory* as a reimagining of a classic, and *Ray Gunn* positioned for potential awards recognition.