Animation cinema sees major milestones and studio shifts

The animation industry continues to demonstrate significant commercial strength, with 17 of the 65 highest-grossing films in history being animated. A notable historical benchmark remains Disney’s ‘Tangled’, which holds the record as the most expensive animated production ever made, with a budget of $260 million. While its $592 million global box office was viewed as a success by Disney, it marked a pivotal moment for the studio’s animation resurgence.

In recent developments, the Looney Tunes film ‘Coyote vs. ACME’ has finally reached theaters following a period of controversy. Originally shelved by Warner Bros. in 2023 for tax write-off purposes, the project faced significant industry and fan backlash. After failing to find a suitable distributor, Warner Bros. eventually sold the film to Ketchup Entertainment for its 2025 release. The film blends animation with live-action, following a legal battle where Wile E. Coyote sues the ACME Corporation for defective products.