Netflix at Annecy 2026: Ray Gunn, Steps, Blue Eye Samurai Season 2 & Everything That Wowed Us

The Annecy International Animation Film Festival is the animation world’s biggest annual gathering — and Netflix showed up in 2026 with a slate that had the crowd buzzing. From a landmark first fully in-house animated feature to a Brad Bird passion project decades in the making, here’s a complete breakdown of the best things Netflix revealed this year.

Netflix Annecy 2026: Titles

Ray Gunn — The Undisputed Highlight of the Week

Ray Gunn was the undoubted highlight of Annecy 2026 for Netflix. The opening sequence showcased a living, breathing futuristic city, with visuals described as a cross between Monsters, Inc and The Incredibles — densely packed, lovingly created, and unmistakably carrying Brad Bird’s signature style and Pixar DNA throughout everything shown. If you’ve been waiting for a Netflix animated film to truly excite you, this one’s it.

Steps — Netflix’s First Fully In-House Animated Feature

Steps represents a landmark moment for Netflix — it is the first film to be made entirely end-to-end under the Netflix animation umbrella, built across internal teams in the US, Canada, and Australia. The film is a new take on Cinderella, starring Ali Wong, and is slotted for a Thanksgiving release window — a slot that exudes significant confidence in its commercial potential. The lighting was described as superb, with the characters’ expressions being particular standouts.

Living the Dream — The Surprise of the Festival

Living the Dream was the biggest surprise of the week. A quintessentially British adult animated comedy, the show’s creator won over skeptics quickly once the premise was explained — described as universal in its themes and gripes, much like Ricky Gervais’ Alley Cats, but with its own distinct flavor. whats-on-netflix

Ghostbusters: Night Shift — Ambitious But With Questions

Ghostbusters: Night Shift was Netflix’s big series push at Annecy 2026, crafted with clear love for the IP and featuring monster designs very fitting for the world, with New York looking like one of the best on-screen animated incarnations in recent memory. The series is targeting a 2027 release, though some questions remain about which audience it’s ultimately built for.

Blue Eye Samurai Season 2 — Worth the Wait

Fresh footage shown at Annecy featured Mizu being a badass in a kinetic, bloody fight set in London — every bit as good as fans expected, though the absence of a release window left audiences hungry for more.

The Annecy International Animation Film Festival has been the world’s premier animation showcase since 1960 — you can learn more about its history on Wikipedia. For more Netflix animation and streaming news, visit TechnoSports.

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