Disney has officially revealed the first details of Hexed, an original feature film following a teenager who discovers magical powers, which will mark the studio's 65th animated movie. The project is scheduled to open in cinemas on November 25, 2026, positioning the picture as a major family cinema event for the upcoming Christmas holiday season.
Fawn Veerasunthorn and Jason Hand are directing the animated feature for Walt Disney Animation Studios. Veerasunthorn previously worked on Raya and the Last Dragon and co-directed Wish, while Hand contributed to the creation of Moana 2.
The story centers on Billy, an impulsive, curious, and unconventional teenage girl who constantly feels out of place among her peers. Having lived in discord with the world around her, Billy's life changes when she accidentally discovers she possesses magical abilities she never knew existed.
Her newfound powers launch a journey into Hexe, a hidden kingdom inhabited by witches and fantastical creatures. Upon arriving in the magical realm, she encounters two enchanted companions: a magical quill named Madame Quill and a talking journal named Elias Quire.
Family secrets and magical realm
In Hexe, Billy experiences a sense of belonging for the first time, coming to understand that her oddities are part of a larger purpose rather than a flaw. As she explores the kingdom, she gradually unravels a web of family secrets that have remained deeply hidden for many years.
The discovery reveals that the sense of being different that pursued her throughout her life has a far more surprising explanation than she had assumed. The adventure becomes a personal journey toward self-acceptance, as she learns to trust her intuition, understand her nature, and embrace traits she previously viewed as shortcomings.
Behind its fantastical premise, the film explores core themes of growing up and self-identity. The directors noted that Billy finds recognition and connection in Hexe while her internal quest remains tied to revealing secrets of the past, demonstrating how the path to self-understanding can lead through unexpected places.
The project continues a broader creative trend for Disney, using a fantasy setting as a metaphor for maturation and finding one's place in society. Walt Disney Animation Studios has regularly used fantasy worlds to explore emotional growth in recent years, building on a feature animation lineage that began with Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs in 1937.
Visual design and theatrical release
The filmmakers are combining traditional animation techniques with modern digital technology to construct the visual world of Hexed. Although Disney has not yet released the first official stills, creators promised that the visual design of Hexe will contrast sharply with conventional Disney locations.
The kingdom will feature wild, untamed magic, strange creatures, and an environment of perpetual twilight illuminated by bright flashes of spells. This aesthetic approach emphasizes the contrast between Billy's ordinary life and the chaotic, magnetic realm where her transformation takes place.
Disney chose an exclusive theatrical release rather than a direct streaming debut, signaling confidence in the film's box office potential. The strategy returns to Disney's classic holiday tradition of launching major family films in cinemas ahead of Christmas to create shared theatrical experiences across generations.
The creators hope the picture will prompt discussions between parents and children about self-acceptance, the value of individuality, and the idea that being different does not make a person an outsider. With more than a year remaining before its debut, Hexed is anticipated to be among the most prominent animated releases of 2026 as Disney balances emotional depth with holiday entertainment.
