Disney Animation has another completely original world up its sleeve…and we just got our very first look!
Between major updates for Frozen III, Zootopia 3, and Hexed, Walt Disney Animation Studios had one more surprise waiting for fans at D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event: an entirely new original animated movie.
It’s called Clay, and unlike many of the franchise sequels currently filling Disney’s upcoming movie slate, this one introduces us to a brand-new story, a pair of mysterious new characters, and a new lead voiced by an Academy Award-winning actor.
Walt Disney Animation Studios’ Clay is officially coming to theaters in November 2028, with Kieran Culkin starring as the title character.
And while Disney isn’t ready to tell us exactly what this movie is about just yet, we did get our first piece of concept artwork.
Walt Disney Animation Studios Chief Creative Officer Jared Bush took the stage during the D23 Entertainment Showcase to introduce the studio’s newest original feature.
The announcement gave us our first introduction to two characters we’ll apparently be getting to know pretty well: Clay and Mooshy.
Disney also revealed that Kieran Culkin will provide the voice of Clay, marking a new animated Disney role for the actor.
Culkin has most recently become known for his award-winning performances in projects including Succession and A Real Pain, the latter of which earned him the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor.
Now, he’s heading into the world of Disney Animation.
Disney Revealed the First ‘Clay’ Concept Art
Along with the announcement, Disney shared the first concept artwork from Clay, featuring Clay and Mooshy together.
And while the artwork doesn’t give away much about the actual story, it certainly gives us our first taste of the movie’s visual identity.
Clay and Mooshy can be seen moving through a bright, colorful natural environment filled with flowers, greenery, and low-hanging vines, immediately raising plenty of questions about where these two characters are—and exactly what kind of adventure they’re embarking on.
Disney also gave D23 attendees a closer look at one of the characters during the presentation, but the studio stopped short of revealing additional plot details.
So, for now, Clay and Mooshy are basically one big Disney Animation mystery.
What Is Disney’s ‘Clay’ About?
That’s the biggest question, and one Disney isn’t answering yet.
No official plot or synopsis for Clay has been announced.
Disney hasn’t revealed who Mooshy is, what relationship the character has with Clay, where the movie takes place, or what sends the duo on the adventure depicted in the concept artwork.
Additional cast members also haven’t been announced.
And rather than trying to read too deeply into a single piece of concept art, we’ll have to wait for Disney Animation to reveal more.
What we can confirm is that this isn’t an adaptation or another sequel. Clay is a brand-new original feature from Walt Disney Animation Studios.
That’s part of what makes this announcement especially interesting.
Disney Animation currently has several familiar franchises on its upcoming slate, including Frozen III and the newly announced Zootopia 3. But the studio is continuing to develop original stories alongside those sequels.
Hexed will introduce audiences to its own new magical world in November 2026, and now Clay will bring another entirely original story to theaters two years later.
For Disney Animation fans hoping to meet new characters and explore worlds they haven’t seen before, Clay and Mooshy are officially two names to remember.
When Does ‘Clay’ Come Out?
We have a release window, but not an exact date just yet. Disney’s Clay will arrive exclusively in theaters in November 2028.
For now, that’s essentially where Disney has left us: a title, two intriguing new characters, Kieran Culkin in the lead role, and one colorful piece of concept artwork.
It’s not much…but considering this is our very first introduction to an entirely new Disney Animation movie that’s still more than two years away, there’s plenty of time for Clay and Mooshy’s story to take shape.
Keep checking back with Theme Park Scope for the latest D23 announcements, Clay updates, Disney Animation news, concept artwork, trailers, casting announcements, and everything coming from Walt Disney Studios.
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