The trailer for Hexed just dropped, and Disney is trying something genuinely different. This is their 65th animated feature and their first original story since Wish. But the big surprise here is that it is not a musical. Disney has been making animated musicals for so long that it became part of the brand identity. Hexed is a conscious step away from that, and I think it is the right move after a stretch where the formula started feeling a little tired.
Hailee Steinfeld voices Billie, a teenager who accidentally unleashes magical abilities and gets pulled into a hidden realm called Hexe. The premise is not groundbreaking on paper. Teenager discovers hidden world is a well traveled road. But the execution in the trailer suggests something with a bit more edge than what Disney has been offering lately. The animation style looks distinct, leaning into darker color palettes and more dynamic action sequences than the typical Disney house style.
What gives me some confidence in this one is the directing team. Fawn Veerasunthorn co directed Wish, and whatever you thought of that film, the visual ambition was clearly there. Jason Hand was head of story on Encanto, which remains one of the best structured Disney films in the last decade. The storytelling in Encanto was tight and emotionally precise in a way that a lot of recent Disney films have not been. Having someone from that team steering the narrative is a good sign.
Disney has been in an awkward stretch with their animated features. Wish underperformed. Strange World before that was a genuine flop. The studio that once felt untouchable in animation has been searching for its footing, and Hexed feels like their attempt to recalibrate. Dropping the musical format, going with a slightly darker tone, casting a voice lead in Steinfeld who brings a natural irreverence to everything she does. These are deliberate choices.
November 25 is the date to mark. That puts it right in the Thanksgiving corridor, which is historically one of the strongest windows for animated releases. Frozen opened in that slot. Moana opened in that slot. Encanto opened in that slot. Disney clearly believes in this one enough to give it prime real estate on the calendar.
I am cautiously optimistic. Disney animation at its best is still unmatched, and the pieces here suggest a studio that is actually listening to the feedback rather than just repeating the same playbook. Whether Hexed can deliver on what the trailer promises is another question, but at least the trailer is promising the right things.
No comments yet