At the 2025 Annecy International Animation Festival, Sony Pictures Animation unveiled the cast and first footage of its upcoming original animated feature GOAT, a high-energy sports comedy featuring a stacked voice cast, a fictional full-contact sport called roarball, and a classic underdog tale centered on a pint-sized goat with big dreams.
Set for a theatrical release on February 13, 2026—timed with NBA All-Star Weekend—GOAT is a collaboration between Sony Pictures Animation, NBA legend Stephen Curry’s Unanimous Media, and the creative team at Modern Magic. The film is directed by Bob’s Burgers alum Tyree Dillihay and co-directed by Adam Rosette (The Bad Guys, The Wild Robot).
An All-Star Voice Cast Anchors the Animated Sports Comedy
Leading the cast is Stranger Things breakout Caleb McLaughlin, voicing Will Harris, a small-bodied goat aiming for greatness in the ROAR League—the pinnacle of roarball, a sport as brutal as it is spectacular. Despite his size, Will is determined to prove that heart can outmatch height, skill, and raw muscle.
Joining McLaughlin are:
- Gabrielle Union as Jett Fillmore, a legendary black leopard and the face of the Vineland Thorns, still chasing her first championship ring.
- Stephen Curry as Lenny Williamson, a gangly giraffe and roarball veteran.
- Nicola Coughlan (Bridgerton) as Olivia Burke, a swift and savvy ostrich player.
- Nick Kroll as Modo Olachenko, a fierce and fire-breathing komodo dragon.
- David Harbour (Stranger Things, Violent Night) as Archie Everhardt, a rhino powerhouse.
- Jennifer Lewis as the team’s no-nonsense owner Florence Everson.
- Patton Oswalt as Coach Dennis, the reserved and tactical leader of the Thorns.
Still to be cast is the role of the film’s antagonist, a menacing lion and league MVP known as Mane Attraction, who questions Will’s right to be in the league.
Welcome to Roarball: The Wildest Sport in Animation
Roarball, the fictional sport at the heart of GOAT, blends the style and spectacle of professional basketball with extreme environments and co-ed combat. Played in biome-shifting arenas that erupt, freeze, grow, or collapse mid-game, roarball is a dangerous, high-stakes competition. It’s the perfect backdrop for the film’s message of grit, perseverance, and rising to the occasion.
According to Dillihay, the goal was to capture the intersection of basketball and pop culture: “Basketball culture is pop culture. It’s music, fashion, tech, and art all in one.” The animation reflects this blend, with players donning Under Armour gear and outfits reminiscent of high-fashion NBA tunnel fits.
To ensure the action feels authentic, the filmmakers enlisted NBA Finals MVP Andre Iguodala to consult on gameplay, while fashion designer Dominique Dawson brings bold aesthetics to each character. Visual world-building is handled by illustrator Eran Alboher and sports logo designer Emily Morgan.
Underdog Energy and Early Buzz
Annecy attendees were treated to several early clips, which introduced Will’s struggles on the court and his eventual recruitment by the Vineland Thorns. The crowd reportedly responded enthusiastically to the film’s stylized animation, physical comedy, and heartfelt storytelling. The footage showed Will facing discrimination from larger animals, a one-on-one showdown with Mane Attraction, and a climactic press conference where he’s revealed as the newest Thorn.
Wrapping up the presentation, Stephen Curry addressed the audience via video: “There’s a lot more to come. And when this film is finished, it’s going to be like nothing you’ve seen before.” Audience members waved foam claws bearing the Vineland Thorns’ slogan—“Roots Run Deep”—to cap off the spirited reveal.
A Slam Dunk for Family Audiences?
Sony is betting big on GOAT, hoping it lands alongside its recent hits like Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse. With its stellar voice cast, dynamic visuals, and universal themes of perseverance and team spirit, GOAT seems poised to charm audiences both young and old. As producers Curry and Erick Peyton put it, “GOAT is the kind of story we love to tell—full of heart, humor, and high-octane action that we hope audiences of all ages will cheer for.”
Whether you’re a fan of basketball, animation, or feel-good sports movies, GOAT could be the animated sleeper hit of 2026.
