It’s already been a remarkable week for animation fans, and it’s only Tuesday. Between the debut of the Shrek 5 trailer, and early rave reviews rolling in for both Pixar’s Toy Story 5 and Marvel’s X-Men ’97 Season 2, there’s been plenty to get excited about. Walt Disney Animation Studios, not one to be overshadowed, has quietly added to the excitement by dropping the first trailer for its 65th canonical feature. Hexed is a magical coming-of-age story led by Hailee Steinfeld and Rashida Jones.
Yes, the premise, a misfit teenager with unexplained magical powers who stumbles through a hidden doorway into a vibrant world of witches and wizards, where she discovers the full extent of her abilities, will ring more than a few bells. Comparisons to a certain boy wizard are inevitable, and Disney’s own animated series ,The Owl House, treads some of the same ground. But there’s reason to look past the familiar setup. Hexed is directed by Fawn Veerasunthorn, head of story on Raya and the Last Dragon, alongside Moana 2’s Jason Hand, and what they’ve put together here looks like it has genuine magic of its own. Particularly in its depiction of the realm of Hexe, a visually stunning world that’s vibrant with life.
The film centres on Billie (Steinfeld), an impulsive teenager, and her anxious mother Alice (Jones). The official synopsis sets the scene. When Billie accidentally unlocks secret magical abilities, she’s thrown out of ordinary suburban life and into Hexe, where she’s met by the mysterious Ms. Quill (Tracey Ullman) and Elias Quire (Stephen Fry). As her journey unfolds, she uncovers long-held family secrets with the power to reshape the magical world entirely.
The directors have spoken warmly about their lead character and what drives the story. Veerasunthorn describes Billie as someone who has always felt out of place in her own life, and frames Hexe as the catalyst for her self-understanding, a world of wild, unhinged magic that, paradoxically, helps her make sense of herself. Hand echoes this, noting that Hexe is where Billie first feels truly seen, setting her on a path of self-discovery that connects her to something far larger than herself.
The result feels like a blend of Harry Potter, The Owl House, and Encanto, but with an energy that, even at this early stage, reads as distinctly its own. The voice cast is strong, the visual style is striking, and there’s a magic book and quill involved, which is never a bad sign. Hexed arrives on 25 November.
