“Tribeca 2025 Goes Wild: Viking Vengeance, Witchy Chaos & Predator Carnage Light Up the Animation Lineup!”
Get ready, animation fans — Tribeca 2025 is rolling out the red carpet for some seriously tooned-up treats! From forbidden romance in North Korea to werewolf trials in 17th-century Livonia, and yes, even a new Predator movie (but animated!), this year’s lineup proves that animated features aren’t just for kids — they’re for cinephiles who crave style, substance, and the occasional supernatural twist.
Let’s take a closer look at the three animated features shaking things up at this year’s Tribeca Festival, happening June 4–15 in the heart of Lower Manhattan.
The Square – Romance, Repression, and Remarkable Animation
Making its North American premiere in the International Narrative Competition, The Square comes from South Korean director Bo-sol Kim — a triple threat who wrote, directed, and produced this stunning animated romantic drama.
The film centers on a forbidden love between a young Swedish diplomat and a North Korean traffic officer (talk about complicated). As his assignment in Pyongyang nears its end, the two lovers must make an impossible decision. It’s beautifully animated, deeply poignant, and a cinematic mic-drop on political barriers versus human connection.
With a voice cast led by Woon-jong Jeon and Ga-young Lee, and Korean distributor M-Line handling international rights, The Square is set to be one of the breakout hits of the festival.
Dog of God – Witch Trials Meet Werewolves in Rotoscoped Chaos
If you like your animation with a side of historical horror and dark humor, say hello to Dog of God. Making its world premiere as part of Tribeca’s genre film showcase Escape from Tribeca, this Latvia-U.S. co-production is a bonkers occult mystery-comedy you won’t soon forget.
Directed by the creatively chaotic Latvian duo Lauris and Raitis Abele, this rotoscoped riot is set in 17th-century Livonia, where a woman accused of witchcraft must face trial — but surprise! A werewolf shows up. As you do.
With haunting visuals, a score composed by Lauris Abele himself, and a cast of Latvian and German voice actors (shoutout to Jurgis Spulenieks and Agate Krista), Dog of God is the quirky indie darling of your monster-loving dreams.
Predator: Killer of Killers – A Stylized, Bloody Animated Anthology
Hold on to your thermal vision goggles — the Predator franchise is coming in hot with its first fully animated CG feature, Predator: Killer of Killers. Slashing its way into Escape from Tribeca before its Hulu premiere on June 6, this isn’t your typical alien vs. human throwdown.
Directed by Prey’s Dan Trachtenberg and co-directed by Josh Wassung (of The Third Floor fame), the film follows an anthology format: a Viking raider on a revenge quest, a feuding Samurai and Ninja in feudal Japan, and a WWII pilot tracking an eerie threat. The twist? These fierce fighters are all being hunted by the galaxy’s most dangerous tourist: the Predator.
Featuring a killer voice cast including Lindsay LaVanchy, Louis Ozawa Changchien, and Aliens alum Michael Biehn, this bold reimagining promises blood, betrayal, and brutal beauty — all in stunning animation.
Final Thoughts: Tribeca 2025 Isn’t Just Celebrating Animation — It’s Redefining It
From heart-wrenching love stories to mythical beasts and alien assassins, the animated lineup at Tribeca 2025 is eclectic, electric, and essential viewing. These films prove that animation is a medium, not a genre — and that grown-up stories look even better when told with a little visual magic.
So grab your badge, sharpen your critiques, and prepare for a wild ride through animation’s most daring dimensions. Trust us — you won’t want to miss a frame.
