Disney’s Hexed opens with a hand-drawn 2D prologue, a rare return

Disney Animation’s Hexed starts with a hand-drawn prologue by Tyler Pacana, one of the studio’s few remaining 2D animators. Disney has spent years shrinking the art form that made it famous.

Disney’s next animated movie starts the old-fashioned way. With a pencil.

Hexed, Walt Disney Animation Studios’ next original movie, opens with a hand-drawn 2D prologue, the Hollywood Handle reported on Friday, Oct. 16. The sequence shows the creation of the Kingdom of Hexe, a refuge for witches and wizards persecuted in the real world.

It was animated by Tyler Pacana, one of the studio’s few remaining 2D animators, according to the Hollywood Handle.

Producer Yvett Merino showed the prologue as part of more than 30 minutes of footage at Italy’s View Conference this week, Cartoon Brew reported. Its storybook look stands apart from the rest of the CG film and recalls the openings of Beauty and the Beast, Sleeping Beauty and Cinderella, Cartoon Brew said.

Here’s the official trailer, from Walt Disney Animation Studios:

What happens in the Hexed prologue?

It sets up the whole movie. The prologue explains how Hexe was founded by witches and wizards escaping persecution, Cartoon Brew reported.

It also introduces Billie as a baby whose wild powers put her in danger, when a pair of ravens try to grab her through a portal she accidentally opens. That scare changes how her mother, Alice, raises her.

Why are 2D animators rare at Disney now?

Disney let most of them go. On April 11, 2013, the studio laid off nine veteran hand-drawn animators, Cartoon Brew reported at the time. The list included Nik Ranieri, Ruben Aquino, Frans Vischer, Russ Edmonds, Brian Ferguson, Jamie Lopez and Dan Tanaka.

Cartoon Brew said Disney “gutted” its hand-drawn animation division that day. Eric Goldberg and Mark Henn were among the few 2D animators who kept their jobs.

The shift started years earlier. Disney closed its Florida animation studio in 2004, the same year Home on the Range came out as its last traditionally animated feature for five years.

The Princess and the Frog brought hand-drawn animation back in 2009, and Winnie the Pooh followed in 2011. Disney Animation hasn’t released a fully hand-drawn feature since.

How did Mary Poppins Returns get its hand-drawn animation?

Disney had to assemble a team. For the 2018 sequel’s animated sequences, more than 70 animators were recruited, including some of the top 2D animators from Walt Disney Animation Studios and Pixar, fxguide reported. Many came out of retirement for the job.

They didn’t work at Disney’s animation building. They worked out of Duncan Studio in Pasadena, founded by former Disney animator Ken Duncan, for 16 months, according to fxguide.

fxguide called classic 2D animation “somewhat of a lost art” at the time. The movie’s dancing penguins didn’t seem to mind.

Who is in Hexed?

Hailee Steinfeld voices Billie Doe, a rebellious 16-year-old who discovers big magical powers, Cartoon Brew reported. Rashida Jones voices her mom, Alice.

Jodie Foster plays Queen Celeste, the movie’s villain, in her first animated role. Walton Goggins voices Beef Roger Crummchuk, a grumpy, three-eyed, shapeshifting cat.

Fawn Veerasunthorn and Jason Hand direct, with Josie Trinidad as co-director, Cartoon Brew said.

Who made Hexed?

A lot of Encanto veterans. Production designer Lorelay Bove, who held the same job on Encanto, created the look of Hexe, Merino said, according to Cartoon Brew.

Disney chief creative officer Jared Bush wrote the screenplay with Dana Ledoux Miller. Merino and Roy Conli produce. The movie’s magic follows a three-step system of intention, ignition and “witchification,” which rarely goes as planned for Billie.

When does Hexed come out?

Wednesday, Nov. 25, the day before Thanksgiving. Merino said the team was finishing post-production this week, according to Cartoon Brew.

Will Disney make more hand-drawn animation?

Disney hasn’t announced a new 2D feature. But a hand-drawn opening in a big Thanksgiving release is a nice nod to the studio’s roots.

Fans have been asking for years. A single prologue is a small step, and it proves somebody at Disney still knows how to flip paper.

Article compiled and written by Kambrea Pratt (editor-in-chief), Derek Gibbs (beat editor) and the Pirates & Princesses newsroom. Pirates & Princesses is part of WebReef Media.

Pirates and Princesses is your destination for Disney news, theme park updates, and the pop culture you love. From Disney cruises and travel tips to Disney fashion, food, collectibles, and movie news, PNP covers it all. Visit us at piratesandprincesses.net for daily coverage. Follow PNP on Facebook and Instagram, and listen to the Pirates & Princesses podcast on Apple Podcasts and YouTube.

Hat Tips:

• The Hollywood Handle on X (Oct. 16, 2026), the prologue and Tyler Pacana

• Cartoon Brew, Jamie Lang (Oct. 16, 2026), the View Conference footage, cast and release date

• Cartoon Brew, Amid Amidi (April 9, 2014), the 2013 layoffs

• fxguide, Mike Seymour (Dec. 23, 2018), Mary Poppins Returns’ animation

• Walt Disney Animation Studios on YouTube (Oct. 12, 2026), the trailer

AI Disclosure: All articles are assigned, edited and reviewed by an experienced human editor before posting. Like most modern newsrooms, WebReef Media uses a variety of AI tools to help with accuracy and efficiency. Ways AI may be used in article creation include research, grammar, fact-checking and ideation, as well as occasional AI generated or enhanced thumbnails or graphics. No articles are generated or posted without human oversight or involvement.