We may be basking in the early days of summer, but Disney is already enchanting audiences with a little magic headed to the silver screen this holiday season with its newest animated feature, Hexed.
While we received additional details about the film, which is slated to arrive during the Thanksgiving holiday weekend, back in April, fans have eagerly been awaiting a closer look at this next fantasy adventure.
Ahead of the summer release of Disney and Pixar’s newest theatrical outing, Toy Story 5, Walt Disney Animation Studios has unveiled both the first full trailer and poster for its 65th animated feature film.
It is truly enchanting.
The new trailer provides viewers with a much deeper understanding of our lead character, Billie.
She is a teenage girl many viewers will likely find relatable. Living an ordinary life in the suburbs, Billie does not quite follow the crowd at school. She stands out, styles her uniform differently from her classmates and appears more than willing to remain authentically herself rather than take the easy route and conform to the expectations around her.
That takes courage.
But it is not without consequences.
Those consequences eventually lead Billie to writing a paper in secret inside a bathroom stall. While admittedly awkward and something many of us might only attempt in a moment of complete desperation, it ultimately opens the door to something far more extraordinary.
Billie accidentally unleashes a magical power she never knew she possessed.
Naturally, no magical awakening is ever particularly graceful.
Billie becomes another case study in that reality as she largely destroys a bathroom and finds herself expelled from school.
While there may be some relief in no longer having to remain in a place where you feel misunderstood, being expelled is hardly a cause for celebration. Especially when it upsets your mother, leaves you questioning what just happened and creates even more uncertainty about what comes next.
Combined with the already overwhelming emotions that often accompany being a teenager and feeling like an outsider, it is enough to leave Billie completely overwhelmed.
And being overwhelmed rarely mixes well with magic.
After several failed attempts to understand what is happening to her, Billie’s powers activate once more. This time, however, they open a portal that pulls her into the mysterious world of Hexe.
There, Billie discovers a realm filled with witches, magic and wonder while gradually uncovering the truth about herself, her powers and her family. Along the way, she begins gaining confidence in her abilities while facing those who stand against her.
This trailer does an excellent job of establishing the film’s themes, central plot and, most importantly, Billie herself.
We witness her struggles before entering the magical world and follow the beginning of her journey as she starts unraveling the mysteries surrounding both her powers and her family.
While we have yet to see her mother, Alice, fully enter the world of Hexe, audiences can already begin to imagine how her involvement could further shape Billie’s coming-of-age journey. Her presence will likely provide an emotional grounding force that stands in stark contrast to some of the more fantastical personalities introduced in the trailer, including Ms. Quill and Elisa Quire.
Now that we have seen more of the story unfold, it is becoming increasingly clear that Hexed is shaping up to be one of the holiday season’s must-see animated films.
Perfect for mothers and daughters.
Perfect for fantasy lovers.
And perfectly suited for audiences who enjoy stories centered around self-discovery, courage and finding where they belong.
Perhaps most excitingly, Hexed appears poised to resonate strongly with fans of magical fantasy series and magical girl storytelling alike.
Because yes—Billie is, by all accounts, a magical girl.