It has already been a remarkable week for animation lovers, and the surprising part is that it is still only Tuesday. The Shrek 5 trailer landed, a live-action Kiki's Delivery Service TV series was announced at BBC Studios, and both Pixar's Toy Story 5 and Marvel's X-Men '97 Season 2 rolled in with early rave reviews. Amid all that commotion, Walt Disney Animation Studios chose to quietly drop the first trailer for its 65th canonical classic. That film is Hexed, a magical coming-of-age story led by Hailee Steinfeld and Rashida Jones.
A Premise That Feels Familiar Yet Its Own
A misfit young person with unexplained magical abilities steps through a magical wall into a colourful realm of witches and wizards, where she uncovers the true extent of her powers. The setup may ring a bell for anyone even loosely acquainted with a certain boy wizard, or for that matter with Disney's own animated series The Owl House. But the wrapper should not fool you. The film comes from Fawn Veerasunthorn, who served as head of story on Raya And The Last Dragon, and Moana 2 director Jason Hand. It introduces us to the impulsive teen Billie (Steinfeld) and her overly fretful mum Alice (Jones), and on the strength of the trailer it looks like it could be spellbinding in its own right. That is especially true of the beautiful, clearly Mary Blair inspired realm of Hexe, where the heroine's journey begins.
The Official Synopsis
The official synopsis for Hexed reads as follows: "When Billie accidentally unleashes secret magical abilities, she's hurtled out of suburbia and into a magical realm called Hexe, where she's greeted by Ms. Quill (Tracey Ullman) and Elias Quire (Stephen Fry). As Billie's spectacle-filled journey unfolds, she discovers family mysteries that could change the magical world of witches forever."
What The Directors Said
Speaking about the film and its headstrong lead in a statement alongside the trailer drop, director Veerasunthorn said: "A wonderfully strange phenomenon is happening all around Billie, something she can't explain. She's someone who has felt miscast in her own life, and it takes leaving her normal world behind and entering a hidden world of wild, unhinged magic to begin to understand herself." Fellow director Hand added: "Hexe is a place where Billie begins to feel seen for the first time in her life. She embarks on a journey of self-discovery that reveals a powerful connection to magic, and in the process uncovers long-held secrets about her family."
Echoes Of Many Films, But A Distinct Identity
So there is a little bit of Harry Potter here, a little bit of The Owl House, and a smidge of Encanto too, yet the film also thrums with an energy that, even on the strength of this trailer alone, feels emphatically its own. It boasts a great voice cast, a great art style, and to top it off a magic book and quill. We will tread carefully, but bring on 25 November and the release of Hexed, when we will find out whether the Hexed girls really are going to put a spell on you.
