Director: Peter Atencio
Writers: Kevin Burrows, Matt Mider
Production Companies: Legendary Entertainment, Maximum Effort, Prime Focus
Distributor: Sony Pictures Releasing
Country of Origin: United States
Language: English
Release Date: August 15, 2025
Genres: Animation, Action, Adventure, Comedy, Family
Story
The worlds of the ordinary and extraordinary collide in “Animal Friends,” when a stoic sea lion named Lucia (Aubrey Plaza) and an eccentric raccoon named Zane (Ryan Reynolds) find themselves on an unexpected road trip across the country. They set out on an adventure when Zane unintentionally stows away on a lavish yacht that eccentric billionaire Ricardo (Joaquim de Almeida) owns and is racing to win the yearly Great Wildlife Conservation Race. After several humorous mishaps, Lucia—who was originally hired to be the yacht’s mascot—ends up teaming up with Zane.
The unlikely pair encounters many obstacles on their journey from the coast to the lush forests and energetic cities, including dodging bounty hunters under the guidance of the eccentric DEA Trainee #1 (Emilio Iannucci) and navigating the busy streets of New York City. They come across an eclectic group of people en route, such as a witty hotel attendant (Dan Levy), an overzealous activist (Lil Rel Howery), and a no-nonsense demonstrator (Jimmy Smagula).
Despite their differences, Zane and Lucia become close and gain valuable knowledge about bravery, friendship, and the importance of conservation. Following their touching experiences and hilarious antics, they square off against their greatest obstacle to date in a thrilling finish line showdown.
Plot Summary
The world is flipped upside down in the animated live-action adventure comedy “Animal Friends” when two wildly different creatures are thrown together for a risky journey across the nation. The narrative opens with Ryan Reynolds’s character, Rocco, a tense urban raccoon who has recently become involved in an attempted theft. A free-spirited but occasionally naive koala named Luna (voiced by Aubrey Plaza) has ventured far from her Australian sanctuary in pursuit of a fresh experience.
When their paths cross in a small American town, they discover they are unintentional co-conspirators—a role they never expected. In order to stop Victor (Jason Momoa), a well-known animal trafficker who is out to exploit wildlife for personal gain, Rocco and Luna band together. A diverse cast of allies support them along the way, including a sarcastic raccoon named Dave (voiced by Lil Rel Howery), a streetwise squirrel named Ella (voiced by Addison Rae), and a wise-cracking deer named Clark (voiced by Dan Levy).
Rocco and Luna learn that their differences are what make them the best of friends as they make their way through hilarious accidents, exciting chases, and touching moments. They discover that genuine friendships can arise from the most unexpected sources and that their combined strength surpasses their individual limitations.
“Animal Friends” looks to be a funny and lovely journey that highlights the joy of finding one’s true self and the magic of unexpected friendships. It will do this by combining smart humor, exciting action scenes, and poignant moments of companionship.
Cast
Ryan Reynolds as Zane the Raccoon
Aubrey Plaza as Lucia the Sea Lion
Jason Momoa as Thad, the Adventure Enthusiast
Dan Levy as Rico, the Wise-Cracking Concierge
Lil Rel Howery as Dave, the Overenthusiastic Activist
Joaquim de Almeida as Ricardo, the Eccentric Billionaire
Addison Rae as Ellie, the Social Media Influencer
Ellie Bamber as Diana, the Animal Behavior Specialist
Donald Sage Mackay as John Fitzgerald, the Conservation Expert
Jimmy Smagula as Protester
Anwar Lynch as DEA Trainee #1
Emilio Iannucci as Thad
John Riho Kim as Passenger
Peter Petrov-Pero as Ricardo’s Assistant
