ANIMATED MOVIE WEEKEND: 1ST PHOTOS FOR SONY'S 'THE STAR' STORY OF 1ST CHRISTMAS, 'HOW THE GRINCH STOLE CHRISTMAS' ANIMATED VERSION, 'DRAGON RIDER' AND 'TROL: THE TALE OF A TAIL'

We're launching the second day of our animated movies weekend with the first photos arriving from Sony's THE STAR the story of first

Zachary Levi lends his voice to Joseph

Christmas which should arrive into cinemas this November, although I have a feeling they might push the date given there's been virtually no marketing for the movie so far!

THE STAR follows a small but brave donkey named Bo who yearns for a life beyond his daily grind at the village mill. One day he finds the courage to break free, and finally goes on the adventure of his dreams. On his journey, he teams up with Ruth, a lovable sheep who has lost her flock, and Dave, a dove with lofty aspirations. Along with three wisecracking camels and

Christopher Plummer voices King Herod in the movie

some eccentric stable animals, Bo and his new friends follow THE STAR and become unlikely heroes in the greatest story ever told – the first Christmas.

Speaking of Christmas, it might get stolen in November 2018 animated movie HOW THE GRINCH STOLE CHRISTMAS which will feature the voice of Benedict Cumberbatch. You can check out

Cumberbatch already lent his voice in Penguins of Madagascar

the first photos from the film about  a green grumpy Grinch who plots to ruin Christmas for the village of Whoville.

FIRST PHOTO RELEASED
There is also the first photo from mediaeval animated adventure DRAGON RIDER  a family movie about an unlikely trio of heroes, a dragon, a thief and a mountain brownie, and their epic journey to find

The movie is based on Cornelia Funke fantasy novel

the Rim of Heaven, a safe haven for dragons. Their quest leads them from the wilds of Scotland, halfway round the world, to the Himalayas.

Also hitting cinemas November, but this year, is Chinese English language animated movie TROLL: THE TALE OF A TAIL produced

Troll will have Chinese language version too

over in Canada! Based on the ancient Chinese text The Book of Mountains and Seas, it follows Chui Mu, a young troll prince​ of the ​Zhou Rao Kingdom. When Chui Mu's father, King Zhou Mo's tail is snatched by a human Troll Hunter, he turns to stone. With King Zhou Mo gone, the once idyllic troll valley falls under the tyrannical rule of his cousin Chuan. Chui Mu and Freia, a feisty troll girl, with their two headed eccentric friend Jutul, must risk their lives in an epic journey into the human world to retrieve Chui Mu’s father's tail, conquer Chuan and his army, and bring King Zhou Mo back to life and to his throne.