This season, Iranian cinemas are buzzing with animated films, offering a delightful escape for children, teens, and families.
According to IBland’s News, currently, “Dolphin Boy 2,” “Yooz animation,” “The Legend of Sepehr,” and “Juliette and the King” are captivating audiences.
Animation has become a staple in cinema releases over recent years, drawing in a diverse crowd. Since the beginning of 2025, films like “Dolphin Boy 2,” “Royashahr,” “Ruler of Water,” “Yooz animation,” “The Legend of Sepehr,” and “Juliette and the King” have been released, securing a respectable share of the box office, even compared to comedy films.
Let’s dive into the four animated features currently showing, perfect for young viewers and their families.
“Yooz animation”: Iran’s Box Office Champion
Directed by Reza Arzhhangi and produced by Ehsan Kaveh, the animated film “Yooz” began its theatrical run on October 24, 2025.
“Yooz animation” is on the verge of hitting 100 billion Toman in sales, earning the title of the highest-grossing Iranian animation. Previous hits like “The Babaei;The Hero” and “The Smart Kid” followed with sales around 68 billion and 63 billion Toman in 2024 and 2023, respectively.
The story of “Yooz animation” follows an Iranian cheetah living a glamorous life in New York. Despite the luxury and comfort of a vastly different environment, he feels a disconnect from his roots and true identity. This realization sparks a new journey; a challenging and exciting quest to return to his homeland and rediscover his authentic self. Along the way, he encounters humorous and dramatic situations, learning valuable lessons that resonate with teenage and family audiences alike.
“The Legend of Sepehr”: A Quest for Identity
“The Legend of Sepehr,” co-directed by Emad Rahmani and Mehrdad Mehrabi and produced by Mehdi Jafari Jozani, premiered on December 24, 2025. The film’s synopsis reads: “Sepehr, accompanied by his cheetah friend Baboo, embarks on a journey to Klat in search of his parents, where the Council of Heroes will decide which champion will battle the notorious villain, Badnam.” This animation was first unveiled at the 43rd Fajr Film Festival last year.
Emad Rahmani, one of the directors, previously shared insights on the changes made for the theatrical release compared to the festival version. The most significant alteration was shortening the film from 87 minutes to 80 minutes and 43 seconds, ensuring younger viewers wouldn’t get restless. Additionally, based on feedback, especially from the Isfahan International Film Festival for Children and Young Adults, some scenes were adjusted. For instance, sequences perceived as potentially frightening for children, such as those involving giants or the final villain, were re-evaluated to enhance their fantasy and child-friendly appeal.
“Juliette and the King”: A Royal Romance with a Twist
“Juliette and the King,” written and directed by Ashkan Rahgozar and produced by Hoorakhsh Studio, is a musical romantic comedy. It began its run on January 7, 2026. The film, which premiered at the 43rd Fajr Film Festival, offers a unique and humorous take on a segment of the Qajar era.
The story unfolds as Nasser al-Din Shah Qajar, advised by his Prime Minister, decides to travel to Europe. During his visit, he attends a performance of “Romeo and Juliet” at the invitation of French dignitaries. Captivated by the lead actress playing Juliet (Julie), a budding performer, the Shah becomes smitten. Driven by his desire to win Julie’s affection, he orders a Parisian-style production of “Romeo and Juliet” to be staged in Tehran. He then invites Julie and her Iranian classmate, Jamal Mirza, to come to Tehran for the performance.
The voice cast includes Nasrollah Madghalchi, Hamed Behdad, Vahid Ronaghi, Sanaz Gholami, Shohreh Rouhi, Mehdi Fazeli, Mohammad Khavari, Meysam Abdi, Somayyeh Eliasi, Marzieh Pourmorad, Saniya Tayyebi, Naser Mohammadi, Keykavous Shokouhi, Alireza Taheri, Sepehr Jamshidpour, Mohammad Hossein Shayesteh, Matin Rasaneh, Hooman Karimi, Hamed Alipour, Sajjad Ramazanzadeh, Mahsa Daneshvar, Parnian Abrishamkesh, Erfaneh Khoshnejad, Parnian Shadkam, Elaheh Sadat Hosseini, Sara Barkhordari, Mohammad Hossein Movahhedi Parsa, and Fatemeh Rouhani, with Amin Ghazi overseeing the dubbing direction.
“Dolphin Boy 2”: A Hero’s Journey Continues
Directed by Mohammad Kheirandish and produced by Mohammad Amin Hamedani, “Dolphin Boy 2” was released as part of the Nowruz Spring 2025 package and remains the only film from that lineup still showing.
The story picks up with Dolphin Boy, now a beloved hero to the sea creatures and island inhabitants. However, he grapples with loneliness, as everyone expects him to be a constant hero. Meanwhile, Khajeh Majid, having lost all his assets to Captain Morvarid, becomes consumed by jealousy and prepares to battle them. He accidentally encounters an enraged whale, and his efforts to defeat Dolphin Boy intensify.
The voice cast includes Nahid Amirian, Hamed Azizi, Maryam Joleynie, Soraya Ghasemi, Sharareh Hazrati, Arsalan Joulaei, George Petrosi, Tooraj Nasr, and others, with Amir Ghasemi as the dubbing director.
Mohammad Kheirandish previously explained that “Dolphin Boy 2” directly continues the narrative from the first film, set about six months later. Dolphin Boy, now a hero, faces new challenges, both internal; related to his relationships with the islanders and fish; and external, originating from the wider world. A key feature of this installment is the journey aspect, unfolding as a heroic quest with the introduction of new characters.
Source: Mehrnews