‘Tangles’ Trailer Reveals Release Date for Julia Louis-Dreyfus and Seth Rogen’s Animated Alzheimer’s Drama
Some of the year’s most anticipated films have emerged from festivals rather than traditional studio releases, and ‘Tangles’ is a prime example. This hand-drawn, black-and-white animated feature boasts a voice cast that feels like a comedy hall of fame, and it has been gaining quiet momentum since its premiere at Cannes. Now, the first trailer for ‘Tangles’ has been unveiled, revealing when audiences can finally experience it.
Distributor IFC has shared a 1:36 trailer that confirms the film will hit theaters in January. This release date follows an Oscar-qualifying run that IFC and Sapan Studio have planned before the end of 2026, with a broader rollout expected in early 2027.
The trailer introduces a narrative that is both intimate and profoundly relatable. ‘Tangles’ tells the story of an artist who returns home as Alzheimer’s disease begins to erase her mother’s vibrant personality. The preview beautifully pairs the film’s expressive hand-drawn style with the voices of Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Bryan Cranston, and Seth Rogen.
First trailer for ‘TANGLES’, starring Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Bryan Cranston and Seth Rogen.
The film follows an artist who returns home after Alzheimer’s disease begins to erase her mother’s vibrant personality.
In theaters on January 22. https://t.co/yI8F1W5l1G— DiscussingFilm (@DiscussingFilm) October 21, 2026
The film is based on Sarah Leavitt’s 2010 graphic memoir ‘Tangles: A Story About Alzheimer’s, My Mother and Me.’ Abbi Jacobson voices Sarah, a queer magazine illustrator in 1990s San Francisco who falls in love with her girlfriend Donimo (Samira Wiley) just as she must return to her family in Maine to care for her mother, Midge. Louis-Dreyfus voices Midge, a once-sharp intellectual whose spirit is fading, while Cranston portrays Sarah’s father, Rob, and Beanie Feldstein voices her sister, Hannah.
The supporting cast is filled with comedic talent, including Seth Rogen, Bowen Yang, Sarah Silverman, Wanda Sykes, and Pamela Adlon. This balance is crucial, as the film is described as a dark comedy that explores humor, awkwardness, and family absurdity amid the painful realities of caregiving and grief.
Leah Nelson, co-founder of the Vancouver animation studio Giant Ant, makes her feature directorial debut with a screenplay she co-wrote with Leavitt and Trev Renney. The film retains the memoir’s sparse, black-and-white aesthetic, using occasional bursts of color to convey the protagonist’s emotions. Nelson has noted that the book reminded her of ‘Persepolis’ due to its raw, uninhibited, and humorous nature, and the project has been in development since 2013.
The personal connection runs deep within the production. Nelson has shared that her own family faced dementia, while Jacobson has spoken about her grandmother’s battle with Alzheimer’s. Rogen and Lauren Miller Rogen, who produced through Point Grey Pictures and Lylas Pictures, are long-time advocates for Alzheimer’s awareness, and the closing credits feature a long list of names submitted by cast and crew members affected by the disease.
The film’s festival run has been impressive. ‘Tangles’ premiered in the Special Screenings section at Cannes, screened in competition at Annecy, and participated in San Sebastián, where it won the Sebastiane Award. It later featured in the Centrepiece section at the Toronto International Film Festival, leading to IFC and Sapan Studio acquiring North American rights ahead of that screening.
Early reactions have been overwhelmingly positive. Little White Lies praised it as a beautifully judged adaptation supported by an incredible vocal cast, while another outlet named it one of the best films of 2026, animated or otherwise. Cartoon Brew highlighted that the distribution deal positions it as a strong contender in this year’s competitive animated feature Oscar race.
The trailer arrives with significant awards momentum. Louis-Dreyfus also serves as a producer on the film, and the voice cast features some of the most celebrated names in television comedy, telling a story that contrasts laughter with poignant themes, which may be precisely why it resonates.
For now, the release date provides audiences with a clear timeline, and the trailer offers a glimpse into how the film transforms a challenging subject into something tender, humorous, and heart-wrenching. With a limited release leading into a wider rollout, ‘Tangles’ is poised to become one of the most emotional theatrical experiences of the winter.
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