By 
GOAT (2026)
You’re never too small to dream big.
There’s a playful confidence in calling your animal-themed sports comedy GOAT — a title that cheekily nods both to the literal animal kingdom and to that ever-present sporting debate about the “Greatest Of All Time.” Sony’s latest animated outing leans into that double meaning from the outset, inviting audiences into a world where goats, panthers and a whole menagerie of athletes compete in a sport designed to be as big, loud and bombastic as possible. Thankfully, GOAT has enough charm and visual imagination to make the joke land. It may not reinvent the animated sports playbook, but it’s a lively, colorful ride that knows exactly what kind of crowd-pleasing game it’s playing.
Slam dunk… with a side of hoof.
The project arrives from Sony Pictures Animation, a studio that has built a reputation for pushing visual experimentation in mainstream animation. Here, co-directors Tyree Dillihay and Adam Rosette helm the film from a screenplay by Aaron Buchsbaum and Teddy Riley, with NBA superstar Stephen Curry also on board as both a producer and voice performer. Together they lean into a concept that blends sports spectacle with animated world-building, creating a universe where animal athletes compete in the larger-than-life sport of Roarball — a full-contact, anything-goes twist on basketball where claws, hooves and horns collide inside hazardous arenas. It continues Sony’s trend of letting animators stretch the look and feel of their worlds rather than chasing strict photorealism. This results in a playground approach to animation that suits a story about anthropomorphic animals competing in a wildly imaginative sport.
The story centers on young goat Will Harris (voiced by Caleb McLaughlin), an enthusiastic dreamer who idolizes legendary Roarball player Jett Fillmore (Gabrielle Union), an all-star black panther whose skills on the court have made her the sport’s ultimate superstar. In this universe, the hugely popular game of Roarball plays like a pumped-up version of basketball, with elite animal athletes battling inside enormous arenas that feel closer to entertainment spectacles than traditional sporting venues. When Will unexpectedly earns a place on the struggling Vineland Thorns, he’s thrust into a world of seasoned players, fierce rivals, and stadium crowds who treat Roarball like the greatest show on Earth. The Thorns may not be championship favorites, but they’ve got grit, heart and just enough unruly chemistry to keep things interesting as they push toward a season that might finally put them on the map.
Welcome to the top of the food chain.
The movie clearly relishes the opportunity to build its version of Roarball as something more inventive than a simple animal take on basketball. The courts themselves become miniature worlds, each themed arena bringing its own visual flair and personality. One game unfolds in a dense jungle court, while another slides across a slick ice arena, forcing players to adapt to wildly different conditions. The action then moves to volcanic landscapes and even an undersea stadium where stalagmites hang overhead and can crash down mid-game, turning Roarball into a constant dodge-and-dash spectacle. Combined with exaggerated athleticism and gleeful cartoon physics — players leaping impossible heights and pulling off gravity-defying moves — every match becomes a kinetic event. It’s a smart use of animation as a medium, leaning into its freedom rather than trying to replicate real-world sports.
From the jump, GOAT looks the part. Sony Pictures Animation leans into a bold, stylized aesthetic inspired by the studio’s Spider-Verse playbook — blending 3D character models with hand-drawn textures, comic-book flourishes and graphic impact frames that give the action a punchy, almost illustrated feel. The animation bursts with bright colors, expressive character designs and energetic movement, while stadiums glow with electric atmosphere and personality. The Roarball sequences are staged with dynamic camera work and exaggerated motion, turning every match into a mini action set piece. It’s playful visual storytelling that keeps younger audiences glued to the screen while giving older viewers plenty of artistry to admire.
The characters add plenty of personality to the mix. Will Harris is an easy underdog to root for — a young goat dreaming of Roarball greatness who suddenly finds himself thrown into the big leagues with the outmatched Vineland Thorns, a team fighting to prove itself. Before that journey even begins, he’s supported by his loyal friends, capybara Daryl (Eduardo Franco) and aardwolf Hannah (Sherry Cola), who bring warmth and levity to the story’s early moments. There’s also Wayne Knight as Frank, a grumpy gerbil landlord whose exasperated delivery adds a grounded, small‑world comic counterpoint to Will’s big dreams. Once Will joins the Thorns, the team is rounded out by a wonderfully oddball roster introduced by their enthusiastic proboscis monkey coach Dennis Cooper (Patton Oswalt). Among the players are hulking Indian rhinoceros Archie Everhardt (David Harbour), towering giraffe Lenny Williamson (producer Curry), Komodo dragon Modo Olachenko (Nick Kroll), and the lightning-fast ostrich Olivia Burke (Nicola Coughlan) — a ragtag lineup that gradually learns to function as a real team.
At the heart of it all is Will’s relationship with his idol, black panther superstar Jett Fillmore. Their dynamic becomes the emotional core of the film, shifting from distant hero worship to something closer to mentorship as the story unfolds. On the other side of the court, the flashy Andalusian horse Mane Attraction (Aaron Pierre) serves as the film’s main rival, bringing plenty of swagger to the Roarball arena. The voice cast leans into the film’s playful tone, helping bring the sporting world to life.
Different animals. Same dream.
Across the board, the performances are energetic and committed, with a diverse ensemble injecting plenty of personality into every corner of the film’s lively setting. The characters share the kind of spirited banter and camaraderie that a story like this thrives on. Caleb McLaughlin captures Will’s eager optimism well, grounding the film’s underdog narrative, while Gabrielle Union gives Jett the smooth, superstar confidence you’d expect from Roarball’s biggest name, gradually revealing a softer, more vulnerable side as the story begins to challenge her legacy. Other standouts include Nick Kroll as a sly, quick-talking Komodo dragon whose dry humor adds plenty of comic bite, and the flamboyant Mane Attraction, a larger-than-life presence whose showboating persona fits perfectly within the movie’s over-the-top sporting spectacle and the outsized egos that surround it.
Narratively, the film sticks fairly close to a well-worn “rise-to-the-top” formula. Themes of teamwork, perseverance and never giving up are front and center throughout. They’re delivered with sincerity, even if they do feel a little familiar. These kinds of messages are standard fare for family sports stories, and GOAT doesn’t exactly break new ground in that department. Still, the film approaches them with enough warmth and humor that younger viewers will likely connect with the journey, while parents can appreciate the breezy, lighthearted tone.
The spotlight just found its goat.
If anything, the story occasionally feels a little predictable as it moves through its expected beats. But the boundless energy and visual creativity keep things entertaining even when the narrative plays it safe.
In the end, GOAT wins on the very thing Sony Pictures Animation does best — vibrant, high-energy animation that gives the film its personality. The Roarball sequences are a blast to watch, the animal characters are packed with charm, and the colorful world makes it easy to stay invested in the Thorns’ comeback run. It may not be the GOAT of animated sports pics, but it’s still a flashy, feel-good family adventure that kids will enjoy and parents will happily sit through as well — an energetic, crowd-pleasing ride that proves this particular goat has plenty of bounce, even if it doesn’t quite chew the competition to pieces.
3.5 / 5 – Great
Reviewed by Stu Cachia (S-Littner)
GOAT is distributed by Sony Pictures Australia
