The first(?) animated release of 2017 is looking to be Rock Dog. Opening in US theaters on February 24th, 2017 via Summit Premiere (a subsidiary of Lionsgate), the pic was directed by Ash Brannon (Toy Story 2) at Reel FX in LA and Texas (though financed by a Chinese production company).

Luke Wilson, Eddie Izzard, J.K. Simmons, Lewis Black, Kenan Thompson, Mae Whitman, Matt Dillon, and Sam Elliott lead the voice cast. Here’s the trailer:

PLOT SYNOPSIS: When a radio falls from the sky into the hands of a wide-eyed Tibetan Mastiff, he leaves home to fulfill his dream of becoming a musician, setting into motion a series of completely unexpected events.