Briarcliff Entertainment is stepping into the animated game with Sneaks, a sneaker-centric family film that just dropped its first trailer. The Rob Edwards-directed adventure features an all-star voice cast led by Anthony Mackie, Martin Lawrence, Laurence Fishburne, Chloe Bailey, and Grammy-winning producer Mustard. And that’s just the tip of the lace—Grammy winners Roddy Ricch, Ella Mai, and Macy Gray are in the mix, alongside Swae Lee, Quavo, and NBA legend Chris Paul, who makes a cameo as himself, hosting a Met Gala-style sneaker event.
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Set against the backdrop of New York City, Sneaks follows Ty (Mackie), a rare collector’s sneaker living the good life in his velvet-lined shoe box—until his sister, Maxine (Bailey), gets stolen by “The Collector” (Fishburne). Determined to get her back, Ty teams up with JB (Lawrence), a streetwise but well-worn sneaker with a penchant for shiny things. Their adventure through the city’s vibrant streets is filled with danger, laughs, and unexpected friendships, all while exploring themes of self-discovery and stepping outside of one’s comfort zone. And keeping the beat? A trio of comedic, singing Wire Shoes voiced by Mustard, Young Miko, and Donovan Louis Bazemore, narrating the journey with a musical flair.
The film’s deep bench of talent also includes Sam Jay, Keith David, Kiana Ledé, Jonathan Kite, Amari McCoy, and Olympic skateboarding stars Sky Brown and Rayssa Leal, who voice Nike-inspired kicks designed just for the film.
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Briarcliff Entertainment is rolling out Sneaks in a big way, with a wide theatrical release planned for Easter weekend, April 18, 2025, across 1,500 theaters. The deal, brokered by CAA Media Finance alongside Briarcliff’s Tom Ortenberg, Jessica Rose, and Danielle Goodman Strong, aligns with GFM Animation’s international push, with the film set to premiere at the American Film Market this week in Las Vegas.
Beyond its A-list voice cast, Sneaks boasts a heavyweight production squad. Laurence Fishburne and Helen Sugland of Cinema Gypsy Productions join forces with Len Hartman and Gil Cloyd of Lengi Studios as producers. On the music side, Mustard is curating a stacked soundtrack featuring Ella Mai, Roddy Ricch, Young Miko, Amirah, DSTRCT, Macy Gray, and Grammy-winning composer Terrace Martin.
Executive producers include Meko Yohannes, Quavo, and film industry vets Robyn Klein and Jeremy Ross—the duo behind the Oscar-winning If Anything Happens I Love You. Financing comes from Ashland Hill Media Finance, Rabbits Black, RTG Features, and TPC, with GFM Animation securing production funds. Adding to the film’s cultural authenticity is sneaker historian and hip-hop figure Bobbito Garcia, who served as a cultural advisor.
Imagine Toy Story meets Into the Spider-Verse, but make it sneaker culture. Sneaks isn’t just an animated movie—it’s a love letter to kicks and the culture surrounding them. With a dynamic mix of comedy, music, and heartfelt storytelling, this one looks like it’ll have both kids and sneakerheads alike glued to the screen.
Check out the trailer for Sneaks below, and mark your calendars for April 18, 2025—this one’s about to hit the pavement running.