An exclusive press visit to Sony Pictures Animation’s new studio offered a behind-the-scenes look at GOAT, the upcoming animated feature blending high-energy basketball action with bold visual storytelling.
CineMovie attended an exclusive opportunity inside Sony Pictures Animation's brand-new creative space - home to the filmmakers behind the SPIDER-VERSE franchise and K-POP DEMON HUNTERS.
Sony Pictures Animation pulled back the curtain on GOAT during an exclusive press visit to its new studio, revealing a bold, genre-bending take on the classic sports underdog story. From the start, filmmakers made it clear this isn’t a by-the-numbers inspirational tale — it’s a reimagining of what a sports movie can look like for a new generation.
GOAT is produced in part by NBA star Stephen Curry, and his involvement goes beyond lending his voice to a character; he’s a producer on the film through his Unanimous Media banner alongside Sony Pictures Animation and others.
Following an early screening, director Tyree Dillihay, co-director Adam Rosette, and producer Michelle Raimo-Kouyat guided press through the film’s creative journey — from production designer Jang Lee and art director Rich Daskas unveiling the vibrant arenas and stylized “impact frames” inspired by collectible sports trading cards, to head of story Keely Propp and cinematography lead John Clark breaking down the dynamic action pipeline.
Director Tyree Dillihay described GOAT as a “generation-defining underdog sports movie,” one that intentionally breaks away from familiar tropes audiences have seen countless times before.
GOAT tells an original underdog story about a small goat who gets a shot to play “roarball,” a high-intensity, co-ed sport in a world of animals — a narrative designed to celebrate perseverance, teamwork, and overcoming odds.
A key part of that reinvention is how GOAT approaches gender dynamics within its world. Dillihay explained that the creative team made a conscious decision not to rely on the traditional older male mentor archetype that has long defined the genre. Instead, they built a co-ed league that feels both fresh and rooted in nature.
“The League from the very beginning was going to be co-ed because it’s true to the animal kingdom,” Dillihay shared. “You can have alpha females and beta males, and vice versa. That just presents amazing opportunities. And sub-textually, there’s a little bit of like surrogate mom in there as well.”
Co-director Adam Rosette expanded on how this philosophy shaped one of the film’s standout characters, Jet, whose dominance on the court flips expectations in a way that feels organic rather than forced.
“Jet has so much power in her character,” Rosette said. “True to the animal world, the female big cats like that are the hunters. They are more powerful. They’re faster. They can jump higher. She is better than her male counterpart.”
By grounding its gender-bending approach in the realities of the animal kingdom, GOAT reframes strength, leadership, and competition without turning the story into a lecture. Instead, it uses authenticity and world-building to naturally expand the emotional and thematic range of the sports movie playbook. The result, as the filmmakers emphasized, is a film that honors the heart of an underdog story while boldly evolving it — setting GOAT up as a fresh, culturally resonant animated sports film for a new era.
GOAT opens in movie theaters on February 13.
