Quick Facts
| Title | The Shrinking of Treehorn |
| Type | Animated musical (short/feature) — unreleased |
| Based On | The Shrinking of Treehorn (1971) by Florence Parry Heide, illustrated by Edward Gorey |
| Director | Ron Howard (would have been his animated directorial debut) |
| Studio | Imagine Entertainment & Animal Logic |
| Composer (attached) | Abel Korzeniowski |
| Originally Set Up At | Netflix (acquired May 2022); previously Paramount Animation (2019–2022) |
| Current Status | Shelved — no longer in development at Netflix as of July 2024 |
Directed by Ron Howard in what would have been his animated feature directorial debut, The Shrinking of Treehorn was in development at Imagine Entertainment and Animal Logic as an adaptation of the children’s book of the same name by Florence Parry Heide. The project was picked up by Netflix in May 2022 after several years at Paramount Animation, but the film was never actually completed or released — here’s the full, verified status.
About The Shrinking of Treehorn
The story follows Treehorn, a young boy who begins shrinking one day. Florence Parry Heide’s 1971 book, illustrated by Edward Gorey, opens with the line “Something very strange was happening to Treehorn,” and the boy soon discovers he’s getting smaller. The planned animated adaptation was described as a musical set in New York City at Christmas, following the shrunken Treehorn family as they navigate the snow-covered city to find a cure on Christmas Eve.
What Happened to the Netflix Film?
The adaptation has a long development history. Imagine Entertainment and Animal Logic first set it up at Paramount Animation in 2019, with Ron Howard directing from a script by Rob Lieber, and Paramount Pictures attached to distribute. A release date of November 10, 2023 was briefly on the books before Paramount’s animation slate shifted. In May 2022, Netflix officially acquired the project, with Imagine Entertainment producing. Reports from early 2023 indicated work was still underway, with Jon Favreau and Jada Pinkett Smith said to have been approached for voice roles, though no cast was ever officially confirmed by Netflix.
By July 2024, however, industry reporting indicated the film was no longer moving forward at Netflix and that production had concluded, with numerous crew members having since moved on to other projects. As of this update, no new distributor or release date has been announced, and it’s unclear whether the film will ever be picked up elsewhere.
Composer of The Shrinking of Treehorn
Abel Korzeniowski, the Polish composer known for scoring A Single Man, W.E., and the Showtime series Penny Dreadful, was attached to compose the film’s music. Korzeniowski began his career on Polish productions including The Big Animal (2000), An Angel in Cracow (2002), Tomorrow’s Weather (2003), and Metropolis (2004) before building an international profile in Hollywood.
Is There a Soundtrack?
No. Because the film itself was never finished or released, no official soundtrack or score album for The Shrinking of Treehorn has ever come out. Older promotional copy describing songs as “coming soon” reflected the film’s status back when a 2023 release was still expected on Netflix’s slate — that release never happened, and there is currently nothing to stream on Spotify, Amazon Music, or Apple Music for this title.
External Link: Wikipedia
Frequently Asked Questions
Is The Shrinking of Treehorn on Netflix?
No. Although Netflix acquired the Ron Howard-directed animated adaptation in May 2022, industry reporting in July 2024 confirmed the project was no longer moving forward at Netflix and that production had concluded. It is not currently streaming anywhere.
Who was set to direct The Shrinking of Treehorn?
Ron Howard, in what would have been his first credit as an animation director. Rob Lieber wrote the script, and Imagine Entertainment produced with animation studio Animal Logic.
Who composed the music for The Shrinking of Treehorn?
Polish composer Abel Korzeniowski, known for A Single Man, W.E., and Penny Dreadful, was attached to score the film. Since the movie was never finished, no soundtrack album was ever released.
What book is The Shrinking of Treehorn based on?
Florence Parry Heide’s 1971 children’s book of the same name, illustrated by Edward Gorey, about a boy who mysteriously starts shrinking while his parents barely notice.
Will The Shrinking of Treehorn ever be released?
It’s unclear. Netflix ended its involvement as of mid-2024, and no other studio or streamer has announced picking up the project since.
Related reading: Movie Soundtracks | Streaming Hub | Netflix