Brad Bird has spent more than a quarter century trying to make "Ray Gunn." This December, it finally arrives. Netflix has released the first trailer for the noir-inspired animated feature, which Skydance Animation revived after years of false starts and which will stream on December 18, following select theatrical engagements — including some 70mm screenings — beginning Friday, December 4.

The film combines film noir themes and imagery with classic science fiction elements for what the filmmakers describe as a singular alien mystery. For animation enthusiasts, few unmade projects have loomed larger.

"Ray Gunn" will be Bird's first animated film made outside Pixar since "The Iron Giant" in 1999. His animation credits also include "The Incredibles" and "Ratatouille," a track record that has kept expectations for the long-gestating project high.

According to the official synopsis: "In Metropia, a gigantic city in an alternate future as seen from 1939, private eye Raymond Gunn (voiced by Sam Rockwell) is drawn into a case involving aliens, murder and a multimedia star named Venus Nova (voiced by Scarlett Johansson)."

The voice cast extends well beyond its two leads. Tom Waits, Alan Tudyk, Matt Berry, Bobby Cannavale, Michael Chernus, Kether Donohue, Michelle Rodriguez, Aasif Mandvi, Matt Jones, Kathryn Hunter, John Ratzenberger, Justin Peck and Patton Oswalt all join the ensemble.

Bird has not broken with Pixar, his longtime creative home; he is still writing and producing a third "Incredibles" sequel. But in a recent interview with IndieWire, he explained that he deliberately declined to pitch "Ray Gunn" to the studio, hoping a different distributor would help the film reach a more adult audience.

"I wanted it to go to a slightly different audience, and I wanted there to be a huge amount of overlap, obviously. The Pixar audience is wide, and I love that, and I love working with Pixar," Bird said. "I wanted to make this a little bit different flavor wise, and that's why I didn't pitch it at Pixar. Because they have their lane, and I can get down with that lane, but I don't see this movie going down that lane. I wanted to aim it a little older. Not majorly older, teenager is fine. But make something a little more adult and major."

The release strategy reflects that older aim. A limited theatrical run with 70mm presentations — a format rarely used for animated features — precedes the Netflix streaming debut by two weeks, positioning "Ray Gunn" as both an event screening and a holiday-season streaming title.

After more than 25 years of development, the trailer stands as the clearest evidence yet that Bird's dream project is really arriving. Whether the film justifies its long wait will be answered in theaters on December 4 and on Netflix on December 18.