The only thing better than a movie is… an animated movie! With their bright colors and whimsical characters, they’re the perfect antidote to our hectic lives. They bring out the child in all of us, and even as adults, we can’t help but enjoy them. Animation has been a big part of our childhood: from the moment we got home from school, we were surrounded by fictional characters, anime, games, and shows.
There’s a reason why animated movies continue to dominate the box office year after year: they know how to tell a story that appeals to people of all ages and backgrounds. While it’s simple to get caught up in the latest live-action blockbuster, there’s something unique about watching a movie with such a detailed animation style, it makes it easy to forget it’s “just” a cartoon. We know that some people out there think cartoon movies are for kids only, but that doesn’t have to be the case. In fact, many animated films are so well-written and designed that they appeal to adults just as much as children. The first animated feature film was produced in 1917, but it wasn’t until 1937 that Disney released Snow White And The Seven Dwarfs, which changed the world of entertainment forever. Have you ever wondered if you’ve watched all the great classics or if you missed just one or two that everybody seems to love? From Disney classics to modern favorites, here are the best animated movies of all time!
#1 Up
2009 | 1h 36m | Directed by Pete Docter and Bob Peterson
Up is the heartwarming story of an old widower man who takes his house on a wild flight to South America after tying thousands of balloons to it to fulfill a promise he made to his late wife, Ellie. The opening sequence alone, where the studio retraces the entire life story of Carl and Ellie, will make you laugh and cry at the same time.
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40points
#2 The Lion King
1994 | 1h 28m | Directed by Roger Allers and Rob Minkoff
Many of Disney’s most beloved animated films are also some of their most memorable musicals. The Lion King is one such example. It’s a classic story of good against evil, with Simba, the son of a murdered king, struggling to come to terms with his future as king himself, all set to an outstanding soundtrack that you’ll be singing for days!
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39points
#3 Toy Story
1995 | 1h 21m | Directed by John Lasseter
The first feature-length computer-animated film and the first feature film produced by Pixar, Toy Story became a blockbuster hit when it was released in 1995. It received widespread critical acclaim, earning three Academy Award nominations (including Best Original Screenplay) and winning a Special Achievement Academy Award for its visual effects. Toy Story is a hilarious and heartwarming tale of an old-fashioned cowboy doll named Woody and his rivalry with space ranger Buzz Lightyear for the affections of their young owner, Andy.
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37points
#4 Monsters, Inc.
2001 | 1h 32m | Directed by Pete Docter, David Silverman, and Lee Unkrich
One of the first Pixar movies ever made, and it’s still everything you want in a family film: hilarious, imaginative, heartwarming, and altogether dazzling in its animation. The world of Monstropolis is so well-conceived that you know how it all works before the characters have to explain it to you. And the relationship between Mike and Sulley is so genuine that it feels like an extension of the fondness we feel for our own best friends!
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36points
#5 Finding Nemo
2003 | 1h 40m | Directed by Andrew Stanton and Lee Unkrich
A beloved film among the top animated movies! Finding Nemo is a beautiful animated movie that follows an overprotective father clownfish, Marlin, and his son, Nemo. After Nemo is captured by scuba divers, Marlin and a friendly blue tang fish named Dory set out to find him. In this underwater adventure, they meet some interesting characters and learn valuable lessons about friendship, family, determination, and finding courage along the way.
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35points
#6 Zootopia
2016 | 1h 48m | Directed by Byron Howard, Rich Moore, and Jared Bush
Zootopia is an adventure comedy film about an anthropomorphic city where animals co-exist in relative peace. Judy is a bunny police officer who finds herself teaming up with a red fox con artist to solve a case involving missing animals. It’s been praised for its message about diversity and acceptance, as well as its super cast of voice actors, animation, and charismatic characters.
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35points
#7 Lilo & Stitch
2002 | 1h 25m | Directed by Dean DeBlois and Christopher Sanders
Disney’s offbeat animated feature begins as a mission of revenge, but it soon becomes an inspiring story of friendship and family. A Hawaiian orphan girl adopts an unusual pet who is actually a notorious extra-terrestrial fugitive that’s taken refuge on Earth and is now hiding from its creator and those who see it as a menace. The famous quote “Ohana means family. Family means nobody gets left behind or forgotten” brilliantly explains what having a family truly means.
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33points
#9 The Incredibles
2004 | 1h 55m | Directed by Brad Bird
The Incredibles is the cartoon movie we deserve right now, with a killer blend of nostalgia, excitement, humor, and heart. The film taps into our love of costumed heroes and the classic family dynamic while also cleverly subverting both. This happy movie is geared toward older children and adults, but the hero action will keep young kids riveted and may even inspire them to do their homework so they can grow up to be superheroes themselves.
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32points
#10 Shrek
2001 | 1h 30m | Directed by Andrew Adamson and Vicky Jenson
The first movie in the Shrek franchise is still a favorite for many! It has everything, from iconic characters to the typical Shrek-like humor and subtle references, jokes, and puns that many only grasped upon reaching adulthood. Shrek is not just a story about a princess that needed to be saved; it’s about accepting yourself for who you are and not letting society change your true self.
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32points
#11 Shrek 2
2004 | 1h 33m | Directed by Andrew Adamson, Kelly Asbury, and Conrad Vernon
A sequel to the hit 2001 film, Shrek 2 is one of those classics kids love to rewatch at birthday parties! The film sees our titular ogre finally meeting Princess Fiona’s parents, but her Fairy Godmother plots to destroy Shrek and Fiona’s marriage and force Fiona to marry Prince Charming. It’s such a good movie that it became the highest-grossing film of 2004 worldwide.
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31points
