200 Best Animation Movies of All Time
Animated films, often simply referred to as “animation,” are a captivating and versatile genre in cinema. They bring inanimate characters and worlds to life through the magic of art and technology, offering a unique visual and storytelling experience. Animated films have evolved significantly over the years, with a wide range of styles and themes that cater to audiences of all ages.
One of the defining features of animated films is their ability to transport viewers to fantastical and imaginative realms. Through intricate animation techniques, these films create vibrant, otherworldly settings that can range from the depths of outer space to the heart of enchanted forests. This limitless visual creativity allows animated films to explore and depict stories that might be challenging or impossible to convey in live-action cinema.
Animation is not limited by the constraints of reality, making it an ideal medium for storytelling that goes beyond the boundaries of the physical world. It enables filmmakers to craft characters with exaggerated features, personalities, and emotions, giving them a depth and relatability that resonates with audiences of all ages. Whether it’s the endearing innocence of a young hero or the comical antics of a sidekick, animated characters often become iconic figures in popular culture.
Furthermore, animated films are known for their ability to tackle complex themes and convey powerful messages. While they are often associated with children’s entertainment, many animated films address mature subjects such as love, loss, friendship, and the human condition. This duality allows animated films to appeal to both young and adult audiences, making them a universal art form.
The craftsmanship behind animated films is also noteworthy. Animation studios invest countless hours in creating meticulous, frame-by-frame visuals that dazzle the eye. Whether it’s the traditional hand-drawn animation of classics like Disney’s “The Lion King” or the cutting-edge computer-generated imagery (CGI) of recent blockbusters like “Frozen,” the attention to detail and artistic innovation in animated films is a testament to the dedication of the artists and animators.
In recent years, animated films have gained recognition not only for their entertainment value but also for their cultural significance. They often serve as vehicles for conveying diverse voices and stories from around the world, celebrating different cultures and perspectives. Animated films have the power to bridge cultural gaps, fostering empathy and understanding among global audiences.
In conclusion, animated films are a mesmerizing genre that transports viewers to fantastical worlds, introduces unforgettable characters, and tackles a wide range of themes. They offer a unique blend of artistry, storytelling, and technology that appeals to audiences of all ages. From the imaginative landscapes of animation to the emotional depth of its characters, this genre continues to be a captivating and influential force in cinema.
Here are 200 of the best Animation movies
Toy Story (1995) – IMDb: 8.3
Content: “Toy Story” is Pixar’s first computer-animated film. It tells the story of Woody (Tom Hanks) and Buzz Lightyear (Tim Allen). Woody is a cowboy doll, and Buzz is a space ranger action figure.
Director: John Lasseter.
Toy Story 3 (2010) – IMDb: 8.2
Content: “Toy Story 3” follows Woody (Tom Hanks), Buzz Lightyear (Tim Allen), and their friends as they are accidentally donated to a daycare center when Andy prepares for college.
Director: Lee Unkrich.
Spirited Away (2001) – IMDb: 8.6
Content: “Spirited Away” is a Studio Ghibli masterpiece directed by Hayao Miyazaki. The story follows Chihiro (Rumi Hiiragi), a young girl who becomes trapped in a mysterious and magical world.
Director: Hayao Miyazaki.
The Lion King (1994) – IMDb: 8.5
Content: This Disney classic tells the epic journey of Simba (Matthew Broderick), a young lion who learns about responsibility and courage as he seeks to reclaim his rightful place as king of the Pride Lands.
Directors: Roger Allers and Rob Minkoff.
Inside Out (2015) – IMDb: 8.1
Content: “Inside Out” explores the emotions inside the mind of an 11-year-old girl named Riley. The main emotions are Joy (Amy Poehler), Sadness (Phyllis Smith), Anger (Lewis Black), Disgust (Mindy Kaling), and Fear (Bill Hader).
Directors: Pete Docter and Ronnie del Carmen.
Finding Nemo (2003) – IMDb: 8.1
Content: This heartwarming story follows Marlin (Albert Brooks), a clownfish, and his son Nemo (Alexander Gould) as Marlin embarks on a journey across the ocean to find Nemo.
Directors: Andrew Stanton and Lee Unkrich.
WALL·E (2008) – IMDb: 8.4
Content: “WALL·E” is set in a post-apocalyptic future and follows the adventures of a lonely waste-collecting robot named WALL·E (Ben Burtt) as he discovers a new purpose in life.
Director: Andrew Stanton.
Up (2009) – IMDb: 8.2
Content: “Up” tells the story of Carl Fredricksen (Ed Asner), a widower who fulfills his late wife’s dream by attaching balloons to his house and embarking on a journey to South America.
Directors: Pete Docter and Bob Peterson.
Zootopia (2016) – IMDb: 8.0
Content: “Zootopia” follows Judy Hopps (Ginnifer Goodwin), a rabbit, and Nick Wilde (Jason Bateman), a sly fox, as they team up to solve a mystery in the bustling city of Zootopia.
Directors: Byron Howard and Rich Moore.
Coco (2017) – IMDb: 8.4 – Content: “Coco” follows Miguel (Anthony Gonzalez), a young Mexican boy who embarks on a journey to the Land of the Dead to discover his family’s musical history and reconcile with his ancestors. – Directors: Lee Unkrich and Adrian Molina.
Shrek (2001) – IMDb: 7.8 – Content: “Shrek” is a comedic fairy tale featuring Shrek (Mike Myers), Donkey (Eddie Murphy), and Princess Fiona (Cameron Diaz) as they try to rescue Fiona from a dragon. – Directors: Andrew Adamson and Vicky Jenson.
How to Train Your Dragon (2010) – IMDb: 8.1
Content: “How to Train Your Dragon” follows the journey of a young Viking named Hiccup as he befriends and trains a dragon named Toothless, changing his village’s perception of dragons forever.
Director: Chris Sanders and Dean DeBlois.
The Incredibles (2004) – IMDb: 8.0
Content: “The Incredibles” is about a family of superheroes trying to live a normal life but are forced back into action to save the world.
Director: Brad Bird.
The Iron Giant (1999) – IMDb: 8.0
Content: “The Iron Giant” tells the story of a young boy who befriends a giant robot from outer space and tries to prevent the military from destroying him.
Director: Brad Bird.
Princess Mononoke (1997) – IMDb: 8.4
Content: This Studio Ghibli film by Hayao Miyazaki is set in a magical and mystical world where a young prince gets involved in a battle between the forest gods and the industrial humans.
Director: Hayao Miyazaki.
Despicable Me (2010) – IMDb: 7.6
Content: “Despicable Me” is a comedy about a supervillain named Gru who adopts three orphaned girls and changes his life.
Directors: Pierre Coffin and Chris Renaud.
Kung Fu Panda (2008) – IMDb: 7.5
Content: “Kung Fu Panda” follows the journey of Po, a clumsy panda, as he becomes a kung fu master to save his village from a powerful enemy.
Directors: Mark Osborne and John Stevenson.
The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993) – IMDb: 8.0
Content: This Tim Burton film combines Halloween and Christmas in a unique way as Jack Skellington, the Pumpkin King, discovers Christmas Town.
Director: Henry Selick.
The Lego Movie (2014) – IMDb: 7.7
Content: “The Lego Movie” is a fun and adventurous tale set in the world of LEGO bricks, where an ordinary construction worker becomes a hero.
Directors: Phil Lord and Christopher Miller.
Wreck-It Ralph (2012) – IMDb: 7.7
Content: “Wreck-It Ralph” is the story of an arcade game villain who wants to be a hero and explores various video game worlds to achieve his dream.
Director: Rich Moore.
The Little Mermaid (1989) – IMDb: 7.6 – Content: “The Little Mermaid” is a classic Disney film that follows Ariel, a mermaid princess, as she dreams of becoming human to be with her love, Prince Eric. – Directors: Ron Clements and John Musker.
Moana (2016) – IMDb: 7.6
Content: “Moana” tells the tale of a spirited Polynesian girl who embarks on a daring journey across the ocean to save her people with the help of the demigod Maui. – Directors: Ron Clements, John Musker, Chris Williams, and Don Hall.
Kubo and the Two Strings (2016)
IMDb: 7.8 – Content: “Kubo and the Two Strings” is an epic stop-motion animated adventure about a young boy named Kubo who embarks on a quest to save his family. – Director: Travis Knight.
Frozen (2013) – IMDb: 7.4
Content: “Frozen” is the story of two sisters, Elsa and Anna, and their journey to save their kingdom from Elsa’s icy powers. It features the hit song “Let It Go.” – Directors: Chris Buck and Jennifer Lee.
Shrek 2 (2004) – IMDb: 7.2
Content: “Shrek 2” continues the adventures of Shrek, Donkey, and Princess Fiona as they visit Fiona’s parents’ kingdom, the Kingdom of Far Far Away. – Director: Andrew Adamson, Kelly Asbury, and Conrad Vernon.
The Jungle Book (1967)
IMDb: 7.6 – Content: “The Jungle Book” is a classic Disney film that follows the adventures of Mowgli, a young boy raised by wolves in the jungle, and his encounters with various jungle animals. – Director: Wolfgang Reitherman.
Rango (2011) – IMDb: 7.2
Content: “Rango” is about a pet chameleon who becomes an accidental hero in a lawless town in the Old West. – Director: Gore Verbinski.
The Lego Batman Movie (2017) – IMDb: 7.3
Content: In this LEGO-based film, Batman (Will Arnett) must face his fears and work with others to save Gotham City from The Joker’s (Zach Galifianakis) takeover. – Director: Chris McKay.
Fantastic Mr. Fox (2009) – IMDb: 7.9
Content: “Fantastic Mr. Fox” is a stop-motion animated film about a clever fox who outwits three mean farmers. – Director: Wes Anderson.
Big Hero 6 (2014) – IMDb: 7.8
Content: “Big Hero 6” follows the story of Hiro Hamada and his inflatable healthcare companion, Baymax, as they form a superhero team to combat a mysterious villain. – Directors: Don Hall and Chris Williams.
Coraline (2009) – IMDb: 7.7
Content: “Coraline” is a dark fantasy film about a young girl who discovers a parallel world that initially seems ideal but hides dark secrets. – Director: Henry Selick.
Ice Age (2002) – IMDb: 7.5
Content: “Ice Age” is a comedy set during the Ice Age, following a woolly mammoth, a sloth, and a saber-toothed tiger as they embark on an adventure. – Directors: Chris Wedge and Carlos Saldanha.
Cars (2006)
IMDb: 7.1 – Content: “Cars” is a Pixar film featuring Lightning McQueen, a race car who finds himself in a small town and learns valuable life lessons. – Directors: John Lasseter and Joe Ranft.
Monsters, Inc. (2001)
IMDb: 8.0 – Content: “Monsters, Inc.” is about a world of monsters who generate energy by scaring children, but things change when a child enters their world. – Directors: Pete Docter, David Silverman, and Lee Unkrich.
The Princess and the Frog (2009)
IMDb: 7.0 – Content: This Disney film tells the story of Tiana, a young woman in New Orleans who, with the help of a prince-turned-frog, learns the importance of love and dreams. – Directors: Ron Clements and John Musker.
Akira (1988) – IMDb: 8.0
Content: “Akira” is a Japanese animated cyberpunk film set in a post-apocalyptic Tokyo and follows a biker gang member with psychic powers. – Director: Katsuhiro Otomo.
Finding Dory (2016) – IMDb: 7.3
Content: “Finding Dory” is the sequel to “Finding Nemo” and follows Dory’s journey to reunite with her long-lost family. – Directors: Andrew Stanton and Angus MacLane.
Aladdin (1992) – IMDb: 8.0
Content: “Aladdin” is a Disney classic about a young street-smart man who discovers a magical lamp with a genie who grants him three wishes, leading to adventures in Agrabah.
Director: Ron Clements and John Musker.
Song of the Sea (2014) – IMDb: 8.1
Content: “Song of the Sea” is a visually stunning Irish animated film that follows a young boy and his sister as they embark on a magical journey.
Director: Tomm Moore.
The Wind Rises (2013) – IMDb: 7.8
Content: “The Wind Rises” is a Studio Ghibli film directed by Hayao Miyazaki, focusing on the life of Jiro Horikoshi, the designer of World War II fighter planes.
Director: Hayao Miyazaki.
South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut (1999) – IMDb: 7.7
Content: This animated film follows the foul-mouthed kids of South Park as they navigate adult themes and a war against Canada.
Director: Trey Parker.
The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part (2019) – IMDb: 6.6
Content: The sequel to “The Lego Movie” continues the adventures of Emmet and Lucy as they face an intergalactic threat.
Director: Mike Mitchell.
The Breadwinner (2017) – IMDb: 7.7
Content: “The Breadwinner” tells the story of a young girl in Afghanistan who disguises herself as a boy to support her family.
Director: Nora Twomey.
Klaus (2019) – IMDb: 8.2
Content: “Klaus” is a heartwarming Christmas-themed animation about a postal worker who befriends a reclusive toymaker.
Director: Sergio Pablos.
Anomalisa (2015) – IMDb: 7.3
Content: “Anomalisa” is a unique stop-motion film that explores the mundane life of a self-help author who perceives everyone with the same voice and face.
Directors: Charlie Kaufman and Duke Johnson.
Mary and Max (2009) – IMDb: 8.1
Content: “Mary and Max” is a claymation film about an unlikely friendship between a young Australian girl and an older man in New York.
Director: Adam Elliot.
Persepolis (2007) – IMDb: 8.0
Content: “Persepolis” is a black-and-white animated film that tells the autobiographical story of Marjane Satrapi during the Iranian Revolution.
Directors: Vincent Paronnaud and Marjane Satrapi.
The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1996) – IMDb: 6.9
Content: “The Hunchback of Notre Dame” is a Disney film that tells the story of Quasimodo, a hunchbacked bell ringer, and his unlikely friendship with a gypsy named Esmeralda.
Director: Gary Trousdale and Kirk Wise.
Ernest & Celestine (2012) – IMDb: 7.9
Content: “Ernest & Celestine” is a heartwarming French-Belgian animated film about the unlikely friendship between a bear and a mouse.
Directors: Stéphane Aubier, Vincent Patar, and Benjamin Renner.
Kiki’s Delivery Service (1989) – IMDb: 7.9
Content: This Studio Ghibli classic directed by Hayao Miyazaki follows the adventures of Kiki, a young witch, as she starts her own delivery service.
Director: Hayao Miyazaki.
Sausage Party (2016) – IMDb: 6.1
Content: “Sausage Party” is an adult animated comedy that explores the lives of supermarket food items who discover the truth about their existence.
Directors: Greg Tiernan and Conrad Vernon.
Ghost in the Shell (1995) – IMDb: 8.0
Content: “Ghost in the Shell” is a groundbreaking Japanese animated film set in a cyberpunk future, focusing on a cyborg detective’s pursuit of a hacker known as the Puppet Master.
Director: Mamoru Oshii.
Monsters University (2013) – IMDb: 7.3
Content: “Monsters University” is a Pixar prequel to “Monsters, Inc.” that explores the college years of Mike and Sulley as they learn to become scarers.
Directors: Dan Scanlon.
Lilo & Stitch (2002) – IMDb: 7.2
Content: “Lilo & Stitch” is about a young Hawaiian girl named Lilo who adopts an unusual pet named Stitch, who happens to be a mischievous alien.
Directors: Chris Sanders and Dean DeBlois.
The Croods (2013) – IMDb: 7.2
Content: “The Croods” is an animated adventure comedy about a prehistoric family’s journey to find a new home.
Directors: Chris Sanders and Kirk DeMicco.
Bolt (2008) – IMDb: 6.8
Content: “Bolt” is about a famous dog actor who believes he has superpowers and embarks on a cross-country journey to rescue his owner.
Directors: Byron Howard and Chris Williams.
The Rescuers (1977) – IMDb: 6.9
Content: “The Rescuers” is a Disney classic featuring two mice, Bernard and Miss Bianca, who embark on a mission to rescue a kidnapped girl.
Directors: Wolfgang Reitherman, John Lounsbery, and Art Stevens.
The Rescuers Down Under (1990) – IMDb: 6.9
Content: “The Rescuers Down Under” is a Disney animated film that follows the adventures of Bernard and Bianca, two mice from the Rescue Aid Society, as they travel to the Australian Outback to rescue a boy and a rare golden eagle.
Director: Hendel Butoy and Mike Gabriel.
Oliver & Company (1988) – IMDb: 6.7
Content: “Oliver & Company” is a Disney film that reimagines Charles Dickens’ “Oliver Twist” with animals living in New York City.
Directors: George Scribner.
Pocahontas (1995) – IMDb: 6.7
Content: “Pocahontas” is a Disney film that tells the story of the Native American woman Pocahontas and her encounters with English explorer John Smith.
Directors: Mike Gabriel and Eric Goldberg.
Anastasia (1997) – IMDb: 7.2
Content: “Anastasia” is an animated musical film that explores the story of Anastasia Romanov, the lost Russian princess.
Directors: Don Bluth and Gary Goldman.
Brother Bear (2003) – IMDb: 6.8
Content: “Brother Bear” is about a young Inuit boy who, after a magical transformation, learns valuable lessons about nature and brotherhood.
Directors: Aaron Blaise and Robert Walker.
The Emperor’s New Groove (2000) – IMDb: 7.3
Content: “The Emperor’s New Groove” is a comedy about a selfish emperor who is transformed into a llama and must learn humility.
Director: Mark Dindal.
The Prince of Egypt (1998) – IMDb: 7.1
Content: “The Prince of Egypt” is an animated biblical epic that tells the story of Moses and his journey to free the Hebrew slaves.
Directors: Brenda Chapman, Steve Hickner, and Simon Wells.
Titan A.E. (2000) – IMDb: 6.6
Content: “Titan A.E.” is a science fiction animated film about a young man who holds the key to humanity’s survival in a post-apocalyptic future.
Directors: Don Bluth, Gary Goldman, and Art Vitello.
A Bug’s Life (1998) – IMDb: 7.2
Content: “A Bug’s Life” is a Pixar film about an inventive ant who recruits a group of circus bugs to save his colony from greedy grasshoppers.
Directors: John Lasseter and Andrew Stanton.
The Polar Express (2004) – IMDb: 6.6
Content: “The Polar Express” is a Christmas-themed film about a young boy’s magical journey to the North Pole aboard a magical train.
Director: Robert Zemeckis.
Home (2015) – IMDb: 6.6
Content: “Home” is about a young girl who befriends an alien named Oh and helps him on a quest to save his species.
Directors: Tim Johnson.
Epic (2013) – IMDb: 6.7
Content: “Epic” is a fantasy adventure about a young girl who discovers a hidden world in the forest and joins a battle to save it.
Directors: Chris Wedge.
Chicken Run (2000) – IMDb: 7.0
Content: “Chicken Run” is a stop-motion animated film about a group of chickens who plan an escape from a farm to avoid becoming pies.
Directors: Peter Lord and Nick Park.
Madagascar (2005) – IMDb: 6.9
Content: “Madagascar” is about a group of zoo animals who escape to the wild and end up on the island of Madagascar.
Directors: Eric Darnell and Tom McGrath.
Rio (2011) – IMDb: 6.9
Content: “Rio” follows the adventures of a domesticated macaw named Blu who travels to Rio de Janeiro to meet the last remaining female macaw.
Director: Carlos Saldanha.
Ice Age: The Meltdown (2006) – IMDb: 6.8
Content: “Ice Age: The Meltdown” is the second film in the “Ice Age” series and follows the adventures of Manny, Sid, and Diego as they try to escape a melting ice age.
Directors: Carlos Saldanha.