Last updated March 2024
Looking for acclaimed Best Animation Movies that live up to expectations? We rounded up 30 sensational, must-see Best Animation Movies for your viewing pleasure. Backed by stellar reviews from IMDB critics and our own discerning users, these titles are as good as entertainment gets. Help other fans uncover buried treasures by voting for your favorites. We value members who pay it forward with great recommendations!
Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba - Tsuzumi Mansion Arc (2021)
Plot Summary:
Tanjiro ventures to the south-southeast where he encounters a cowardly young man named Zenitsu Agatsuma. He is a fellow survivor from Final Selection and his sparrow asks Tanjiro to help keep him in line
Duration: 87 min
IMDB Rating: 8.9/10
IMDB Votes: 24000
Genere: Animation, Action, Fantasy
Country: Japan
Plot tags: supernatural, martial arts, supernatural ability, demonic possession, teamwork, supernatural power, demon, fight, warrior, battles, young, adventure
Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba - Mt. Natagumo Arc (2020)
Plot Summary:
Tanjiro, now a registered Demon Slayer, teams up with fellow slayers Zenitsu and Inosuke to investigate missing person cases on the mountain Natagumo. After the group is split up during a fight with possessed swordfighters, they slowly begin to realize the entire mountain is being controlled by a family of Demon spider creatures. A recap film of Kimetsu no Yaiba, covering episodes 15-21 with some new footage and special ending credits
Duration: 138 min
IMDB Rating: 8.8/10
IMDB Votes: 15000
Genere: Animation, Action, Fantasy
Country: Japan
Plot tags: demon, supernatural, teamwork, disappearance, mysterious disappearance, supernatural power, good versus evil, fight, mysticism, investigation, battles, supernatural ability, showdown, family relations, demon hunter
Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse (2023)
Plot Summary:
Miles Morales returns for the next chapter of the Spider-Verse saga, an epic adventure that will transport Brooklyn’s full-time, friendly neighborhood Spider-Man across the Multiverse to join forces with Gwen Stacy and a new team of Spider-People to face off with a villain more powerful than anything they have ever encountered
Duration: 140 min
IMDB Rating: 8.7/10
IMDB Votes: 312000
Genere: Animation, Action, Adventure, Family, Fantasy, Sci-Fi
Country: USA
Plot tags: superhero, peter parker character, african american, villain, alternate universe, teen superhero, alternate dimension, fight, police, laboratory, father son relationship, superheroine, death of friend, teenager, superhero team, superpower, spider man, child, anthropomorphism, loss of son, parallel universe, secret identity, multiverse, revenge, escape
The Lion King (1994)
Plot Summary:
A young lion cub named Simba can't wait to be king. But his uncle craves the title for himself and will stop at nothing to get it
Duration: 88 min
IMDB Rating: 8.5/10
IMDB Votes: 11000000
Genere: Animation, Adventure, Drama, Family, Musical
Country: USA
Plot tags: jungle, lion, friendship, betrayal, love, good versus evil, tragedy, pride and honor, exile, hyena, uncle, rivalry, revenge, murder, king, father son relationship, loss, talking animal, redemption, prince, journey, hopes, post traumatic stress, cheating death, loss of father
Grave of the Fireflies (1988)
Plot Summary:
In the final months of World War II, 14-year-old Seita and his sister Setsuko are orphaned when their mother is killed during an air raid in Kobe, Japan. After a falling out with their aunt, they move into an abandoned bomb shelter. With no surviving relatives and their emergency rations depleted, Seita and Setsuko struggle to survive
Duration: 89 min
IMDB Rating: 8.5/10
IMDB Votes: 301000
Genere: Animation, Drama, War
Country: Japan
Plot tags: world war two, war, hunger, orphan, homelessness, survival, siblings relations, children, desperation, death of child, anti war, boy, bomb, coming of age, hospital, sadness, wartime, danger, fighting illness, depression, courage, melancholy, international relations, world war, wartime life
WALL·E (2008)
Plot Summary:
WALL·E is the last robot left on an Earth that has been overrun with garbage and all humans have fled to outer space. For 700 years he has continued to try and clean up the mess, but has developed some rather interesting human-like qualities. When a ship arrives with a sleek new type of robot, WALL·E thinks he's finally found a friend and stows away on the ship when it leaves
Duration: 98 min
IMDB Rating: 8.4/10
IMDB Votes: 12000000
Genere: Animation, Adventure, Family, Sci-Fi
Country: USA, Japan
Plot tags: loneliness, robot, space travel, ecology, outer space, post apocalypse, love, technology, artificial intelligence, society, happy ending, ecological disaster, androids and robots, imaginary, distopia, environmental, earth, determination, space station, space, post apocalyptic, environment, abandoned, end of the world, dystopia
Your Name. (2016)
Plot Summary:
High schoolers Mitsuha and Taki are complete strangers living separate lives. But one night, they suddenly switch places. Mitsuha wakes up in Taki’s body, and he in hers. This bizarre occurrence continues to happen randomly, and the two must adjust their lives around each other
Duration: 106 min
IMDB Rating: 8.4/10
IMDB Votes: 306000
Genere: Animation, Drama, Fantasy, Romance
Country: Japan
Plot tags: time travel, body swapping, school, beautiful scenery, friendship, girl, love, teenager, destiny, memory loss, schoolgirl, race against time, boy, comet, star crossed lovers, natural disaster, supernatural, romantic relationship, dream, death, love story, skirt, switching bodies, cute girl, disaster
Coco (2017)
Plot Summary:
Despite his family’s baffling generations-old ban on music, Miguel dreams of becoming an accomplished musician like his idol, Ernesto de la Cruz. Desperate to prove his talent, Miguel finds himself in the stunning and colorful Land of the Dead following a mysterious chain of events. Along the way, he meets charming trickster Hector, and together, they set off on an extraordinary journey to unlock the real story behind Miguel's family history
Duration: 105 min
IMDB Rating: 8.4/10
IMDB Votes: 568000
Genere: Animation, Adventure, Drama, Family, Fantasy, Music, Mystery
Country: USA, Mexico
Plot tags: day of the dead, afterlife, musician, music, life after death, life & death, death, childhood, memory, good versus evil, boy, dog, child protagonist, betrayal, singer, skeleton, ghost, love, fantasy world, murder, twists and turns, father son relationship, customs, singing, cemetery
Imaginationland: The Movie (2008)
Plot Summary:
Some of the boys in South Park elementary find themselves on a balloon ride to an imaginary land. At arrival they're faced with an unimaginably threat
Duration: 67 min
IMDB Rating: 8.4/10
IMDB Votes: 10000
Genere: Animation, Comedy, Fantasy
Country: USA
Plot tags: adult humor, wager, visceral, mayor, escapades, imaginary, disorder, religions or cults, satire, imagination, good versus evil, greed, stoner, mature, exodus, monster, bet, suicide mission, teleportation, rivalry, nuclear, antisocial behavior, chaos and mayhem, imaginary kingdom, anti hero
Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse (2018)
Plot Summary:
In the "classic Spider-Man mold", Miles Morales must juggle his high school life with his status as a superhero. Until he learns by Peter Parker, the original Spider-Man, that there is a multiverse, called the "Spider-Verse", in each reality has their own Spider theme hero
Duration: 117 min
IMDB Rating: 8.4/10
IMDB Votes: 645000
Genere: Animation, Action, Adventure, Comedy, Family, Fantasy, Sci-Fi
Country: Canada, USA
Plot tags: superhero, multiverse, teenager, alternate universe, peter parker character, school, superheroine, teenage life, teenage superhero, super powers, father son relationship, love, physics, secret identity, comic book, superpower, african american, spider man, martial arts, giant monster, robot, giant, good versus evil, teacher, police
The Pinchcliffe Grand Prix (1975)
Plot Summary:
100 miles north, a bit east and up, is Flåklypa... home of bicycle repairman Reodor Felgen and his two assistants - Solan Gundersen, morning bird and natural born optimist, and Ludvig who is a true pessimist. Sponsored by oil sheik Ben Redic Fy Fazan, they build the car "Il Tempo Gigante" and the race of the decade is a fact
Duration: 88 min
IMDB Rating: 8.4/10
IMDB Votes: 14000
Genere: Animation, Comedy, Family, Sport
Country: Norway
Plot tags: racing, car, chases and races, stop motion, race, auto racing, car race, chess, inventor, car chase, motor sport, fast car, exodus, motor racing, mechanic, escapades, vengeance, rivalry, master villain, uninhibited rivalry, friendship, rich man, muslim, speed, bird
Attack on Titan: Chronicle (2020)
Plot Summary:
In the fourth recap movie, episodes 1-59 of the anime are retold, compiling the first three seasons of the anime into one two hour event
Duration: 122 min
IMDB Rating: 8.4/10
IMDB Votes: 12000
Genere: Animation, Action, Adventure, Drama, Fantasy, Horror
Country: Japan
Plot tags: monster, extinction, catastrophe, fight, violence, friendship, macabre, murder, alternate reality, destiny, brutality, mutation, vengeance, danger, life philosophy, fictional war, violent, survival, military, post-apocalyptic future, lone hero, blood, titan, giant, post apocalypse
Up (2009)
Plot Summary:
Carl Fredricksen spent his entire life dreaming of exploring the globe and experiencing life to its fullest. But at age 78, life seems to have passed him by, until a twist of fate (and a persistent 8-year old Wilderness Explorer named Russell) gives him a new lease on life
Duration: 96 min
IMDB Rating: 8.3/10
IMDB Votes: 11000000
Genere: Animation, Adventure, Comedy, Drama, Family
Country: USA, Japan
Plot tags: dog, loneliness, unlikely friendships, friendship, follow your dream, hopes, friends, animal life, journey, obsessive quest, aging, wilderness, talking animal, dream, children, talking dog, giant bird, balloon, cartoon dog, human dog relationship, adventurer, mischievous children, love, animal, sadness
How the Grinch Stole Christmas! (1966)
Plot Summary:
Bitter and hateful, the Grinch is irritated at the thought of the nearby village having a happy time celebrating Christmas. So disguised as Santa Claus, with his dog made to look like a reindeer, he raids the village to steal all the Christmas things. The village is sure to have a sad Christmas this year
Duration: 26 min
IMDB Rating: 8.3/10
IMDB Votes: 57000
Genere: Animation, Comedy, Family, Fantasy, Musical
Country: USA
Plot tags: christmas, holiday, dog, winter, obsession, snow, christmas eve, social misfits, imaginary, fish out of water, xmas, change of heart, christmas season, materialism, new year, saving christmas, swing, happiness, vacation, heart, child, surrealism, hobo, compassion, generosity
A Charlie Brown Christmas (1965)
Plot Summary:
When Charlie Brown complains about the overwhelming materialism that he sees amongst everyone during the Christmas season, Lucy suggests that he become director of the school Christmas pageant. Charlie Brown accepts, but is a frustrating struggle. When an attempt to restore the proper spirit with a forlorn little fir Christmas tree fails, he needs Linus' help to learn the meaning of Christmas
Duration: 25 min
IMDB Rating: 8.3/10
IMDB Votes: 42000
Genere: Animation, Comedy, Drama, Family, Music
Country: USA
Plot tags: christmas, holiday, peanuts, christmas season, snow, xmas, winter, dog, tree, children, best friend, melancholy, new year, superhero, god, swing, happiness, vacation, faith, lonely, christian, trapped, music and dance, director, depression
Toy Story (1995)
Plot Summary:
Led by Woody, Andy's toys live happily in his room until Andy's birthday brings Buzz Lightyear onto the scene. Afraid of losing his place in Andy's heart, Woody plots against Buzz. But when circumstances separate Buzz and Woody from their owner, the duo eventually learns to put aside their differences
Duration: 81 min
IMDB Rating: 8.3/10
IMDB Votes: 10000000
Genere: Animation, Adventure, Comedy, Family, Fantasy
Country: USA, Japan
Plot tags: friendship, toys, wilhelm scream, rescue, toy story, rivalry, toy comes to life, friends, childhood, teamwork, anthropomorphism, birthday, child, birthday present, birthday party, dinosaur, redemption, kids and family, buddy, mission, alien, fight, escape, doll, soldier
Cat City (1986)
Plot Summary:
In the year 80 AMM (After Mickey Mouse) on planet X the crime-syndicated Cats try to erase the Mouse-population once and for all. A scientist of the mice, prof. Fushimishi seems to have found the weapon against the threat - so Intermouse calls it's best, but now retired agent - Nick Grabowsky - to get the plans. As a distraction for the Cats, they also send a second agent - Seargent Lazy Dick - for the mission
Duration: 96 min
IMDB Rating: 8.3/10
IMDB Votes: 11000
Genere: Animation, Adventure, Comedy, Crime, Family, Sci-Fi
Country: Hungary, Canada, West Germany
Plot tags: cat, cartoon cat, heroic mission, secret agent, undercover, intrigue, rivalry, good versus evil, partner, uninhibited rivalry, odd couple, espionage, furry, spy, anthropomorphism, anthropomorphic animal, heroes, escapades, animal life, silly humor, goofy hero, unlikely partners, talking animal, mouse, court
Batman: The Dark Knight Returns, Part 2 (2013)
Plot Summary:
Batman has stopped the reign of terror that The Mutants had cast upon his city. Now an old foe wants a reunion and the government wants The Man of Steel to put a stop to Batman
Duration: 76 min
IMDB Rating: 8.3/10
IMDB Votes: 56000
Genere: Animation, Action, Crime, Drama, Mystery, Sci-Fi, Thriller
Country: USA
Plot tags: superhero, batman, comic book, villain, distopia, heroes, imaginary, fighting crime, good versus evil, protector, rivalry, master villain, society, comeback, mogul, heroic mission, superman, violent, vigilantism, fight, disguise, police officer, police, hostage, police raid
Toy Story 3 (2010)
Plot Summary:
Woody, Buzz, and the rest of Andy's toys haven't been played with in years. With Andy about to go to college, the gang find themselves accidentally left at a nefarious day care center. The toys must band together to escape and return home to Andy
Duration: 103 min
IMDB Rating: 8.3/10
IMDB Votes: 878000
Genere: Animation, Adventure, Comedy, Family, Fantasy
Country: USA, Japan
Plot tags: toys, escape, friendship, objects come to life, toy story, toy comes to life, anthropomorphism, dinosaur, horse, betrayal, college, prison escape, dog, friends, escapades, prison, escape attempt, imaginary, peril, cowboy, astronaut, real world, partner, buddies, hopes
Howl's Moving Castle (2004)
Plot Summary:
When Sophie, a shy young woman, is cursed with an old body by a spiteful witch, her only chance of breaking the spell lies with a self-indulgent yet insecure young wizard and his companions in his legged, walking home
Duration: 119 min
IMDB Rating: 8.2/10
IMDB Votes: 433000
Genere: Animation, Adventure, Family, Fantasy
Country: Japan
Plot tags: witch, steampunk, magic, supernatural ability, imaginary, fantasy world, self discovery, magical, demon, curses spells and rituals, wizards and magicians, transformation, young woman, fall in love, witchcraft, love story, love and romance, danger, castle, spell, hopes, wizard, friendship, obsession, alternate reality
Finding Nemo (2003)
Plot Summary:
Nemo, an adventurous young clownfish, is unexpectedly taken from his Great Barrier Reef home to a dentist's office aquarium. It's up to his worrisome father Marlin and a friendly but forgetful fish Dory to bring Nemo home -- meeting vegetarian sharks, surfer dude turtles, hypnotic jellyfish, hungry seagulls, and more along the way
Duration: 100 min
IMDB Rating: 8.2/10
IMDB Votes: 11000000
Genere: Animation, Adventure, Comedy, Family
Country: USA, Japan
Plot tags: friendship, underwater, shark, memory loss, father son relationship, animal, freedom, courage, single father, rescue, odd couple, talking animal, fish, amnesia, escape attempt, parent child relationship, father son reunion, ocean, anthropomorphism, pelican, protective father, friends, sea, overprotective father, obstacle
It's Such a Beautiful Day (2012)
Plot Summary:
Bill struggles to put together his shattered psyche, in this new feature film version of Don Hertzfeldt's animated short film trilogy
Duration: 62 min
IMDB Rating: 8.2/10
IMDB Votes: 15000
Genere: Animation, Comedy, Drama, Fantasy, Horror, Mystery, Sci-Fi, Thriller
Country: USA
Plot tags: surrealism, illness, mental health, mental illness, dark humor, nightmare, hospital, divorced parents, narration, death, loneliness, depression, destiny, life & death, existentialism, introspection, obsession, art, imagination, self discovery, direction and purpose, hopes, trippy, conversation, love
The Snowman (1982)
Plot Summary:
A young boy makes a snowman one Christmas Eve, which comes to life at midnight and takes the boy on a magical adventure to the North Pole to meet Santa Claus
Duration: 26 min
IMDB Rating: 8.2/10
IMDB Votes: 16000
Genere: Animation, Adventure, Family, Fantasy, Music
Country: UK
Plot tags: christmas, imaginary kingdom, holiday, northern lights, winter, xmas, snow, christmas spirit, new year, forest, cold, ice, new year's eve, bittersweet, dance, little boy, heroes, friendship, youth, wish come true, friends, misfit, love and romance, imaginary, disorder
Klaus (2019)
Plot Summary:
A postman is posted to a frozen town in the North - where he discovers Santa Claus is hiding out
Duration: 96 min
IMDB Rating: 8.2/10
IMDB Votes: 177000
Genere: Animation, Adventure, Comedy, Family, Fantasy
Country: Spain, UK, USA
Plot tags: christmas, santa claus, children, friendship, postman, re-education, christmas present, small town, kindness, letter, friends, forest, love, holiday, post office, transformation, heroes, new year, winter, new year's eve, snow, toys, christmas season, xmas, gift
It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown (1966)
Plot Summary:
This classic "Peanuts" tale focuses on the thumb-sucking, blanket-holding Linus, and his touching faith in the "Great Pumpkin." When Linus discovers that no one else believes in the creature, he sets out to prove that the Pumpkin's no myth—by spending the night alone in a pumpkin patch
Duration: 25 min
IMDB Rating: 8.2/10
IMDB Votes: 22000
Genere: Animation, Comedy, Family
Country: USA
Plot tags: halloween, holiday, peanuts, cartoon dog, monster, football, children, friendship, pumpkin, superhero, supernatural, owl, culture, christmas season, haunted, canine, music and dance, dog, world war one, rock, anger, piano, night, letter, waiting
Demon Slayer the Movie: Mugen Train (2020)
Plot Summary:
Tanjirō Kamado, joined with Inosuke Hashibira, a boy raised by boars who wears a boar's head, and Zenitsu Agatsuma, a scared boy who reveals his true power when he sleeps, board the Infinity Train on a new mission with the Fire Hashira, Kyōjurō Rengoku, to defeat a demon who has been tormenting the people and killing the demon slayers who oppose it!
Duration: 117 min
IMDB Rating: 8.2/10
IMDB Votes: 70000
Genere: Animation, Action, Adventure, Fantasy, Thriller
Country: Japan
Plot tags: master warrior, demon, magic, supernatural, fight, mutilation, superhuman powers, violence, danger, battles, conspiracy, graphic violence, vengeance, manipulation, ambition, dishonesty, daring rescue, uninhibited rivalry, tough heroes, villain, love, virus, gore, demon hunter, tragedy
Wolf Children (2012)
Plot Summary:
After her werewolf lover unexpectedly dies in an accident, a woman must find a way to raise the son and daughter that she had with him. However, their inheritance of their father's traits prove to be a challenge for her
Duration: 117 min
IMDB Rating: 8.1/10
IMDB Votes: 48000
Genere: Animation, Drama, Family, Fantasy
Country: Japan
Plot tags: werewolf, childhood, parents and children, children, single mother, wolf, female werewolf, death of father, supernatural, family relations, wilderness, school, friendship, breast feeding, social relations, human becomes animal, furry, transformation, love, self discovery, heartwarming, nature, coming of age, brother sister relationship, mother daughter relationship
The Iron Giant (1999)
Plot Summary:
In the small town of Rockwell, Maine in October 1957, a giant metal machine befriends a nine-year-old boy and ultimately finds its humanity by unselfishly saving people from their own fears and prejudices
Duration: 86 min
IMDB Rating: 8.1/10
IMDB Votes: 220000
Genere: Animation, Action, Adventure, Comedy, Drama, Family, Sci-Fi
Country: USA, Denmark
Plot tags: robot, giant robot, friendship, small town, prejudice, self sacrifice, cold war, childhood, boy, benign alien, androids and robots, military, space and aliens, children, paranoia, alien, flying robot, giant, single mother, fish out of water, robot human relationship, love, dream, child protagonist, life & death
Monsters, Inc. (2001)
Plot Summary:
James Sullivan and Mike Wazowski are monsters, they earn their living scaring children and are the best in the business... even though they're more afraid of the children than they are of them. When a child accidentally enters their world, James and Mike suddenly find that kids are not to be afraid of and they uncover a conspiracy that could threaten all children across the world
Duration: 92 min
IMDB Rating: 8.1/10
IMDB Votes: 960000
Genere: Animation, Adventure, Comedy, Family, Fantasy
Country: USA
Plot tags: monster, friendship, imaginary, creature, imagination, children, fantasy world, parallel world, rivalry, little girl, friends, rivals, villain, chase, greed, redemption, misfit, creativity, panic, alternate universe, mad scientist, talking animal, kidnapping, portal, evil
A Silent Voice (2016)
Plot Summary:
Shouya Ishida starts bullying the new girl in class, Shouko Nishimiya, because she is deaf. But as the teasing continues, the rest of the class starts to turn on Shouya for his lack of compassion. When they leave elementary school, Shouko and Shouya do not speak to each other again... until an older, wiser Shouya, tormented by his past behaviour, decides he must see Shouko once more. He wants to atone for his sins, but is it already too late...?
Duration: 130 min
IMDB Rating: 8.1/10
IMDB Votes: 96000
Genere: Animation, Drama
Country: Japan
Plot tags: bullying, teenager, disability, deaf, sign language, friendship, high school, teenage girl, japanese schoolgirl, japanese school, coming of age, deafness, suicide attempt, redemption, japanese girl, truancy, single mother, elementary school, asian school, suicidal, bully, schoolgirl, classmate, japanese woman, east asian girl