Let’s be honest: animation never really leaves you. You might grow older, your tastes might shift, but the emotional punch of a well-made animated movie? That sticks. Some of the best animated movies aren’t just great for kids — they’re layered, thoughtful, and just as likely to hit home for adults.
Sure, cartoons were probably your first intro to movies. But over time, animation has evolved into something else entirely. It tells stories that live-action sometimes can’t. It gives directors total creative control. And when done right, it says something real — no matter your age.
This list brings together some of the most loved, talked-about, and quietly profound animated films made in the last few years. Some are heartwarming. Some are wild. A few might just catch you off guard.
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Apollo 10½
This isn’t just another space story. Richard Linklater’s Apollo 10½ blends memory and daydreams to craft something different — a trip back to a boyhood lived in the shadow of the moon landing.
It’s based on Linklater’s own childhood, set in ’60s Houston. Young Stan, voiced by Milo Coy, gets “recruited” by government agents for a secret mission to the moon. But here’s the kicker — it’s told like he really believes it. Adult Stan (Jack Black) narrates with warmth, weaving fact and fantasy so tightly you stop trying to separate them.
Visually, it leans into a rotoscoped style that feels like flipping through someone’s illustrated scrapbook. And somehow, it works — turning this into one of those rare animated movies that feels both deeply personal and quietly universal.
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Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio
Forget everything you remember about Disney’s Pinocchio. Guillermo deeply leans into grief, obedience, and mortality, framing them as centerpieces for his Magin of “The Strain” set in World War 2 Italy.
This version doesn’t soften the hard edges. The puppet isn’t just curious — he’s reckless, weird, full of questions, and defiant in a world that wants blind followers. It’s dark, sometimes brutal. But it’s also oddly hopeful.
The stop-motion is next level. Every frame feels hand-built. It’s the kind of craftsmanship that reminds you why the power of animation to humans before movies even existed — to tell stories in ways nothing else could.
Oh, and it took home the 2023 Academy Award for Best Animated Feature. Deserved.
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Kubo and the Two Strings
Laika Studios doesn’t miss. With Kubo and the Two Strings, they built something that feels ancient and brand new at the same time.
Kubo and the Two Strings narrates the story of a boy with the ability to control origami, who attempts to uncover family secrets, along with fighting the haunting Moon King. His journey isn’t solely action-packed; it is deeply emotive and built on ever-evolving loss.
The visuals are stunning. You won’t just admire the stop-motion — you’ll get lost in it. And beneath the beauty is a story about memory, identity, and holding on to the ones we’ve lost.
If we’re talking essential animated movies, this one’s in the top tier.
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The Mitchells vs. The Machines
When a dysfunctional family takes a road trip during a robot uprising, chaos is guaranteed. The Mitchells vs. The Machines provides a witty plot with high-level humor, thought-provoking themes, excellent character arcs, and a message for all ages.
The Mitchells vs The Machines builds on concepts of family, the use and impact of technology, and the humor woven throughout is timeless.
At its core, it’s about a dad and daughter trying to reconnect. Katie wants to start film school; her dad wants one last family adventure. The apocalypse just happens to crash the party.
The style is hyper-animated, almost meme-like at times — and somehow that makes it better. It reflects how this generation consumes media: fast, layered, unpredictable. But it also sneaks in heartfelt moments that catch you off guard.
This one’s not just fun. It’s also a smart look at how families survive change — together.
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Nimona
The heart-pounding visuals and the animation also have a loud and unapologetic tone.
The plot continues to highlight a knight, Ballister, who is accused of a crime he didn’t commit, and a shape-shifter named Nimona, who is determined to become his sidekick. The world around them is rigid, judgmental, and obsessed with “order.” They are not.
The animation has its own rhythm — not quite traditional, not overly polished. That fits, because this movie is about breaking the mold. About acceptance. About not asking for permission to be who you are.
For those keeping a list of animated movies that push boundaries, Nimona deserves its spot.
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The Sea Beast
This one flew under the radar for a lot of people, but it shouldn’t have.
The film showcases a heartbreaking tale of young orphan stowaways who become monster hunters and, in the process, endeavor to uncover the truth, per se, the real monsters, as directed by Chris Williams of “Moana” and “Big Hero 6” fame.
It feels like a modern-day epic. The themes — colonial storytelling, blind tradition, rewriting the past — all land. And they land quietly, without spelling everything out.
The action scenes are solid. The characters are sharp. And if you’re into top animated films that double as adventure stories with a message, this one’s worth your time.
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Orion and the Dark
Here’s a rare thing: a kids’ movie that actually talks about anxiety — not just in metaphors, but directly.
Orion is a nervous kid, scared of pretty much everything. Then one night, Dark shows up. Not scary. Just… a big, awkward blob voiced by Paul Walter Hauser who wants to help.
Their journey through the nighttime world is part buddy comedy, part emotional unpacking. Written by Charlie Kaufman, it’s not afraid to get weird or even a little melancholy.
But that’s what makes it relatable — to kids and adults alike. If you’ve ever overthought things at 2 AM, this one gets it.
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Leo
Adam Sandler voicing a 74-year-old lizard stuck in a school terrarium doesn’t sound like much. But Leo has heart.
When he finds out he doesn’t have much time left, Leo sets out to make a difference in the lives of the fifth graders who’ve barely noticed him all year. What follows is a series of small but meaningful moments — the kind that actually stick with you.
It’s a story about getting unstuck. About choosing to care, even when it’s easier not to. The humor’s there, but what really sells it is the quiet truth behind it all.
It might look simple. It’s not.
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Plankton
Yep — SpongeBob made the list. But not how you’d expect.
In Plankton: The Movie, the crusty villain gets his moment. When his computer-wife Karen decides to ditch him and go full villain on her own, Plankton suddenly has to save the world — and maybe fix his relationship in the process.
It’s chaotic. It’s a musical. And it’s full of jokes that will fly over kids’ heads and land right in your adult cynicism.
It’s not trying to be deep. But it is a reminder that sometimes the most absurd stories carry the most familiar emotions.
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Sing
The premise remains the same: the competition is meant to save the theater, which is struggling economically. Of course, Sing is not a jukebox musical starring anthropomorphic animals. It is, unexpectedly, a poignant examination of futility, reinvention, and the risks one needs to take when one’s world is crumbling.
Buster Moon is a koala who stubbornly clings to his dreams and sings in his theater. His former contestants, drawn with the batik trademark and varying skill levels, include: an introverted elephant, a punk-rock porcupine, and a reformed ex-div gangster gorilla. Each has something to prove — and something to lose.
The film leans into pop culture hard, but it’s not just about catchy covers. It’s about performance as expression. About finding a voice even when no one’s listening. And that’s something kids and adults alike can relate to.
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Spellbound
Not all animated movies are light and breezy. Spellbound, from Skydance Animation, weaves a surprisingly mature fantasy around family, power, and the burden of growing up.
Princess Ellian lives in the kingdom of Lumbria — a land torn apart after a powerful curse turns her parents into monsters. She believes they’re still in there somewhere. So, she sets out to reverse the magic and bring them back.
There’s plenty of action, sorcery, and stunning worldbuilding. But underneath it all is a young girl navigating grief, leadership, and responsibility far too early. The movie doesn’t flinch from tough topics — which is exactly why it works.
Also, with music by Alan Menken (The Little Mermaid, Aladdin), it sounds as good as it looks.
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Wallace & Gromit
After nearly two decades, Wallace and Gromit returned — and didn’t miss a beat.
The same cannot be said of the flawed Feathers McGraw, the silent penguin cruelly exiled from The Wrong Trousers, who is back in style with a vengeance and more than one scheme. In that movie, the last one began with a silent plot, so world domination after 40 years of being quiet is an advanced level of enemies with payback.
As always, Aardman is suggestive with funny gags, precise comic timing, and the always-young claymation style. Even after a 40-year plot in The Wrong Trousers, Feathers McGraw remains supple enough to be paced in slow motion with smooth precision, moving believably in the world.
For fans of top movies of the 90s or older classic movies, this is a nod to the past — and a reminder that you don’t need flashy CGI to tell a timeless story.
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Wendell & Wild
If you thought animated movies couldn’t touch horror or darker themes, Wendell & Wild says otherwise.
Directed by Henry Selick (Coraline, The Nightmare Before Christmas) and co-written by Jordan Peele, this one’s not for the youngest kids. But for older viewers, it’s bold, weird, and full of meaning.
It follows Kat, a punk teenager navigating guilt, loss, and life after the death of her parents. She crosses paths with two demons — Wendell and Wild — who offer her a chance to bring them back.
The project combines chill and anxiety with humor and a social commentary, and stop motion deviance. It’s not just a watching Halloween, after which life moves on. It is a lifelong meditation moving on from grief and skeletons in the closet, with a soft power to rise again after tipping over massively.
What Makes the Best Animated Movies So Powerful?
So, what do all these films have in common?
They take real emotions seriously.
It’s easy to dismiss animation as “for kids,” but the best animated movies refuse to talk down to their audience. They handle joy and grief, fear and courage, laughter and heartbreak — sometimes in the same scene.
They also bend the rules of reality to show us what’s possible. Paper can fight monsters. Sea creatures can teach empathy. Clay figures can carry emotional weight. Talking animals can say more about the human condition than some real-life characters ever could.
It’s not just about spectacle. It’s about connection. And that’s something no age group outgrows.
Why These Picks Stand Out
Here’s what sets these films apart from the usual animated catalog:
They explore serious themes without losing heart:
- Kubo and Nimona talk about loss and identity
- Orion and the Dark deals with anxiety in kids
- Pinocchio dives into war, obedience, and grief
They take risks with form and tone:
- Mitchells vs. The Machines throws visual rules out the window
- Leo blends comedy with mortality
- Wendell & Wild brings horror to animation — and makes it work
They’re rewatchable, memorable, and rich with meaning:
Not every film on this list screams “fun for the whole family.” Some ask tough questions. Some leave you with a lump in your throat. And that’s exactly the point.
If you’re building a list of animated movies that offer more than laughs or flashy effects, these are the ones that stick.
Final Word
Animation isn’t just an entry point into cinema. It’s a cinema.
The best animated movies speak in a visual language that transcends live action. They’re not bound by gravity, age, or logic — which is exactly why they can go deeper.
As more audiences rediscover these stories (and more studios start trusting them with complex themes), we’re seeing a shift. One where animated films sit side by side with the best dramas, comedies, and adventures out there — not in a separate kids-only category.
If you haven’t watched an animated film lately that made you feel something real, this list is a good place to start.
And if you’ve been watching all along? You already know. Animation was never just a phase.
Last but not least, if you are looking for an animation studio to make killer animations for you, whether it may be 2D animation services or 3D animation services, in that case, Prolific Studio has your back, one of the best animation studios in Colorado.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can animated movies be considered serious cinema?
Absolutely. Animation is often seen as a children's genre, but as demonstrated with films like Persepolis, Waltz with Bashir, and even Guillermo Del Toro's Pinocchio, animation is a potent and versatile storytelling tool.
Are there any animated movies that deal with anxiety or mental health?
Yes. Orion and the Dark directly addresses anxiety in kids. Inside Out (though not listed here) also explores emotional complexity in a creative, relatable way.
What’s a good animated movie to watch with the whole family?
The Mitchells vs. The Machines, Sing, and Leo are equally enjoyable for all ages and demographics. They are a perfect combination of warmth and humor, as well as leverage some level of emotional and intellectual sophistication.
How has animation evolved over time?
Today's animated films not only push the boundaries of visual artistry but also tackle complex topics of trauma, identity, and even redemption. That, alongside animation’s evolution from simple and hand-drawn shorts to complex and multi-layered storytelling, is a notable achievement.
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