Animated movies are not just for kids. It has many different genres, such as comedy, family-friendly, action, and horror. The best animated movies of all time tell you stories that are particularly suited to a cartoon canvas.
Also, the finest animated films are works of art and fantastic movies. The greatest animated movies ever made bring the audience to new, fantastical worlds using stop-motion, cartoons, or CGI. The best animated family movies, as well as those appropriate for older audiences, are included in this list.
Let us explore them. These best animated movies are available on OTT platforms for easy viewing and enjoyment.
Table of Contents
List of Best Animated Movies
Here are the 12 best animated movies of all time, which are full of fun and entertainment for viewers of all ages.
Turning Red
- Year of release: 2022
- Where to watch: Disney+
This film is about 13-year-old Mei Lee. She turns into a big red panda whenever she gets excited. This happens for the first time. It happened the following day when her mother embarrassed her in front of the boy she had a crush on. It is a colorful and exciting story that highlights virtues.
Especially accepting change and letting your red panda flag fly. It is very much a kid’s film, but parents may also learn from it. They learn that it’s okay to let their children grow up and become slightly different from themselves.
Nimona
- Year of release: 2023
- Where to watch: Netflix
This is a graphic novel by ND Stevenson and one of the best animated movies of 2023. Nimona is a fantasy novel set in a future world with elements of the Middle Ages that are energized, joyful, and highly entertaining.
The story is about Ballister Boldheart, who is going to be the first commoner ever to get the honor. He is getting ready to be knighted by the queen with his boyfriend, Ambrosius Goldenloin. Everything is well until he is falsely accused of killing the queen and is forced to escape, turning into a criminal.
The snobs had already labeled him a murderer. Fortunately or unfortunately, Nimona, a teenage girl who has been an outcast due to her shapeshifting abilities, has joined him. While Nimona teaches Ballister the importance of staying loyal to one’s genuine self, the two try to clear Ballister’s name.
Wendell & Wild
- Year of release: 2022
- Where to watch: Netflix
Henry Selick, the director of Coraline and A Nightmare Before Christmas has made his first motion picture since 2009. With co-writer Jordan Peele at his side, the filmmaker managed to churn out another masterful stop-motion film.
This is the one that is focused on a couple of demon brothers (Keegan-Michael Key and Peele) and a troubled girl (Lyric Ross). They try to manipulate them into assisting them in launching their demon carnival. But she is not an easy target. Check out how they manipulated her in the movie.
Spirited Away
- Year of release: 2001
- Where to watch: Max
As one of the best animation movies of all time, Hayao Miyazaki’s success is no surprise. It’s a wonderful piece of art, with meticulous attention to detail in every single frame. It is the story of stubborn Chihiro, who sets off on a spirit-filled journey to free her parents from a witch and to regain her identity.
Akira
- Year of release: 1988
- Where to watch: Crunchyroll, Hulu
This stunning cyberpunk classic is set in a dystopian 2019 world. This follows biker Kaneda as he must face his buddy Tetsuo following an accident that gives him telekinetic skills. We’re still living in the animated universe that writer/director Katsuhiro Otomo and crew created with this one. The intensely energetic film and its highly detailed environment set a new standard for anime.
The Road to El Dorado
- Year of release: 2000
- Where to watch: Prime
This movie is about El Dorado. It is popularly known as “City of Gold.” If you had a map of this city, would you go? That’s what Tulio and Miguel did when they got the map. However, the journey was not easy, and they were declared enslaved.
Somehow, they reach El Dorado along with some moral decisions, even though they had fun adventures. This movie is so vibrant and impressive. Do not forget to watch this one of the best animated movies on Prime.
Shrek
- Year of release: 2001
- Where to watch: Netflix
Eddie Murphy is relatively comfortable in this role as Donkey, collaborating with Mike Myers as the title ogre to free the imprisoned Princess Fiona (Cameron Diaz). Even if it seems like a very strange choice for the Chinese folktale-inspired Mulan, this is just amazing.
The film at last flips the Disney princess model on its head by demonstrating that true beauty can be found in the swamp, blending genuine laughs with some genuine sentiments. It was the first movie to be recognized as the Best Animated Feature for an Academy Award.
Kubo and the Two Strings
- Year of release: 2016
- Where to watch: Digital Rental
Japanese ink-wash paintings and origami-inspired this amazing stop-motion animation. The narrative, which takes place in feudal Japan, follows Kubo and his magical shamisen (the string instrument from the title). They set off on a lovely, surreal mission to stop his grandpa, the Moon King.
Soul
- Year of release: 2020
- Where to watch: Disney+
Although Joe Gardner is a talented jazz musician, his life as a high school music teacher hasn’t turned out quite like he had hoped. Until he dies, falls into a manhole, and realizes the true meaning of being a soul. The Pixar film about discovering your purpose took home two Oscars: one for Best Animated Feature and another for Best Original Score.
The Mitchells vs the Machines
- Year of release: 2021
- Where to watch: Netflix
In this funny and touching animated film, Danny McBride plays the technophobic Rick Mitchell, who teams up with his movie-obsessed daughter Katie (Abbi Jacobson) to rescue the world. Katie, an aspiring filmmaker, and her father are in continual disagreement because of his fixation with tools and nature, as well as his overall nervousness, which prevents him from knowing about her aspirations.
Ricks decides to take the whole family on a road trip to strengthen the bonds before a tech company’s AI goes rogue and threatens the entire planet in delightfully animated ways, rather than letting Katie take a plane to college. That isn’t working out very well. To defeat the robots, the family must learn to accept and communicate with each other despite their differences, making this one of the best animated movies of all time.
The Sea Beast
- Year of release: 2022
- Where to watch: Netflix
Chris Williams is an animator who has worked on some of the greatest animated films of the past ten years, including Bolt, Big Hero 6, Moana, and others. In this story, a girl stows away on the ship of a fabled monster hunter (Karl Urban), and she embarks on an adventure that changes her understanding of what really makes a person or thing monstrous.
The movie utilizes contemporary animation technologies without ever coming across as gimmicky. Do not forget to watch one of the best animated movies on Netflix.
Toy Story
- Year of release: 1995
- Where to watch: Disney+
Although I’m not sure if the original Toy Story is the finest in the series, it’s undoubtedly the best place to start if you’re rewatching or watching for the first time because it’s fantastic on its own and practically innovative.
Conclusion
To sum up, there are many more movies on the list. Not only will you have fun, but you will also learn some moral values and charm from every film. These amazing movies give a close look at animated wonders around the world. Most importantly, relax and watch these best animated movies of all time!
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