Best Animated Movies Of All Time
Animation isn’t “just for kids” anymore 🎥
animation has come a long way from saturday morning cartoons. it’s a medium that has painted entire emotional universes, sometimes literally (soul), sometimes metaphorically (inside out), and sometimes with just a talking toy trying to find purpose (toy story).
so, we decided to sit down, like two over-caffeinated cinephiles arguing at 2 a.m. and rank what we truly believe are the best animated movies of all time.
here’s our list, ranked from “brilliant” to “how-did-they-even-make-that!”
Some Best Animated Movies Of All Time – Ranked
19. Hotel Transylvania (2012–2018)
there’s just something comfortingly chaotic about dracula running a monster resort. hotel transylvania isn’t pixar-deep, but it’s wildly fun. the animation style is like looney tunes on energy drinks, with every frame full of bouncy character movement.
adam sandler as drac? surprisingly wholesome. the later sequels got louder, but that first movie nailed the “monsters are just like us” vibe.
18. Flow (2024)
the underdog of the list. flow is a newer animated gem that slipped under most people’s radar. it’s experimental,part meditative, part mind-trip. no cute animals, no musical numbers, just a hypnotic look at the cycle of creation and destruction through stunning visuals.
it’s the kind of film you watch once and then just… stare at the ceiling for 10 minutes thinking about life.
17. Mahavatar Narsimha (2025)
india’s animation industry has been quietly leveling up, and mahaavatar might just be the turning point. directed by indian creators blending mythology with futuristic design, it’s a visual and spiritual spectacle. the film reimagines divine concepts through a modern lens, fusing high-end cgi with the rooted emotional storytelling that indian cinema is known for.
16. Cars Trilogy (2006–2017)
yeah, cars might be the most meme-ified pixar franchise, but it deserves credit. cars 1 is pure nostalgia, a love letter to small-town america and slowing down in a fast world. cars 2 went full spy-movie (let’s just say… it exists), and cars 3 brought it back with emotional redemption and classic racing grit.
plus, the lighting and reflections on those metallic bodies? chef’s kiss for cgi.
Also read: Brad Pitt F1 The Movie Emotional Comeback Review
15. The Incredibles (2004–2018)
before superhero fatigue hit hollywood, the incredibles showed us what a family of heroes could look like messy, funny, and endlessly human. brad bird gave us a stylish 60s aesthetic with a jazzy score that still slaps.
the sequel expanded the family dynamic beautifully, even if nothing beats that “where is my supersuit?” energy from the first film.
14. Kung Fu Panda Trilogy (2008–2016)
kung fu panda is proof that dreamworks can blend heart with hilarity. po isn’t your typical hero. he’s lazy, clumsy, and hungry but his journey toward mastering inner peace still hits harder than most live-action dramas.
those fight sequences? absolute art. the stylized backdrops, watercolor flashbacks, and chinese-inspired motifs make it a timeless visual treat.
13. Big Hero 6 (2014)
if iron man met how to train your dragon, you’d get big hero 6. it’s a superhero origin story wrapped in soft, emotional warmth, literally, thanks to baymax.
this movie gave us one of the most empathetic robots ever created and a surprisingly mature take on grief and healing. plus, san fransokyo? i’d move there in a heartbeat.
12. Puss In Boots: The Last Wish (2022)
who would’ve thought a shrek spin-off could look this good? the last wish reinvented puss’s story with a painterly art style inspired by spider-verse. the film dives deep into mortality, fear, and legacy, all while a cat in boots makes us laugh and cry.
the wolf alone deserves an oscar for sheer intimidation.
11. Lilo & Stitch (2002)
“ohana means family.”
that one line carried an entire generation. lilo & stitch is chaotic, heartbreaking, and full of personality. it’s hawaiian culture, punk energy, and alien chaos rolled into one messy, beautiful package.
stitch isn’t just a blue gremlin, he’s a symbol of misunderstood love and acceptance. and lilo? one of disney’s most real, emotionally layered kids.
10. How to Train your Dragon trilogy (2010–2019)
if you didn’t tear up during hiccup and toothless’s goodbye, you’re lying. dreamworks pulled off a rare trilogy arc that matured with its audience, from awkward adolescence to quiet adulthood.
john powell’s score, those sweeping flight sequences, the lighting… this is animation poetry.
9. Moana (1 & 2)
moana gave us water that looked more real than water. but more importantly, it gave us a heroine who didn’t need a prince. she’s driven by curiosity, not romance, and her relationship with maui adds a hilarious buddy-film dynamic.
every song is a banger, but the ocean-as-a-character idea? genius. disney’s modern mythology at its best.
8. UP (2009)
the first ten minutes of up are arguably the most emotionally devastating thing pixar ever did. it’s a masterclass in visual storytelling, a silent montage that defines love, loss, and resilience.
but beyond the tears, up is an adventure filled with color, humor, and that classic “follow your dream, no matter your age” message. carl and russell’s odd friendship still melts hearts.
7. Finding Nemo (2003)
before finding dory made us all cry again, finding nemo swam into our hearts with its oceanic beauty and parental love story. marlin’s journey isn’t just about rescuing nemo it’s about letting go.
pixar’s underwater world feels alive even today, and ellen degeneres’s dory turned forgetfulness into an art form.
6. Wall-E (2008)
half a movie without dialogue and yet, wall-e says everything about humanity, loneliness, and love. it’s both a warning and a love letter to earth. the first act plays like a silent film, pure visual storytelling brilliance.
pixar basically predicted our screen-addicted future and gave us two robots who somehow felt more human than most people.
5. Inside Out (2015)
you know a movie’s powerful when psychologists start recommending it. inside out cracked open the concept of emotions and made it digestible, funny, and heartbreaking.
joy and sadness’s dynamic teaches something so profound: you can’t have one without the other. it’s not just animation; it’s therapy disguised as a pixar film.
4. Soul (2020)
soul asks one question: what’s your purpose? and then flips it, maybe it’s not about purpose at all, but about living. the jazz, the cityscape of new york, and the abstract afterlife world are gorgeously realized.
this was pixar making art for adults while still keeping it light for kids. a philosophical masterpiece with the rhythm of a late-night jam session.
3. Fantastic Mr. Fox (2009)
wes anderson doing stop-motion was something none of us deserved but got anyway. fantastic mr. fox is sharp, dry, and aesthetically perfect. every frame looks like it belongs in an art museum.
the dialogue crackles, the fur movement is intentionally imperfect, and the story of rebellion and family hits just right. it’s the most “indie” animated movie to ever feel mainstream.
2. Toy Story (1 & 2)
pixar’s legacy started here. toy story wasn’t just a technical milestone; it was emotional revolution. seeing woody and buzz evolve from rivals to brothers is pure storytelling gold.
toy story 2 doubled down on emotion, jessie’s “when she loved me” montage still breaks hearts. it’s about identity, purpose, and growing up. basically, everything humans go through, told through plastic toys.
UP there with the greats, the best animated movie of all time: Kung Fu Panda trilogy? nope. Wall-E? close. but it’s… Inside Out + Soul-level? no. our number one is a tie of heart and craft:
1. The Incredibles may have defined family superheroes, but Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse (2018) redefined animation itself.
🥇 Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse
we’re leaving it here, undisputed. because it changed the rules.
no other movie looked or moved like this. that comic-book frame rate, those glitchy color separations, and that soundtrack — all pure energy.
it’s also one of the most inclusive superhero stories ever made. miles morales isn’t a replacement; he’s the next evolution. this film made people fall in love with animation again and it’s still influencing every major studio years later.
and honestly, isn’t that what cinema’s all about?
Honorable mentions:
- Mahaavatar for ambition
- Flow for artistry
- Moana 2 ( it pushed disney’s animation realism to new limits)
Conclusion: Animation is cinema. Period. 🎞️
from toys and robots to dragons and demigods, animation has captured the full spectrum of human emotion often better than live action.
these films aren’t just “kids’ movies.” they’re cinematic time capsules of creativity, courage, and heart.
if you’re a cinephile who ever dismissed animation as “for children,” queue up any of these titles tonight.
and prepare to eat those words probably with popcorn, and maybe a tear or two.
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