28 Best Animated Movies Starring Iconic Characters For The Ultimate Movie Night

A short film produced by Pixar Studios, Bao features an aging Chinese mother who starts parenting a dumpling that comes to life. The visual of the story, the artboard, the music score, the design style, everything is a treat to behold and captures the feeling of estrangement, the values of family, and the power of acceptance in the most beautiful ways. It is a quick must-watch, maybe while having some dumplings with your family.

Director: Domee Shi

IMDB Rating: 7.5/10

Rotten Tomato Rating: 89%

Notable Awards: Academy Award for Best Short Film (Animated)

Inside Out is a lovely, lovely film, and according to me, one of the most poignant animated movies out there. It has a little bit of everything, family dynamics, romance, and some clumsy action, and literally captures the very confusing and conflicting emotions that one faces. It covers the story of Riley who moves to a new town, and how her five primal emotions fight for her existence and theirs, as they navigate a new life and place.

Director: Pete Docter

IMDB Rating: 8.1/10

Rotten Tomato Rating: 98%

Notable Awards: Academy Award for Best Animated Feature, BAFTA Award for Best Animated Film, Golden Globe Award for Best Animated Feature

One of the most talked about movies of 2023, Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse, is an actual masterpiece with a great storyline and stunning visuals and narrates a charged emotional journey that beautifully stirs nostalgia. The animation of the movie is ingenious, retaining the comic book effect, with bold colours, great background music, and adds great dimension to our understanding of the Spider-Verse. The character Miles Morales truly shines through in the movie, and we love the narrating style of it. It also gives a nod to the Indian Spiderman, Pavitr Prabhakar, and the detailing and research that went into the character was a treat for our desi hearts.

Directors: Joaquim Dos Santos, Kemp Powers, Justin K. Thompson

IMDB Rating: 8.7/10

Rotten Tomato Rating: 96%

Notable Awards: Critics' Choice Movie Award for Best Animated Film, AFI Movies of the Year, Annie Award for Best Animated Feature

My recent watch, and just pure Pixar magic, Elemental is a beautiful romance that carries many nuanced themes but approaches everything in a very light-hearted way. Ember from the Fire City meets the go-with-the-flow Wade and embarks on a journey to save her father's store, discover her dream, and find her passion while falling for the literal opposite element. We really enjoyed this one and would love everyone to watch it at least once.

Director: Peter Sohn

IMDB Rating: 7/10

Rotten Tomato Rating: 92%

Notable Nominations: 2024 nominee for Best Animated Feature, BAFTA Awards: 2024 nominee for Best Animated Feature Film

Part of our favourite Disney movies list as well, Wall-E follows a robot who spends 700 years cleaning the earth, catches feelings for another bot called EVE, and takes an extraordinary journey to gain her affection, and eventually ends up saving the human race. The movie is categorised as sci-fi but flawlessly crosses over to be a romance with beautiful visuals and gut-wrenching emotions.

Director: Andrew Stanton

IMDB Ratings: 8.4/10

Rotten Tomato Rating: 95%

Notable Awards: Academy Award for Best Animated Feature Film, BAFTA Award for Best Animated Film, Golden Globe Award for Best Animated Feature Film

Big Hero 6 who gave birth to the series called Baymax, is an incredible movie that follows Hiro Hamada and Baymax as they fight crime and end up with Baymax becoming a healthcare robot for the whole city. The start of the movie is pretty heartbreaking, but the later part has some beautiful moments that put forth some significant growth moments, with every frame being a visual treat.

Director: Don Hall, Chris Williams

IMDB Rating: 7.8/10

Rotten Tomato Rating: 88%

Notable Awards: Academy Award for Best Animated Feature, Blimp Award for Favorite Animated Movie

Onward pleasantly surprised me in just too many ways, and encompasses a heartfelt journey of two brothers, as they attempt to resurrect their father with their newfound magic. It is centred around a profound loss but builds up to be a great growth trajectory for both the characters, and you just have to have faith, as the ending will leave you in an unconsolable state of tears. Not enough good things can be said about the animation, background score, and music.

Director: Dan Scanlon

IMDB Rating: 7.4/10

Rotten Tomato Rating: 88%

Notable Awards: People's Choice Award for Favorite Family Movie

Up is a movie that will remain imprinted on your heart for a long, long time. It has a beautiful love story, Russel (you'll know him once you watch it), and some extraordinary life lessons, perfect for a cosy movie night. It is the work of the creators of Walle-E and Finding Nemo, and talks about how no one is too old for a little adventure. 

Director: Pete Docter

IMDB Rating: 8.3/10

Rotten Tomato Rating: 98%

Notable Awards: Academy Award for Best Animated Feature Film, Academy Award for Best Music, BAFTA Award for Best Animated Film

From the creators of Toy Story, Monsters Inc. is a super fun watch, and takes you on crazy adventures with hilarious plots and subplots. The movie takes place in Monstropolis where monsters have to power their city with human children's screams, but when a human girl child surfaces in the city, the two best friends Sulley and Mike have to find a way to send her back, and while they also attempt to change the dynamic between monsters and children.

Director: Pete Docter

IMDB Rating: 8.1/10

Rotten Tomato Rating: 96%

Notable Awards: Satellite Award for Outstanding Youth Blu-Ray/DVD

Another Disney favourite, Tangled, is a childhood love that has beautiful visuals (all the lanterns frame), an awesome escape story, and music that still lives rent-free in our heads ('Mother, knows the best!') and a couple that is just too adorable. Rapunzel has magical hair and is kidnapped and forced to live in isolation. She finally decides to break free and fulfil her dream of seeing the lights, and she gains many companions along the way.

Directors: Nathan Greno, Byron Howard

IMDB Rating: 7.7/10

Rotten Tomato Rating: 89%

Notable Awards: Sierra Award: Won Best Song for "I See the Light", Academy Awards: Nominated for Best Original Song, Golden Globes: Nominated for Best Animated Feature Film and Best Original Song 

A princess movie that subverts every expectation, notion, and stereotype, Brave revolves around Princess Merida who is a skillful archer, and not at all 'lady-like' the way her mother wants her to be. Things take a turn when with some divine spell, her mother turns into a bear, and they take on the journey to free her from it and share some beautiful bonding moments together, and move towards acceptance of each other they way they are.

Directors: Brenda Chapman, Mark Andrews

IMDB Rating: 7.1/10

Rotten Tomato Rating: 79%

Notable Awards: Academy Award for Best Animated Feature Film, BAFTA Award for Best Animated Film, Annie Award for Outstanding Achievement Feature Film

Shrek is the perfect example of how good things are always around the corner, and you just have to believe in yourself. Shrek, who just wants to live in isolation, breaks a deal with the king that if he frees Princess Fiona, he can have his swamp back. But as he embarks on the journey to defeat the great dragon, he develops feelings for the princess, and things get more interesting as the princess is also hiding a secret. Its a great movie, always a comfort watch, and always hilarious.

Directors: Andrew Adamson, Vicky Jenson

IMDB Rating: 7.9/10

Rotten Tomato Rating: 88%

Notable Awards: Academy Award for Best Animated Feature, Critics' Choice Movie Award for Best Animated Film, People's Choice Award for Favorite Movie

An unusual story of a dragon and a Viking becoming friends, How To Train A Dragon is an astounding tale that captures very honest emotions and weaves a masterful story of friendship, love, and courage. Some of the frames of the movie are unreal to look at, packed with beautiful messages, amazing character trajectories, and a captivating plot. The movie has two more parts, and it is a wonderful watch that one must experience.

Directors: Dean DeBlois, Chris Sanders

IMDB Rating: 8.1/10

Rotten Tomato Rating: 99%

Notable Awards: Annie Award for Best Animated Feature, Annie Award for Outstanding Achievement Film, VES Award for Outstanding Performance

This is the movie that is always on when I am on sleepovers with my friends. Kung Fu Panda teaches one to believe in themselves, have faith in people, and, no matter what, never give up or stop believing in yourself. It is truly a comfort movie with a solid plot, where a laid-back Po, who is a kung-fu enthusiast, steps up and takes on an adventure to destroy the evil forces that threaten the Peace Valley. The movie has some great quotable dialogue, moving scenes, and montages, and is always a good time.

Directors: Mark Osborne, John Stevenson

IMDB Rating: 7.6/10

Rotten Tomato Rating: 87%

Notable Awards: Annie Award for Best Animated Feature, Annie Award for Best Animated Effects

Carrying the true essence of pure Disney enchantment, Encanto is the perfect family movie that records a Columbian family where everyone has some magical ability. Although Mirabel, the youngest daughter might be the only one who is not blessed in some magical way, but would become everyone's last hope when the family's magical powers are threatened. TikTok has talked enough about the music scoreboard, and everything about this movie is an easy obsession with unreal frames.

Directors: Byron Howard, Jared Bush

IMDB Rating: 7.2/10

Rotten Tomato Rating: 90%

Notable Awards: Academy Award for Best Animated Feature, BAFTA Award for Best Animated Film, Golden Globe Award for Best Animated Film

Ghibli Studios stands for magnificent frames and visuals that set the bar of animation on another level, and Ponyo is one of those benchmarks. The thing with Ghibli movies is that you can box them in terms of story or themes; they are way more nuanced and cover some deep insights. Ponyo lives in the sea but finds her way to the land and forges a friendship with Souske. The visuals of the movie are absolutely stunning; there is hardly a match for the animation, which creates a lovely watch.

Director: Hayao Miyazaki

IMDB Rating: 7.6/10

Rotten Tomato Rating: 91%

Notable Awards: Japan Academy Prize for Animation of the Year, Asian Film Award for Best Original Music, Tokyo Anime Award Best Original Story

Part of our top Anmine movie list, Spirited Away was the ticket of legendary Hayao Miyazaki to the Oscars, where he won the accolade of Best Animated Feature. The film is an utter joy to watch, with its nuanced political themes, surreal music board, and pointers that critically analyse gluttony, and greed, and is a perfect starter film to enter the works of Hayao Miyazaki.

Director: Hayao Miyazaki

IMDB Rating: 8.6/10

Rotten Tomato Rating: 89%

Notable Awards: Academy Award for Best Animated Feature Film, Golden Bear, Hong Kong Film Award for Best Asian Film

My Neighbour Totoro is another Ghibli gem that weaves a beautiful tale while creating a visual of epic proportions on the screen. It captures the lives of two sisters and their fathers, who go through their everyday lives while their mother combats a terminal illness. They find Totoro in the forest, and an unlikely friendship commences. The story is simple and heart-touching, but the animation creates some real magic.

Director: Hayao Miyazaki

IMDB Rating: 8.1/10

Rotten Tomato Rating: 94%

Notable Awards: Kinema Junpo Award for Best Film of the Year, Mainichi Eiga Concours Award for Best Film

Coraline, a Neil Gayman book adaptation, is a fantastical tale where the protagonist enters an alternative world that is just like hers, with a full-fledged family and life, but now has to make her way back to her own real life and friends and family. It tests the protagonist's will, who has a chance at a new beginning and a better life, but the animation is done in such a traditional style, with the voices of actors that we recognise from our childhood, that it's a fine watch that makes one reflect.

Director: Henry Selick

IMDB Rating: 7.7/10

Rotten Tomato Rating: 91%

Notable Awards: AFI Movies of the Year

If your sad hour's playlist includes 'Remember Me', then you are already familiar with the beauty of Coco. The forbidden art of music, the entry into the world of the afterlife, healing past relationships and traumas, the beautiful rendition of super catchy hits, and an animation that hits the soul, this movie should be on everyone's watchlist.

Directors: Adrian Molina, Lee Unkrich

IMDB Rating: 8.4/10

Rotten Tomato Rating: 97%

Notable Awards: Academy Award for Best Animated Feature Film, BAFTA Award for Best Animated Film, Golden Globe Award for Best Animated Feature Film

The OG movie of the world of animated movies, The Lion King has really been Hakuna matatying life with its strong plot, coming of age angle, and great characters like Timon and Pumba. We truly cherish this one as one of the best childhood memories and it just never gets old no matter how many times you go back to it.

Director: Jon Favreau

IMDB Rating: 8.5/10

Rotten Tomato Rating: 92%

Notable Awards: Academy Award for Best Music, Golden Globe Award for Best Original Score, Annie Award for Best Animated Feature

Bambi has the most amazing life lessons, and again a favorite coming-of-age animated feature. It critically analyses the human impact on wildlife and was an ahead of its time venture, while holding the ability to cozy up any given day. It also really has the old animated feel it has, and all its sequels are equally fun to watch too.

Directors: David Hand, Clyde Geronimi, James Algar

IMDB Rating: 7.3/10

Rotten Tomato Rating: 91%

Notable Awards: Golden Globes: In 1948, Walt Disney won the Special Award for his influence on the screen, the Hugo Award for Best Dramatic Presentation - Short Form

Milan is a solid attempt by Disney to subvert the princess movie tropes, and we love everything that they did with this one. It is diverse, and sheds light on Asian culture, bringing it to the centre. There is a challenging of gender norms, battles, carrying forward the father's legacy, and saving and protecting the king — everything you need in a princess movie.

Director: Niki Caro

IMDB Rating: 7.7/10

Rotten Tomato Rating: 86%

Notable Awards: People's Choice Award for Favorite Action Movie, Costume Designers Guild Award for Excellence in Fantasy Film

'You have got a friend in me', or maybe not, but this film has truly defined many childhoods. Friendships, love, toys, conflicting emotions, coming together and fighting for a greater cause — it has everything and can still make some of us cry. Plus, it makes the world of toys come alive, and that will always be the coolest thing for any kid, and it gets better with every part.

Director: John Lasseter

IMDB Rating: 8.3/10

Rotten Tomato Rating: 100%

Notable Awards: Special Achievement Academy Award, PGA Special Award of Merit

The landscape of this one is truly the best; the effects of Iceland and other details are absolutely magnificent. The loveable characters, with different quirks, band together to go on a noble adventure. It's a very solid plot, and this one is always a delight to watch. It teaches us kindness and humanity in the most impactful ways.

Director: Chris Wedge

IMDB Rating: 7.5/10

Rotten Tomato Rating: 77%

Notable Nominations: Best Animated Feature, BMI Film Music Award 

Lush green and colourful frames, a girl with a strong will to achieve something greater, and Dwayne Johnson as the voice of Maui —Moana is a one-of-a-kind Disney Princess movie. There is no love interest for the princess, and we love that. The soundtrack is one that you will keep humming with a classic quest trajectory and beautiful animations.

Directors: John Musker, Ron Clements

IMDB Rating: 7.6/10

Rotten Tomato Rating: 95%

Notable Awards: Bandung Film Festival for Imported Film, Annie Award for Voice Acting in a Feature Production, Annie Award for Outstanding Achievement

This one is a comfort movie, with all its prequels and sequels done to perfection. Steve Carrel's voice as Gru, along with the minions and 'The Girls, ' is absolutely perfect to brighten any day. The 'evil' Gru is an absolute soft-hearted father to the minions and Agnes, Edith, and Margo, and their adventures are a treat to watch. 

Directors: Pierre Coffin, Kyle Balda, Chris Renaud

IMDB Rating: 6.2/10

Rotten Tomato Rating: 80%

Notable Awards: Blimp Award for Favorite Animated Movie

This survival comedy is an iconic one —four animals decide to explore the fences beyond their zoo and end up planning their escape with four fugitive penguins, only to land in Madagascar amidst happy lemurs. The dialogue in this movie will send you on a laughing streak, and it's one of the movies to pick for fun sleepovers.

Directors: Tom McGrath, Eric Darnell

IMDB Rating: 6.9/10

Rotten Tomato Rating: 55%

Notable Awards: Blimp Award for Favorite Animated Movie, ASCAP Film and Television Music Award for Top Box Office Films