98 Best Animated Movies Of All Time

There's something truly special about animated movies. While live-action cinema must conform to the boundaries of reality (for the most part, anyway), animation allows the imagination completely free reign. Visionaries like Walt Disney and Hayao Miyazaki put this to good use, transporting audiences to magical castles, distant planets, and worlds where toys have lives of their own. The ever-advancing development of new techniques and technologies keeps animation cutting-edge, while its widening field of creators, sub-genres, and approaches ensures its future. 

In celebration of the wide and wondrous world of feature animation, we're assembled this list of the 98 best animated movies of all time. Whether you're interested in tender fairy tales, stunning space sagas, or gut-wrenching explorations of war, this list has something you'll love.

Updated on October 18, 2021: In the fast-paced world of modern cinema, new animated classics are being created every day. This list will be updated on a quarterly basis, to keep you informed of all the latest and greatest animated movies.

This adaptation of Philip K. Dick's classic 1977 novel was shot as a live-action movie before Linklater's team of animators traced over it one frame at a time, using a technique known as interpolated rotoscoping. The result is a visually fascinating and deeply strange film that follows an undercover cop in a futuristic police force as he attempts to unearth the secrets of the mysterious drug known as Substance D. Simultaneously, he must avoid being dragged down into the dangerous world of addiction.

• Starring: Keanu Reeves, Robert Downey Jr., Woody Harrelson
• Director: Richard Linklater
• Year: 2006
• Runtime: 100 minutes
• Rating: R
• Rotten Tomatoes Score: 68%

When Aladdin, a daring street urchin from the desert city of Agrabah, gets caught up in the political machinations of the evil Jafar, he unexpectedly finds himself the master of an all-powerful (but magically caged) genie. That Genie is still the first character many people think of when they think of Robin Williams says it all. With the help of the Genie, a clever monkey, and a magic carpet, Aladdin woos Princess Jasmine and opposes Jafar in his effort to steal the throne.

• Starring: Robin Williams, Scott Weinger, Linda Larkin
• Director: John Musker, Ron Clements
• Year: 1992
• Runtime: 90 minutes
• Rating: G
• Rotten Tomatoes Score: 95%

Everyone who's ever seen it remembers the first time they watched "All Dogs Go to Heaven." The story of a canine con artist who scams his way back to Earth after being hit by a car, he unexpectedly forms a bond with a young orphan girl who can talk to animals. Be prepared to shed more than a few tears during this one, courtesy of legendary animator Don Bluth, and keep an eye out for the famous nightmare sequence.

• Starring: Burt Reynolds, Dom DeLuise, Judith Barsi
• Director: Don Bluth
• Year: 1989
• Runtime: 85 minutes
• Rating: G
• Rotten Tomatoes Score: 44%

Walt Disney's fifth animated feature is one that has stood the test of time, depicting the life of a young deer in the forest. He is born, learns to walk and talk, falls in love, and eventually takes up his father's mantle as Great Prince of the Forest. The thing everyone remembers, of course, is the death of Bambi's mother, which left a long-standing emotional scar on the collective childhood of an entire generation. If that's all you remember of this dreamy flick, however, then it's time to revisit it.

• Starring: John Sutherland, Sam Edwards, Paula Winslowe
• Director: David Hand
• Year: 1942
• Runtime: 70 minutes
• Rating: G
• Rotten Tomatoes Score: 90%

In the futuristic city of San Fransokyo, 14-year-old genius Hiro Hamada must stop a vengeful villain who has stolen his invention and is responsible for the death of his brother. To do this, he puts together a team of science-themed superheroes. The most memorable of their number is Baymax, an almost unbearably adorable medical robot. This is absolutely the cutest superhero movie you're ever likely to watch.

• Starring: Scott Adsit, Ryan Potter, Daniel Henney
• Director: Don Hall, Chris Williams
• Year: 2014
• Runtime: 102 minutes
• Rating: PG
• Rotten Tomatoes Score: 90%

Ireland's Cartoon Saloon studio has emerged as a major player in the world of animated film in recent years, in large part because of films like "The Breadwinner." Co-produced by Angelina Jolie, this stirring film tells the story of a young girl in Afghanistan who is forced to dress as a boy to support her family after her father is arrested by the Taliban. If you like your animation dramatic, inspirational, and grounded in reality, this one's for you.

• Starring: Saara Chaudry, Soma Bhatia, Ali Badshah
• Director: Nora Twomey
• Year: 2017
• Runtime: 94 minutes
• Rating: PG-13
• Rotten Tomatoes Score: 95%

Lightning McQueen is an up-and-coming racecar with dreams of fame and glory. When he accidentally gets stuck in the small town of Radiator Springs on his way to the Piston Cup championship, however, he learns that there's a lot more to life than winning — especially when you have friends around you. An underrated gem, "Cars" has a ton of heart, not to mention one of the best sports movie endings ever put to film.

• Starring: Owen Wilson, Paul Newman, Bonnie Hunt
• Director: John Lasseter
• Year: 2006
• Runtime: 117 minutes
• Rating: G
• Rotten Tomatoes Score: 74%

Another fairy tale adaptation from the early days of Disney, this story is one that pretty much everyone knows: A girl living with her abusive stepmother and stepsisters is magically transformed by her fairy godmother just in time for the prince's ball. Unfortunately, when the clock strikes midnight, she's forced to flee. This leaves the prince to track her down with the glass slipper she left behind. The Disney version, like the original story itself, still holds up today.

• Starring: Ilene Woods, Eleanor Audley, Verna Felton
• Director: Clyde Geronimi, Wilfred Jackson, Hamilton Luske
• Year: 1950
• Runtime: 74 minutes
• Rating: G
• Rotten Tomatoes Score: 97%

Coraline Jones' parents don't have time for her, so she spends most of her days exploring her new home. That's how she discovers a door to another world, featuring more attentive and loving versions of her parents who happen to have buttons for eyes. As you might expect from a movie based on a Neil Gaiman story, not everything is as it seems in this creepily beautiful stop-motion film.

• Starring: Dakota Fanning, Teri Hatcher, Keith David
• Director: Henry Selick
• Year: 2009
• Runtime: 100 minutes
• Rating: PG
• Rotten Tomatoes Score: 90%

In the film that introduced the world to the cylindrical yellow fan favorites known as the Minions, long-suffering supervillain Gru has concocted a plan that will allow him to steal the moon. As it turns out, that plan involves adopting three young girls. Gru is soon forced to choose between completing his dastardly plan and being a good dad. No matter how you feel about the Minions craze, "Despicable Me" is worth breaking some rules to see.

• Starring: Steve Carell, Jason Segel, Russell Brand
• Director: Pierre Coffin, Chris Renaud
• Year: 2010
• Runtime: 95 minutes
• Rating: PG
• Rotten Tomatoes Score: 81%

Disney's third cartoon feature is a breathtaking anthology of animated sequences set to classic music. Timeless pieces including Tchaikovsky's "Nutcracker Suite," Stravinsky's "Rite of Spring," and Dukas' "The Sorcerer's Apprentice" (which stars Mickey Mouse in the title role) are imagined as spectacles of color and motion. The incredible "Night on Bald Mountain" vignette concludes the saga, featuring the unforgettably sinister demon Chernabog.

• Starring: Leopold Stokowski, Deems Taylor
• Director: James Algar, Samuel Armstrong, Ford Beebe, Norman Ferguson, David Hand, Jim Handley, T. Hee, Wilfred Jackson, Hamilton Luske, Bill Roberts, Paul Satterfield, Ben Sharpsteen
• Year: 1940
• Runtime: 126 minutes
• Rating: G
• Rotten Tomatoes Score: 95%

On the planet Ygam, humans (called "Oms") are both pets and pests to the enormous blue-skinned Traags. When an Om named Terr manages to gain a Traag education and escape with some of their technology, he leads a group of free Oms in a revolution against the Traags. Their goal is to make a new home on Ygam's moon, known as the Fantastic Planet. This French film is decades old, but you've still likely never seen such imaginative science fiction rendered so beautifully.

• Starring: Jennifer Drake, Eric Baugin, Jean Topart
• Director: René Laloux
• Year: 1973
• Runtime: 71 minutes
• Rating: PG
• Rotten Tomatoes Score: 91%

The land of Arendelle becomes locked in eternal winter after an argument between its orphaned royals, Anna and Elsa, causes Elsa's latent magical powers to burst free. With the help of the wise-cracking Kristoff, his reindeer Sven, and a magical snowman named Olaf, Anna must find a way to reconnect with her emotionally damaged sister to restore Arendelle and prevent an usurper from seizing the throne. The movie that launched both a new era of princess trope self-awareness and a million renditions of "Let It Go" still sparkles like an ice sculpture.

• Starring: Kristen Bell, Idina Menzel, Jonathan Groff
• Director: Chris Buck, Jennifer Lee
• Year: 2013
• Runtime: 102 minutes
• Rating: PG
• Rotten Tomatoes Score: 90%

If you're looking for an animated tear-jerker, you can't go wrong with a film that opens with one of the main character's deaths. "Grave of the Fireflies" is told in flashback, chronicling the story of 14-year-old Seita and his younger sister Setsuko as they live through the final few months of World War II. There are no comfortable fictions here: Seita and Setsuko lose their mother in a firebombing, battle malnutrition, and struggle to find even the most basic shelter. What results is a powerful rumination on the nature of war and death.

• Starring: Tsutomu Tatsumi, Ayano Shiraishi, Yoshiko Shinohara
• Director: Isao Takahata
• Year: 1988
• Runtime: 89 minutes
• Rating: Not Rated
• Rotten Tomatoes Score: 100%

The "How to Train Your Dragon" franchise is one of DreamWorks Animation's most successful series, and it all started with the first film in 2010. Loosely based on a children's book with the same title, this movie follows teenage Viking Hiccup Haddock as he befriends and trains a dragon named Toothless, despite the mutual animosity between dragons and his village. Relentlessly heartwarming, you can't go wrong with this feel-good story about friendship, prejudice, and disability.

• Starring: Jay Baruchel, America Ferrera, Gerard Butler
• Director: Chris Sanders, Dean DeBlois
• Year: 2010
• Runtime: 98 minutes
• Rating: PG
• Rotten Tomatoes Score: 99%

The "How to Train Your Dragon" series comes to a bittersweet conclusion as Hiccup's Viking/dragon utopia is besieged by ruthless dragon hunter Grimmel the Grisly. In addition to preventing Grimmel from killing Toothless (who has found a mate), Hiccup and the Vikings must find a new home, both for themselves and for their dragons. This means they must reconcile themselves to the fact that those homes might not be in the same place.

• Starring: Jay Baruchel, America Ferrera, Jonah Hill
• Director: Dean DeBlois
• Year: 2019
• Runtime: 104 minutes
• Rating: PG
• Rotten Tomatoes Score: 90%

A French film about fate and tragedy, "I Lost My Body" follows an inexplicably animated severed hand as it attempts to return to the rest of its body — in this case, a young man named Naoufel. The story leading up to the loss of Naoufel's hand is told in flashbacks, as he pursues a woman named Gabrielle and struggles with his parents' death. But the real star of the film is the hand itself, whose journey provokes an astounding degree of sympathy without a single line of dialogue.

• Starring: Hakim Faris, Victoire du Bois, Patrick d'Assumçao
• Director: Jérémy Clapin
• Year: 2019
• Runtime: 81 minutes
• Rating: Not Rated
• Rotten Tomatoes Score: 96%

Like its predecessor, "Incredibles 2" is a film about family and superheroes. But this time, the narrative centers around the heroic adventures of Helen Parr, aka Elastigirl, while Bob is hilariously stuck at home with his superpowered kids. In the end, of course, the whole Parr family (along with family friend Frozone) must spring into action to stop the sinister Screenslaver and finally restore the reputation of superheroes in the public eye.

• Starring: Craig T. Nelson, Holly Hunter, Sarah Vowell
• Director: Brad Bird
• Year: 2018
• Runtime: 118 minutes
• Rating: PG
• Rotten Tomatoes Score: 93%

You'd be hard-pressed to find a child of the 1990s who wasn't emotionally devastated by "The Iron Giant." This beautiful, heartbreaking film put director Brad Bird on the map. Young Hogarth Hughes, a child of the Cold War, stumbles upon an enormous alien war machine, only to discover that it is friendly and lacking any memory of its past. Hogarth quickly bonds with the almost painfully cute robot, and must find a way to save it from paranoid agents of the U.S. military.

• Starring: Jennifer Aniston, Harry Connick Jr., Vin Diesel
• Director: Brad Bird
• Year: 1999
• Runtime: 87 minutes
• Rating: PG
• Rotten Tomatoes Score: 96%

Based on the classic book by Rudyard Kipling, Disney's 19th animated feature — the last to be produced by Walt Disney himself — has become the definitive version of the story for most filmgoers. Orphaned child Mowgli, who has been raised by the jungle's beasts, is forced to consider returning to humanity after the fearsome tiger Shere Khan arrives. Still a classic after all these decades, this movie features at least two of Disney's most enduring musical numbers and a legendary performance from Phil Harris as Baloo the bear.

• Starring: Phil Harris, Sebastian Cabot, George Sanders
• Director: Wolfgang Reitherman
• Year: 1967
• Runtime: 78 minutes
• Rating: G
• Rotten Tomatoes Score: 88%

Earnest but incompetent Po, an anthropomorphic panda living in ancient China, finds himself training alongside the Furious Five, an elite band of kung fu warriors. He is, apparently, destined to become the prophesied Dragon Warrior — a fact that causes no end of consternation for Master Shifu, his new instructor. But when the ruthless snow leopard Tai Lung escapes from captivity and defeats the Furious Five, Shifu must find a way to turn Po into a master martial artist.

• Starring: Jack Black, Dustin Hoffman, Angelina Jolie
• Director: John Stevenson, Mark Osborne
• Year: 2008
• Runtime: 92 minutes
• Rating: PG
• Rotten Tomatoes Score: 87%

It's rare that a novelist also writes the film adaptation of their work, but that's what you get with Peter S. Beagle's "The Last Unicorn." This dreamy fantasy tale follows a unicorn who seeks the rest of her kind. While the movie's animation style is unconventional compared to many of its contemporaries, its brilliant script and truly phenomenal cast of voice actors bring the unicorn's story to dazzling life.

• Starring: Mia Farrow, Alan Arkin, Christopher Lee
• Director: Jules Bass, Arthur Rankin Jr.
• Year: 1982
• Runtime: 93 minutes
• Rating: G
• Rotten Tomatoes Score: 73%

The magic that makes "The Lego Movie" more than just the sum of its parts continues in its spinoff film, starring Will Arnett's self-absorbed Lego Batman. A deconstruction that manages to explore the title character's central trauma better than most live-action films, this caper centers around Batman hurting the Joker's feelings. In response, the Joker formulates a master plan that has to be seen to be believed. Batman himself, meanwhile, must learn to deal with his issues, and eventually embrace his newfound family.

• Starring: Will Arnett, Zach Galifianakis, Michael Cera
• Director: Chris McKay
• Year: 2017
• Runtime: 104 minutes
• Rating: PG
• Rotten Tomatoes Score: 90%

Simba is born to be king of Pride Rock, but ends up in self-imposed exile due to the schemes of the power-hungry Scar. When it comes time to return, Simba must face his fears and team up with an unusual assortment of friends and allies to take back his homeland. Considered by some to be the best animated film ever made, "The Lion King" is peak Disney, combining the studio's trademark storytelling, superb animation, wonderful performances, and timeless musical numbers.

• Starring: Matthew Broderick, James Earl Jones, Jeremy Irons
• Director: Roger Allers, Rob Minkoff
• Year: 1994
• Runtime: 88 minutes
• Rating: G
• Rotten Tomatoes Score: 93%

The original cinematic adaptation of J.R.R. Tolkien's legendary series, Ralph Bakshi's "The Lord of the Rings" remains a must-watch, even in the wake of Peter Jackson's celebrated live-action trilogy. It's beyond impressive to see the world of Middle-Earth and the story of Frodo Baggins, an everyday hobbit charged with destroying an evil ring in the fires of faraway Mount Doom, successfully realized with 1978's animation techniques. Don't let anyone tell you this film isn't iconic.

• Starring: Christopher Guard, William Squire, John Hurt
• Director: Ralph Bakshi
• Year: 1978
• Runtime: 133 minutes
• Rating: PG
• Rotten Tomatoes Score: 52%

No matter how many animated features you've seen, you've never seen anything quite like "Mary and Max." This Australian stop-motion film follows two people who write letters to one another for more than 20 years, yet never meet in person. Mary is a lonely, neglected child in Australia, while Max is an isolated older man with Asperger's syndrome in New York City. The heartwarming and heartbreaking tale of their long-distance friendship is an experience you'll never forget.

• Starring: Toni Collette, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Eric Bana
• Director: Adam Elliot
• Year: 2009
• Runtime: 90 minutes
• Rating: Not Rated
• Rotten Tomatoes Score: 95%

College-bound filmmaker Katie Mitchell doesn't have a lot in common with her dad Rick, who prefers nature to technology. In an effort to repair their relationship, Rick takes the entire Mitchell family on a cross-country road trip ... and drives them right into the middle of the robot apocalypse. This electric feature received immediate acclaim for its warm-hearted plot, inventive animation, and LGBTQ representation.

• Starring: Abbi Jacobson, Danny McBride, Maya Rudolph
• Director: Mike Rianda
• Year: 2021
• Runtime: 114 minutes
• Rating: PG
• Rotten Tomatoes Score: 98%

In Monstropolis, a city powered by the screams of human children, Mike Wazowski and James "Sulley" Sullivan are professional scarers. This means they venture through interdimensional doors to kids' bedrooms to terrify them and harness the energy they generate. When a young girl inadvertently walks out of her own world and into Monstropolis, however, Mike and Sulley must protect her, while also figuring out a way to solve the city's energy crisis. Their eventual solution provides a surprisingly profound commentary on the modern world.

• Starring: John Goodman, Billy Crystal, Steve Buscemi
• Director: Pete Docter
• Year: 2001
• Runtime: 92 minutes
• Rating: G
• Rotten Tomatoes Score: 96%

Beautiful and surreal, Studio Ghibli's signature film follows a pair of sisters named Satsuki and Mei. They encounter a strange but friendly spirit they call Totoro, whose visual design is absolutely unforgettable. The girls are exposed to several marvelous things, including a giant cat that's actually a bus, a flying top, and a handful of magical seeds, while Totoro and his fellow spirits help them deal with their mother's hospitalization.

• Starring: Chika Sakamoto, Noriko Hidaka, Hitoshi Takagi
• Director: Hayao Miyazaki
• Year: 1988
• Runtime: 86 minutes
• Rating: G
• Rotten Tomatoes Score: 94%

Another winner from Laika, "ParaNorman" tells the story of 11-year-old Norman Babcock, an undeniably strange kid whose parents don't know what to do with him. There's a reason Norman is so odd: He can see and speak with the dead. His ability isolates him from the community of the living and exposes him to frequent bullying, but it definitely comes in handy when the spirit of a vengeful witch returns and brings the dead to life.

• Starring: Kodi Smit-McPhee, Tucker Albrizzi, Anna Kendrick
• Director: Sam Fell, Chris Butler
• Year: 2012
• Runtime: 92 minutes
• Rating: PG
• Rotten Tomatoes Score: 89%

Geppetto the woodcarver's wish comes true when his puppet Pinocchio is magically brought to life. But in order to truly become human, the animated puppet must complete a journey that includes exploitation by the ruthless Stromboli, the curse of Pleasure Island, and an encounter with an enormous whale. Disney's second animated feature, "Pinocchio" has left an indelible mark on popular culture, from its unforgettable songs to its portrayal of wishing on a star.

• Starring: Dick Jones, Cliff Edwards, Christian Rub
• Director: Ben Sharpsteen, Hamilton Luske
• Year: 1940
• Runtime: 88 minutes
• Rating: G
• Rotten Tomatoes Score: 100%

Tiana, a hard-working young woman of 1920s New Orleans, dreams of opening her own restaurant. But when she kisses a talking frog after he begs her to turn him back into a prince, she ends up becoming a frog herself. This derails her plans, and also kicks off a delightful re-interpretation of the original story chronicled by the Brothers Grimm. Tiana and Prince Naveen must undo their mutual curse and foil the schemes of the sinister Dr. Facilier before its too late, while also dealing with their growing feelings for each other.

• Starring: Anika Noni Rose, Bruno Campos, Keith David
• Director: Ron Clements, John Musker
• Year: 2009
• Runtime: 97 minutes
• Rating: G
• Rotten Tomatoes Score: 85%

Remy is an unusual rat: Unlike his fellow scavengers, he has a refined palate, and aspires to become a chef. He gets his chance when an accident of fate pairs him up with the hapless Alfredo Linguini, a garbage boy at a high-class Parisian restaurant. With Remy pulling the strings (by pulling Alfredo's hair), Alfredo becomes a celebrated chef. But they still have to impress an imposing food critic, and sooner or later, somebody is going to find out about the rats in the kitchen ...

• Starring: Patton Oswalt, Ian Holm, Lou Romano
• Director: Brad Bird
• Year: 2007
• Runtime: 111 minutes
• Rating: G
• Rotten Tomatoes Score: 96%

With England's King Richard off fighting in the Crusades, his cruel brother Prince John has assumed the throne. The only one with the courage to contest him is the outlaw known as Robin Hood, who steals from the rich and gives to the poor with the help of companions like Little John, Friar Tuck, and Maid Marian. Of course, in this version, they're all forest creatures. Don't let the bizarrely low Rotten Tomatoes score fool you — Disney's anthropomorphic animal adaptation of this classic tale is one of the studio's greatest productions.

• Starring: Brian Bedford, Peter Ustinov, Phil Harris
• Director: Wolfgang Reitherman
• Year: 1973
• Runtime: 83 minutes
• Rating: G
• Rotten Tomatoes Score: 54%

When Mrs. Brisby, a widowed mouse, embarks on a quest to cure her young son's pneumonia, she must seek the help of the intelligent and technologically advanced rats of NIMH, who are looking for a new home. Despite numerous dangers — a terrifying cat, an unpredictable farmer, and a betrayal from within, among others — Mrs. Brisby and the rats (along with a clumsy crow) work together to achieve their goals.

• Starring: Elizabeth Hartman, John Carradine, Dom DeLuise
• Director: Don Bluth
• Year: 1982
• Runtime: 82 minutes
• Rating: G
• Rotten Tomatoes Score: 93%

It's not every day you find a movie that's one-third autobiography, one-third contemporary discourse on the "Ramayana," and one-third musical. What's more, the titular Sita sings 1920s Annette Hanshaw jazz numbers, and the film is rendered in three wildly different visual styles. Creator Nina Paley attempts to unravel the dissolution of her marriage by drawing comparisons to the "Ramayana," while also examining the portrayal of women throughout history. What results is an utterly unique work of art. You've never seen anything like "Sita Sings the Blues" before.

• Starring: Sanjiv Jhaveri, Nina Paley, Reena Shah
• Director: Nina Paley
• Year: 2008
• Runtime: 82 minutes
• Rating: Not Rated
• Rotten Tomatoes Score: 100%

The very first animated feature film from Walt Disney kicked off an unprecedented cinematic dynasty that endures to this day. An adaptation of the classic German fairy tale (setting the tone for the majority of Disney's early animated work), "Snow White" still shines as brilliantly as the day it debuted. The evil queen, magic mirror, repentant huntsman, friendly animals, and of course, the seven dwarfs are just as magical as you remember them being. Watch it with all the nostalgia your heart can withstand.

• Starring: Adriana Caselotti, Lucille La Verne, Harry Stockwell
• Director: David Hand
• Year: 1937
• Runtime: 83 minutes
• Rating: G
• Rotten Tomatoes Score: 98%

In a theatrical landscape dominated by live-action superhero films, this animated feature manages to stand above the rest. Miles Morales barely notices when he's bitten by a radioactive spider, but he definitely notices that he suddenly has the same powers as Spider-Man. He's not the only one — this dimension-hopping, franchise-expanding film incorporates numerous versions of the iconic character, including a giant robot and a cartoon pig. Out of this mayhem comes meaning: "Into the Spider-Verse" is a heartfelt coming-of-age masterpiece, and will be remembered as such for decades to come.

• Starring: Shameik Moore, Jake Johnson, Mahershala Ali
• Director: Bob Persichetti, Peter Ramsey, Rodney Rothman
• Year: 2018
• Runtime: 117 minutes
• Rating: PG
• Rotten Tomatoes Score: 97%

The story of Rapunzel got a brand-new twist in 2010 when "Tangled" added the handsome Flynn Rider, the relentless Maximus, and one seriously impressive frying pan to the classic tale. The traditional story of the girl with miles of hair trapped in a tower remains the same, but the touching and hilarious plot goes further than the original yarn would ever dare, proving that some stories can benefit from the occasional update.

• Starring: Mandy Moore, Zachary Levi, Donna Murphy
• Director: Nathan Greno, Byron Howard
• Year: 2010
• Runtime: 100 minutes
• Rating: PG
• Rotten Tomatoes Score: 89%

If you're into post-apocalyptic science fiction, you can't go wrong with a movie that opens with the Earth blowing up. "Titan A.E." follows Cale Tucker as he's snatched up by a crew of miscreants seeking to ward off the death of humanity. Their plan: Create a new Earth with technology from the lost spaceship Titan, a craft only Cale can locate. Their opposition: A race of remorseless aliens made of pure energy. The cast and visual style alone makes this one a must-see.

• Starring: Matt Damon, Bill Pullman, Drew Barrymore
• Director: Don Bluth, Gary Goldman
• Year: 2000
• Runtime: 94 minutes
• Rating: PG
• Rotten Tomatoes Score: 50%

In 1966, shots rang out across the campus of the University of Texas at Austin. A gunman had taken a position on the top floor of the campus' Main Building tower, and by the time his rampage ended, 16 people were dead. "Tower" is a documentary film covering the events of that fateful day, with rotoscoping techniques used to animate over the documentary footage. This unique approach creates a remarkably effective work of nonfiction. It's a testament to animation's range, and an unforgettable exploration of trauma.

• Starring: Violett Beane, Blair Jackson, Chris Doubek
• Director: Keith Maitland
• Year: 2016
• Runtime: 82 minutes
• Rating: Not Rated
• Rotten Tomatoes Score: 99%

The world of anthropomorphic toys expands outward in "Toy Story 2," which tackles the wide, weird world of toy collectors. When Woody is abducted by one such collector, he discovers he's actually part of a set alongside cowgirl Jesse, horse Bullseye, and prospector Stinky Pete. Buzz Lightyear leads a daring rescue mission, but Woody's fate is ultimately in his own hands: With a future in a Tokyo toy museum on offer, he must decide if he'd rather be played with or preserved.

• Starring: Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, Joan Cusack
• Director: John Lasseter
• Year: 1999
• Runtime: 92 minutes
• Rating: G
• Rotten Tomatoes Score: 100%

Woody, Buzz, and the rest of the toys have found a new owner, but little Bonnie doesn't seem terribly interested in playing with an old cowboy. When Woody encounters his former flame, Bo Peep, who was lost years before, he's forced to ask himself who he is outside the context of a child's bedroom. Also, a plastic spork has an existential crisis, which is worth the price of admission by itself.

• Starring: Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, Annie Potts
• Director: Josh Cooley
• Year: 2019
• Runtime: 100 minutes
• Rating: G
• Rotten Tomatoes Score: 97%

This delightfully surreal film follows Madame Souza and her grandson Champion, a promising cyclist who gets kidnapped while competing in the Tour de France. Souza and Champion's dog, Bruno, must travel to a grotesque caricature of America to rescue Champion with the help of the famed Triplets of Belleville. If you're in the mood for something experimental, check this one out — the movie features a resplendently exaggerated animation style and a near-total absence of dialogue.

• Starring: Béatrice Bonifassi, Lina Boudreault, Michel Robin
• Director: Sylvain Chomet
• Year: 2003
• Runtime: 78 minutes
• Rating: PG-13
• Rotten Tomatoes Score: 94%

"Waking Life" is film without a plot. Rather, it's a series of disconnected scenes, each shot with digital video before being animated over by a diverse team of artists in an array of different styles. These scenes each feature characters contemplating some sort of scientific or philosophical dilemma. The only thread running all the way through is the unnamed protagonist, who appears to be stuck in a never-ending dream ... or possibly dead. It's unlike anything you've ever seen before, and you'll never forget the experience of watching it.

• Starring: Wiley Wiggins, Ethan Hawke, Julie Delpy
• Director: Richard Linklater
• Year: 2001
• Runtime: 101 minutes
• Rating: R
• Rotten Tomatoes Score: 81%

The only feature film to star Nick Park's legendary claymation characters, "The Curse of the Were-Rabbit" sees cheerful inventor Wallace and his silently sardonic dog Gromit run a humane pest control operation. After one of Wallace's schemes goes awry, however, a monstrous rabbit begins devouring vegetables all over town. It's up to our heroic duo to discover the rabbit's true identity and stop its ravenous rampage.

• Starring: Peter Sallis, Ralph Fiennes, Helena Bonham Carter
• Director: Nick Park, Steve Box
• Year: 2005
• Runtime: 85 minutes
• Rating: G
• Rotten Tomatoes Score: 95%

The animated adaptation of Richard Adams' 1972 novel draws viewers into a world where rabbits have their own language, culture, and religion — and occasionally, supernatural powers. When prophetic Fiver foresees doom coming to the warren, he and a band of his fellow rabbits embark on a dangerous journey to the legendary hill, Watership Down. A grim tearjerker that nonetheless ends on a hopeful note, "Watership Down" is required viewing for anyone wishing to revisit childhood scars — or make some new ones.

• Starring: John Hurt, Richard Briers, Michael Graham Cox
• Director: Martin Rosen
• Year: 1978
• Runtime: 102 minutes
• Rating: PG
• Rotten Tomatoes Score: 82%

Wreck-It Ralph is the villain of the arcade game "Fix-It Felix, Jr." This gig isn't representative of his real personality, but the game's other characters shun him regardless. Determined to win the respect of his peers, Ralph sets his sights on acquiring a medal. This journey takes him out of his own arcade cabinet and into "Sugar Rush," a racing game that isn't exactly what it seems. With the help of precocious Vanellope von Schweetz, Ralph must become a true hero and save both games from destruction.

• Starring: John C. Reilly, Sarah Silverman, Jack McBrayer
• Director: Rich Moore
• Year: 2012
• Runtime: 101 minutes
• Rating: PG
• Rotten Tomatoes Score: 87%

Predator and prey team up in this buddy cop movie set in the animal paradise of Zootopia. When ambitious rabbit Judy Hopps makes it onto the Zootopia police force, she's discouraged to find herself the subject of prejudice, based on her species. In a desperate attempt to keep her job by solving a kidnapping case, Judy enlists the help of con artist Nick Wilde, who reluctantly agrees. Soon enough, they find themselves tangled in a knot of conspiracy and deceit. This unlikely duo will have to learn how to get along if they want to restore justice to Zootopia.

• Starring: Ginnifer Goodwin, Jason Bateman, Idris Elba
• Director: Byron Howard, Rich Moore
• Year: 2016
• Runtime: 108 minutes
• Rating: PG
• Rotten Tomatoes Score: 98%