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 Disney film has been beloved of both children and adults for over 50 years. When Dalmatian couple Pongo and Perdita give birth to a litter of 15 purebred puppies, the fiendish Cruella de Vil steals them away to make a fur coat. From there, the chase is on. Pongo and Perdita, along with a network of memorable animal investigators, must track Cruella down to save their puppies — and pick up 84 new little ones in the bargain!

• Starring: Rod Taylor, Cate Bauer, Betty Lou Gerson
• Director: Clyde Geronimi, Wolfgang Reitherman, Hamilton Luske
• Year: 1961
• Runtime: 79 minutes
• Rating: G
• Rotten Tomatoes Score: 98%

This adaptation of the 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%

One of the most influential animated films in history, "Akira" takes place in the cyberpunk world of Neo-Tokyo. The innovative film follows biker gang leader Kaneda as he struggles to understand and defeat his best friend Tetsuo, whose burgeoning psychic powers are spinning out of control. It's a brutal and beautiful masterpiece that features an iconic transformation sequence and a tragically sympathetic supervillain. You'll never guess how it ends.

• Starring: Mitsuo Iwata, Nozomu Sasaki, Mami Koyama
• Director: Katsuhiro Otomo
• Year: 1988
• Runtime: 124 minutes
• Rating: R
• Rotten Tomatoes Score: 90%

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%

A classic from the early Disney decades, "Alice in Wonderland" brings Lewis Carroll's famously trippy children's story to life. We follow the titular main character down the rabbit hole and into a series of encounters with the ever-smiling Cheshire Cat, the eternally tardy White Rabbit, the chain-smoking Caterpillar, the nonsensical, tea-drinking duo of the Mad Hatter and the March Hare, and the cold-blooded Queen of Hearts. Unfortunately, that last lady is the only person who can send Alice home again.

• Starring: Kathryn Beaumont, Ed Wynn, Verna Felton
• Director: Clyde Geronimi, Wilfred Jackson, Hamilton Luske
• Year: 1951
• Runtime: 75 minutes
• Rating: G
• Rotten Tomatoes Score: 81%

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%

Everyone looks and sounds the same to motivational speaker Michael Stone — except, for some reason, Lisa, an odd young woman with whom he's rapidly becoming obsessed. If you're looking for a modern animated film for adults and are also into the idea of a penetrating exploration of the human psyche that could potentially break your brain, look no further than this stop-motion animated film from notorious brain-breaker Charlie Kaufman.

• Starring: David Thewlis, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Tom Noonan
• Director: Charlie Kaufman, Duke Johnson
• Year: 2015
• Runtime: 90 minutes
• Rating: R
• Rotten Tomatoes Score: 92%

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%

Belle, the inventor's daughter, is the only person in her small French village with any interest in the outside world. Her desire for adventure is fulfilled when she's trapped inside a hidden castle full of cursed inhabitants — a castle ruled by the terrifying, hideous Beast. Still considered Disney's greatest film by many, this romantic tale of curse-breaking and compassion will be celebrated for decades to come.

• Starring: Paige O'Hara, Robby Benson, Richard White
• Director: Gary Trousdale, Kirk Wise
• Year: 1991
• Runtime: 84 minutes
• Rating: G
• Rotten Tomatoes Score: 94%

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%

Princess Merida chafes against the restrictions placed upon her by medieval Scottish society. This brings her into conflict with her mother, Elinor, whom Merida unwittingly transforms into a bear. Horrified at what she's done, Merida must find a way to break the spell while repairing her fractured relationship with her mother and dealing with a massive demon bear named Mor'du. As touching as it is funny, "Brave" is the perfect mother-daughter movie for modern audiences.

• Starring: Kelly Macdonald, Emma Thompson, Billy Connolly
• Director: Mark Andrews, Brenda Chapman
• Year: 2012
• Runtime: 93 minutes
• Rating: PG
• Rotten Tomatoes Score: 78%

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%

A quarrelsome ant named Flik leaves his colony to find warriors who can fight off the band of grasshoppers who routinely shake the ants down for food. Unfortunately, he mistakes an insect circus troupe pretending to be warriors for the real thing. Flik must make use of their various talents and his own inventiveness to free his people and win the heart of Princess Atta. Pixar's second film isn't as widely celebrated as their first effort, "Toy Story," but it's just as good.

• Starring: Dave Foley, Kevin Spacey, Julia Louis-Dreyfus
• Director: John Lasseter
• Year: 1998
• Runtime: 95 minutes
• Rating: G
• Rotten Tomatoes Score: 92%

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%

By 2000, British animators Nick Park and Peter Lord had already found success with their fantastic animated shorts. "Chicken Run" proved they could make feature films, too. The story of a group of British chickens who plot their escape from a deadly farm (with the help of a somewhat disingenuous American rooster), it remains the highest-grossing stop-motion animated movie of all time. It's also an undisputed classic.

• Starring: Julia Sawalha, Mel Gibson, Miranda Richardson
• Director: Nick Park, Peter Lord
• Year: 2000
• Runtime: 84 minutes
• Rating: G
• Rotten Tomatoes Score: 97%

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%

Miguel dreams of becoming a musician, but his family will not allow it, due to a great betrayal suffered by his great-great-grandmother, Imelda. On the Day of the Dead, Miguel steals the guitar of his hero, Ernesto de la Cruz, and becomes trapped in the Land of the Dead. With the help of his deceased family members, he must solve the mystery of Imelda's betrayal and return to the world of the living before it's too late.

• Starring: Anthony Gonzalez, Gael Garcia Bernal, Benjamin Bratt
• Director: Lee Unkrich
• Year: 2017
• Runtime: 105 minutes
• Rating: PG
• 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%

Victor Van Dort is entering into an arranged marriage with the wealthy Victoria Everglot. In a shocking twist, they actually like each other! But when Victor goes off into the woods to practice his vows, he inadvertently finds himself married to the tragically undead Emily, who has no interest in releasing him. Tim Burton's signature style brings this film to whimiscal life (or, perhaps, to death) as Victor tries to return to his betrothed without breaking Emily's motionless heart.

• Starring: Johnny Depp, Helena Bonham Carter, Emily Watson
• Director: Tim Burton, Mike Johnson
• Year: 2005
• Runtime: 77 minutes
• Rating: PG
• Rotten Tomatoes Score: 84%

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%

Kuzco, a young Incan emperor, plans to destroy a nearby village for the sake of Kuzcotopia, the luxe summer retreat he's building to celebrate his birthday. When he's transformed into a llama by his scheming ex-adviser Yzma and her dim-witted henchman Kronk, however, he is forced to join forces with Pacha, the village leader. Together, they aim to foil Yzma's plans and make Kuzco human again — and possibly get him an attitude adjustment along the way. This is one of the most quotable films in the Disney canon.

• Starring: David Spade, John Goodman, Eartha Kitt
• Director: Mark Dindal
• Year: 2000
• Runtime: 78 minutes
• Rating: G
• Rotten Tomatoes Score: 86%

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%

When Mr. Fox, an ex-thief now struggling to stay on the straight-and-narrow as a husband, parent, and newspaper writer, gets on the bad side of three human farmers, he and his loved ones must team up to escape the farmers and find a new home. Based on a classic Roald Dahl story, this stop-motion film is considered to be among Wes Anderson's best-ever work.

• Starring: George Clooney, Meryl Streep, Jason Schwartzman
• Director: Wes Anderson
• Year: 2009
• Runtime: 87 minutes
• Rating: PG
• Rotten Tomatoes Score: 93%

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%

When young clownfish Nemo is captured by humans, his overprotective father Marlin embarks on a quest to find him. Along the way, he meets the forgetful Dory and a host of other colorful sea creatures. Meanwhile, Nemo plots an escape from his new aquarium with the help of its quirky inhabitants. Watching Nemo prove his competence despite his "lucky fin" is both sweet and inspiring — no wonder "Finding Nemo" remains one of Pixar's most beloved films.

• Starring: Albert Brooks, Ellen DeGeneres, Alexander Gould
• Director: Andrew Stanton
• Year: 2003
• Runtime: 100 minutes
• Rating: G
• Rotten Tomatoes Score: 99%

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%

In a futuristic Japan, the science of cybernetics has advanced to the point that the entire body can be replaced with technology. Major Motoko Kusanagi is defined by these advancements, as a human brain piloting an entirely artificial body. She regularly contemplates her own humanity (or lack thereof) as she attempts to track down a mysterious criminal known as the Puppet Master. Expertly exploring themes of identity and advancement, "Ghost in the Shell" is a must-watch for all sci-fi fans.

• Starring: Atsuko Tanaka, Akio Ōtsuka, Iemasa Kayumi
• Director: Mamoru Oshii
• Year: 1995
• Runtime: 82 minutes
• Rating: Not Rated
• Rotten Tomatoes Score: 96%

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%

Disney's 1997 adaptation of the story of Hercules might not get many points for mythological accuracy, but it's still a delightful romp. The child of Greek deities Zeus and Hera, Hercules is stolen away as a baby by the minions of Hades, the god of the underworld. Using a malicious potion, they magically strip him of his immortality, though he retains his godlike strength. After growing up as a human, Hercules realizes he must put an end to Hades' schemes and become a true hero in order to return to his family on Mount Olympus.

• Starring: Tate Donovan, Danny DeVito, James Woods
• Director: Ron Clements, John Musker
• Year: 1997
• Runtime: 93 minutes
• Rating: G
• Rotten Tomatoes Score: 84%

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 story of Hiccup and Toothless continues in this 2014 sequel, which sees the newly united community of Vikings and dragons threatened by the malevolent Drago Bludvist, who captures dragons and bends them to his will. Hiccup also discovers that his mother, long thought to be dead, is alive, and is as committed to living alongside dragons as he is.

• Starring: Jay Baruchel, America Ferrera, Cate Blanchett
• Director: Dean DeBlois
• Year: 2014
• Runtime: 102 minutes
• Rating: PG
• Rotten Tomatoes Score: 91%

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%

When a girl named Sophie is transformed into an old woman by a fearsome witch, she seeks out the mysterious wizard Howl, whose strange castle has the ability to travel between multiple locations. Taking up residence there, she bonds with Howl and his motley crew of associates, and tries to help him settle a conflict between two nations. Soon enough, she also embarks upon a quest to help Howl regain his lost heart. Hayao Miyazaki's personal favorite of his own films, this magical saga is filled with pacifist and feminist themes, along with a deep appreciation of the elderly.

• Starring: Chieko Baisho, Takuya Kimura, Akihiro Miwa
• Director: Hayao Miyazaki
• Year: 2004
• Runtime: 119 minutes
• Rating: PG
• Rotten Tomatoes Score: 87%

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%

One of the most beloved superhero films ever made, "The Incredibles" explores what it means to have superpowers in a world built for those without. Bob Parr, formerly known as Mr. Incredible, struggles to maintain a normal life in the wake of anti-superhero legislation. But when the nefarious Syndrome returns to take his revenge on Parr, the entire family has to suit up to stop him — all tastefully and practically costumed by breakout character and cultural icon Edna Mode, of course.

• Starring: Craig T. Nelson, Holly Hunter, Jason Lee
• Director: Brad Bird
• Year: 2004
• Runtime: 115 minutes
• Rating: PG
• Rotten Tomatoes Score: 97%

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%

What's actually happening inside your head when you feel emotions? The ambitious "Inside Out" attempts to answer this question by anthropomorphizing five core feelings — Joy, Sadness, Fear, Anger, and Disgust — who are portrayed as directly controlling human behavior. When 11-year-old Riley struggles with her family's cross-country move, her versions of Joy and Sadness are accidentally trapped in other parts of her psyche. The two opposites must learn to accept one another so they can help Riley work through her feelings and become a happier person.

• Starring: Amy Poehler, Phyllis Smith, Bill Hader
• Director: Pete Docter
• Year: 2015
• Runtime: 95 minutes
• Rating: PG
• Rotten Tomatoes Score: 98%

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%

Wes Anderson's second stop-motion animated film tells the story of a group of dogs banished from the Japanese city of Megasaki after an outbreak of canine influenza. When a 12-year-old boy named Atari arrives on the island they've been exiled to in search of his beloved dog, the stage is set for the canines' dramatic return — but Megasaki's corrupt mayor stands in their way. This film is a remarkable achievement in animation, despite the controversy surrounding its depiction of Japanese culture.

• Starring: Bryan Cranston, Jeff Goldblum, Edward Norton
• Director: Wes Anderson
• Year: 2018
• Runtime: 101 minutes
• Rating: PG-13
• Rotten Tomatoes Score: 90%

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%

One of the most complex and sophisticated kids' movies you're likely to encounter, "Kubo and the Two Strings" follows one-eyed Kubo, a 12-year-old living in feudal Japan, as he navigates the intricate web of transformation and betrayal surrounding his family's history. With the help of a magical Japanese shamisen, a monkey, and a stag beetle, Kubo must uncover his parents' secrets and defeat the seemingly unstoppable Moon King.

• Starring: Charlize Theron, Matthew McConaughey, Ralph Fiennes
• Director: Travis Knight
• Year: 2016
• Runtime: 102 minutes
• Rating: PG
• Rotten Tomatoes Score: 97%

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%

You might not realize it, but "The Land Before Time" has become a franchise spanning 14 films, the most recent of which came out in 2016. Still, there's nothing quite like the original flick. Produced by Steven Spielberg and George Lucas, among others, this animated adventure introduces dinosaur pals Littlefoot, Cera, Ducky, Petrie, and Spike as they attempt to reunite with their families by seeking out the legendary Great Valley.

• Starring: Gabriel Damon, Candace Hutson, Judith Barsi
• Director: Don Bluth
• Year: 1988
• Runtime: 69 minutes
• Rating: G
• Rotten Tomatoes Score: 70%

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%

What initially seemed to many adults like a cynical, nostalgia-centric cash cow revealed itself to be one of the best animated films in history. Set in a beautifully rendered world based on the classic Lego building toys, this movie follows Emmet, a regular construction worker with an unrelentingly cheery attitude who finds himself taking on the evil Lord Business. While the animation is stunning, the heart of the film lies in its incredibly moving live-action sequence, which brings all-new meaning to the classic toys.

• Starring: Chris Pratt, Will Ferrell, Elizabeth Banks
• Director: Phil Lord, Christopher Miller
• Year: 2014
• Runtime: 100 minutes
• Rating: PG
• Rotten Tomatoes Score: 96%

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%

Lilo, a young misfit being raised by her exhausted older sister, is looking for a dog when she visits the animal shelter. She ends up going home with a blue-skinned alien she names Stitch. The intelligent and super-strong creature wreaks havoc, raising the suspicions of a local social worker. But when it comes time to fight off the extraterrestrial forces that have tracked Stitch to Earth, everyone discovers what family really means.

• Starring: Chris Sanders, Daveigh Chase, Tia Carrere
• Director: Chris Sanders, Dean DeBlois
• Year: 2002
• Runtime: 85 minutes
• Rating: PG
• Rotten Tomatoes Score: 86%

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%

Rebellious teen mermaid Ariel is more interested in the human world than in life under the sea. She collects human trinkets, follows human ships, and eventually falls in love with the handsome Prince Eric. To realize her dreams, she makes a deal with the sea witch Ursula, giving up her voice in exchange for legs. The film that kicked off the Disney Renaissance, "The Little Mermaid" doesn't just hold up in its own right — it's directly responsible for the greatness that followed it.

• Starring: Jodi Benson, Christopher Daniel Barnes, Pat Carroll
• Director: John Musker, Ron Clements
• Year: 1989
• Runtime: 83 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%

It's one thing to develop new animation techniques. It's another thing to paint an entire movie. That's what Dorota Kobiela and Hugh Welchman achieve with "Loving Vincent," the world's first fully oil-painted film, which explores the legacy of Vincent Van Gogh. Framed around Van Gogh's letters to his brother Theo, this exquisite feature examines the artist's life and, more prominently, his tragic and complex death. This is certainly one of the most singular works in the animated canon, and one of the most beautiful.

• Starring: Helen McCrory, Saoirse Ronan, Chris O'Dowd
• Director: Dorota Kobiela, Hugh Welchman
• Year: 2017
• Runtime: 95 minutes
• Rating: PG-13
• Rotten Tomatoes Score: 84%

No matter how many animated features you've seen, you've never seen anything quite like "Mary & 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%

12-year-old genius Lewis gets caught up in an intricate time travel plot when he encounters Wilbur Robinson, a boy from the future who enlists him in finding a stolen time machine. Transported to a utopian future, Lewis is delighted to meet Wilbur's eccentric but charming family. Soon enough, however, he realizes that his relationships to both the Robinsons and the time machine thief are far more personal — and potentially more apocalyptic — than meets the eye.

• Starring: Daniel Hansen, Jordan Fry, Wesley Singerman
• Director: Stephen Anderson
• Year: 2007
• Runtime: 94 minutes
• Rating: G
• Rotten Tomatoes Score: 67%

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%

Moana is the daughter of the chief of Motunui, whose people never voyage beyond the reef surrounding their island home. When the fish they need to survive begin to die, Moana sets off on a quest to find the demigod Maui and restore the heart of the goddess Te Fiti — a charge laid on her by the ocean itself. This sweeping film features a compelling story, a wonderful set of songs, and a cast bursting with charm.

• Starring: Auli'i Cravalho, Dwayne Johnson, Rachel House
• Director: Ron Clements, John Musker
• Year: 2016
• Runtime: 107 minutes
• Rating: PG
• Rotten Tomatoes Score: 95%

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%

Fa Mulan is a spirited, troublesome girl living in imperial China, which has just been invaded by the Huns. When her elderly father is conscripted into the army as the only man in the family, Mulan disguises herself and takes his place. Training as a soldier under the command of Captain Li Shang is difficult, but with the help of a diminutive dragon named Mushu, Mulan becomes a formidable warrior. As the war escalates, she must save China from the Hun leader, Shan Yu — but will her secret be discovered in the process?

• Starring: Ming-Na Wen, Eddie Murphy, BD Wong
• Director: Barry Cook, Tony Bancroft
• Year: 1998
• Runtime: 87 minutes
• Rating: G
• Rotten Tomatoes Score: 86%

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%

In this stop-motion classic, Jack Skellington, leader of the monsters and nightmares of Halloween Town, has grown tired of his unchanging routine. To his delight, he accidentally discovers Christmas Town and decides to join the fun, declaring that this year's Christmas will be a Halloween Town production. He even goes so far as kidnapping Santa Claus and taking his place. But when Jack's Christmas doesn't go as planned and a traitor in his own citizenry emerges, he has to find a way to make things right.

• Starring: Chris Sarandon, Catherine O'Hara, Ken Page
• Director: Henry Selick
• Year: 1993
• Runtime: 76 minutes
• Rating: PG
• Rotten Tomatoes Score: 95%

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%

Iranian-born cartoonist Marjane Satrapi co-wrote and co-directed this animated adaptation of her celebrated graphic novel, which tells the story of her childhood in the wake of the Iranian Revolution. As the new regime makes life more and more narrow for the Satrapi family, little "Marji" is sent to Vienna. She proceeds to learn more about the world than ever before, comes close to death, and is forced to reconcile with her Iranian heritage.

• Starring: Chiara Mastroianni, Catherine Deneuve, Sean Penn
• Director: Marjane Satrapi, Vincent Paronnaud
• Year: 2007
• Runtime: 96 minutes
• Rating: PG-13
• Rotten Tomatoes Score: 96%

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%

Another splendid fairy tale from Hayao Miyazaki and Studio Ghibli, "Ponyo" tells the story of a young goldfish who encounters a human and decides to become human herself. This might sound a bit like "The Little Mermaid," and indeed, it is based on that classic story. But Ponyo's tale is very much its own thing. Gods, magic, natural catastrophes, and (as in Hans Christian Andersen's original tale) the ever-present threat of sea foam all menace Ponyo, who meets every challenge with a bold heart and unconquerable cheer.

• Starring: Tomoko Yamaguchi, Kazushige Nagashima, Yūki Amami
• Director: Hayao Miyazaki
• Year: 2008
• Runtime: 101 minutes
• Rating: G
• Rotten Tomatoes Score: 91%

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%

Another iconic Miyazaki tale, "Princess Mononoke" depicts the eternal conflict between nature and humanity. Iron Town, a settlement under the command of the ruthless Lady Eboshi, creates weapons of war. It has begun razing the nearby forest, prompting reprisal from the animal gods who dwell there, as well as the feral human warrior San. As the two sides do battle to determine whether the forest will be destroyed or spared, the cursed prince Ashitaka finds himself caught in the middle.

• Starring: Yōji Matsuda, Yuriko Ishida, Yūko Tanaka
• Director: Hayao Miyazaki
• Year: 1997
• Runtime: 133 minutes
• Rating: PG-13
• Rotten Tomatoes Score: 93%

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%

Kumandra, a fantasy world based on Southeast Asian culture and mythology, is split between five warring tribes. Each vies for control of a magical gem that repels the evil Druun, spirits that turn living beings to stone. When the gem is shattered during a conflict, the Druun return with devastating force. Raya of the Heart tribe must find Sisu, the last dragon, to save and unite the people of Kumandra. This film's intricate worldbuilding and astounding visuals make it a worthy member of the Disney pantheon.

• Starring: Kelly Marie Tran, Awkwafina, Izaac Wang
• Director: Don Hall, Carlos López Estrada
• Year: 2021
• Runtime: 107 minutes
• Rating: PG
• Rotten Tomatoes Score: 94%

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%

Brendan is a young boy living in an Irish abbey in the ninth century. When a monk named Brother Aidan arrives, Brendan seeks to help him create an illuminated manuscript called the Book of Kells (which actually exists), but to finish it, he must deal with wolves, fairies, Vikings, and dark gods. This lush feature employs a breathtaking visual design that invokes the style of ancient Celtic art.

• Starring: Evan McGuire, Brendan Gleeson, Christen Mooney
• Director: Tomm Moore, Nora Twomey
• Year: 2009
• Runtime: 75 minutes
• Rating: Not Rated
• Rotten Tomatoes Score: 90%

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%

In a land populated by fairy tale characters, Shrek the ogre just wants to be left alone in his swamp. When the actions of the ambitious Lord Farquaad threaten his solitude, however, Shrek (with the wise-cracking Donkey by his side) embarks on a quest to deliver Farquaad his intended bride, Princess Fiona. But Fiona is under a mysterious curse she's eager to keep secret — something that becomes increasingly difficult as the story marches on. DreamWorks Animation's crown jewel franchise brings entirely new meaning to "true love's kiss." Also, Smash Mouth!

• Starring: Mike Myers, Eddie Murphy, Cameron Diaz
• Director: Andrew Adamson, Vicky Jenson
• Year: 2001
• Runtime: 90 minutes
• Rating: PG
• Rotten Tomatoes Score: 88%

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%

In this Disney classic, Princess Aurora is cursed by the evil fairy Maleficent and taken away to live with a trio of good fairies for her own protection. Growing up ignorant of her royal parentage, Aurora nonetheless falls in love with her childhood betrothed, Prince Phillip. But when Maleficent's spell bears fiendish fruit, Phillip and the fairies must breach her dark castle, overcome her black magic, and wake Aurora from an enchanted sleep.

• Starring: Mary Costa, Bill Shirley, Eleanor Audley
• Director: Clyde Geronimi, Eric Larson, Les Clark, Wolfgang Reitherman
• Year: 1959
• Runtime: 75 minutes
• Rating: G
• Rotten Tomatoes Score: 89%

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%

Tomm Moore's second animated film drawn from Celtic folklore, "Song of the Sea" concerns itself with the selkie, the mythological half-human, half-seal creature who can shapeshift between the two forms. Ben blames his little sister Saoirse for their mother's apparent death, but things change when Ben discovers Saoirse's a selkie and their father forces them to move away from the sea. This endangers Saoirse's life, and places her within striking distance of the mysterious and deadly Macha, the owl witch. 

• Starring: David Rawle, Brendan Gleeson, Fionnula Flanagan
• Director: Tomm Moore
• Year: 2014
• Runtime: 94 minutes
• Rating: PG
• Rotten Tomatoes Score: 99%

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%

Considered by some to be the greatest animated film ever made, Hayao Miyazaki's "Spirited Away" tells the story of Chihiro, a young girl who stumbles into the world of spirits, where she becomes employed by the witch Yubaba. With the help of the mysterious Haku, the bizarre No-Face, and Yubaba's twin sister Zeniba, Chihiro (renamed Sen) must free both herself and her transformed parents before she forgets her true name and becomes trapped in the spirit world forever.

• Starring: Rumi Hiiragi, Miyu Irino, Mari Natsuki
• Director: Hayao Miyazaki
• Year: 2001
• Runtime: 125 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%

The superhero team known as the Teen Titans has a problem: Nobody takes them seriously. This is partially because they don't actually do very much crime-fighting, but mostly because they don't have their own movie. That's the premise for this absurdly hysterical animated musical that is somehow a cutting commentary on the superhero film craze and a cartoon spinoff. Also, Nicolas Cage plays Superman. Need we say more?

• Starring: Scott Menville, Hynden Walch, Tara Strong
• Director: Peter Rida Michail, Aaron Horvath
• Year: 2018
• Runtime: 84 minutes
• Rating: PG
• Rotten Tomatoes Score: 91%

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%

What happens when three homeless people stumble upon an abandoned baby on Christmas Eve? That's the question asked by "Tokyo Godfathers," a relentlessly heartwarming tale about poverty and family. Gin, Hana, and Miyuki are just trying to return the baby they found to her parents, but their quest proves more difficult than expected. Each of them is forced to confront the events that led to their homelessness, and not everyone they encounter is what they seem.

• Starring: Tooru Emori, Yoshiaki Umegaki, Aya Okamoto
• Director: Satoshi Kon
• Year: 2003
• Runtime: 92 minutes
• Rating: PG-13
• Rotten Tomatoes Score: 91%

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 film that launched a little studio called Pixar, "Toy Story" is a movie that will never get put away on a high shelf. As the favorite toy of young Andy, Woody the cowboy is the leader of Andy's collection of playthings. When new arrival Buzz Lightyear (who doesn't realize he's a toy) threatens Woody's status, their conflict inadvertently separates them from Andy. The unlikely pair must work together to make it back home.

• Starring: Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, Don Rickles
• Director: John Lasseter
• Year: 1995
• Runtime: 81 minutes
• Rating: G
• Rotten Tomatoes Score: 100%

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 Jessie, 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%

What happens to living toys when their owner grows up? That's the central question of "Toy Story 3," the franchise's darkest installment. As Andy prepares to leave for college, the toys' feelings of abandonment threaten to swallow them whole. A transfer to Sunnyside Daycare offers respite, but also new challenges like traumatic toddler playtime, the brainwashing of Buzz, and a sinister teddy bear who wants Andy's toys under his thumb. The film's notorious incinerator scene and heartfelt final moments will have you in tears.

• Starring: Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, Joan Cusack
• Director: Lee Unkrich
• Year: 2010
• Runtime: 103 minutes
• Rating: G
• Rotten Tomatoes Score: 98%

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%

Decades before the live-action Michael Bay films hit theaters, the warring robots known as Autobots and Decepticons had already graced the silver screen in 1986's "The Transformers: The Movie." A direct continuation of the popular cartoon show, it has possibly the most bizarre cast ever assembled (Judd Nelson? Eric Idle? Leonard Nimoy? Orson Welles?) and aimed to reset the table for the franchise moving forward. It pursues this goal by straight-up killing the series' most beloved characters and replacing them with new ones. This traumatized an entire generation and makes the movie into a fascinating artifact of cinematic history.

• Starring: Judd Nelson, Leonard Nimoy, Orson Welles
• Director: Nelson Shin
• Year: 1986
• Runtime: 85 minutes
• Rating: PG
• Rotten Tomatoes Score: 62%

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%

Carl Fredricksen has dreamed of adventure his entire life, but it's not until he's an old widower in an empty house that he actually has one. Seeking to fulfill a promise made to his wife, Carl launches his house into the air with the aid of thousands of balloons and begins his journey to Paradise Falls, accompanied by 8-year-old Russell and a talking dog. A quintessential film about life, death, grief, and redemption, "Up" will still be making grown adults cry for a very long time.

• Starring: Ed Asner, Christopher Plummer, Jordan Nagai
• Director: Pete Docter
• Year: 2009
• Runtime: 96 minutes
• Rating: PG
• Rotten Tomatoes Score: 98%

"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%

Come for the adorable protagonist, stay for the profound environmental message and robot love story. WALL-E is the last trash-compacting robot left on a post-apocalyptic Earth humanity has long abandoned. The robot's loneliness is broken by the arrival of EVE, a shiny bot built to assess the planet's environmental status. When WALL-E shows EVE a living plant, they are whisked away to a mothership containing the pampered remnants of humanity, who must be convinced that the time has come to return home.

• Starring: Ben Burtt, Elissa Knight, Jeff Garlin
• Director: Andrew Stanton
• Year: 2008
• Runtime: 97 minutes
• Rating: G
• Rotten Tomatoes Score: 95%

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%

One of the darkest animated films ever made, "Waltz with Bashir" is half dreamlike work of fiction, half autobiographical documentary. Israeli filmmaker Ari Folman crafts a narrative around his real-life efforts to regain his memories of the notorious Sabra and Shatila massacre. Folman attempts to process his guilt as a member of the Israeli Defense Forces, and grapple with the collective amnesia of a nation. What results is soul-shaking.

• Starring: Ari Folman, Miki Leon, Ori Sivan
• Director: Ari Folman
• Year: 2008
• Runtime: 90 minutes
• Rating: R
• Rotten Tomatoes Score: 96%

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%

In 17th century Ireland, hunter Bill Goodfellowe is brought in by the Lord Protector of Kilkenny to wipe out a wolf pack living in the nearby forest. While in the woods one day, Bill's daughter Robyn encounters Mebh, a young girl whose spirit assumes the form of a wolf as she sleeps. The girls bond, and Robyn becomes a wolfwalker herself. With the Lord Protector intent on burning the forest down, however, Robyn and Mebh must find a way to keep their families together and seek out a new home.

• Starring: Honor Kneafsey, Eva Whittaker, Sean Bean
• Director: Tomm Moore, Ross Stewart
• Year: 2020
• Runtime: 103 minutes
• Rating: PG
• Rotten Tomatoes Score: 99%

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%

High school students Mitsuha Miyamizu and Taki Tachibana share a unique bond: They've recently started switching bodies. As the pair, who have never met, figure out how to communicate and try to improve each other's lives, a relationship between them begins to form. But when Taki discovers that Mitsuha is in terrible danger, he must find a way to save her, despite the fact that they're separated by more than just distance.

• Starring: Ryunosuke Kamiki, Mone Kamishiraishi, Ryo Narita
• Director: Makoto Shinkai
• Year: 2016
• Runtime: 107 minutes
• Rating: PG
• Rotten Tomatoes Score: 98%

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%