The Most Loved Animated Movies, From Disney Classics To Modern Favorites

2009 | 1h 36m | Directed by Pete Docter and Bob Peterson

Up is the heartwarming story of an old widower man who takes his house on a wild flight to South America after tying thousands of balloons to it to fulfill a promise he made to his late wife, Ellie. The opening sequence alone, where the studio retraces the entire life story of Carl and Ellie, will make you laugh and cry at the same time.

1994 | 1h 28m | Directed by Roger Allers and Rob Minkoff

Many of Disney’s most beloved animated films are also some of their most memorable musicals. The Lion King is one such example. It’s a classic story of good against evil, with Simba, the son of a murdered king, struggling to come to terms with his future as king himself, all set to an outstanding soundtrack that you’ll be singing for days!

1995 | 1h 21m | Directed by John Lasseter

The first feature-length computer-animated film and the first feature film produced by Pixar, Toy Story became a blockbuster hit when it was released in 1995. It received widespread critical acclaim, earning three Academy Award nominations (including Best Original Screenplay) and winning a Special Achievement Academy Award for its visual effects. Toy Story is a hilarious and heartwarming tale of an old-fashioned cowboy doll named Woody and his rivalry with space ranger Buzz Lightyear for the affections of their young owner, Andy.

2001 | 1h 32m | Directed by Pete Docter, David Silverman, and Lee Unkrich
 

One of the first Pixar movies ever made, and it’s still everything you want in a family film: hilarious, imaginative, heartwarming, and altogether dazzling in its animation. The world of Monstropolis is so well-conceived that you know how it all works before the characters have to explain it to you. And the relationship between Mike and Sulley is so genuine that it feels like an extension of the fondness we feel for our own best friends!

2003 | 1h 40m | Directed by Andrew Stanton and Lee Unkrich

A beloved film among the top animated movies! Finding Nemo is a beautiful animated movie that follows an overprotective father clownfish, Marlin, and his son, Nemo. After Nemo is captured by scuba divers, Marlin and a friendly blue tang fish named Dory set out to find him. In this underwater adventure, they meet some interesting characters and learn valuable lessons about friendship, family, determination, and finding courage along the way.

2016 | 1h 48m | Directed by Byron Howard, Rich Moore, and Jared Bush

Zootopia is an adventure comedy film about an anthropomorphic city where animals co-exist in relative peace. Judy is a bunny police officer who finds herself teaming up with a red fox con artist to solve a case involving missing animals. It’s been praised for its message about diversity and acceptance, as well as its super cast of voice actors, animation, and charismatic characters.

2002 | 1h 25m | Directed by Dean DeBlois and Christopher Sanders

Disney’s offbeat animated feature begins as a mission of revenge, but it soon becomes an inspiring story of friendship and family. A Hawaiian orphan girl adopts an unusual pet who is actually a notorious extra-terrestrial fugitive that’s taken refuge on Earth and is now hiding from its creator and those who see it as a menace. The famous quote “Ohana means family. Family means nobody gets left behind or forgotten” brilliantly explains what having a family truly means.

2004 | 1h 55m | Directed by Brad Bird

The Incredibles is the cartoon movie we deserve right now, with a killer blend of nostalgia, excitement, humor, and heart. The film taps into our love of costumed heroes and the classic family dynamic while also cleverly subverting both. This happy movie is geared toward older children and adults, but the hero action will keep young kids riveted and may even inspire them to do their homework so they can grow up to be superheroes themselves.

2004 | 1h 33m | Directed by Andrew Adamson, Kelly Asbury, and Conrad Vernon

A sequel to the hit 2001 film, Shrek 2 is one of those classics kids love to rewatch at birthday parties! The film sees our titular ogre finally meeting Princess Fiona’s parents, but her Fairy Godmother plots to destroy Shrek and Fiona’s marriage and force Fiona to marry Prince Charming. It’s such a good movie that it became the highest-grossing film of 2004 worldwide.

2001 | 1h 30m | Directed by Andrew Adamson and Vicky Jenson

The first movie in the Shrek franchise is still a favorite for many! It has everything, from iconic characters to the typical Shrek-like humor and subtle references, jokes, and puns that many only grasped upon reaching adulthood. Shrek is not just a story about a princess that needed to be saved; it’s about accepting yourself for who you are and not letting society change your true self.