The Best Animation Movies of All Time

Animated movies have entertained audiences for decades, captivating the imagination of both young and old with their colorful worlds, charming characters, and captivating stories. They offer a unique escapism, transporting viewers to fantastical realms filled with adventure, humor, and heart.

Our algorithm has been hard at work finding and ranking over 100 top animation movies, from Turning Red (2022) all the way to Pinocchio (1937), and in this list, we offer you the Internet's favourite animation movies.

GoatScore: 84.5%
IMDB: 82% Rotten Tomatoes: 93% Filmaffinity: 75% Metacritic: 89%

Directed by Andrew Stanton, Finding Nemo tells the heartwarming story of a father's quest to find his lost son. The film follows Marlin, a clownfish, as he travels across the ocean to rescue Nemo after he is captured by a diver. The film was also a pioneer in computer animation, which helped create stunning underwater scenes and realistic-looking characters. Its themes of family, determination, and courage have made it a fan favourite and a true masterpiece of animated storytelling.

GoatScore: 84.9%
IMDB: 84% Rotten Tomatoes: 94% Filmaffinity: 80% Metacritic: 82%

Princess Mononoke, directed by Hayao Miyazaki, is set in ancient Japan and follows the journey of a young warrior named Ashitaka, who is trying to find a cure for a curse inflicted upon him. Along the way, he meets Princess Mononoke, a wolf goddess fighting to protect the forest and its inhabitants from the humans destroying it. The film is known for its thought-provoking themes of environmentalism, war, and human-nature relationships. Princess Mononoke was the highest-grossing film in Japan in 1997 and was the first animated film to win Picture of the Year at the Japanese Academy Awards.

GoatScore: 84.9%
IMDB: 80% Rotten Tomatoes: 94% Filmaffinity: 78% Metacritic: 88%

Persepolis is a coming-of-age graphic novel turned into an animated film. The film is set in Iran during and after the Islamic Revolution, and it follows the story of Marjane Satrapi as she grows up in Iran and later moves to Europe. It was the first animated film to win the Jury Prize at the Cannes Film Festival. The film's title refers to the ancient capital of the Persian Empire, but it was banned in Iran for its depiction of the Islamic Revolution.

GoatScore: 84.9%
IMDB: 84% Rotten Tomatoes: 95% Filmaffinity: 76% Metacritic: 85%

Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse is a visually stunning animated film that explores the multiverse of Spider-Man. Comic book illustrations inspired the film's unique style, and the animation team created custom software to bring the hand-drawn feel to the screen. It features six different versions of Spider-Man, each from a different universe and an amazing soundtrack that includes songs by Post Malone, Nicki Minaj, and Lil Wayne.

GoatScore: 85.1%
IMDB: 82% Rotten Tomatoes: 96% Filmaffinity: 77% Metacritic: 86%

It's Such a Beautiful Day is an animated film that tells the story of a man named Bill struggling with illness and the meaning of life. The film was made entirely by hand, making it a rare feat in animation. It's a testament to the dedication and passion that goes into every aspect of the filmmaking process.

GoatScore: 85.4%
IMDB: 80% Rotten Tomatoes: 99% Filmaffinity: 76% Metacritic: 87%

Wolfwalkers is a beautifully animated film set in 17th-century Ireland that tells the story of a young hunter's daughter named Robyn, who befriends a wild wolf-girl named Mebh. The film was animated using a mix of hand-drawn and digital techniques, creating a unique and stunning visual style. The film features a hauntingly beautiful soundtrack that includes traditional Irish music. The film also explores friendship, belonging, and the power of nature, making it a heartwarming and thought-provoking story for audiences of all ages.

GoatScore: 85.4%
IMDB: 84% Rotten Tomatoes: 96% Filmaffinity: 80% Metacritic: 82%

Coco explores the importance of family and remembering those who have passed. The film is set during the Mexican holiday, Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) and features stunning visuals that bring the holiday to life. The film features an all-Latino voice cast, including Gael García Bernal, Benjamin Bratt, and Anthony Gonzalez as the voice of Miguel and the filmmakers worked with cultural consultants to ensure that the depiction of Dia de los Muertos and Mexican culture was accurate and respectful.

GoatScore: 85.6%
IMDB: 84% Rotten Tomatoes: 97% Filmaffinity: 78% Metacritic: 84%

Your Name. is a visually stunning animated film that tells the story of two teenagers who switch bodies and have to navigate the challenges of living each other's lives. The film was a massive success in Japan and became the highest-grossing anime film of all time. Interestingly, the film was inspired by a real-life phenomenon in Japan called "body-swapping". The film features beautiful animation and an emotionally charged soundtrack that will stay with you long after the credits roll.

GoatScore: 85.9%
IMDB: 83% Rotten Tomatoes: 94% Filmaffinity: 78% Metacritic: 88%

Up is a touching animated film about an elderly man named Carl who sets out on a journey to fulfil his lifelong dream. The film's opening sequence, which shows Carl and his wife Ellie growing up and growing old together, is a beautiful and emotional montage that has become one of the most iconic in animation history. Up was the first animated film to receive a Best Picture nomination at the Academy Awards. The film's score, composed by Michael Giacchino, also won an Oscar for Best Original Score.

GoatScore: 86%
IMDB: 82% Rotten Tomatoes: 94% Filmaffinity: 78% Metacritic: 91%

Inside Out takes audiences on a journey inside the mind of a young girl named Riley as she navigates the challenges of growing up. The film features five personified emotions - Joy, Sadness, Anger, Fear, and Disgust - who work together to control Riley's actions and reactions. Did you know that director Pete Docter's experiences inspired the film's concept with his daughter growing up and her emotions? Inside Out is a fun and touching film that explores the complex emotions that make us human, making it a must-watch for audiences of all ages.

GoatScore: 86.3%
IMDB: 85% Rotten Tomatoes: 93% Filmaffinity: 79% Metacritic: 88%

The Lion King is an iconic film about a young lion named Simba and his journey to becoming the king of the Pride Lands. This classic film has a timeless message about friendship, family, and finding your place in the world, making it a favourite for audiences of all ages. The film's musical score, such as "Hakuna Matata" and "Can You Feel the Love Tonight," was composed by the legendary Elton John. It was the first animated feature nominated for the Academy Award for Best Picture.

GoatScore: 86.6%
IMDB: 83% Rotten Tomatoes: 94% Filmaffinity: 79% Metacritic: 91%

Toy Story 3 is the third instalment in the beloved Toy Story franchise and follows Woody, Buzz, and the rest of the toys as they navigate the challenges of growing up. This film is a touching and emotional adventure which will have you laughing and crying equally. It was the first animated film to gross over $1 billion and the the only sequel featured in this list.

GoatScore: 86.8%
IMDB: 84% Rotten Tomatoes: 93% Filmaffinity: 79% Metacritic: 88%

WALL-E (Waste Allocation Load Lifter: Earth-class) is an animated science fiction film about a waste-collecting robot left alone to clean up a deserted Earth. The character of WALL-E was inspired by a range of sources, including R2-D2 from Star Wars and Johnny 5 from Short Circuit. The film also contains references to various classic science fiction films, including 2001: A Space Odyssey and Blade Runner.

GoatScore: 87%
IMDB: 83% Rotten Tomatoes: 96% Filmaffinity: 77% Metacritic: 92%

Toy Story is the first feature-length computer-animated film and a true classic of modern animation. It tells the story of a group of toys who come to life when humans are not around and their adventures as they try to be played with by their owner, Andy.

GoatScore: 88.5%
IMDB: 85% Rotten Tomatoes: 98% Filmaffinity: 80% Metacritic: 92%

Grave of the Fireflies is a heart-wrenching tale of the struggles of two siblings, Seita and Setsuko, during the aftermath of the bombing of Hiroshima in World War II. Despite its emotional subject matter, the film was a commercial success in Japan and has since become a widely acclaimed masterpiece of Japanese animation.

The film was based on the semi-autobiographical novel of the same name by Akiyuki Nosaka and his experiences as a child during the war, making Grave of the Fireflies a poignant and powerful depiction of the effects of war on ordinary citizens.

GoatScore: 89%
IMDB: 86% Rotten Tomatoes: 97% Filmaffinity: 81% Metacritic: 93%

Spirited Away is a coming-of-age tale that follows the journey of Chihiro, a young girl trapped in a mysterious world of spirits and monsters. The film was heavily influenced by Japanese folklore and mythology. Many of the creatures and spirits Chihiro encounters on her journey are based on traditional Japanese legends and tales, giving the film a unique and captivating sense of otherworldly wonder.