The field of animation is one of the most rewarding in cinema. Through animation, filmmakers can tell stories and incorporate visuals that would be nearly impossible in a live-action setting. The 2020s have been an embarrassment of riches for the medium, with films like The Mitchells vs. the Machines, Over the Moon, Migration, and The Super Mario Bros. Movie earning their places in audiences’ hearts. From Netflix originals like The Sea Beast or The Magician’s Elephant to Pixar productions like Onward, or DreamWorks gems like The Wild Robot, high-quality animated family films have been abundant in the past five years.
Though all of the films above deserve honorable mention, there are 10 others that stand out among the rest. By setting themselves apart through breathtaking visuals like Flow, or becoming the best iteration of a beloved IP like Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem, these movies are simply the best of the best. So without further ado, here are the 10 best animated family films of the past five years.
10
‘Flow’ (2024)
You may not have heard about the best animated film of 2024. Flow is a gorgeously animated movie that follows a cat and other animals as they try to survive a cataclysmic flood together. Two things that make Flow so special are its creation and presentation. Flow was animated by independent filmmakers over the course of five years using an open-source software called Blender. It was the inspired work of Latvian filmmaker and animator Gints Zilbalodis, and this beautifully streamlined film was the unassuming winner that took home the Oscar for Best Animated Feature against larger studios like Pixar.
Flow’s mise en scène is multi-dimensional and almost dreamlike. It evokes feelings of some of the more inspiring scenes from James Cameron’s Avatar, with a touching animal adventure akin to Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey. It tells a rich story without any dialogue, which may lose the interest of some viewers, but it does this very well. If you get the chance to see Flow, don’t pass it up; it is a remarkable film.
9
‘Wolfwalkers’ (2020)
Ireland has an accomplished legacy in animation. From feature films like The Land Before Time and Rock-A-Doodle to TV shows like Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and My Little Pony. One of the most celebrated Irish animation studios is Cartoon Saloon, which produced the beautiful Irish Folklore Trilogy with the films The Secret of Kells, Song of the Sea, and Wolfwalkers.
Wolfwalkers tells the story of a young girl named Robyn (Honor Kneafsey) who wants to help her father (Sean Bean) hunt wolves to keep their village safe. Robyn’s life is turned upside-down when she encounters a young wolfwalker named Mebh (Eva Whittaker) who can not only communicate with wolves, but transform into one when she sleeps. All three of the movies in the folklore trilogy include a human who can shapeshift into an animal. It is an undiluted part of Irish lore, and the film Wolfwalkers features it the best. Wolfwalkers is one of the best animated movies of 2020 and one of the best Irish animated films ever made.
8
‘The Bad Guys’ (2022)
A movie that feels more like an Ocean’s 11 or Mission Impossible thriller than a kids’ film is the Sam Rockwell-starring sleeper hit The Bad Guys. This DreamWorks animated film set out to differentiate itself from its other works, and the result was a sleek and smooth style of animation that is incredibly entertaining to watch. With its exciting plotline and morally gray characters, The Bad Guys is a great example of an animated family film that adults can enjoy as much as kids.
The Bad Guys follows a group of thieves who pretend to want to change so they don’t have to go to prison when one of their heists goes awry. Soon into their rehabilitation program, Wolf (Rockwell), Tarantula (Awkwafina), Piranha (Anthony Ramos), Snake (Marc Maron), and Shark (Craig Robinson) start to embrace their new public image, and they realize that being good might not be so bad after all. The Bad Guys has some great action scenes and car chases that will keep you on the edge of your seat. The sequel, The Bad Guys 2, was released earlier this year and has received rave reviews from audiences and critics alike. It is one of the best animated crime genre movies and is definitely worth a watch.
7
‘Ultraman: Rising’ (2024)
The Ultraman franchise has been going strong for several decades. It has produced successful anime series, TV shows, and feature-length films. In 2024, directors Shannon Tindle and John Aoshima developed a Netflix original movie to add to the hearty canon called Ultraman: Rising. In the film, a baseball player who is used to fame and fortune must learn to put his busy life on hold. Besides inheriting the mantle of Ultraman from his father, Ken Sato (Christopher Sean) takes in an orphaned kaiju baby.
Ultraman: Rising is a great standalone. You don’t have to watch any of the other works to enjoy this heartfelt film. The attractive animation gives the movie a cinematic feel, and the themes of family bonds and responsibility are woven throughout. The baby kaiju, Emi, is absolutely adorable, and watching Ken bond with her is precious. Ultraman: Rising is one of the best Netflix original sci-fi movies, according to Letterboxd. Its blend of action and touching moments makes it an audience favorite and one of the best superhero movies of 2024.
6
‘The Boy and the Heron’ (2023)
You can’t mention animation without Studio Ghibli. The proficient and prolific studio has produced some of the best animated works of the 21st century. Beloved classics like My Neighbor Totoro, Spirited Away, and Howl’s Moving Castle are invaluable contributions to the kaleidoscopic history of diverse animation styles within the movie industry. Studio Ghibli’s ethereal visuals pair with tremendous musical scores to add a cultivated quality to the genre that few other studios achieve.
In 2023, legendary director Hayao Miyazaki released his magnum opus with The Boy and the Heron. The story follows a boy named Mahito (Soma Santoki/Luca Padovan) as he follows a mysterious Grey Heron (Masaki Suda/Robert Pattinson) that claims to be able to reunite him with his dead mother. The Boy and the Heron won the Oscar for Best Animated Feature Film in 2024 and is rapidly becoming a favorite for many Studio Ghibli aficionados.
5
‘Encanto’ (2021)
If you’re in the mood for a good laugh, a good sing-along, and a good ugly-cry, Encanto is your next watch. Mirabel (Stephanie Beatriz) feels out of place in her family’s lineage. While everyone else in her bloodline has a superhuman ability like strength, super-hearing, or healing, she has none. As cracks begin to appear in their casita, the crumbling plaster dredges up the past, and the family is forced to confront the deeper issues threatening them all.
Encanto is another Oscar winner and features Lin-Manuel Miranda’s best soundtrack post-Hamilton. There are moments of levity and humor, and moments that will tug on your heartstrings. The cast of characters is interesting and engaging, and the songs will get stuck in your head. John Leguizamo wants to reprise his role as the guy “we don’t talk about” in a sequel, and many fans hope it will begin production soon.
4
‘Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem’ (2023)
One of the best superhero movies of the past five years, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem is a triumph all around. It has one of the most gripping and dimensional visual styles used to date, and its storyline and casting choices set it apart from every other film in the franchise. For the first time, all of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles were actually voiced by teenagers.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem embraces the teenage candid humor that made the green crime-fighting team so beloved in the first place. It also uses a unique lens to look into the family dynamics and how Splinter (Jackie Chan) is not just their trainer, but their loving, adoptive father as well. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem is one of the highest-grossing superhero movies that isn’t Marvel or DC, and it will undoubtedly grow in significance as it continues to influence future projects and future filmmakers.
3
‘Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse’ (2023)
A sequel to the epic first film, Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse, brought back everyday hero Miles Morales (Shameik Moore) as he travels into a dimension where Spider-People from multiple realities come together to fight a common enemy. One year before Deadpool & Wolverine would use a similar plot device, audiences everywhere laughed and shrieked with delight as their favorite embodiment of Spider-Man appeared on-screen.
Incorporating the voice talents of Hailee Steinfeld, Jason Schwartzman, Oscar Isaac, Issa Rae, Mahershala Ali, and many more, Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse not only one-upped Deadpool & Wolverine by doing a great character mashup one year earlier, but with infinitely more star-power behind it. The highly anticipated third film, Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse, has faced several delays but is set to release on June 25, 2027. Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse is one of the best animated movies of all time, according to IMDB. Even though it feels like a cherished piece of Spider-Man lore that has been around forever, it is only two years old, which is a testament to how endearing this movie really is.
2
‘Puss in Boots: The Last Wish’ (2022)
It may be impossible to overstate just how amazing Puss in Boots: The Last Wish is. It was an unexpected theatrical phenomenon that shook the world of the box office to its core. And all by word-of-mouth from the audiences who went to see it. Puss in Boots: The Last Wish is centered around Antonio Banderas’ fan-favorite character, Puss in Boots, from the Shrek universe. In The Last Wish, Puss in Boots is down to the last of his nine lives and faces the existential dread of retirement after a life of high-stakes action.
Puss in Boots: The Last Wish not only features a visually stunning animation style but also a layered, complex storyline that explores mortality, wish fulfillment, and what it truly means to be alive. It has one of the best villains in any film, and renowned filmmaker Ryan Coogler used this dark and menacing presence as inspiration for his villain in the horror film Sinners. Puss in Boots: The Last Wish is an animated fantasy masterpiece, and only one film that came out this year has managed to surpass it.
1
‘KPop Demon Hunters’ (2025)
When Netflix released the musical animated film KPop Demon Hunters in June, no one could have predicted how big a success it would be. The story of three singers who battle demons and keep the world safe through the power of their vocal harmony took the streaming charts by storm. KPop Demon Hunters became such a crowd favorite that it went on to see a profitable run in movie theaters, proving that audiences want to watch their favorite films in a theatrical setting.
KPop Demon Hunters is worth all the hype. Its animation is a fun and engaging blend of the best of CGI with photo-realistic textures and anime flair. And if the animation and catchy music weren’t enough to hold viewers’ attention, there are complex storylines and sideplot intrigue. With talk of a sequel coming, fans will wait anxiously to see what is in store for their favorite characters in future films. KPop Demon Hunters has an incredible 95% critics rating on Rotten Tomatoes and a near-perfect audience score of 99%, which surpasses Puss in Boots: The Last Wish’s impressive 94%. So the vote is unanimous that KPop Demon Hunters is the best animated family film of the past five years.
