The last ten years have been a golden age for animated movies, but it feels like this incredible run isn’t getting enough attention. While these films might not always be huge box office successes like they were in the ’90s, they’re consistently excellent in terms of quality.
Starting in 2016, animated movies have consistently delivered fantastic experiences for viewers of all ages. These films stand out with their heartfelt stories and stunning visuals, often achieved through innovative animation techniques. While popular franchises like Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse and Puss in Boots: The Last Wish have produced some of the best, there have also been truly remarkable original animated movies.
Memoir Of A Snail (2024)
Image via IFC Films
Though it’s not widely known, Memoir of a Snail is a truly exceptional film that deserves a larger audience. This movie, made for adults, follows Grace Pudel, a young woman who struggles with hardship and feels like an outsider, and who also has a unique fascination with snails.
Adam Elliot’s film is a bittersweet story partly based on his own experiences. While it has funny moments, the movie’s emotional depth is what truly resonates, creating a deeply sympathetic and memorable character in Grace.
The stop-motion animation in Memoir of a Snail is beautifully crafted and the film has received a lot of positive attention. It boasts a 95% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes and was even nominated for an Academy Award for Best Animated Feature.
The Mitchells Vs. The Machines (2021)
In 2021, The Mitchells vs. The Machines premiered directly on Netflix and quickly became a standout animated film. Though Disney released several excellent movies that year—including Encanto, Raya and the Last Dragon, and Luca—this film from Sony Pictures Animation really stood out from the crowd.
The Mitchells vs. The Machines is about a quirky family on a road trip to drop their daughter off at college. Their plans are interrupted when a robot apocalypse breaks out, and they unexpectedly find themselves as the world’s last hope.
The movie boasts a visually striking animated style, similar to that of Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse. While its distinctive look is impressive, it’s the combination of thrilling science fiction action and a heartfelt family story that truly makes this Best Animated Feature nominee stand out. A follow-up film is currently being planned.
The Boy And The Heron (2023)
Custom Image by Ana Nieves
Hayao Miyazaki is one of the most celebrated names in animated film. The Japanese director and writer has created beloved and critically acclaimed movies since 1979, with popular titles including My Neighbor Totoro, Spirited Away, and Howl’s Moving Castle.
Hayao Miyazaki’s newest film, The Boy and the Heron, might be his last, and if so, it’s a stunning way to end such an incredible career. Many consider it to be one of his greatest achievements, and that’s high praise considering his previous work.
The Boy and the Heron tells the story of Mahito Maki, a young boy who moves to the countryside following his mother’s death. He soon finds himself drawn into a magical world with a talking heron. True to the style of director Hayao Miyazaki, this fantastical film won the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature, beating out the popular Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse, proving its exceptional quality.
KPop Demon Hunters (2025)
It’s difficult to think of an animated film that’s been more popular than KPop Demon Hunters in 2025. The movie quickly became Netflix’s most-watched film ever, and it’s still a top trending title on the platform months later.
Okay, so I just watched KPop Demon Hunters, and it’s… a lot. Basically, it follows this K-pop group, Huntr/x, who aren’t just about the music – they’re also fighting demons! The story really kicks into gear when they discover their biggest rivals are actually demons in disguise. But beyond the action and catchy tunes, there’s a surprisingly emotional core to the film, stemming from a secret one of the Huntr/x members is keeping. It’s a wild ride, but definitely has some heartfelt moments.
The movie is both incredibly popular with audiences and highly praised by critics. Everything about it – the animation, the characters, and the music – has been a success. Remarkably, KPop Demon Hunters has even received several Grammy nominations, including Song of the Year, which is unusual for a film.
Klaus (2019)
The poster for Klaus doesn’t give much away about the movie’s true story. It’s actually an origin story for Santa Claus, but you wouldn’t necessarily know that just by looking at the promotional materials – except that one of the main characters is a large man with a white beard.
What makes the movie Klaus special is its clever setup. It begins with a postman arriving in a remote town where the residents are notoriously unfriendly. He eventually strikes up a friendship with a lonely toymaker, and this relationship unexpectedly leads to the birth of Santa Claus.
The animated film Klaus, nominated for a Best Animated Feature award, is beautifully animated and tells a heartwarming story. It also boasts a fantastic voice cast, including well-known actors like J.K. Simmons, Jason Schwartzman, and Rashida Jones.
Isle Of Dogs (2018)
Wes Anderson is a highly respected and successful director working in Hollywood. He’s known for films like The Royal Tenenbaums, The Grand Budapest Hotel, and The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou. In 2009, he explored a different style with Fantastic Mr. Fox, which was an animated movie.
After almost ten years, Wes Anderson revisited stop-motion animation with his film, Isle of Dogs. The story is set in a future where a dog flu outbreak leads to all dogs being exiled to a remote garbage island. The mayor’s young nephew travels to the island in search of his lost dog and forms a close connection with the other dogs living there.
This story has all the hallmarks of a classic Wes Anderson film. His movie Isle of Dogs was both a commercial and critical success – it did well in theaters and currently has a 90% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, plus it features an incredible group of voice actors.
Wolfwalkers (2020)
Tomm Moore is a remarkably talented filmmaker who doesn’t get the recognition he deserves. He’s created a unique set of animated films – his ‘Irish Folklore Trilogy’ – that, while not telling one continuous story, are linked by common ideas and all feature his direction. These three films have been critically acclaimed.
The films include The Secret of Kells, Song of the Sea, and the concluding film, Wolfwalkers. Wolfwalkers, released in 2020 on Apple TV+, is still considered one of the platform’s top movies.
The movie Wolfwalkers tells the story of a young hunter in Ireland who learns to hunt wolves, but then becomes friends with a girl who has a secret: she can transform into a wolf at night. Their complex friendship is the heart of the story, and the film’s beautiful animation makes it truly special.
Coco (2017)
It’s a little unexpected that more Pixar films haven’t ranked among the decade’s best, considering their consistently high quality. While Pixar remains a leader in animation, many of their releases over the last ten years have been either uneven or follow-up movies, not entirely new stories.
Coco is a standout film among recent Disney movies. Its story – about a boy who loves music and journeys to the Land of the Dead to get his ancestor’s blessing, despite his family forbidding it – is wonderfully imaginative, and the film’s depiction of the afterlife is visually stunning.
Plus, Coco includes a famously emotional scene from Pixar, accompanied by the Oscar-winning song “Remember Me.” The film boasts a fantastic 97% score on Rotten Tomatoes and a sequel is already in development.
Flow (2024)
2024 saw a lot of excellent animated films, but it was Flow that ultimately won the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature, highlighting just how special it is. What’s particularly remarkable is that the movie doesn’t use any spoken dialogue – the story is told entirely through its visuals and characters, which really capture the audience’s attention.
Flow is beautifully crafted, boasting impressive animation and a captivating storyline. It follows a cat and a diverse group of animals struggling to survive as their home is increasingly threatened by rising water levels.
Created using the free software Blender, the animation Flow has a distinctive visual style rarely seen in mainstream movies. The film received widespread critical acclaim, including an Academy Award, a 97% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, and a nomination for Best International Feature Film.
Your Name (2016)
Makoto Shinkai is a highly acclaimed animation director in Japan. His talent is especially evident in his “disaster trilogy” – three films that center around natural disasters, but with fantastical elements woven throughout.
While Weathering With You and Suzume are both excellent films, Your Name is still considered the strongest in the series. It tells the story of two high school students who mysteriously begin switching bodies, and the connection they develop as a result.
While it seems straightforward, Your Name is a beautifully crafted movie filled with surprising twists, featuring elements like a comet, time travel, and incredibly moving moments. It’s widely considered one of the greatest animated films of all time.
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2025-11-14 18:04