The Best Animated Movies for Both Kids and Adults Alike

Imagine a movie with brilliant plot structure, actual character development, depth, and breathtaking music. Imagine a film with profoundly moving moments, hilarious sequences, and fantastic acting. Wouldn’t you want to watch such a movie? We are not talking about drama or period films. We are describing animated movies.

Before you jump on the bandwagon that animated movies are for kids, hear us out first.

Initially, the target audience for animated films were kids. Now, slowly the animation has evolved to be loved by adults too. Great animated movies are so rich in story and emotions that they can make adults cry like babies and laugh like teenagers. They are so beautifully created and voiced over that one can’t help but be mesmerized by them. Animated movies embed in them hidden meanings and often give us important life lessons.

Without any further ado, we present you the best animation movies you must watch at least once:

Toy Story Series

The debut film of the juggernaut Pixar Studios, Toy Story, forever changed the course of animation movies. It was the first entirely computer-animated feature film. Revolving around childhood nostalgia, Toy Story is set around the accidental adventures of anthropomorphic toys.

Toy Story series is a rare cinematic achievement that never failed to deliver with its brilliant voice acting, plot, and depth. No plastic-made kids’ stuff will make you feel like the Toys in the Toy Story series. Do watch the entire series Toy Story, 2, 3 and 4. Toy Story 3 is our personal favourite, and we bet you will shed a few tears watching it.

Spirited Away

This 2001 Japanese animated movie is often regarded as the best-animated feature film ever made. With spectacular music, animation, and a powerful story that is inspired by Japanese Shinto folklore, Spirited Away is a must-watch.

Our protagonist is Chihiro, who unknowingly enters the spirit world and has to free herself and her parents to return to the human world. Her experiences in the spirit world transform Chihiro into the girl she never thought she could be.

Inside Out

Yet another Pixar masterpiece, 2015 Inside Out, is set primarily in the mind of 11-year old hockey-loving girl Riley. Her five basic emotions, Joy, Sadness, Anger, Fear, and Disgust, are all personified and are responsible for her day to day moods and emotions.

Intensely moving and fabulously animated, Inside Out boasts of an incredible voice casting and a sophisticated storyline. This Oscar-winning movie teaches us, among other things, the role of sadness in our lives. Do not miss this.

Zootopia

This 2016 blockbuster movie tackled systematic societal prejudice and set records on the way. It takes place in the Utopian mammal city Zootopia, where anthropomorphic mammals coexist. When Judy, a rabbit police officer and Nick, a red fox con artist, form an unlikely partnership to solve a case, they discover a conspiracy with startling revelations.

Magnificently animated by Disney, Zootopia uses a well-knit story to showcase various aspects of prejudices such as bullying, suspicion, and distrust. A particular tearjerking scene of Nick’s backstory will make you reexamine your preconditioned views about people. With its powerful message and adorable characters, this movie is a must-watch.

Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse

2018, Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse is a stunning treat to the eyes and ears. With standout animation, soundtrack, and comedy, this movie is the first-ever animated Spiderman film.

It’s about a young mixed heritage boy, Miles Morales-the new Spider-man. He encounters other spider-people from alternate dimensions and teams up with them to save the city from doom. This movie has a familiar spider-man growth story, yet it’s refreshingly original and inventive. With stellar visual storytelling, Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse pays homage to the comic books.

Up

No list of animated films is complete without this 2009 movie. The story follows a widower named Carl, who tries to fulfil a promise made to his late wife, Ellie and his unexpected companion a ten-year-old adventure-seeking boy, Russell.

With stunning music and visuals, Up has more than a few tender moments. But the montage of Carl and Ellie’s love story is sure to get the waterworks going. Once you watch this movie, it will always have a special place in your heart.

How to Train Your Dragon

This DreamWorks gem is a tale of acceptance, friendship, and love. It narrates the story of a young scrawny Viking boy who wants to become a dragon slayer and gain acceptance from his dad and tribe. However, instead, he teams up with the first dragon he captures.

How to Train Your Dragon has delightful characters, vibrant animation, voice acting, and moving music. This movie shows that sometimes the accepted world view of certain things may be grounded on false beliefs. Do watch this movie along with its sequels.

Honourable Mentions:

Kung Fu Panda, Finding Nemo, Incredibles, Moana, Isle of Dogs, Big Hero 6, and Dumbo.

That’s it, folks. These were our options for the best-animated feature films for both kids and adults. As always, we have excluded the famous ones (Lion King, Shrek, Coco, Frozen).

Do let us know if you have watched them; what’re your thoughts. We would love to know your favorite animated movies, along with where do you watch/stream them?

Until then, So long…Partner.