The 10 Best Animated Movies For Kids

Animated movies hold the majority of the market for children’s movies. Over the years we’ve seen Disney buy out a lot of smaller animation companies, however some still remain and so do the works of those who have since been shut down. Kids look for different things in movies than adults, whether it be bright colors, aesthetically pleasing characters, or a bit of magic. They want something that feeds their imagination, and these movies do just that! 10. Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs (2009) Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs was a famous book that almost every child had to read at some point in Elementary school. It was interesting though, and became even better when the movie came out. They added more to the story and made Flint, played by SNL alum Bill Hader, a wannabe scientist who spent his whole life as a disappointment to his father and a punching bag to his classmates. This is all before he made it rain actual food on a town who had only ever eaten sardines for each meal. Just like most kids movies, Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs has themes and lessons sprinkled into the plot; it's a movie about family, greed and learning to tell right from wrong. These important lessons mixed with nostalgia and comedy make it a great movie for not just kids, but the whole family. 9. Ponyo (2008) A list of animated movies couldn't be complete without at least one Studio Ghibli film. As Disney works closely with the studio, Ponyo was marketed extremely well for a Japanese animated film. It casted Noah Cyrus and Frankie Jonas, both popular names at the time, in the lead roles for the English dub and that alone brought in Disney kids. Ponyo is a take on The Little Mermaid, but it focuses more on a familial/platonic relationship rather than romantic. Sign up to Apple TV+. 7-Day Free Trial. What makes Ponyo so entertaining is that everyone can enjoy it; all ages, all genders, everyone. It's an innocent story about a 'fishy in the sea', as told in the titular song, and her dream to walk on land and meet the boy who saved her, Sosuke. It's a comedic story of a found family and how strong it can be when needed most, which is why it's a great choice for kids. 8. Trolls (2016) While some may remember Trolls as the cute dolls with crazy hair from the nineties, kids now are obsessed with the movie starring Anna Kendrick and Justin Timberlake. It's a musical, taking popular songs and remixing them to move the plot along as music tends to keep kids entertained. The popular music also helps the adults to focus too, letting them at least somewhat enjoy the movie. Trolls follows Princess Poppy and Branch, two complete opposites who have to make their way to Bergentown and rescue their people. Bergens, a larger and meaner looking version of the trolls, are the trolls' sworn enemies because they eat them. In the end, of course, music brings them together and saves the day. 7. The Last Unicorn (1982) One of the older movies on this list is The Last Unicorn. Though I can’t remember how I got so lucky to watch it, all I know is that to this day anyone I showed it to talks about how amazing it was. Since it is from 1982, the animation is nothing compared to what we see today, but for the time it's absolutely stunning. The transformation sequences, the magic, all of it is visually appealing, especially to a younger audience with an affinity for fantasy. Even though the title could suggest it being aimed at a female audience, there truly is something for everyone: romance, magic, fantastical lore and much more will pull you in until you're begging for more. While The Last Unicorn isn't dark, it's definitely eery when it comes to the lore behind the plot. Either way, it's an incredible and underrated movie that more people should see. 6. Anastasia (1997) It's history mixed with fantasy in the movie Anastasia, which is based on a rather tragic real life event. However, there were legends and rumors about the real Duchess Anastasia's death and how she may have survived. 20th Century Fox Animation used these rumors to create one of the best animated movies ever. Anastasia follows the character Anya, an orphan whose only clue to her past is a necklace that says 'Meet Me in Paris.' Once she joins forces with con-men, Dimitri and Vlad, rumors become blurred with reality as even she believes herself to be the lost Duchess. While Anastasia is now owned by Disney, it used to be widely considered one of the most successful non-disney films until Disney bought out 20th Century Fox. Either way, whether Anastasia is under Disney or Fox, the movie and music is truly unforgettable. Plus, it introduces kids to non-American history, allowing them the curiosity to learn more if appropriate. 5. The Lorax (2012) Based on Dr. Seuss' best-selling children's book, The Lorax is an animated musical pushing the importance of being kind to our planet. Not only does it have an incredibly important message, but with a star-studded cast and memorable music, it was an easy success. Zac Efron and Ed Helms lead the film as Ted and The Once-ler (respectfully), with Danny Devito playing the titular character of The Lorax. The Lorax had another animated adaptation in the 1970's, but the 2012 version expanded on both the story and characters, allowing audiences to connect more. Much like Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs, The Lorax was able to take a classic, yet simple, book and turn it into a movie that's both entertaining and educational. 4. Scooby-Doo! and the Witch's Ghost (1999) Scooby-Doo has had its fair share of series, toys, books and of course movies. While the live-action films are a classic, some of my all-time favorite Scooby-Doo content is from the straight-to-video movies released from the late 90's to early 2000's. The best of these was Scooby-Doo! and the Witch's Ghost, because unlike most of the franchise, there was no unmasking to be done in this movie. For fans of the franchise, this is where we're first introduced to the Hex Girls, a gothic girl-band led by wiccan, Thorn McKnight. The Witch's Ghost follows the gang as they try and help Ben Ravencroft prove his ancestor's innocence by finding her medicine journal, hoping to prove she was a wiccan rather than a witch. Everything is not what it seems though, and in the end Thorn has to come to the rescue of our favorite meddling kids. 3. The Land Before Time (1988) Every kid goes through a dinosaur phase, and The Land Before Time movies had a lot to do with making those phases drag on. Nearly an entire generation of kids can tell you what kind of dinosaurs these are: a three-horn, spike tail, long neck, a swimmer and a flier. Are any of them the actual names of dinosaurs? Of course not, but teaching defining traits to kids to point them out is still amazing! The Land Before Time has a series of movies, most of them not having to with the ones before or after, but they're a childhood staple for any kid who has an interest in dinosaurs. Between this and Anastasia, kids who are curious about history will be set until they can do their own research. 2. Shrek (2001) Dreamworks' Shrek really came out of nowhere with its popularity. Looking back though, it had a star-studded cast and snuck in a lot of jokes for parents who had to be watching as well. Shrek ended up becoming a series and spawning three sequels, with an apparent fourth one currently in production. In the first movie, we see Shrek and Donkey rescue Princess Fiona so that she may marry Lord Farquaad and Shrek can go back to living alone in peace. Of course, things all change when the scary ogre falls in love, after all, there are many layers to Shrek! That's one of the reasons it's so good. Whether you're ten or twenty, Shrek is always a top tier pick for movie night. 1. Lilo & Stitch (2002) Of course, one of the mouse's movies had to be included. Because of the wide array of genres and plots, it was hard enough not to have all ten be Disney movies, but number one without question belongs to Lilo & Stitch. In 2002, when Disney was known for its princess and fairytale movies, Lilo & Stitch was the last thing audiences expected. From the previews with Stitch crashing iconic Disney scenes to the critical acclaim the movie received when it premiered, Lilo & Stitch paved the way for non-princess movies. Now, Stitch is one of the most popular Disney characters ever, even above some princesses. The movie had two sequels as well as a tv series on the Disney Channel. With Lilo's unique family dynamic, the beautiful backdrop of Hawaii and Stitch's cuteness, it's a new classic that won't go out of style for a long time, making it the best children's animated movie.