Best Of Last updated: January 12, 2026

Best Animated Movies for Kids

Where Artistry Meets Family Entertainment

Animation is an art form, and the best family features elevate storytelling with breathtaking visuals. This list spotlights 25 films that push creative boundaries, whether through meticulous stop-motion, painterly 2D, or revolutionary 3D rendering. These are not just good kids' movies; they are cinematic achievements that you and your children will want to re-watch for the sheer beauty of their craft.

The List

1
Spirited Away poster

Spirited Away

2001 125 min Ages 10+

This masterpiece is a visual symphony, a high-water mark for 2D animation globally. The world-building of the spirit realm, from the terrifying No-Face to the glittering bathhouse, is unparalleled. It tackles themes of greed, identity, and environmentalism with deep maturity, rewarding repeat viewings with new details in its hand-drawn artistry.

Watch if: your family appreciates deep symbolism and breathtaking, hand-drawn fantasy worlds
2
Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse poster

Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse

2018 117 min Ages 13+

This film redefined 3D animation by deliberately mimicking the look of a 2D comic book, complete with dynamic panel layouts and varying frame rates. The visual style is electric, frenetic, and perfectly mirrors Miles' journey of self-discovery as he learns to embrace his unique Spider-Man identity.

Watch if: your older kids love superhero action and need to see the future of visual storytelling
3
Toy Story poster

Toy Story

1995 81 min Ages 6+

The landmark film that launched Pixar and feature-length CGI. While later films are technically more advanced, the original holds a special place for its groundbreaking, tactile rendering of plastic, cloth, and wood. Its story about friendship and jealousy is timeless, wrapped in revolutionary visuals.

Watch if: your kid loves stories about friendship and you want to show them the dawn of CGI film
4
Princess Mononoke poster

Princess Mononoke

1997 134 min Ages 14+

A sprawling, complex epic that refuses easy answers, this film features some of Miyazaki's most mature themes and stunning action sequences. The design of the animal gods and the visceral battles are rendered with a fluid, intense 2D style that conveys raw, untamed wilderness.

Watch if: your family is ready for complex morality, epic scope, and intense action sequences
5
Kubo and the Two Strings poster

Kubo and the Two Strings

2016 101 min Ages 10+

Laika's visual achievement is simply astonishing. By blending stop-motion puppetry with digital elements, they created a feudal Japan that feels both handcrafted and magical. The sequence where Kubo uses his music to conjure giant water specters is one of the most beautiful ever animated.

Watch if: your kid loves mythology and you want to showcase the pinnacle of modern stop-motion artistry
6
Fantastic Mr. Fox poster

Fantastic Mr. Fox

2009 87 min Ages 8+

Wes Anderson's distinct, symmetrical aesthetic is perfectly suited to Roald Dahl's text. The stop-motion style emphasizes texture—the wool, the fur, the mud—giving the film a tactile, storybook quality. The wry, deadpan humor ensures adults are just as engaged as the kids.

Watch if: your family appreciates quirky dialogue and the charming, slightly jerky quality of classic stop-motion
7
WALL-E poster

WALL-E

2008 104 min Ages 6+

The first act is a near-silent masterclass in visual storytelling, showing complex emotion and narrative through pure movement and design. The contrast between the cluttered, detailed Earth and the sterile, over-designed Axiom spaceship is a brilliant commentary rendered with immaculate 3D detail.

Watch if: your child appreciates visual humor and you enjoy films with strong environmental or anti-consumerist messages
8
My Neighbor Totoro poster

My Neighbor Totoro

1988 86 min Ages 5+

This film is pure visual poetry. The lush, almost living quality of the rural Japanese landscape, the gentle, immense design of Totoro, and the soft, dreamlike watercolor aesthetic create a feeling of profound childhood wonder that no other film quite captures.

Watch if: your child needs a gentle, calming story that celebrates imagination and nature
9
How to Train Your Dragon poster

How to Train Your Dragon

2010 98 min Ages 8+

The flight sequences are arguably the best ever animated, making you feel the wind and speed in every banking turn. The design of Toothless is a triumph of character-building through texture and expressive, cat-like animation, making their bond palpable.

Watch if: your kid loves soaring adventure and you want to see fluid, thrilling aerial choreography
10
Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio poster

Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio

2022 117 min Ages 10+

A hauntingly beautiful stop-motion realization of the classic tale. Del Toro uses the wooden texture of the puppet to explore life, death, and disobedience in a context far richer than most children's fare. The dark, expressionistic lighting is cinematic genius.

Watch if: your family appreciates darker fairy tales and masterful, artisanal stop-motion work
11
Klaus poster

Klaus

2019 96 min Ages 7+

This film is a revolution in 2D design, using advanced lighting techniques to give flat drawings the depth and shadow of 3D. The look is warm, evocative, and perfect for its heartfelt, original Santa Claus origin story. It’s a visual standout for its age.

Watch if: your family loves heartwarming holiday stories with groundbreaking visual techniques
12
Up poster

Up

2009 96 min Ages 8+

The opening montage, telling the life story of Carl and Ellie, is a nearly wordless masterpiece of concise, heartbreaking visual storytelling. Beyond that, the hyper-detailed rendering of the balloons against the massive, vibrant jungle world is exceptional.

Watch if: your family appreciates deeply emotional storytelling paired with high-contrast adventure
13
Song of the Sea poster

Song of the Sea

2014 93 min Ages 7+

From Cartoon Saloon, this film looks like a vibrant, moving piece of Irish manuscript illustration. The use of flat, bold shapes and textures drawn from Celtic art makes every frame look like a precious, illuminated page come to life. It’s gorgeous ethnic artistry.

Watch if: your kid loves Celtic folklore and your eyes appreciate rich, stylized 2D design
14
The Iron Giant poster

The Iron Giant

1999 89 min Ages 10+

This Warner Bros. feature has a deliberately classic, slightly '90s look that favors character acting over excessive flash. Its beauty lies in the expressive simplicity of its 2D work and its profound message about choosing one's own destiny, echoing classic sci-fi.

Watch if: your family enjoys Cold War-era nostalgia and 'man's best friend' stories with high stakes
15
The Tale of the Princess Kaguya poster

The Tale of the Princess Kaguya

2013 137 min Ages 10+

The most painterly film in the Ghibli canon. Using a style that mimics rough pencil sketches blooming into vibrant washes of color, the animation is raw, emotional, and breathtakingly minimalist when necessary. It is a feast of visual texture.

Watch if: your kid appreciates slow, poetic storytelling and visual experimentation
16
Coco poster

Coco

2017 105 min Ages 8+

The artistic realization of the Land of the Dead is unparalleled in its use of light, color, and cultural specificity. The scene where the marigold bridge glows is a technical marvel of particle effects and saturation, all in service of a beautiful story about family legacy.

Watch if: your family wants a colorful, musical celebration of Mexican culture and ancestry
17
The Mitchells vs. the Machines poster

The Mitchells vs. the Machines

2021 114 min Ages 10+

This film brilliantly blends slick 3D environments with a chaotic, energetic 2D aesthetic—like turning a sketchbook into a blockbuster. The visual gags are enhanced by pop-up text bubbles and erratic motion lines, making it feel kinetic and uniquely modern.

Watch if: your kid loves quirky humor and you want to see the most energetic blend of 2D/3D styles
18
Ponyo poster

Ponyo

2008 101 min Ages 5+

Miyazaki deliberately stripped down the animation complexity to achieve a childlike, almost watercolor book look, especially for the ocean scenes. The way the water moves—thick, tangible, and alive—is its main artistic draw, emphasizing innocent wonder.

Watch if: your child loves mermaid/fish stories and you want a visual tone closer to a children's picture book
19
The Secret of Kells poster

The Secret of Kells

2009 75 min Ages 8+

Another Cartoon Saloon gem, this film directly channels the luminous, symbolic beauty of illuminated manuscripts. The stylized 2D design uses powerful geometry and repeating patterns to represent magic and faith, resulting in an unforgettable, stylized look.

Watch if: your family enjoys history, stylized 2D art, and stories centered on the power of words/art
20
Toy Story 3 poster

Toy Story 3

2010 103 min Ages 7+

While the story is a masterwork of maturation and loss, the visual fidelity is a huge leap from the first film. The dust motes in the air, the realism of the textures in the high-stakes climax, and the subtle facial expressions are incredibly advanced for 3D.

Watch if: your kid is ready for a movie about saying goodbye, with stunningly detailed 3D worlds
21
Howl's Moving Castle poster

Howl's Moving Castle

2004 119 min Ages 10+

The castle itself is the ultimate piece of animated production design—a chaotic, steampunk marvel that reflects its wizard owner's scattered genius. The 2D animation seamlessly blends lush pastoral settings with intense, war-torn landscapes and magical chaos.

Watch if: your kid loves European fantasy, romantic adventure, and mechanical oddities
22
Ratatouille poster

Ratatouille

2007 111 min Ages 7+

The film sets a new benchmark for rendering food and kitchen environments. The camera work mimics real cinematic food photography, making every dish look incredibly appetizing. The detailed 3D environments serve as a rich backdrop for Remy's culinary artistry.

Watch if: your kid loves cooking, Paris, or enjoys seeing attention paid to fine craftsmanship
23
Shrek poster

Shrek

2001 90 min Ages 8+

This film proved that mainstream 3D animation could be edgy, satirical, and visually distinct from Pixar. While the early CGI has a distinct, almost plastic texture by today's standards, its visual decision to make the fairy tale world feel muddy and 'real' was bold.

Watch if: your family enjoys subversive fairy tales and classic early 2000s CGI aesthetics
24
Wolf Children poster

Wolf Children

2012 117 min Ages 10+

Mamoru Hosoda's work is defined by its beautiful, vibrant nature scenes and deeply felt family emotion. The visual transformation between human and wolf is handled with stunning grace, grounding the supernatural elements in incredibly realistic, lived-in environments.

Watch if: your kid is ready for a mature, beautiful look at motherhood and accepting differences
25
Puss in Boots: The Last Wish poster

Puss in Boots: The Last Wish

2022 102 min Ages 10+

This film successfully applied the vibrant, comic-book style pioneered by *Spider-Verse* to a new set of characters. The visual dynamism—especially during action sequences—is unmatched, constantly shifting its artistic language to match Puss's manic energy.

Watch if: your family craves swashbuckling action with a cutting-edge visual flair

Honorable Mentions

Grave of the Fireflies
Grave of the Fireflies 1988

A devastatingly beautiful, heartbreakingly realistic depiction of wartime suffering, representing the height of 2D tragedy.

The Red Turtle
The Red Turtle 2016

A nearly silent, stunningly serene collaboration with Ghibli, emphasizing pure, elemental visual storytelling.

Finding Nemo
Finding Nemo 2003

The benchmark for early underwater photorealism, making the ocean feel both vast and terrifyingly real.

Ernest & Celestine
Ernest & Celestine 2012

A delicate French gem using beautiful, storybook-style watercolor and pencil sketches for a charming friendship story.

The Incredibles
The Incredibles 2004

A mid-century modern aesthetic applied to 3D action, with spectacular visual focus on architectural detail.

The Little Prince
The Little Prince 2015

Expertly juxtaposes beautiful 2D watercolor sequences with modern, abstract 3D for a touching adaptation.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why are some well-known Pixar/Disney movies ranked lower than Ghibli or indie films?

Our primary editorial angle prioritizes the *artistry* and *uniqueness* of the animation style. While films like *Toy Story 3* are narrative peaks, films like *Spirited Away* or *Kubo* showcase visual techniques (masterful 2D brushwork, revolutionary stop-motion texture) that feel more singular and boundary-pushing for the medium itself.

What age range is appropriate for Studio Ghibli films like 'Spirited Away'?

Studio Ghibli films often handle mature themes like war, death, and complex morality. We suggest 10+ for the more complex narratives like *Spirited Away* and *Princess Mononoke*, though *My Neighbor Totoro* is suitable for younger viewers (5+). Always preview them if your child is sensitive to intense themes.

What is the difference between the '2D' and '3D' styles represented here?

3D (or CGI) films like Pixar's use computer models to create depth, often aiming for realism in texture and lighting. 2D (traditional) films rely on hand-drawn frames. This list celebrates films that either push 2D artistry (Ghibli) or combine 2D and 3D in groundbreaking ways (Spider-Verse, Klaus) to create a unique visual language.

Why is 'Grave of the Fireflies' an Honorable Mention and not on the main list?

While visually brilliant and a masterpiece of 2D realism, *Grave of the Fireflies* is deeply tragic and deals with themes of starvation and loss far too intense for a general family recommendation list. It's essential viewing for adults and older teens, but not suitable for our core family audience.

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