Best Animated Films: Top Picks, Classics, and Hidden Gems

When we talk about best animated films, feature-length motion pictures that use hand-drawn, 3D, or stop-motion techniques to tell stories beyond live-action limits. Also known as animated movies, they’re not just for kids—they’re emotional, artistic, and often smarter than most live-action releases. The best ones stick with you long after the credits roll, whether it’s because of a haunting melody, a character who feels real, or a world so vivid you wish you could live in it.

These films don’t just entertain—they build entire cultures. Studio Ghibli, a Japanese animation studio known for poetic storytelling and hand-painted detail. Also known as Ghibli films, it’s the reason many adults still cry over talking cats and flying castles. Then there’s Pixar, the studio that turned computer animation into an art form with emotional depth and technical mastery. Also known as Pixar movies, it made us laugh, cry, and rethink what a cartoon could be. These aren’t just studios—they’re movements. And behind them are decades of innovation, from Disney’s Snow White to modern masterpieces like Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse.

What makes a film truly stand out? It’s not just the animation style. It’s how well it captures fear, hope, loneliness, or joy without saying a word. A child’s toy missing its owner. A rat who dreams of cooking. A girl who flies a house with balloons. These aren’t gimmicks—they’re human stories told through color, movement, and music. And the best ones? They don’t need a sequel. They don’t need merch. They just need to be watched.

You’ll find the classics here—the ones that won Oscars and broke box office records. But you’ll also find the quiet ones. The ones that flew under the radar. The ones that made a single person in a small town feel seen. This collection doesn’t just list favorites. It shows you why these films matter—how they shaped animation, changed industries, and sometimes, changed lives.