Universal Pictures Animated Movies 2017
Some call it "Animation Domination".
The growth of mainstream animation has changed the landscape of entertainment.
With new technology, animation studios can produce more and more high-quality digital options.
From children's movies like 'Frozen' to more adult films, like 'Avatar', animation provides something for everyone. [Infographic]
Which is the Best Animated Movie Ever?
By 'best', let's use the metric of highest-rated. In that case, the best-animated movie ever is Toy Story 2, released in 1999. It beats out classics like Snow White, with a Rotten Tomatoes rating of 100%.
Which is the Best Cartoon Movie in the World?
Inside Out—2015, hands down. No surprise that Pixar has somewhat of a monopoly on great animated works. It portrays a little girl's emotions. Through the personification of these various emotions, Pixar has created an effective and intuitive way of communicating concepts that we experience every day.
What is the Most Popular Animated Movie?
This one is near and dear to my heart. The Lion King is the most popular animated movie. A retelling of Hamlet using lions, this movie will have you laughing, crying, and celebrating the life and adventures of Simba the lion.
Finding the Best Animated Movies of All-Time
We've gone through the most popular, top-earning, and the best-reviewed animated movies of all-time to select what we believe to be the 100 best animated movies ever.
Enjoy!
Toy Story 4
IMDB: 7.8
Rotten Tomatoes: 97%
Release Date: 6/20/2019
Movie Studio: Pixar Animation Studios
Domestic Gross Revenue: $434,038,008
Plot: Woody and his toy friends welcomed "Forky" into their gang and together, they set on a road trip full of adventure, mischief, and fun! (Watch Trailer)
Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse
IMDB: 8.4
Rotten Tomatoes: 97%
Release Date: 12/12/2018
Movie Studio: Sony Pictures Animation, Avi Arad, Pascal Pictures, Lord Miller
Domestic Gross Revenue: $190,241,310
Plot: After witnessing Spiderman die, teenager Miles Morales becomes a reluctant hero to save New York City. He's joined by other 'spider' heroes from other dimensions and they work together to defeat their nemesis, Kingpin, and to regain the balance in the parallel universes. (Watch Trailer)
Inside Out
IMDB: 8.1
Rotten Tomatoes: 98%
Release Date: 6/19/2015
Movie Studio: Buena Vista (Disney)
Domestic Gross Revenue: $356,921,711
Plot: Transferred to San Francisco from her Midwest life, young Riley has to face her new environment guided by her emotions – Joy, Fear, Anger, Disgust, and Sadness. (Watch Trailer)
Coco
IMDB: 8.4
Rotten Tomatoes: 97%
Release Date: 11/22/2017
Movie Studio: Buena Vista (Disney)
Domestic Gross Revenue: $210,460,015
Plot: A 12-year-old aspiring musician named Miguel went to the Land of the Dead to seek for his great-great-grandfather, a popular musician. (Watch Trailer)
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
IMDB: 7.6
Rotten Tomatoes: 98%
Release Date: 12/21/1937
Movie Studio: Disney
Domestic Gross Revenue: $184,925,486
Plot: With the evil Queen in pursuit, Snow White hides with The 7 Dwarfs. She's then poisoned, but a prince comes to her rescue with a kiss. (Watch Trailer)
Paddington 2
IMDB: 7.8
Rotten Tomatoes: 100%
Release Date: 01/12/2018
Movie Studio: Warner Bros.
Domestic Gross Revenue: $40,891,591
Plot: Paddington Bear, now happily living with the Brown Family and has become a popular member in their local community for giving people support in different ways, gets various odd jobs to purchase a unique book from an antique shop as a birthday present for his Aunt Lucy but when he was close to saving up the right amount of money, the book got stolen from the shop. (Watch Trailer)
The Incredibles 2
IMDB: 7.6
Rotten Tomatoes: 93%
Release Date: 06/15/2018
Movie Studio: Buena Vista (Disney)
Domestic Gross Revenue: $608,581,744
Plot: The hero family Incredibles takes a new mission to save the world. Mr. Incredible (Bob Parr) must manage the house whilst Elen (Elastigirl) needs to go out and save the planet. (Watch Trailer)
Zootopia
IMDB: 8.0
Rotten Tomatoes: 98%
Release Date: 03/04/2016
Movie Studio: Buena Vista (Disney)
Domestic Gross Revenue: $341,268,248
Plot: The very first rabbit police officer teamed up with a red fox con artist to solve a mystery case about the disappearance of the predator inhabitants in their city. (Watch Trailer)
Up
IMDB: 8.2
Rotten Tomatoes: 98%
Release Date: 05/29/2009
Movie Studio: Buena Vista (Disney)
Domestic Gross Revenue: $293,004,164
Plot: Join 78-year old Carl Fredricksen as he fulfills his dream of traveling to Paradise Falls in his house tied with a thousand balloons. Joining his adventure is Russel, the Wilderness Explorer who stowed away with him. (Watch Trailer)
Toy Story 2
IMDB: 7.9
Rotten Tomatoes: 100%
Release Date: 11/19/1999
Movie Studio: Buena Vista (Disney)
Domestic Gross Revenue: $245,852,179
Plot: Woody gets kidnapped by a toy collector and it's up to Buzz Lightyear and friends to save the day. (Watch Trailer)
Toy Story 3
IMDB: 8.3
Rotten Tomatoes: 98%
Release Date: 6/18/2010
Movie Studio: Buena Vista (Disney)
Domestic Gross Revenue: $415,004,880
Plot: As Andy gets ready to leave for college, his loyal toys are mistakenly sent to the daycare center. (Watch Trailer)
Pinocchio
IMDB: 7.4
Rotten Tomatoes: 100%
Release Date: 02/09/1940
Movie Studio: Disney
Domestic Gross Revenue: $84,254,167
Plot: For the puppet, Pinocchio to become a real boy, he must prove himself worthy by being brave, honest, and generous. (Watch Trailer)
Finding Dory
IMDB: 7.3
Rotten Tomatoes: 94%
Release Date: 06/17/2016
Movie Studio: Buena Vista (Disney)
Domestic Gross Revenue: $486,295,561
Plot: The Amnesiac fish Dory remembered that she has a family and thought that they might be looking for her. In this adventure, Dory was caught and placed in a public aquarium and it's up to Marlin and Nemo to save her. (Watch Trailer)
Finding Nemo
IMDB: 8.1
Rotten Tomatoes: 99%
Release Date: 05/30/2003
Movie Studio: Buena Vista (Disney)
Domestic Gross Revenue: $380,843,261
Plot: Follow the adventure of a father clownfish as he searches for his son, Nemo who was taken from the Great Barrier Reef into a fish tank in a dentist's office. (Watch Trailer)
The LEGO Movie
IMDB: 7.7
Rotten Tomatoes: 96%
Release Date: 02/07/2014
Movie Studio: Warner Bros.
Domestic Gross Revenue: $257,760,692
Plot: Emmet, an ordinary Lego construction worker was thought to be the "Special" one who will save the Lego world from an evil tyrant. (Watch Trailer)
Moana
IMDB: 7.6
Rotten Tomatoes: 95%
Release Date: 11/23/2016
Movie Studio: Buena Vista (Disney)
Domestic Gross Revenue: $248,757,044
Plot: Moana, daughter of a chief is chosen by the ocean to rejoin a relic to a goddess. She sets sail to find the legendary demigod of the wind and sea named Maui in the hope of saving her people from a blight. (Watch Trailer)
Toy Story
IMDB: 8.3
Rotten Tomatoes: 100%
Release Date: 11/22/1995
Movie Studio: Buena Vista (Disney)
Domestic Gross Revenue: $223,225,679
Plot: Toys come alive in this cartoon where Woody, a pull-string talking cowboy competes with Buzz Lightyear, the newest toy collection of Andy. (Watch Trailer)
Isle of Dogs
IMDB: 7.9
Rotten Tomatoes: 90%
Release Date: 03/23/2018
Movie Studio: Fox Searchlight
Domestic Gross Revenue: $32,015,231
Plot: Isle of Dogs follows a boy's epic journey in search of his lost dog. The movie is set in Japan. (Watch Trailer)
Kubo and the Two Strings
IMDB: 7.8
Rotten Tomatoes: 97%
Release Date: 08/19/2016
Movie Studio: Focus Features
Domestic Gross Revenue: $48,023,088
Plot: A one-eyed young boy named Kubo joined forces with Monkey and Beetle. They went on a journey to save Kubo's family and solve the mystery of the greatest samurai warrior, his father. (Watch Trailer)
How To Train Your Dragon
IMDB: 8.1
Rotten Tomatoes: 99%
Release Date: 03/26/2010
Movie Studio: Paramount (DreamWorks)
Domestic Gross Revenue: $217,581,231
Plot: To prove his worth to the tribe, a young Viking must hunt and capture dragons that began a new friendship with these creatures. (Watch Trailer)
Shaun the Sheep Movie
IMDB: 7.3
Rotten Tomatoes: 99%
Release Date: 08/05/2015
Movie Studio: Lionsgate
Domestic Gross Revenue: $19,375,982
Plot: Shaun the sheep planned to get a day off by making the farmer fall asleep in his caravan. Unfortunately, the caravan where the farmer is sleeping rolled away to the big city. The farmer got amnesia after getting a blow to his head. Now it is Shaun and his flock's job to get the farmer back. (Watch Trailer)
WALL-E
IMDB: 8.4
Rotten Tomatoes: 95%
Release Date: 6/27/2008
Movie Studio: Buena Vista (Disney)
Domestic Gross Revenue: $223,808,164
Plot: WALL-E is set in the near future where a waste-collecting robot finds a new meaning in life when he met EVE, a sleek search robot who realized that he may have the key to save planet Earth. (Watch Trailer)
Dumbo
IMDB: 7.2
Rotten Tomatoes: 98%
Release Date: 10/23/1941
Movie Studio: RKO
Domestic Gross Revenue: N/A
Plot: Dumbo is a young circus elephant who is born with huge ears. Dumbo amazes everyone when he discovers that he can fly with the use of his enormous ears. (Watch Trailer)
Ratatouille
IMDB: 8.0
Rotten Tomatoes: 96%
Release Date: 6/29/2007
Movie Studio: Buena Vista (Disney)
Domestic Gross Revenue: $206,445,654
Plot: Remy, the rat partners with Linguini, a garbage boy and chase his dream of becoming a great chef. (Watch Trailer)
My Life as a Zucchini
IMDB: 7.8
Rotten Tomatoes: 99%
Release Date: 02/24/2017
Movie Studio: GKIDS
Domestic Gross Revenue: $309,766
Plot: After his mom died, Zucchini was brought to an orphanage with children his age. With the help of his new friends and police officer Raymond who brought him, he learned how to trust & love others eventually, as he seeks a new family. (Watch Trailer)
The Incredibles
IMDB: 8.0
Rotten Tomatoes: 97%
Release Date: 11/05/2004
Movie Studio: Buena Vista (Disney)
Domestic Gross Revenue: $261,441,092
Plot: Mr. Incredible and his wife Elastigirl are now retired from superhero-missions and trying to live normal lives with their three kids until a top-secret assignment given to Mr. Incredible forced the whole family into action. (Watch Trailer)
Only Yesterday
IMDB: 7.6
Rotten Tomatoes: 100%
Release Date: 01/01/2016 (USA)
Movie Studio: GKIDS
Domestic Gross Revenue: $453,243
Plot: A 27-year-old woman, Taeko, decided to travel to the countryside. While traveling she reminisced about her past events in Tokyo. (Watch Trailer)
The Lego Batman Movie
IMDB: 7.3
Rotten Tomatoes: 90%
Release Date: 02/10/2017
Movie Studio: Warner Bros.
Domestic Gross Revenue: $175,750,384
Plot: In the Lego Universe, Bruce Wayne continues fighting the usual bad guys in Gotham City, while doing so he decided to make his adopted son into his crime-fighting partner. (Watch Trailer)
101 Dalmatians
IMDB: 7.2
Rotten Tomatoes: 98%
Release Date: 01/25/1961
Movie Studio: Disney
Domestic Gross Revenue: $144,880,014
Plot: Follow the story of canine pets Dalmatians Pongo and Perdita as they searched for their missing pups stolen by the minions of Cruella De Vil. (Watch Trailer)
Beauty and the Beast
IMDB: 8.0
Rotten Tomatoes: 94%
Release Date: 11/15/1991
Movie Studio: Buena Vista (Disney)
Domestic Gross Revenue: $218,967,620
Plot: The film focuses on Belle, whose father was imprisoned by a Beast, a prince who is transformed into his present form due to arrogance. To be a prince again, he must fall in love with Belle and in return win her love. (Watch Trailer)
Chicken Run
IMDB: 7.0
Rotten Tomatoes: 97%
Release Date: 06/23/2000
Movie Studio: DreamWorks
Domestic Gross Revenue: $106,834,564
Plot: Set in the Chicken Farm in England in the 1950s, Chicken Run follows the plan of the escape of Rocky the Rooster and Ginger the chicken together with their fellow chickens from their evil owners. (Watch Trailer)
The Nightmare Before Christmas
IMDB: 8.0
Rotten Tomatoes: 95%
Release Date: 10/15/1993
Movie Studio: Buena Vista (Disney)
Domestic Gross Revenue: $77,368,668
Plot: Bored of his job and find life lacks meaning in Halloweenland, Jack Skellington, the Pumpkin King discovers Christmas Town and decides to celebrate the yuletide season there with some funny consequences. (Watch Trailer)
Monsters, Inc.
IMDB: 8.1
Rotten Tomatoes: 96%
Release Date: 11/02/2001
Movie Studio: Buena Vista (Disney)
Domestic Gross Revenue: $290,642,256
Plot: The screams of human children are the source of power in the world of Sullivan and Wazowski, two monsters working at Monster, Inc., a scream processing company. Their view of human children as toxic changed when they met a little human girl named Boo who followed them back into the monster world. (Watch Trailer)
Fantasia
IMDB: 7.7
Rotten Tomatoes: 95%
Release Date: 01/29/1941
Movie Studio: Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
Domestic Gross Revenue: $76,408,097
Plot: A set of animated interpretations using popular classical music. (Watch Trailer)
Grave of the Fireflies
IMDB: 8.5
Rotten Tomatoes: 100%
Release Date: 8/12/2018 (Domestic)
Movie Studio: Fathom Events
Domestic Gross Revenue: $516,962
Plot: This short story film is set in the City of Kobe, Japan during World War 2. Seita, a young teenage boy and his little sister, Setsuko find themselves struggling to survive in the final days of the war. (Watch Trailer)
Your Name
IMDB: 8.4
Rotten Tomatoes: 98%
Release Date: 04/07/2017
Movie Studio: FUNimation Films
Domestic Gross Revenue: $5,017,246
Plot: Two high school students, a boy, and a girl can switch bodies with each other. When they both realized that they can switch bodies they started communicating by leaving notes and soon decided to start their quest in meeting each other in person. (Watch Trailer)
The Iron Giant
IMDB: 8.0
Rotten Tomatoes: 96%
Release Date: 08/03/1999
Movie Studio: Warner Bros.
Domestic Gross Revenue: $23,159,305
Plot: A film about the friendship between a boy named Hogarth and an alien giant robot who is wanted by a government agent. (Watch Trailer)
Spirited Away
IMDB: 8.6
Rotten Tomatoes: 97%
Release Date: 09/20/2002
Movie Studio: Buena Vista (Disney)
Domestic Gross Revenue: $13,750,644
Plot: Chihiro's family outing became an adventure to the world of supernaturals. Possibly Studio Ghibli's most famous entry, (in America at least), Spirited Away is an unforgettable romp through a fantastical story. The main character needs to navigate herself through the spirit world, meeting unforgettable characters like No-Face, Haku, and Chihiro will ignite the imagination in anyone. (Watch Trailer)
Tower
IMDB: 8.0
Rotten Tomatoes: 99%
Release Date: 09/28/2016
Movie Studio: Kino Lorber
Domestic Gross Revenue: $101,987
Plot: A campus held hostage by a sniper for 1 and a half hours (Documentary). (Watch Trailer)
Song of the Sea
IMDB: 8.1
Rotten Tomatoes: 99%
Release Date: 12/19/2014
Movie Studio: GKIDS
Domestic Gross Revenue: $857,522
Plot: Follow the adventure of Ben and Saoirse, who can turn into a seal, as they save the spirit world. (Watch Trailer)
The Lion King
IMDB: 8.5
Rotten Tomatoes: 93%
Release Date: 06/15/1994
Movie Studio: Buena Vista (Disney)
Domestic Gross Revenue: $422,783,777
Plot: Simba is to succeed his father Mufasa as King when he grows up but was tricked by his uncle Scar and leads him into thinking that he is responsible for his father's death. (Watch Trailer)
42. Who Framed Roger Rabbit
IMDB: 7.7
Rotten Tomatoes: 97%
Release Date: 06/24/1988
Movie Studio: Buena Vista (Disney)
Domestic Gross Revenue: $156,452,370
Plot: Roger Rabbit's only chance to be cleared from an accusation of murder is through Eddie Valiant, a toon-hating private detective. (Watch Trailer)
Waltz with Bashir
IMDB: 8.0
Rotten Tomatoes: 96%
Release Date: 12/25/2008
Movie Studio: Sony Pictures Classics
Domestic Gross Revenue: $2,283,849
Plot: This Israeli film is an animated documentary of the 1982 Lebanon war where Folman, the main character is a veteran and is in search of his lost memories of his experiences of that conflict. (Watch Trailer)
Anomalisa
IMDB: 7.3
Rotten Tomatoes: 91%
Release Date: 12/30/2015
Movie Studio: Paramount
Domestic Gross Revenue: $3,759,286
Plot: Michael Stone is a Customer Service Professional. Michael has a business trip where he is expected to speak. There he met Lisa, a sales representative, who might be the love of his life that'll help him change and escape his repetitive life, wherein he is unable to interact with other people deeply. (Watch Trailer)
How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World
IMDB: 7.5
Rotten Tomatoes: 90%
Release Date: 1/3/2019
Movie Studio: Universal Pictures
Domestic Gross Revenue: $160,799,505
Plot: In this third installment of the "How to Train Your Dragon" movie franchise, Hiccup seeks 'The Hidden World' of dragons before Grimmel, a vicious dragon hunter finds it before him. Hiccup is also dealing with Toothless' blossoming bond with a female Night Fury. (Watch Trailer)
Persepolis
IMDB: 8.0
Rotten Tomatoes: 96%
Release Date: 12/25/2007
Movie Studio: Sony Pictures Classics
Domestic Gross Revenue: $4,445,756
Plot: Based on Marjane Satrapi's novel, it follows a young girl's coming of age during the Iranian Revolution. (Watch Trailer)
Yellow Submarine
IMDB: 7.4
Rotten Tomatoes: 95%
Release Date: 11/13/1968
Movie Studio: Apple Films, King Features Production
TVC London
Domestic Gross Revenue: $992,305
Plot: Follow Captain Fred as he is accompanied by The Beatles in his yellow submarine on their mission to free Pepperland from the blue meanies. (Watch Trailer)
Wallace and Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit
IMDB: 7.4
Rotten Tomatoes: 95%
Release Date: 10/05/2005
Movie Studio: DreamWorks
Domestic Gross Revenue: $56,110,897
Plot: The film is about inventor Wallace and his mute and intelligent dog, Gromit, as they come to save villagers from a mutant rabbit that threatens their yearly giant vegetable growing contest. (Watch Trailer)
Fantastic Mr. Fox
IMDB: 7.9
Rotten Tomatoes: 93%
Release Date: 11/13/2009
Movie Studio: Fox
Domestic Gross Revenue: $21,002,919
Plot: The comedy film is about Mr. Fox who steals food from three farmers that endangers his family and the animal community. The urbane fox must help in fighting against the farmers' retaliation. (Watch Trailer)
Kiki's Delivery Service
IMDB: 7.8
Rotten Tomatoes: 98%
Release Date: 07/29/1989
Movie Studio: Studio Ghibli
Domestic Gross Revenue: $1,004,057
Plot: A witch named Kiki must live on her own for a year. The mixture of the more melancholy coming-of-age themes with beautiful animation will have this story and characters fresh in your mind. (Watch Trailer)
Ernest and Celestine
IMDB: 7.8
Rotten Tomatoes: 98%
Release Date: 12/12/2012
Movie Studio: GKIDS
Domestic Gross Revenue: $262,075
Plot: Based on the classic Belgian book series by Gabrielle Vincent, Ernest and Celestine is a story of an unlikely bond of friendship between a bear and a mouse. (Watch Trailer)
Aladdin
IMDB: 8.0
Rotten Tomatoes: 94%
Release Date: 11/13/1992
Movie Studio: Buena Vista (Disney)
Domestic Gross Revenue: $217,350,219
Plot: To marry Princess Jasmine, Aladdin uses the magic lamp to become a sultan and defeat his rival, Jafar. (Watch Trailer)
The Secret World of Arrietty
IMDB: 7.6
Rotten Tomatoes: 95%
Release Date: 02/17/2012
Movie Studio: Buena Vista (Disney)
Domestic Gross Revenue: $19,587,032
Plot: The Secret World of Arrietty tells a story of a 14-year-old tiny girl Arrietty and her secret friendship with a human boy on which if discovered might drive Arrietty and her family away from home. (Watch Trailer)
Ralph Breaks the Internet
IMDB: 7.1
Rotten Tomatoes: 88%
Release Date: 11/21/2018
Movie Studio: Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
Domestic Gross Revenue: $201,091,711
Plot: What happens when Ralph and Vanellope discover the existence of the internet? Adventures, a ton of fun with a healthy dose of mischiefs follow these two wherever they go. But will this new discovery strengthen their friendship or will it become a test of their bond? (Watch Trailer)
Frozen
IMDB: 7.4
Rotten Tomatoes: 90%
Release Date: 11/22/2013
Movie Studio: Buena Vista (Disney)
Domestic Gross Revenue: $400,953,009
Plot: Frozen is a story of Anna who teams up with a mountain man, his reindeer, and a snowman to find her sister Elsa and put an end to her icy spell. (Watch Trailer)
The Red Turtle
IMDB: 7.5
Rotten Tomatoes: 93%
Release Date: 01/20/2017
Movie Studio: Sony Classics
Domestic Gross Revenue: $921,974
Plot: Because of a storm an unnamed man got stranded on a deserted island where he meets a female red turtle that changed his whole life. (Watch Trailer)
Long Way North
IMDB: 7.3
Rotten Tomatoes: 98%
Release Date: 09/30/2016
Movie Studio: Shout! Factory
Domestic Gross Revenue: N/A
Plot: A Russian aristocrat takes a great expedition to know what happened to her grandfather and to save the reputation of her family. (Watch Trailer)
Coraline
IMDB: 7.7
Rotten Tomatoes: 90%
Release Date: 02/06/2009
Movie Studio: Focus Features
Domestic Gross Revenue: $75,286,229
Plot: Coraline Jones discovers an alternate version of her life when she uncovers a secret door of their new home. Follow her adventures as she enters into the world that has its sinister secrets. (Watch Trailer)
I Lost My Body
IMDB: 7.6
Rotten Tomatoes: 96%
Release Date: 11/21/2018
Movie Studio: Rezo Films
Domestic Gross Revenue: –
Plot: A severed hand in a dissection lab in Paris sets out to get reconnected with its body. Meanwhile, a young man named Naoufel is in love with Gabrielle. What happens next is one of the strangest stories, but definitely the most original, ever told in the history of animation film. (Watch Trailer)
The Breadwinner
IMDB: 7.7
Rotten Tomatoes: 95%
Release Date: 11/17/2017
Movie Studio: GKIDS
Domestic Gross Revenue: $313,215
Plot: Parvana, a girl in Afghanistan, needs to disguise herself as a boy to be able to work and support her family due to her father being imprisoned. (Watch Trailer)
Ghost in the Shell
IMDB: 8.0
Rotten Tomatoes: 96%
Release Date: 02/02/1996
Movie Studio: Buena Vista (Disney)
Domestic Gross Revenue: $515,905
Plot: A woman police officer that has a cybernetic body and her partner hunts down a mysterious hacker named Puppet Master. (Watch Trailer)
The Little Mermaid
IMDB: 7.6
Rotten Tomatoes: 93%
Release Date: 11/17/1989
Movie Studio: Buena Vista (Disney)
Domestic Gross Revenue: $111,543,479
Plot: Ariel is the youngest daughter of the King of the Sea who longs to be with humans on the surface. She falls in love with a handsome human and enters an agreement with the evil sea witch to be with him. (Watch Trailer)
How to Train Your Dragon 2
IMDB: 7.8
Rotten Tomatoes: 91%
Release Date: 6/13/2014
Movie Studio: Fox
Domestic Gross Revenue: $177,002,924
Plot: Viking Hiccup and his faithful dragon Toothless must protect the peace from Drago and save the future of men and dragons in this second chapter of How to Train Your Dragon. One of their adventures leads to the discovery of a secret ice cave that is home to hundreds of new wild dragons and the mysterious Dragon Rider. (Watch Trailer)
Lady and the Tramp
IMDB: 7.3
Rotten Tomatoes: 93%
Release Date: 06/22/1955
Movie Studio: Disney
Domestic Gross Revenue: $93,602,326
Plot: A classic romantic story of two individuals with many differences. A romance begins to blossom between a sheltered cocker spaniel dog and a stray mutt tramp. (Watch Trailer)
The Triplets of Belleville
IMDB: 7.8
Rotten Tomatoes: 94%
Release Date: 11/26/2003
Movie Studio: Sony Pictures Classics
Domestic Gross Revenue: $7,007,149
Plot: Madame Souza raised his grandson, Champion, and trained him in cycling. She encourages him to reach his dream of winning the Tour de France. During a race, the Champion goes missing. Madame Suzanne and her companion pooch Bruno team up with the Belleville Sisters to rescue her grandson. (Watch Trailer)
Big Hero 6
IMDB: 7.8
Rotten Tomatoes: 89%
Release Date: 11/07/2014
Movie Studio: Buena Vista (Disney)
Domestic Gross Revenue: $222,527,828
Plot: The cartoon tells the story of Hiro Hamada, a young robotics prodigy who develops a special bond with Baymax, a plus-sized inflatable robot, and forms a superhero team to fight a masked villain. (Watch Trailer)
Bambi
IMDB: 7.3
Rotten Tomatoes: 90%
Release Date: 08/21/1942
Movie Studio: RKO
Domestic Gross Revenue: $102,247,150
Plot: Follow the story of Bambi, a male deer as he faces the challenges of living in the forest after his mother is shot by hunters, his courtship of lovely Faline the doe, and how he saves his friends during a forest fire. (Watch Trailer)
Princess Mononoke
IMDB: 8.4
Rotten Tomatoes: 93%
Release Date: 10/29/1999
Movie Studio: Miramax
Domestic Gross Revenue: $4,845,631
Plot: Ashitaka is on a journey to find a cure for a Tatarigami's curse and finds himself in the middle of a battle between Princess Mononoke and a mining village.
This is a darker entry into the Studio Ghibli collection. With more thematically violent themes, this Ghibli picture is for an older audience, but is still beautiful, thought-provoking and provides a stunning metaphor of industry vs. nature.
The characters are fantastic, and the plot will deeply resonate with anyone who views it. (Watch Trailer)
My Neighbor Totoro
IMDB: 8.2
Rotten Tomatoes: 94%
Release Date: 05/07/1993
Movie Studio: 50th Street Films
Domestic Gross Revenue: $2,250,213
Plot: A story of two girls, Satsuki and Mei, and their magical adventures with the friendly wood spirits. (Watch Trailer)
Arthur Christmas
IMDB: 7.1
Rotten Tomatoes: 92%
Release Date: 11/23/2011
Movie Studio: Sony / Columbia
Domestic Gross Revenue: $46,462,469
Plot: Santa Claus' clumsy son, Arthur discovers that their high-tech ship has failed to deliver one present for a young girl. He goes on a mission to deliver the misplaced present before Christmas morning dawns. (Watch Trailer)
Antz
IMDB: 6.5
Rotten Tomatoes: 92%
Release Date: 10/02/1998
Movie Studio: DreamWorks
Domestic Gross Revenue: $90,757,863
Plot: The movie's hero, Z longs for some individuality and tries to break from his totalitarian society. The success of a revolution he led finally gets the interest of Bala, the colony's Queen daughter, of which he is in love. (Watch Trailer)
The LEGO Movie 2: The Second Part
IMDB: 6.6
Rotten Tomatoes: 84%
Release Date: 2/6/2019
Movie Studio: Rezo Films
Domestic Gross Revenue: $105,806,508
Plot: Everything is NOT awesome in the Lego universe as Duplo aliens threaten to destroy Emmet's home. The Master Builders must step up their game to rebuild and protect their world from destruction. (Watch Trailer)
A Bug's Life
IMDB: 7.2
Rotten Tomatoes: 92%
Release Date: 11/20/1998
Movie Studio: Buena Vista (Disney)
Domestic Gross Revenue: $162,798,565
Plot: Flik, a misfit ant, is looking for a group of bugs that are tough to save his colony from greedy grasshoppers. However, the bugs he recruited turned out to be an inept circus troupe. (Watch Trailer)
Mary and Max
IMDB: 8.1
Rotten Tomatoes: 95%
Release Date: 01/15/2009
Movie Studio: IFC Films
Domestic Gross Revenue: N/A
Plot: The film follows the story of 2 pen pals, Mary, a lonely, eight-year-old girl living in Melbourne, and Max, a forty-four-year-old, a severely obese man living in New York, and a bond that forms between the two beyond their distance. Will they ever meet face to face? (Watch Trailer)
Ponyo
IMDB: 7.7
Rotten Tomatoes: 91%
Release Date: 8/14/2009
Movie Studio: Buena Vista (Disney)
Domestic Gross Revenue: $15,743,471
Plot: The animated film centers on Ponyo, a goldfish princess who longs to be human, and her friendship with a five-year-old boy.
Ponyo is Miyazaki's take on The Little Mermaid. That being said, where Mononoke was more mature, Ponyo is geared towards younger audiences. It's lighthearted and a perfect movie to put on to relax, feel happy, and play for the kids while still enjoying it yourself. (Watch Trailer)
Klaus
IMDB: 8.2
Rotten Tomatoes: 94%
Release Date: 11/15/2019
Movie Studio: Netflix
Domestic Gross Revenue: N/A
Plot: When Jesper arrived in the distant town of Smeerensburg, he only had one mission: to post 6,000 letters in a year. When he met Klaus, a passionate and brilliant toymaker, his life and those around him changed forever. (Watch Trailer)
Teen Titans Go! To the Movies
IMDB: 6.8
Rotten Tomatoes: 91%
Release Date: 7/27/2018
Movie Studio: Warner Bros.
Domestic Gross Revenue: $29,790,236
Plot: It seems that the major superheroes are starring in their own movies. Robin wants to become a star, not just a sidekick. The Teen Titans head to Hollywood to fulfill their dreams. When a supervillain plans to take over the world, the fate of the young heroes is on the line. (Watch Trailer)
Bolt
IMDB: 6.8
Rotten Tomatoes: 89%
Release Date: 11/21/2008
Movie Studio: Buena Vista (Disney)
Domestic Gross Revenue: $114,053,579
Plot: Bolt (John Travolta) is a star of a fictional show and he believes that his powers are real. When he is accidentally shipped out to the mean streets, his adventure to find his owner Penny (Miley Cyrus) starts. (Watch Trailer)
Missing Link
IMDB: 6.7
Rotten Tomatoes: 89%
Release Date: 4/4/2019
Movie Studio: United Artists Releasing
Domestic Gross Revenue: $16,649,539
Plot: Mr. Link sets out to look for his relatives in the faraway valley of Shangri-La. He recruited the help of the famous English Explorer Sir Lionel Frost to guide him in this life-changing journey. Adventurer Adelina Fortnight joined the quest and together they embarked on an adventure beset with a fair share of danger and fun. (Watch Trailer)
Tangled
IMDB: 7.7
Rotten Tomatoes: 89%
Release Date: 11/24/2010
Movie Studio: Buena Vista (Disney)
Domestic Gross Revenue: $200,821,936
Plot: Rapunzel who has 70 feet of magical, golden hair has been locked in a tower for years. An opportunity to discover the world for the first time and her real identity unfolds when she hostage the bandit Flynn Rider. (Watch Trailer)
Shrek 2
IMDB: 7.2
Rotten Tomatoes: 89%
Release Date: 05/19/2004
Movie Studio: DreamWorks
Domestic Gross Revenue: $441,226,247
Plot: From their honeymoon, Shrek and Fiona receive an invitation from the princess' parents to celebrate their union. However, Shrek and Fiona's father find it hard to get along, and tension is starting to be felt by the newlyweds. (Watch Trailer)
ParaNorman
IMDB: 7.0
Rotten Tomatoes: 89%
Release Date: 08/17/2012
Movie Studio: Focus Features
Domestic Gross Revenue: $56,003,051
Plot: A young misunderstood Norman takes on ghosts, zombies, and grown-ups to save his town. (Watch Trailer)
Frankenweenie
IMDB: 6.9
Rotten Tomatoes: 87%
Release Date: 10/05/2012
Movie Studio: Buena Vista (Disney)
Domestic Gross Revenue: $35,291,068
Plot: Victor loses his dog Sparky and uses the power of electricity to bring his best friend back to life but with monstrous consequences. (Watch Trailer)
James and the Giant Peach
IMDB: 6.7
Rotten Tomatoes: 91%
Release Date: 04/12/1996
Movie Studio: Buena Vista (Disney)
Domestic Gross Revenue: $28,946,127
Plot: Journey with James as his discovery of a giant peach leads him to meet creatures that become his new friends and his travel companions to New York City. (Watch Trailer)
Shrek
IMDB: 7.8
Rotten Tomatoes: 88%
Release Date: 05/16/2001
Movie Studio: DreamWorks
Domestic Gross Revenue: $267,665,011
Plot: To get his land back, Shrek agreed to save a princess for a villainous lord who wants to marry her. (Watch Trailer)
Rango
IMDB: 7.2
Rotten Tomatoes: 88%
Release Date: 03/04/2011
Movie Studio: Paramount
Domestic Gross Revenue: $123,477,607
Plot: Rango, a sheltered chameleon is forced to play his new role as the new sheriff when he accidentally winds up in the town of Dirt. (Watch Trailer)
The Wind Rises
IMDB: 7.8
Rotten Tomatoes: 88%
Release Date: 2/21/2014
Movie Studio: Buena Vista (Disney)
Domestic Gross Revenue: $5,209,580
Plot: The Wind Rises chronicles the life of Jiro Horikoshi, the designer of fighter aircraft used by the Empire of Japan during World War II. (Watch Trailer)
Winnie the Pooh
IMDB: 7.2
Rotten Tomatoes: 91%
Release Date: 07/15/2011
Movie Studio: Buena Vista (Disney)
Domestic Gross Revenue: $26,692,846
Plot: Pooh and friends embark on a journey to search for Christopher Robin and save him from an imaginary culprit. (Watch Trailer)
The Simpsons Movie
IMDB: 7.3
Rotten Tomatoes: 87%
Release Date: 07/27/2007
Movie Studio: Fox
Domestic Gross Revenue: $183,135,014
Plot: Homer irresponsibly pollutes the town's water supply and is now declared a fugitive of EPA. He must make a move to save the world from the disaster he created. (Watch Trailer)
Boy and the World
IMDB: 7.6
Rotten Tomatoes: 93%
Release Date: 12/11/2015
Movie Studio: GKIDS
Domestic Gross Revenue: $129,480
Plot: A boy named Cuca who lives a happy and peaceful life in a small village went on a quest to find his father to reunite his family back. (Watch Trailer)
The Peanuts Movie
IMDB: 7.1
Rotten Tomatoes: 87%
Release Date: 11/06/2015
Movie Studio: Fox
Domestic Gross Revenue: $130,178,411
Plot: A kid, Charlie Brown hears that someone is moving to their neighborhood, a cute red-haired girl which he then tries not to make any failures starting from that moment and be a winner to impress her. (Watch Trailer)
When Marnie Was There
IMDB: 7.7
Rotten Tomatoes: 91%
Release Date: 5/22/2015
Movie Studio: GKIDS
Domestic Gross Revenue: $561,085
Plot: As the friendship of two young girls Anna and Marnie blooms, Anna discovers the possibility of a closer tie with her newfound friend. (Watch Trailer)
Millennium Actress
IMDB: 7.9
Rotten Tomatoes: 93%
Release Date: 09/12/2003
Movie Studio: DW / Go Fish
Domestic Gross Revenue: $262,891
Plot: Based on the life of Setsuko Hara and Hideko Takamine, it tells the story of Genya Tachibana who is a documentary filmmaker interviewing Chiyoko Fujiwara, an elderly actress in which reality and cinema become blurred. (Watch Trailer)
Kung Fu Panda
IMDB: 7.5
Rotten Tomatoes: 87%
Release Date: 06/06/2008
Movie Studio: Paramount (DreamWorks)
Domestic Gross Revenue: $215,434,591
Plot: An obese panda and a novice in martial arts are unexpectedly chosen to be the Dragon Warrior in the valley of peace. Will he fulfill his destiny as a hero? (Watch Trailer)
Sleeping Beauty
IMDB: 7.2
Rotten Tomatoes: 89%
Release Date: 1/29/1959
Movie Studio: Disney
Domestic Gross Revenue: $51,600,000
Plot: A malevolent fairy casts a curse on a princess. She falls into a deep sleep and can be only ended with a kiss from the prince, with the help of the fairies. (Watch Trailer)
Wreck-It Ralph
IMDB: 7.7
Rotten Tomatoes: 87%
Release Date: 11/2/2012
Movie Studio: Buena Vista (Disney)
Domestic Gross Revenue: $189,422,889
Plot: Ralph, tired of playing the role of a video game villain sets to prove that he's got what it takes to be the hero. (Watch Trailer)
Kung Fu Panda 3
IMDB: 7.1
Rotten Tomatoes: 87%
Release Date: 01/29/2016
Movie Studio: Fox
Domestic Gross Revenue: $143,528,619
Plot: Poe has a new enemy named Kai, to defeat Kai he must become the Master of Qi. With the help of his father and his Panda tribe Po learns how to be a true panda and learns who he truly is. (Watch Trailer)
The Illusionist
IMDB: 7.5
Rotten Tomatoes: 90%
Release Date: 12/25/2010
Movie Studio: Sony Classics
Domestic Gross Revenue: $2,231,474
Plot: A heartwarming film about a French Illusionist and a young woman and their ensuing adventures together that are life-changing. (Watch Trailer)
Tarzan
IMDB: 7.3
Rotten Tomatoes: 89%
Release Date: 06/16/1999
Movie Studio: Buena Vista (Disney)
Domestic Gross Revenue: $171,091,819
Plot: Tarzan was raised in the jungle by gorillas after his parents were killed by a rogue leopardess. However, he must decide where he really belongs when he discovers he is a human. (Watch Trailer)
Howl's Moving Castle
IMDB: 8.2
Rotten Tomatoes: 87%
Release Date: 06/10/2005
Movie Studio: Buena Vista (Disney)
Domestic Gross Revenue: $5,576,743
Plot: Sophie is cursed by the Witch of the Waste after discovering a budding friendship between her and a strange but flamboyant wizard named Howl. Can Howl help Sophie reverse the witch's spell? (Watch Trailer)
This is a fantastic entry by Studio Ghibli. It has more fairy tale elements, with a European vibe. It feels very reminiscent of an old fairy tale while simultaneously being groundbreaking and modern. Loveable characters and a beautiful world will make you never want to leave.
Honorable Mentions
Captain Underpants: The First Epic Movie
IMDB: 6.2
Rotten Tomatoes: 87%
Release Date: 06/02/2017
Movie Studio: Fox
Domestic Gross Revenue: $73,921,000
Plot: Two friends that are well-known pranksters at their school hypnotized their meanie principal into thinking he's a stupid superhero called Captain Underpants. (Watch Trailer)
The Secret of Kells
IMDB: 7.6
Rotten Tomatoes: 90%
Release Date: 03/05/2010
Movie Studio: GKIDS
Domestic Gross Revenue: $676,775
Plot: Young Brendan living in a remote medieval outpost has the adventure of his life when he met a celebrated master illuminator who has an ancient but unfinished book, full of secret wisdom and powers. (Watch Trailer)
Mary and The Witch's Flower
IMDB: 6.8
Rotten Tomatoes: 89%
Release Date: 1/18/2018
Movie Studio: GKIDS
Domestic Gross Revenue: $2,418,404
Plot: Based on The Little Broomstick by Mary Stewart. Mary discovers an old broomstick and a rare plant in a nearby forest. The rare flower grants mary magical powers. (Watch Trailer)
The Boy and the Beast
IMDB: 7.7
Rotten Tomatoes: 88%
Release Date: 03/04/2016
Movie Studio: FUNimation Films
Domestic Gross Revenue: $490,643
Plot: Kyuta, an orphan kid living in the streets came across a beast named Kumatetsu. Kyuta followed Kumatetsu to his world, the world of beasts. Kyuta became Kumatetsu's apprentice and they trained hard together. Darkness puts the human and beast worlds in mayhem and it is up to them to work together to stop this. (Watch Trailer)
Sausage Party
IMDB: 6.1
Rotten Tomatoes: 82%
Release Date: 8/12/2016
Movie Studio: Sony
Domestic Gross Revenue: $97,685,686
Plot: Life is good for Frank (The sausage) and all the other food items. Soon, they'll realize the truth that they'll become a meal. They devise a plan to escape from human enemies. (Watch Trailer)
Akira
IMDB: 8.0
Rotten Tomatoes: 90%
Release Date: 12/25/1989
Movie Studio: Streamline
Domestic Gross Revenue: $553,171
Plot: A bike gang leader tries to save his friend from a secret military project. His friend (Tetsuo) discovers his supernatural powers and a final clash is fought in Tokyo. (Watch Trailer)
Tokyo Godfathers
IMDB: 7.8
Rotten Tomatoes: 90%
Release Date: 01/16/2004
Movie Studio: IDP
Domestic Gross Revenue: $367,131
Plot: Their bond of friendship is tested when homeless Gin, Hana, and Miyuki discover a newborn baby among the trash. (Watch Trailer)
The Pirates! Band of Misfits
IMDB: 6.7
Rotten Tomatoes: 86%
Release Date: 04/27/2012
Movie Studio: Sony / Columbia
Domestic Gross Revenue: $31,051,126
Plot: Pirate Captain has one dream – to beat his rivals Black Bellamy and Cutlass Liz for the Pirate of the Year Award. (Watch Trailer)
My Dog Tulip
IMDB: 6.9
Rotten Tomatoes: 90%
Release Date: 09/01/2010
Movie Studio: New Yorker
Domestic Gross Revenue: $246,574
Plot: A film about a growing friendship between a man and the German shepherd he rescues. (Watch Trailer)
The Princess and the Frog
IMDB: 7.1
Rotten Tomatoes: 85%
Release Date: 11/25/2009
Movie Studio: Buena Vista (Disney)
Domestic Gross Revenue: $104,400,899
Plot: Follow the hilarious adventure of Tiana who is desperate to follow her dreams of becoming a restaurant owner and the frog prince who desperately wants to be human again. (Watch Trailer)
In This Corner of the World
IMDB: 7.8
Rotten Tomatoes: 98%
Release Date: 08/11/2017
Movie Studio: FUNimation Films
Domestic Gross Revenue: $172,147
Plot: Set in Japan during WWII, Suzu an innocent 18-year-old girl married a young man and now she has to try her best to provide food for her family despite the living conditions in their area. (Watch Trailer)
April and the Extraordinary World
IMDB: 7.3
Rotten Tomatoes: 96%
Release Date: 03/25/2016
Movie Studio: GKIDS
Domestic Gross Revenue: $295,488
Plot: A family of scientists is making an invulnerability serum. This serum already produced a talking cat named Darwin. While doing their work a mysterious force that looks like a black cloud appeared where April's parents got killed, leaving April and Darwin behind. (Watch Trailer)
The Little Prince
IMDB: 7.7
Rotten Tomatoes: 93%
Release Date: 08/05/2016
Movie Studio: Entertainment One
Domestic Gross Revenue: $1,339,152
Plot: A little Girl being prepared by a loving mother for the big grown-up world they are in. The little girl meets their neighbor an Aviator who told her a story about the Little Prince. The Aviator finally introduces the magnificent world of the Little Prince to his friend and the girl sets off on a journey in hoping to put things right when the Aviator got hospitalized. (Watch Trailer)
Miss Hokusai
IMDB: 6.7
Rotten Tomatoes: 93%
Release Date: 10/14/2016
Movie Studio: GKIDS
Domestic Gross Revenue: $222,670
Plot: The cartoon is a story of a ukiyo-e painter, Katsushika Hokusai, and his daughter O-Ei who tries to understand how an artist sees the world.
It explores the coming of age of a young woman and her journey to stepping out of the shadow of her famous father. (Watch Trailer)
Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs
IMDB: 6.9
Rotten Tomatoes: 86%
Release Date: 09/18/2009
Movie Studio: Sony / Columbia
Domestic Gross Revenue: $124,870,275
Plot: Based on the children's book of the same name, Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs follows the inventor Flint Lockwood and his latest invention which enables food to fall from the sky like rain. (Watch Trailer)
Mulan
IMDB: 7.6
Rotten Tomatoes: 86%
Release Date: 06/19/1998
Movie Studio: Buena Vista (Disney)
Domestic Gross Revenue: $120,620,254
Plot: For her old father to be saved from death in the war against the Huns, Mulan disguises herself as a man and joins the Chinese army. (Watch Trailer)
Lilo and Stitch
IMDB: 7.2
Rotten Tomatoes: 86%
Release Date: 06/21/2002
Movie Studio: Buena Vista (Disney)
Domestic Gross Revenue: $145,794,338
Plot: A notorious extra-terrestrial fugitive from the law becomes an unusual pet of a Hawaiian Girl. (Watch Trailer)
Tim Burton's Corpse Bride
IMDB: 7.3
Rotten Tomatoes: 84%
Release Date: 09/16/2005
Movie Studio: Warner Bros.
Domestic Gross Revenue: $53,359,111
Plot: Victor is about to get married to his fiancee Victoria when he mistakenly put the wedding band while practicing his wedding vows on the skeletal finger of the enchanted Corpse Bride who is assuming he has married her. (Watch Trailer)
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Written by Dustin Tyler [Updated June 10, 2021]
Initially focused on web dev, Dustin was introduced to game design by a friend after college and was immediately attracted to the combination of technical skill and creativity required to make an awesome game.
While not a professional game developer himself, he's utilized his web dev skills and desire to help others by creating a resource where expert game designers can share what they've learned with the next generation of aspiring game makers. Meet the rest of the team.
Universal Pictures Animated Movies 2017
Source: https://www.gamedesigning.org/best-animated-movies/