140 Essential Animated Movies

Critics Consensus: The beautifully stop-motion animated Isle of Dogs finds Wes Anderson at his detail-oriented best while telling one of the director's most winsomely charming stories.

Synopsis: When, by executive decree, all the canine pets of Megasaki City are exiled to a vast garbage-dump called Trash Island, 12-year-old Atari sets off alone... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Bryan Cranston, Edward Norton, Scarlett Johansson, Bill Murray

Directed By: Wes Anderson

Critics Consensus: Bursting with a colorful imagination befitting its promise-packed title, April and the Extraordinary World offers spectacular delights for animation fans willing to venture off the beaten path.

Synopsis: Accompanied by her talking cat (Tony Hale), a teen (Angela Galuppo) embarks on a quest to find her missing parents in 1941 Paris.

Starring: Angela Galuppo, Tony Hale, Tod Fennell, Tony Robinow

Directed By: Christian Desmares, Franck Ekinci

Critics Consensus: The Secret of NIMH seeks to resurrect the classical style of American animation and succeeds, telling a mature story with rapturous presentation.

Synopsis: Mrs. Brisby (Elizabeth Hartman), a widowed mouse, must move her children out of their home in a field before the local farmer starts plowing. Unable... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Elizabeth Hartman, Derek Jacobi, Dom DeLuise, Shannen Doherty

Directed By: Don Bluth

Critics Consensus: Richly detailed and loaded with surreal touches, The Triplets of Belleville is an odd, delightful charmer.

Synopsis: This animated film follows elderly Frenchwoman Madame Souza as she becomes involved in international intrigue when her grandson, Champion, a professional cyclist, is kidnapped and... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Jean-Claude Donda, Michel Robin, Monica Viegas, Michèle Caucheteux

Directed By: Sylvain Chomet

Critics Consensus: A nostalgic charmer, Lady and the Tramp's token sweetness is mighty but the songs and richly colored animation are technically superb and make for a memorable experience.

Synopsis: This Disney animated classic follows a pampered cocker spaniel named Lady whose comfortable life slips away once her owners have a baby. When, after some... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Peggy Lee, Barbara Luddy, Larry Roberts, Bill Thompson

Directed By: Clyde Geronimi, Wilfred Jackson, Hamilton Luske

Critics Consensus: With its vivid stop-motion animation combined with Neil Gaiman's imaginative story, Coraline is a film that's both visually stunning and wondrously entertaining.

Synopsis: While exploring her new home, a girl named Coraline (Dakota Fanning) discovers a secret door, behind which lies an alternate world that closely mirrors her... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Dakota Fanning, Teri Hatcher, Jennifer Saunders, Dawn French

Directed By: Henry Selick

Critics Consensus: The Breadwinner's stunning visuals are matched by a story that dares to confront sobering real-life issues with uncommon -- and richly rewarding -- honesty.

Synopsis: Parvana is an 11-year-old girl who lives under Taliban rule in Afghanistan in 2001. After the wrongful arrest of her father, Parvana cuts off her... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Saara Chaudry, Soma Chhaya, Ali Badshah, Laara Sadiq

Directed By: Nora Twomey

Critics Consensus: The Emperor's New Groove isn't the most ambitious animated film, but its brisk pace, fresh characters, and big laughs make for a great time for the whole family.

Synopsis: Arrogant young Emperor Kuzco is transformed into a llama by his power-hungry advisor -- the devious diva Yzma. Stranded in the jungle, Kuzco's only chance... View Full Synopsis

Starring: David Spade, John Goodman, Eartha Kitt, Patrick Warburton

Directed By: Mark Dindal

Critics Consensus: Exciting, emotionally resonant, and beautifully animated, How to Train Your Dragon 2 builds on its predecessor's successes just the way a sequel should.

Synopsis: Five years have passed since Hiccup and Toothless united the dragons and Vikings of Berk. Now, they spend their time charting the island's unmapped territories.... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Jay Baruchel, Cate Blanchett, Gerard Butler, Craig Ferguson

Directed By: Dean DeBlois, Tom Owens

Critics Consensus: Beautifully animated, smartly written, and stocked with singalong songs, Frozen adds another worthy entry to the Disney canon.

Synopsis: When their kingdom becomes trapped in perpetual winter, fearless Anna (Kristen Bell) joins forces with mountaineer Kristoff (Jonathan Groff) and his reindeer sidekick to find... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Kristen Bell, Idina Menzel, Jonathan Groff, Josh Gad

Directed By: Chris Buck, Jennifer Lee

Critics Consensus: The Wind Rises is a fittingly bittersweet swan song for director Hayao Miyazaki.

Synopsis: A lifelong love of flight inspires Japanese aviation engineer Jiro Horikoshi, whose storied career includes the creation of the A-6M World War II fighter plane. View Full Synopsis

Starring: Joseph Gordon-Levitt, John Krasinski, Emily Blunt, Martin Short

Directed By: Hayao Miyazaki, Gary Rydstrom

Critics Consensus: A wholly innovative, original, and vital history lesson, with pioneering animation, Waltz With Bashir delivers its message about the Middle East in a mesmerizing fashion.

Synopsis: Israeli filmmaker Ari Folman wrote, directed and stars in this autobiographical animated film. As a 19-year-old infantry soldier in the 1982 war with Lebanon, Folman... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Ron Ben-Yishai, Ronny Dayag, Ari Folman, Dror Harazi

Directed By: Ari Folman

Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.

Synopsis: This final movie version was created as an alternative ending to the NEON GENESIS EVANGELION TV series, remaking the final two episodes from the series.... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Megumi Ogata, Megumi Hayashibara, Yuko Miyamura, Kotono Mitsuishi

Directed By: Hideaki Anno, Kazuya Tsurumaki

Critics Consensus: A landmark in animation (and a huge influence on the medium of music video), Disney's Fantasia is a relentlessly inventive blend of the classics with phantasmagorical images.

Synopsis: Released in 1940, represented Disney's boldest experiment to date. Bringing to life his vision of blending animated imagery with classical music. What had begun as... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Deems Taylor, Leopold Stokowski, Walt Disney, Julietta Novis

Directed By: James Algar, Samuel Armstrong, Ford Beebe, Norman Ferguson

Critics Consensus: With plenty of pooches and a memorable villain (Cruella De Vil), this is one of Disney's most enduring, entertaining animated films.

Synopsis: In a Disney animation classic, Dalmatian Pongo is tired of his bachelor-dog life. He spies lovely Perdita and maneuvers his master, Roger, into meeting Perdita's... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Rod Taylor, Betty Lou Gerson, Cate Bauer, Lisa Daniels

Directed By: Wolfgang Reitherman, Hamilton Luske, Clyde Geronimi

Critics Consensus: A joyful, phantasmagoric blend of colorful animation and the music of the Beatles, Yellow Submarine is delightful (and occasionally melancholy) family fare.

Synopsis: The music-loving inhabitants of Pepperland are under siege by the Blue Meanies, a nasty group of music-hating creatures. The Lord Mayor of Pepperland (Dick Emery)... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Paul Angelis, Peter Batten, John Clive, Dick Emery

Directed By: George Dunning

Critics Consensus: Only Yesterday's long-delayed U.S. debut fills a frustrating gap for American Ghibli fans while offering further proof of the studio's incredibly consistent commitment to quality.

Synopsis: A put-upon 27-year-old Japanese office worker travels to the countryside and reminisces about her childhood in Tokyo and what life could have been.

Starring: Daisy Ridley, Dev Patel, Ashley Eckstein, Alison Fernandez

Directed By: Isao Takahata

Critics Consensus: Heartwarming, funny, and beautifully animated, Toy Story 4 manages the unlikely feat of extending -- and perhaps concluding -- a practically perfect animated saga.

Synopsis: Woody, Buzz Lightyear and the rest of the gang embark on a road trip with Bonnie and a new toy named Forky. The adventurous journey... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, Annie Potts, Tony Hale

Directed By: Josh Cooley

Critics Consensus: Boasting beautiful animation, a charming voice cast, laugh-a-minute gags, and a surprisingly thoughtful story, The Lego Movie is colorful fun for all ages.

Synopsis: An ordinary LEGO figurine Emmet who always follows the rules, is mistakenly identified as an extraordinary being and the key to saving the world. He... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Chris Pratt, Will Ferrell, Morgan Freeman, Elizabeth Banks

Directed By: Phil Lord, Christopher Miller

Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.

Synopsis: In this entrancing tale by renowned Japanese animator Hayao Miyazaki, World War I flying ace Marco Pagot mysteriously turns from a man into a pig... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Michael Keaton, Susan Egan, David Ogden Stiers, Cary Elwes

Directed By: Hayao Miyazaki

Critics Consensus: Dumbo packs plenty of story into its brief runtime, along with all the warm animation and wonderful music you'd expect from a Disney classic.

Synopsis: A young circus elephant is born with comically large ears and given the cruel nickname Dumbo. One day at a show, he is taunted by... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Herman Bing, Billy Bletcher, Edward Brophy, Jim Carmichael

Directed By: Ben Sharpsteen

Critics Consensus: While simultaneously embracing and subverting fairy tales, the irreverent Shrek also manages to tweak Disney's nose, provide a moral message to children, and offer viewers a funny, fast-paced ride.

Synopsis: Once upon a time, in a far away swamp, there lived an ogre named Shrek whose precious solitude is suddenly shattered by an invasion of... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Mike Myers, Eddie Murphy, Cameron Diaz, John Lithgow

Directed By: Andrew Adamson, Vicky Jenson

Critics Consensus: This Disney dreamscape contains moments of grandeur, with its lush colors, magical air, one of the most menacing villains in the Disney canon.

Synopsis: Filled with jealousy, the evil witch Maleficent (Eleanor Audley) curses Princess Aurora (Mary Costa) to die on her 16th birthday. Thanks to Aurora's guardian fairies... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Mary Costa, Bill Shirley, Eleanor Audley, Verna Felton

Directed By: Clyde Geronimi

Critics Consensus: With a title character as three-dimensional as its lush animation and a story that adds fresh depth to Disney's time-tested formula, Moana is truly a family-friendly adventure for the ages.

Synopsis: An adventurous teenager sails out on a daring mission to save her people. During her journey, Moana meets the once-mighty demigod Maui, who guides her... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Auli'i Cravalho, Dwayne Johnson, Rachel House, Temuera Morrison

Directed By: John Musker, Ron Clements

Critics Consensus: Kung Fu Panda has a familiar message, but the pleasing mix of humor, swift martial arts action, and colorful animation makes for winning Summer entertainment.

Synopsis: Po the panda works in his family's noodle shop and dreams of becoming a kung-fu master. His dream becomes a reality when, unexpectedly, he must... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Jack Black, Angelina Jolie, Jackie Chan, David Cross

Directed By: John Stevenson, Mark Osborne

Critics Consensus: The rare sequel that arguably improves on its predecessor, Toy Story 2 uses inventive storytelling, gorgeous animation, and a talented cast to deliver another rich moviegoing experience for all ages.

Synopsis: Woody (Tom Hanks) is stolen from his home by toy dealer Al McWhiggin (Wayne Knight), leaving Buzz Lightyear (Tim Allen) and the rest of the... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, Joan Cusack, Kelsey Grammer

Directed By: Ash Brannon, John Lasseter, Lee Unkrich

Critics Consensus: The brilliantly well-rounded Zootopia offers a thoughtful, inclusive message that's as rich and timely as its sumptuously state-of-the-art animation -- all while remaining fast and funny enough to keep younger viewers entertained.

Synopsis: From the largest elephant to the smallest shrew, the city of Zootopia is a mammal metropolis where various animals live and thrive. When Judy Hopps... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Ginnifer Goodwin, Jason Bateman, Shakira, Idris Elba

Directed By: Byron Howard, Rich Moore

Critics Consensus: Kiki's Delivery Service is a heartwarming, gorgeously-rendered tale of a young witch discovering her place in the world.

Synopsis: In this anime feature, 13-year-old Kiki moves to a seaside town with her talking cat, Jiji, to spend a year alone, in accordance with her... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Kirsten Dunst, Phil Hartman, Debbie Reynolds, Janeane Garofalo

Directed By: Hayao Miyazaki

Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.

Synopsis: In this anime film, Jubei, a highly skilled ninja, is coerced into slaying his own clan of warriors. After begrudgingly killing his fellow swordsmen, he... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Koichi Yamadera, Emi Shinohara, Takeshi Aono, Daisuke Gôri

Directed By: Yoshiaki Kawajiri

Critics Consensus: Elegantly animated and deeply touching, Bambi is an enduring, endearing, and moving Disney classic.

Synopsis: In a classic Disney animation, a fawn named Bambi joins his new friends, a young rabbit named Thumper and a skunk kit named Flower in... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Hardie Albright, Stan Alexander, Peter Behn, Tim Davis

Directed By: David Hand

Critics Consensus: Clever, funny, and delightful to look at, Monsters, Inc. delivers another resounding example of how Pixar elevated the bar for modern all-ages animation.

Synopsis: Monsters Incorporated is the largest scare factory in the monster world, and James P. Sullivan (John Goodman) is one of its top scarers. Sullivan is... View Full Synopsis

Starring: John Goodman, Billy Crystal, Mary Gibbs, Steve Buscemi

Directed By: Pete Docter

Critics Consensus: The Nightmare Before Christmas is a stunningly original and visually delightful work of stop-motion animation.

Synopsis: The film follows the misadventures of Jack Skellington, Halloweentown's beloved pumpkin king, who has become bored with the same annual routine of frightening people in... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Danny Elfman, Chris Sarandon, Catherine O'Hara, William Hickey

Directed By: Henry Selick

Critics Consensus: Stylish and admirably respectful of the source material, Batman: Mask of the Phantasm succeeds where many of the live-action Batman adaptations have failed.

Synopsis: In this animated feature set in the 1940s, the troubled yet heroic Batman (Kevin Conroy) is pitted against a mysterious figure who is rubbing out... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Kevin Conroy, Efrem Zimbalist Jr., Bob Hastings, Mark Hamill

Directed By: Eric Radomski, Bruce Timm

Critics Consensus: Persepolis is an emotionally powerful, dramatically enthralling autobiographical gem, and the film's simple black-and-white images are effective and bold.

Synopsis: Based on Satrapi's graphic novel about her life in pre and post-revolutionary Iran and then in Europe. The film traces Satrapi's growth from child to... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Chiara Mastroianni, Catherine Deneuve, Danielle Darrieux, Simon Abkarian

Directed By: Marjane Satrapi, Vincent Paronnaud

Critics Consensus: Song of the Sea boasts narrative depth commensurate with its visual beauty, adding up to an animated saga overflowing with family-friendly riches.

Synopsis: An Irish youth discovers that his mute sister is a selkie who must find her voice and free supernatural creatures from the spell of a... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Brendan Gleeson, Fionnula Flanagan, David Rawle, Pat Shortt

Directed By: Tomm Moore

Critics Consensus: Mary and Max is a lovingly crafted, startlingly inventive piece of animation whose technical craft is equaled by its emotional resonance.

Synopsis: A lonely Australian girl (Toni Collette) and an elderly Jewish man (Philip Seymour Hoffman) in New York develop an unlikely friendship through letters.

Starring: Toni Collette, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Eric Bana, Barry Humphries

Directed By: Adam Elliot

Critics Consensus: Boasting narrative depth, frank honesty, and exquisite visual beauty, The Tale of the Princess Kaguya is a modern animated treasure with timeless appeal.

Synopsis: A tiny nymph found inside a bamboo stalk grows into a beautiful and desirable young woman, who orders her suitors to prove their love by... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Chloë Grace Moretz, James Caan, Mary Steenburgen, Darren Criss

Directed By: Isao Takahata

Critics Consensus: Fantastic Mr. Fox is a delightfully funny feast for the eyes with multi-generational appeal -- and it shows Wes Anderson has a knack for animation.

Synopsis: After 12 years of bucolic bliss, Mr. Fox breaks a promise to his wife and raids the farms of their human neighbors, Boggis, Bunce, and... View Full Synopsis

Starring: George Clooney, Meryl Streep, Jason Schwartzman, Bill Murray

Directed By: Wes Anderson

Critics Consensus: With a storytelling palette as rich and brilliant as its animation, Castle in the Sky thrillingly encapsulates Studio Ghibli's unique strengths.

Synopsis: Young orphan Sheeta and her kidnapper, Col. Muska, are flying to a military prison when their plane is attacked by a gang of air pirates... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Anna Paquin, James Van Der Beek, Cloris Leachman, Mark Hamill

Directed By: Hayao Miyazaki

Critics Consensus: Breathtakingly lovely and grounded by the stellar efforts of a well-chosen cast, Finding Nemo adds another beautifully crafted gem to Pixar's crown.

Synopsis: Marlin (Albert Brooks), a clown fish, is overly cautious with his son, Nemo (Alexander Gould), who has a foreshortened fin. When Nemo swims too close... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Albert Brooks, Ellen DeGeneres, Alexander Gould, Willem Dafoe

Directed By: Andrew Stanton

Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.

Synopsis: Far in the future, after an apocalyptic conflict has devastated much of the world's ecosystem, the few surviving humans live in scattered semi-hospitable environments within... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Shia LaBeouf, Alison Lohman, Patrick Stewart, Uma Thurman

Directed By: Hayao Miyazaki

Critics Consensus: Deftly blending comedy, adventure, and honest emotion, Toy Story 3 is a rare second sequel that really works.

Synopsis: With their beloved Andy preparing to leave for college, Woody (Tom Hanks), Buzz Lightyear (Tim Allen), Jessie (Joan Cusack), and the rest of the toys... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, Joan Cusack, Ned Beatty

Directed By: Lee Unkrich

Critics Consensus: Fast-paced and stunningly animated, Ratatouille adds another delightfully entertaining entry -- and a rather unlikely hero -- to the Pixar canon.

Synopsis: Remy (Patton Oswalt), a resident of Paris, appreciates good food and has quite a sophisticated palate. He would love to become a chef so he... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Patton Oswalt, Ian Holm, Lou Romano, Brian Dennehy

Directed By: Brad Bird

Critics Consensus: As beautifully animated as it is emotionally satisfying, Your Name adds another outstanding chapter to writer-director Makoto Shinkai's filmography.

Synopsis: A teenage boy and girl embark on a quest to meet each other for the first time after they magically swap bodies.

Starring: Michael Sinterniklaas, Stephanie Sheh, Laura Post, Glynis Ellis

Directed By: Makoto Shinkai

Critics Consensus: A highly entertaining entry in Disney's renaissance era," Aladdin is beautifully drawn, with near-classic songs and a cast of scene-stealing characters.

Synopsis: When street rat Aladdin frees a genie from a lamp, he finds his wishes granted. However, he soon finds that the evil has other plans... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Scott Weinger, Robin Williams, Linda Larkin, Jonathan Freeman

Directed By: Ron Clements, John Musker

Critics Consensus: The Little Mermaid ushered in a new golden era for Disney animation with warm and charming hand-drawn characters and catchy musical sequences.

Synopsis: In Disney's beguiling animated romp, rebellious 16-year-old mermaid Ariel (Jodi Benson) is fascinated with life on land. On one of her visits to the surface,... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Jodi Benson, Pat Carroll, Christopher Daniel Barnes, Rene Auberjonois

Directed By: Ron Clements, John Musker

Critics Consensus: Bringing loads of wit and tons of fun to the animated superhero genre, The Incredibles easily lives up to its name.

Synopsis: In this lauded Pixar animated film, married superheroes Mr. Incredible (Craig T. Nelson) and Elastigirl (Holly Hunter) are forced to assume mundane lives as Bob... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Craig T. Nelson, Holly Hunter, Samuel L. Jackson, Jason Lee

Directed By: Brad Bird

Critics Consensus: Exquisitely illustrated by master animator Miyazaki, Howl's Moving Castle will delight children with its fantastical story and touch the hearts and minds of older viewers as well.

Synopsis: Sophie (Emily Mortimer) has an uneventful life at her late father's hat shop, but all that changes when she befriends wizard Howl (Christian Bale), who... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Jean Simmons, Christian Bale, Lauren Bacall, Blythe Danner

Directed By: Hayao Miyazaki

Critics Consensus: Inventive, gorgeously animated, and powerfully moving, Inside Out is another outstanding addition to the Pixar library of modern animated classics.

Synopsis: Riley (Kaitlyn Dias) is a happy, hockey-loving 11-year-old Midwestern girl, but her world turns upside-down when she and her parents move to San Francisco. Riley's... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Amy Poehler, Phyllis Smith, Richard Kind, Bill Hader

Directed By: Pete Docter

Critics Consensus: Boasting dazzling animation, a script with surprising dramatic depth, and thrilling 3-D sequences, How to Train Your Dragon soars.

Synopsis: A misfit Viking teenager sees a chance to change the course of his clan's future when he befriends an injured dragon.

Starring: Jay Baruchel, Gerard Butler, America Ferrera, Jonah Hill

Directed By: Christopher Sanders, Dean DeBlois

Critics Consensus: Coco's rich visual pleasures are matched by a thoughtful narrative that takes a family-friendly -- and deeply affecting -- approach to questions of culture, family, life, and death.

Synopsis: Despite his family's generations-old ban on music, young Miguel dreams of becoming an accomplished musician like his idol Ernesto de la Cruz. Desperate to prove... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Anthony Gonzalez, Gael García Bernal, Benjamin Bratt, Alanna Ubach

Directed By: Lee Unkrich

Critics Consensus: Chicken Run has all the charm of Nick Park's Wallace & Gromit, and something for everybody. The voice acting is fabulous, the slapstick is brilliant, and the action sequences are spectacular.

Synopsis: This engaging stop-motion, claymation adventure tells the story of an American rooster who falls in love with a gorgeous hen on a British farm. The... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Mel Gibson, Julia Sawalha, Miranda Richardson, Jane Horrocks

Directed By: Peter Lord, Nick Park

Critics Consensus: Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse matches bold storytelling with striking animation for a purely enjoyable adventure with heart, humor, and plenty of superhero action.

Synopsis: Bitten by a radioactive spider in the subway, Brooklyn teenager Miles Morales suddenly develops mysterious powers that transform him into the one and only Spider-Man.... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Shameik Moore, Jake Johnson, Hailee Steinfeld, Mahershala Ali

Directed By: Bob Persichetti, Peter Ramsey, Rodney Rothman

Critics Consensus: A stunning feat of modern animation, Ghost in the Shell offers a thoughtful, complex treat for anime fans, as well as a perfect introduction for viewers new to the medium.

Synopsis: In this Japanese animation, cyborg federal agent Maj. Motoko Kusanagi (Mimi Woods) trails "The Puppet Master" (Abe Lasser), who illegally hacks into the computerized minds... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Richard Epcar, Mimi Woods, William Frederick Knight, Tom Wyner

Directed By: Mamoru Oshii

Critics Consensus: An exciting, funny, and poignant adventure, Up offers an impeccably crafted story told with wit and arranged with depth, as well as yet another visual Pixar treat.

Synopsis: Carl Fredricksen, a 78-year-old balloon salesman, is about to fulfill a lifelong dream. Tying thousands of balloons to his house, he flies away to the... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Ed Asner, Christopher Plummer, Jordan Nagai, Bob Peterson

Directed By: Pete Docter, Bob Peterson

Critics Consensus: My Neighbor Totoro is a heartwarming, sentimental masterpiece that captures the simple grace of childhood.

Synopsis: This acclaimed animated tale by director Hayao Miyazaki follows schoolgirl Satsuke and her younger sister, Mei, as they settle into an old country house with... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Elle Fanning, Dakota Fanning, Tim Daly, Lea Salonga

Directed By: Hayao Miyazaki

Critics Consensus: Enchanting, sweepingly romantic, and featuring plenty of wonderful musical numbers, Beauty and the Beast is one of Disney's most elegant animated offerings.

Synopsis: An arrogant young prince and his castle's servants fall under the spell of a wicked enchantress, who turns him into the hideous Beast until he... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Paige O'Hara, Robby Benson, Richard White, Jerry Orbach

Directed By: Gary Trousdale, Kirk Wise

Critics Consensus: The endearing Iron Giant tackles ambitious topics and complex human relationships with a steady hand and beautifully animated direction from Brad Bird.

Synopsis: In this animated adaptation of Ted Hughes' Cold War fable, a giant alien robot crash-lands near the small town of Rockwell, Maine, in 1957. Exploring... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Jennifer Aniston, Eli Marienthal, Harry Connick Jr., Vin Diesel

Directed By: Brad Bird

Critics Consensus: Wall-E's stellar visuals testify once again to Pixar's ingenuity, while its charming star will captivate younger viewers -- and its timely story offers thought-provoking subtext.

Synopsis: WALL-E, short for Waste Allocation Load Lifter Earth-class, is the last robot left on Earth. He spends his days tidying up the planet, one piece... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Ben Burtt, Elissa Knight, Jeff Garlin, Fred Willard

Directed By: Andrew Stanton

Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.

Synopsis: A teenager (J. Robert Spencer) is charged with the care of his younger sister (Rhoda Chrosite) after an Allied firebombing during World War II destroys... View Full Synopsis

Starring: J. Robert Spencer, Rhoda Chrosite, Amy Jones, Kathleen McInerney

Directed By: Isao Takahata

Critics Consensus: Ambitious, adventurous, and sometimes frightening, Pinocchio arguably represents the pinnacle of Disney's collected works -- it's beautifully crafted and emotionally resonant.

Synopsis: When the woodworker Geppetto (Christian Rub) sees a falling star, he wishes that the puppet he just finished, Pinocchio (Dickie Jones), could become a real... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Don Brodie, Walter Catlett, Frankie Darro, Cliff Edwards

Directed By: Ben Sharpsteen, Hamilton Luske

Critics Consensus: With its epic story and breathtaking visuals, Princess Mononoke is a landmark in the world of animation.

Synopsis: A prince becomes involved in the struggle between a forest princess and the encroachment of mechanization.

Starring: Claire Danes, Billy Bob Thornton, Gillian Anderson, Billy Crudup

Directed By: Hayao Miyazaki

Critics Consensus: Akira is strikingly bloody and violent, but its phenomenal animation and sheer kinetic energy helped set the standard for modern anime.

Synopsis: In 1988 the Japanese government drops an atomic bomb on Tokyo after ESP experiments on children go awry. In 2019, 31 years after nuking the... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Mitsuo Iwata, Nozomu Sasaki, Mami Koyama, Tessho Genda

Directed By: Katsuhiro Ohtomo

Critics Consensus: With its involving story and characters, vibrant art, and memorable songs, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs set the animation standard for decades to come.

Synopsis: The Grimm fairy tale gets a Technicolor treatment in Disney's first animated feature. Jealous of Snow White's beauty, the wicked queen orders the murder of... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Adriana Caselotti, Harry Stockwell, Lucille La Verne, Moroni Olsen

Directed By: David Hand

Critics Consensus: Entertaining as it is innovative, Toy Story reinvigorated animation while heralding the arrival of Pixar as a family-friendly force to be reckoned with.

Synopsis: Woody (Tom Hanks), a good-hearted cowboy doll who belongs to a young boy named Andy (John Morris), sees his position as Andy's favorite toy jeopardized... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, Don Rickles, Jim Varney

Directed By: John Lasseter

Critics Consensus: Emotionally stirring, richly drawn, and beautifully animated, The Lion King is a pride within Disney's pantheon of classic family films.

Synopsis: This Disney animated feature follows the adventures of the young lion Simba (Jonathan Taylor Thomas), the heir of his father, Mufasa (James Earl Jones). Simba's... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Matthew Broderick, Jeremy Irons, James Earl Jones, Madge Sinclair

Directed By: Roger Allers, Rob Minkoff

Critics Consensus: Spirited Away is a dazzling, enchanting, and gorgeously drawn fairy tale that will leave viewers a little more curious and fascinated by the world around them.

Synopsis: 10-year-old Chihiro (Daveigh Chase) moves with her parents to a new home in the Japanese countryside. After taking a wrong turn down a wooded path,... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Daveigh Chase, Suzanne Pleshette, Jason Marsden, Susan Egan

Directed By: Hayao Miyazaki