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: In the future, an outbreak of canine flu leads the mayor of a Japanese city to banish all dogs to... [More]
Critics Consensus: Kirikou and the Sorceress is a beautifully uplifting throwback to a simpler animated era, with refreshingly unique art and a timeless soundtrack.
Synopsis: A tiny child and his warrior uncle battle a sorceress who dried up the village well and ate her foes.... [More]
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... [More]
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: Walt Disney's animated classic of the romance between a pampered cocker spaniel and a streetwise mongrel.... [More]
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: A girl (Dakota Fanning) finds a secret door in her new home and walks into an alternate reality that closely... [More]
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, a young Afghan girl living under the Taliban regime, must disguise herself as a boy and become the breadwinner... [More]
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: A peasant comes to the aid of an arrogant ruler after a conspirator turns him into a llama.... [More]
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: After discovering a secret cave filled with wild dragons and their mysterious benefactor, Hiccup (Jay Baruchel) and Toothless find themselves... [More]
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... [More]
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: A friend's recurring nightmare prompts filmmaker Ari Folman to explore his own suppressed memories as a soldier during the 1982... [More]
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: Disney cartoon sequences set to classical music include Mickey Mouse as "The Sorcerer's Apprentice."... [More]
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: Two British Dalmatians embark on a daring rescue when their puppies are dognapped by Cruella De Ville.... [More]
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 Beatles come to the rescue when the evil Blue Meanies try to drive all the music and fun from... [More]
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... [More]
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... [More]
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 (Chris Pratt), thought to be the key to saving the world, is accompanied by a fellowship... [More]
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: An outcast baby elephant with oversized ears soars to fame and fortune as the world's only flying pachyderm.... [More]
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: In order to save his home, a monster (Mike Myers) with a donkey (Eddie Murphy) makes a deal with a... [More]
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: Three good fairies and a handsome prince save Princess Aurora from a bad fairy's spinning-wheel curse.... [More]
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: A once-mighty demigod (Dwayne Johnson) and a spirited teenager (Auli'i Cravalho) embark on an epic adventure across the ocean.... [More]
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: Chosen to fulfill an ancient prophecy, a clumsy panda (Jack Black) must become a martial-arts master and defend his people... [More]
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: When a toy collector kidnaps Woody, Buzz Lightyear and the other toys band together to bring him home.... [More]
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: Rookie police rabbit Judy Hopps (Ginnifer Goodwin) works with a wily fox (Jason Bateman) to solve a mysterious case in... [More]
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: A blue behemoth (John Goodman) and his short, one-eyed assistant (Billy Crystal) work in a giant factory that exists to... [More]
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.
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: An Iranian girl witnesses the fundamentalist takeover of her country and rebels against its strict policies, especially regarding women.... [More]
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 (David Rawle) discovers that his mute sister is a selkie who must find her voice and free... [More]
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... [More]
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... [More]
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 three nefarious farmers declare war on them, a sly fox (George Clooney) rallies his animal neighbors to fight back.... [More]
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: Two orphans, one with a levitation stone, search for lost treasure and the keys to their past in a legendary... [More]
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: A clown fish (Albert Brooks) embarks on a journey to find his son (Alexander Gould) after losing him in the... [More]
Critics Consensus: Fast-paced and stunningly animated, Ratatouille adds another delightfully entertaining entry -- and a rather unlikely hero -- to the Pixar canon.
Synopsis: A Parisian rat (Patton Oswalt) who enjoys fine food lives beneath a famous restaurant and longs to be a great... [More]
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... [More]
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: Disney's version of a tale about an Arabian thief who finds a magic lamp and tries to win a princess's... [More]
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: Ariel, a mermaid, is fascinated with life on land, and during one of her visits to the surface, she falls... [More]
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: After a witch (Lauren Bacall) transforms her into a crone, a hat maker (Jean Simmons) seeks shelter at the ambulatory... [More]
Critics Consensus: Inventive, gorgeously animated, and powerfully moving, Inside Out is another outstanding addition to the Pixar library of modern animated classics.
Synopsis: An 11-year-old girl's (Kaitlyn Dias) five emotions try to guide her through a difficult transition after she moves from the... [More]
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: Accompanied by a charming trickster, a young musician embarks on an extraordinary journey through the colorful Land of the Dead... [More]
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: A dashing rooster and the hen he loves lead an escape from a farm in 1950s England.... [More]
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, teenager Miles Morales suddenly develops mysterious powers that transform him into Spider-Man. He must now... [More]
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: A cybernetic agent must stop a potent form of artificial intelligence before it can attain human form.... [More]
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: A 78-year-old balloon salesman (Ed Asner) ties thousands of balloons to his house and flies to South America, but discovers... [More]
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: A French maiden takes the place of her captured father in the enchanted castle of an accursed prince, and her... [More]
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: A malevolent government agent threatens to destroy the friendship between a boy and a huge alien robot.... [More]
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: After years of tidying up an Earth devoid of humanity, a robot janitor (Ben Burtt) meets a mechanical scout and... [More]
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: Woodcarver Geppetto's marionette gets the chance to prove himself worthy of becoming a real boy in Disney's animated classic.... [More]
Critics Consensus:Akira is strikingly bloody and violent, but its phenomenal animation and sheer kinetic energy helped set the standard for modern anime.
Synopsis: A Japanese teenager learns that his newfound powers of telepathy are more powerful than he suspected.... [More]
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: A wicked queen casts a spell upon a beautiful young girl in this Disney adaptation of the classic fairy tale.... [More]
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: A flashy new action hero's arrival creates upset in a community of toys that comes to life when people are... [More]
Critics Consensus: Emotionally stirring, richly drawn, and beautifully animated, The Lion King is a pride within Disney's pantheon of classic family films.
Synopsis: After the death of his royal father, a young lion returns to battle his scheming uncle for the jungle throne.... [More]
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: Lost in a forest, a 10-year-old girl (Daveigh Chase) meets animals, ghosts and weird creatures.... [More]
