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The 50 Best Animated Movies of the 2010s

Looking back on the decade, it’s clear we’ve lived through a new Disney renaissance, as the studio hit its groove with Frozen, Moana, and Zootopia. Meanwhile, Disney-owned studio Pixar inspired a young generation with Inside Out, while high-risk sequels Toy Story 3 and 4 not only didn’t tarnish the brand, but took it to infinity, beyond, and back again.

Dreamworks became a true Pixar rival with the rousing yet deeply emotional adventures that made up the How to Train Your Dragon trilogy. And anime continued to break through the zeitgeist: Movies like Your Name and Mirai getting enough critical reviews and appraisal to hit Certified Fresh (let alone connecting with audiences all over) was nearly unheard of even just a decade ago. Meanwhile, Studio Ghibli put out some of their most affecting work, with the one-two punch of The Wind Rises and The Tale of Princess Kaguya. All types of animation were able to flourish in the 2010s, from stop-motion (Kubo and the Two Strings, Isle of Dogs, Shaun the Sheep Movie) and oil canvas (Loving Vincent), to rotoscoped (Tower) and even traditional (Winnie the Pooh).

Whatever the style, or budget, we took every animated movie from the decade and then ranked them by Tomatometer, with each movie requiring a minimum of 80 reviews to be considered. And now, it’s time to see some of the wildest visions come to life with the 50 Best Animated Movies of the 2010s! —Alex Vo

The 200 Best Movies of the 2010s | The 50 Best Animated Movies of the 2010s
The 50 Best Comedies of the 2010s | The 50 Best Horror Movies of the 2010s
The 50 Best Sci-Fi Movies of the 2010s | The 50 Best Superhero Movies of the 2010s

#1
#1
Adjusted Score: 103982%
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]

#2
#2
Adjusted Score: 107653%
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... [More]

#3
#3
Adjusted Score: 106887%
Critics Consensus: Warm, funny, and brilliantly animated, Shaun the Sheep is yet another stop-motion jewel in Aardman's family-friendly crown.
Synopsis: All is well at Mossy Bottom Farm, except for the fact that the animals will do anything to get out... [More]

#4

Tower (2016)
Tomatometer icon 99%

#4
Adjusted Score: 103217%
Critics Consensus: Tower probes into a painful chapter of American history with sensitivity and grace -- and revisits its events from a valuable new perspective.
Synopsis: On Aug. 1, 1966, a sniper rode the elevator to the top floor of the University of Texas Tower and... [More]

#5

Song of the Sea (2014)
Tomatometer icon 99%

#5
Adjusted Score: 102986%
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]

#6

Inside Out (2015)
Tomatometer icon 98%

#6
Adjusted Score: 117230%
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... [More]

#7

Toy Story 3 (2010)
Tomatometer icon 98%

#7
Adjusted Score: 111053%
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... [More]

#8

Zootopia (2016)
Tomatometer icon 98%

#8
Adjusted Score: 112243%
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... [More]

#9

Your Name (2016)
Tomatometer icon 98%

#9
Adjusted Score: 103087%
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]

#10

Toy Story 4 (2019)
Tomatometer icon 97%

#10
Adjusted Score: 121551%
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]

#11

Coco (2017)
Tomatometer icon 97%

#11
Adjusted Score: 117054%
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... [More]

#12
#12
Adjusted Score: 107764%
Critics Consensus: Kubo and the Two Strings matches its incredible animation with an absorbing -- and bravely melancholy -- story that has something to offer audiences of all ages.
Synopsis: Young Kubo's (Art Parkinson) peaceful existence comes crashing down when he accidentally summons a vengeful spirit from the past. Now... [More]

#13

The LEGO Movie (2014)
Tomatometer icon 96%

#13
Adjusted Score: 108312%
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: Emmet (Chris Pratt), an ordinary LEGO figurine who always follows the rules, is mistakenly identified as the Special -- an... [More]

#14

Moana (2016)
Tomatometer icon 95%

#14
Adjusted Score: 108731%
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... [More]

#15

The Breadwinner (2017)
Tomatometer icon 95%

#15
Adjusted Score: 100275%
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... [More]

#16

Wolf Children (2012)
Tomatometer icon 95%

#16
Adjusted Score: 92996%
Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.
Synopsis: Wolf Children is a staggeringly beautiful animated feature film from director Mamoru Hosoda (Summer Wars). This epic cinematic achievement follows... [More]

#17

Finding Dory (2016)
Tomatometer icon 94%

#17
Adjusted Score: 110544%
Critics Consensus: Funny, poignant, and thought-provoking, Finding Dory delivers a beautifully animated adventure that adds another entertaining chapter to its predecessor's classic story.
Synopsis: Dory (Ellen DeGeneres) is a wide-eyed, blue tang fish who suffers from memory loss every 10 seconds or so. The... [More]

#18
#18
Adjusted Score: 100715%
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... [More]

#19

Arthur Christmas (2011)
Tomatometer icon 92%

#19
Adjusted Score: 98499%
Critics Consensus: Aardman Animations broadens their humor a bit for Arthur Christmas, a clever and earnest holiday film with surprising emotional strength.
Synopsis: Everyone knows that, each Christmas, Santa Claus delivers presents to every last child on Earth. What everyone doesn't know is... [More]

#20

The Red Turtle (2016)
Tomatometer icon 92%

#20
Adjusted Score: 99849%
Critics Consensus: The Red Turtle adds to Studio Ghibli's estimable legacy with a beautifully animated effort whose deceptively simple story boasts narrative layers as richly absorbing as its lovely visuals.
Synopsis: A massive sea turtle destroys a stranded man's raft every time he tries to sail away from a tropical island.... [More]

#21
#21
Adjusted Score: 96140%
Critics Consensus: When Marnie Was There is still blessed with enough visual and narrative beauty to recommend, even if it isn't quite as magical as Studio Ghibli's greatest works.
Synopsis: A tomboy (Hailee Steinfeld) explores a long-abandoned villa and meets a mysterious blonde girl only she can see.... [More]

#22

Anomalisa (2015)
Tomatometer icon 91%

#22
Adjusted Score: 104480%
Critics Consensus: Anomalisa marks another brilliant and utterly distinctive highlight in Charlie Kaufman's filmography, and a thought-provoking treat for fans of introspective cinema.
Synopsis: An inspirational speaker (David Thewlis) becomes reinvigorated after meeting a lively woman (Jennifer Jason Leigh) who shakes up his mundane... [More]

#23

Mirai (2018)
Tomatometer icon 91%

#23
Adjusted Score: 95035%
Critics Consensus: The simplicity and colorful warmth of Mirai's animation is underscored by a story with surprising - and deeply affecting - depth and emotional resonance.
Synopsis: A young boy named Kun feels forgotten by his family when his little sister Mirai arrives. Running away from home,... [More]

#24

Isle of Dogs (2018)
Tomatometer icon 90%

#24
Adjusted Score: 110723%
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,... [More]

#25
#25
Adjusted Score: 104197%
Critics Consensus: The rare trilogy capper that really works, How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World brings its saga to a visually dazzling and emotionally affecting conclusion.
Synopsis: When the sudden appearance of a female Light Fury coincides with the darkest threat their village has ever faced, Hiccup... [More]

#26

Frozen (2013)
Tomatometer icon 89%

#26
Adjusted Score: 100733%
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... [More]

#27

The Illusionist (2010)
Tomatometer icon 90%

#27
Adjusted Score: 95106%
Critics Consensus: An engrossing love letter to fans of adult animation, The Illusionist offers a fine antidote to garish mainstream fare.
Synopsis: Magic tricks can't compete with rock 'n' roll in the 1950s, so a French illusionist (Jean-Claude Donda) finds himself touring... [More]

#28

Winnie the Pooh (2011)
Tomatometer icon 90%

#28
Adjusted Score: 94867%
Critics Consensus: Short, nostalgic, and gently whimsical, Winnie the Pooh offers young audiences -- and their parents -- a sweetly traditional family treat.
Synopsis: Three stories inspired by A.A. Milne add up to a very busy day for Winnie the Pooh (Jim Cummings) and... [More]

#29

The Secret of Kells (2009)
Tomatometer icon 90%

#29
Adjusted Score: 92758%
Critics Consensus: Beautifully drawn and refreshingly calm, The Secret of Kells hearkens back to animation's golden age with an enchanting tale inspired by Irish mythology.
Synopsis: In the remote Irish woods, Cellach (Brendan Gleeson) prepares a fortress for an impending attack by a Viking war party.... [More]

#30

Tangled (2010)
Tomatometer icon 89%

#30
Adjusted Score: 98282%
Critics Consensus: While far from Disney's greatest film, Tangled is a visually stunning, thoroughly entertaining addition to the studio's classic animated canon.
Synopsis: When the kingdom's most-wanted bandit, Flynn Rider (Zachary Levi), hides in a convenient tower, he immediately becomes a captive of... [More]

#31

ParaNorman (2012)
Tomatometer icon 89%

#31
Adjusted Score: 97892%
Critics Consensus: Beautifully animated and solidly scripted, ParaNorman will entertain (and frighten) older children while providing surprisingly thoughtful fare for their parents.
Synopsis: Young Norman Babcock (Kodi Smit-McPhee) has the ability to speak with the dead -- and he often prefers their company... [More]

#32
#32
Adjusted Score: 93395%
Critics Consensus: Mary and the Witch's Flower honors its creator's Studio Ghibli roots with a gentle, beautifully animated story whose simplicity is rounded out by its entrancing visuals.
Synopsis: Young Mary follows a mysterious cat into the nearby forest and discovers an old broomstick and the strange Fly-by-Night flower,... [More]

#33
#33
Adjusted Score: 103160%
Critics Consensus: Ralph Breaks the Internet levels up on its predecessor with a funny, heartwarming sequel that expands its colorful universe while focusing on core characters and relationships.
Synopsis: Video game bad guy Ralph and fellow misfit Vanellope von Schweetz must risk it all by traveling to the World... [More]

#34

Rango (2011)
Tomatometer icon 88%

#34
Adjusted Score: 97058%
Critics Consensus: Rango is a smart, giddily creative burst of beautifully animated entertainment, and Johnny Depp gives a colorful vocal performance as a household pet in an unfamiliar world.
Synopsis: A chameleon (Johnny Depp) who has lived as a sheltered family pet finds himself in the grip of an identity... [More]

#35

Frankenweenie (2012)
Tomatometer icon 88%

#35
Adjusted Score: 98541%
Critics Consensus: Frankenweenie is an energetic stop-motion horror movie spoof with lovingly crafted visuals and a heartfelt, oddball story.
Synopsis: Young Victor Frankenstein (Charlie Tahan) is a science nerd and outsider at school, but he does have one good friend:... [More]

#36

The Wind Rises (2013)
Tomatometer icon 88%

#36
Adjusted Score: 96260%
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]

#37

Missing Link (2019)
Tomatometer icon 88%

#37
Adjusted Score: 96575%
Critics Consensus: Another beautifully animated triumph for Laika, Missing Link is a visual treat with lots of humor, plenty of heart, and even a little food for thought.
Synopsis: Tired of living a solitary life in the Pacific Northwest, Mr. Link -- 8 feet tall and covered in fur... [More]

#38
#38
Adjusted Score: 90882%
Critics Consensus: Gentle and nostalgic, From Up on Poppy Hill is one of Studio Ghibli's sweeter efforts -- and if it doesn't push the boundaries of the genre, it remains as engagingly lovely as Ghibli fans have come to expect.
Synopsis: Yokohama teens try to save their school's clubhouse from being demolished.... [More]

#39

The Peanuts Movie (2015)
Tomatometer icon 87%

#39
Adjusted Score: 96350%
Critics Consensus: The Peanuts Movie offers a colorful gateway into the world of its classic characters and a sweetly nostalgic -- if relatively unambitious -- treat for the adults who grew up with them.
Synopsis: Life always seems complicated for good ol' Charlie Brown (Noah Schnapp), the boy who always tries his best against seemingly... [More]

#40

Wreck-It Ralph (2012)
Tomatometer icon 87%

#40
Adjusted Score: 95944%
Critics Consensus: Equally entertaining for both kids and parents old enough to catch the references, Wreck-It Ralph is a clever, colorful adventure built on familiar themes and joyful nostalgia.
Synopsis: Arcade-game character Wreck-It Ralph (John C. Reilly) is tired of always being the "bad guy" and losing to his "good... [More]

#41

Kung Fu Panda 3 (2016)
Tomatometer icon 86%

#41
Adjusted Score: 94207%
Critics Consensus: Kung Fu Panda 3 boasts the requisite visual splendor, but like its rotund protagonist, this sequel's narrative is also surprisingly nimble, adding up to animated fun for the whole family.
Synopsis: Living large and loving life, Po (Jack Black) realizes that he has a lot to learn if he's going to... [More]

#42

Puss in Boots (2011)
Tomatometer icon 86%

#42
Adjusted Score: 91793%
Critics Consensus: It isn't deep or groundbreaking, but what it lacks in profundity, Puss in Boots more than makes up for with an abundance of wit, visual sparkle, and effervescent charm.
Synopsis: Long before meeting Shrek, Puss in Boots (Antonio Banderas) -- just named a hero for saving a woman from a... [More]

#43

A Monster in Paris (2011)
Tomatometer icon 86%

#43
Adjusted Score: 83461%
Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.
Synopsis: Raoul and Emile accidentally release a monster from an eccentric scientist's greenhouse and vow to track it down. They soon... [More]

#44

Loving Vincent (2017)
Tomatometer icon 84%

#44
Adjusted Score: 92442%
Critics Consensus: Loving Vincent's dazzling visual achievements make this Van Gogh biopic well worth seeking out -- even if its narrative is far less effectively composed.
Synopsis: Mystery surrounds the death of famed painter Vincent van Gogh in 1890 France.... [More]

#45
#45
Adjusted Score: 99812%
Critics Consensus: While it isn't quite as much fun as its predecessor, The LEGO Movie 2: The Second Part fits neatly into an animated all-ages franchise with heart and humor to spare.
Synopsis: The citizens of Bricksburg face a dangerous new threat when LEGO DUPLO invaders from outer space start to wreck everything... [More]

#46

The Book of Life (2014)
Tomatometer icon 83%

#46
Adjusted Score: 88528%
Critics Consensus: The Book of Life's gorgeous animation is a treat, but it's a pity that its story lacks the same level of craft and detail that its thrilling visuals provide.
Synopsis: In the Mexican town of San Angel, Manolo (Diego Luna), Maria (Zoë Saldana) and Joaquin (Channing Tatum) have been friends... [More]

#47

A Cat in Paris (2010)
Tomatometer icon 83%

#47
Adjusted Score: 84874%
Critics Consensus: A Cat in Paris depicts a stylish, imaginative world with a wonderful soundtrack and Hitchcockian overtones.
Synopsis: A girl, struck mute by the trauma of her father's death, follows her pet cat across the Parisian rooftops and... [More]

#48

Sausage Party (2016)
Tomatometer icon 82%

#48
Adjusted Score: 93220%
Critics Consensus: Sausage Party is definitely offensive, but backs up its enthusiastic profanity with an impressively high laugh-to-gag ratio -- and a surprisingly thought-provoking storyline.
Synopsis: Life is good for all the food items that occupy the shelves at the local supermarket. Frank (Seth Rogen) the... [More]

#49

Abominable (2019)
Tomatometer icon 82%

#49
Adjusted Score: 90464%
Critics Consensus: Working with admittedly familiar ingredients, Abominable offers audiences a beautifully animated and overall engaging adventure that the whole family can enjoy.
Synopsis: After discovering a Yeti on the roof of her apartment building, teenage Yi and her two friends embark on an... [More]

#50

Kung Fu Panda 2 (2011)
Tomatometer icon 81%

#50
Adjusted Score: 88293%
Critics Consensus: The storyline arc may seem a tad familiar to fans of the original, but Kung Fu Panda 2 offers enough action, comedy, and visual sparkle to compensate.
Synopsis: Now known as the Dragon Warrior, Po (Jack Black) protects the Valley of Peace alongside his friends and fellow kung... [More]

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