10 Animated Movies That Were Way Better Than Anyone Expected

Despite the widespread popularity of Disney and Dreamworks, animation as a medium of storytelling remains criminally underappreciated, to the point that it’s still largely considered a genre of filmmaking. While there’s an Academy Award exclusively for animated feature films, the Academy is yet to consider, for example, voice acting as worthy of an Oscar. Even the Oscar for visual effects has never been awarded to an animated film. Only three animated films have been nominated for it, of which one is the live-action remake of The Lion King, which is still entirely animated.

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As a result, it’s not uncommon for animated films to fly under the radar or have low expectations from viewers. Even though animated movies are often dark, they’re still largely considered to be only made for children. Even if that were the case, there’s no reason an adult can’t enjoy animated movies, as seen with some of the most exciting upcoming animated movies of 2025. The general lack of enthusiasm does however lead to pleasant surprises for many viewers, whose expectations are often exceeded by animated films.

10 Kubo and the Two Strings (2016)

Directed by Travis Knight

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9/10 8.8/10 Kubo and the Two Strings PGAdventureFamilyAnimation

Kubo and the Two Strings is a stop-motion animation film from Laika that follows a young boy named Kubo who lives a quiet, normal life in a small shoreside village. His life is suddenly turned upside down when a spirit from the past visits him and re-ignites an age-old vendetta. Now on the warpath of various gods and creatures, Kubo must locate a legendary suit of armor worn by his late father.

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*Availability in US Release Date August 19, 2016 Runtime 101 Minutes Cast Charlize Theron , Art Parkinson , Minae Noji , Ralph Fiennes , Brenda Vaccaro , Rooney Mara , Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa , Alpha Takahashi , Matthew McConaughey , George Takei Director Travis Knight Writers Marc Haimes , Chris Butler , Shannon Tindle Studio(s) Universal Pictures Distributor(s) Focus Features , Universal Pictures Expand

In a field largely dominated by Disney, Pixar, and Dreamworks, animation studios like Laika and Cartoon Saloon inadvertently fly under the radar. While Coraline and Corpse Bride have a cult following, Laika Studios remains underappreciated. Most viewers of Kubo and the Two Strings are either fans of Laika and have high expectations, or else watch it with next to no expectations, finding interest in the idea of a stop-motion animated samurai-themed movie.

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It exceeds expectations with its tender storytelling that turns the action-packed adventure into an emotional journey.

However, Kubo and the Two Strings is much more than that. One of the best martial arts adventure movies ever, it’s equal parts martial arts action thriller and character-driven adventure drama. Beautifully animated, it’s one of the 3 animated films in history to be nominated for the Academy Award for Best Visual Effects. The film features breathtaking action sequences, but it exceeds expectations with its tender storytelling that turns the action-packed adventure into an emotional journey. Kubo and the Two Strings is a tale about identity and the importance of memories, packaged as a samurai movie.

9 The LEGO Movie (2014)

Directed by Chris Miller and Phil Lord

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9/10 8.8/10 The Lego Movie PGAnimationActionAdventure

The first film in the Lego movie franchise, 2014’s The Lego Movie tells the story of Emmett Brickowski (Chris Pratt), an average construction worker from the Lego city of Bricksburg. After finding the fabled “Piece of Resistance”, Emmett finds himself opposing the plans of the villainous Lord Business (Will Ferrell) with the help of both original characters and licensed ones such as Batman, Superman, and Wonder Woman.  

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*Availability in US Release Date February 7, 2014 Runtime 100 Minutes Cast Chris Pratt , Alison Brie , Channing Tatum , Nick Offerman , Liam Neeson , Will Ferrell , Cobie Smulders , Elizabeth Banks , Will Arnett , Charlie Day , Jonah Hill Director Phil Lord , Chris Miller Writers Dan Hageman , Kevin Hageman , Phil Lord , Chris Miller Studio(s) Village Roadshow , Vertigo Entertainment , Lego System A/S , Warner Animation Group , Lin Productions Distributor(s) Warner Bros. Pictures Expand
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2014 was one of the best years in movie history, and it’s no surprise that one of the most refreshing animated movies at the time came out that year. From the looks of it, it seems like a silly, goofy adventure meant for kids. However, not only are the silly and goofy parts enjoyable for people of all ages because of their satirical nature, but The LEGO Movie has a lot more heart than one would expect.

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Many viewers expected it to simply be a feature-length advertisement for LEGO, and instead, they came across a meaningful rumination on what it means to be good, in an animated adventure movie that turns many prevalent narrative tropes on its head. The gags in The LEGO Movie are all in the form of overcommitment to silliness, which inevitably turns common action movie moments into parody. The humor is both refreshing and unique, especially in the context of 2014, by which time the comedy scene had sort of been saturated with formulaic films every year.

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8 Rango (2011)

Directed by Gore Verbinski

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5/10 6.3/10 Rango PGAnimationActionAdventure

Rango is an animated comedy that stars Johnny Depp as a pampered pet chameleon named Rango, who finds himself lost in the desert when he falls out of his family’s truck. Rango accidentally stumbles into the role of a sheriff for a town under control by a greedy baron who limits access to water for his citizens to make more money. When Rango meets a young woman that catches his fancy, he’ll utilize his acquired knowledge of Hollywood westerns to assume the role of a Sheriff to win her heart and save the town – if he isn’t found out first. 

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*Availability in US Release Date March 4, 2011 Runtime 107 Minutes Cast Johnny Depp , Isla Fisher , Timothy Olyphant , Abigail Breslin , Ned Beatty , Alfred Molina , Bill Nighy , Stephen Root , Harry Dean Stanton , Ray Winstone , Ian Abercrombie , Blake Clark Director Gore Verbinski Writers John Logan , Gore Verbinski , James Ward Byrkit Studio(s) Nickelodeon Movies , Blind Wink Productions , GK Films Distributor(s) Paramount Pictures Expand

One of the best underrated Western movies, Rango was a total surprise hit for moviegoers in 2011. Gore Verbinski, who made the highly popular Pirates of the Caribbean movies, worked with his regular star Johnny Depp to create a classic Western film set in a world without people where a lizard becomes an accidental hero in a town of animals terrorized by a gangster snake. Not only is the idea completely wack, but the action and the photorealistic visuals make for a ridiculously entertaining time.

Rango
won the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature in 2012, the second ever non-Disney or Pixar film to do that at that point in time.

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The animation team used motion capture to create the character designs so that when they emote, the voice actors’ expressions show up on the faces of the characters, adding to the immersion of Rango, which is set in a well-fleshed-out world. From the soundtrack and the stylish visual design to the voice acting and the emotional thread of the story, almost everything is perfect in Rango. However, it’s still rarely talked about, despite being a critical and commercial success. No one expects it to be as good as it is.

7 Puss in Boots: The Last Wish (2022)

Directed by Joel Crawford

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5/10 9.4/10 Puss in Boots: The Last Wish PGAdventureAnimationComedy

In Puss in Boots: The Last Wish, Puss learns he has reached the end of his nine lives. To restore his lives and continue his journeys, he will set forth on a quest to the Black Forest to find a Wishing Star that can bring them all back. To succeed, he enlists help from his former partner/rival, Kitty Softpaws, and a chatty canine friend, Perrito. Unfortunately, they’re in a race against many other fairytale characters and villains, including the bounty hunter looking to collect on Puss, The Big Bad Wolf.

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*Availability in US Release Date December 21, 2022 Runtime 102 minutes Cast Antonio Banderas , Salma Hayek Pinault , Olivia Colman , Harvey Guillen , Samson Kayo , Wagner Moura , Anthony Mendez , John Mulaney , Florence Pugh Director Joel Crawford Writers Paul Fisher Studio(s) Universal Pictures Distributor(s) Universal Pictures Expand

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The Shrek franchise seemed to have run its course with Puss in Boots (2011), despite its commercial and critical success, including an Oscar nomination for Best Animated Feature. And then in 2021, DreamWorks announced the title of a sequel to Puss in Boots. After 11 years, while the announcement caused a stir among moviegoers, there wasn’t a lot of interest in it. It even opened to a disappointing box office weekend, but soon enough, it became a commercial success, thanks to positive reviews and because viewers couldn’t stop talking about how unexpectedly good it was.

”
It didn’t feel overly reliant on the movies that had come before it, but it still featured some fun references and callbacks.
” –
Ryan Northrup
–
One Of 2022’s Sleeper Box Office Hits Is Now Repeating That Success On Streaming

Puss in Boots: The Last Wish uses a unique animation style that is a mix of the CGI style used for the Shrek movies and a form of hand-drawn animation, which gives the film the texture of an illustrated storybook. The character of Death was a major hit among viewers and is now often listed as one of the greatest villains in an animated movie. Moreover, Puss goes through an emotionally rich journey of reconciling with his limitations, and it adds a layer of meaning to the film that reminds viewers of how the original Shrek features commentary on the real world.

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6 Transformers One (2024)

Directed by Josh Cooley

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8/10 118 9.5/10 Transformers One Not Yet RatedAnimationActionAdventure Sci-Fi

Transformers One is an animated action-adventure movie that marks the first animated feature-length film for the series in decades. The film will be a prequel to the franchise, and will tell the story of Optimus Prime and Megatron in their early years, how they met, and a closer look at the war on their home planet, Cybertron. 

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*Availability in US Release Date September 20, 2024 Runtime 104 Minutes Cast Chris Hemsworth , Brian Tyree Henry , Scarlett Johansson , Keegan-Michael Key , Steve Buscemi , Laurence Fishburne , Jon Hamm , Vanessa Liguori , Jon Bailey , Jason Konopisos-Alvarez , Evan Michael Lee , James Remar , Isaac C. Singleton Jr. , Steve Blum , Jinny Chung , Josh Cooley , Dillon Bryan Director Josh Cooley Writers Andrew Barrer , Steve Desmond , Gabriel Ferrari Studio(s) Entertainment One , Hasbro , Nickelodeon Movies Distributor(s) Paramount Pictures Expand

The Transformers movies have arguably fatigued audiences. Ever since the third one of Michael Bay’s movies, the series has struggled to find its identity, with later installments also struggling at the box office. Additionally, while the Transformers franchise has always been tied to animation, the saga’s last animated feature had been in 1986. To make matters worse, the first trailer for Transformers One failed to do the movie justice.

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Not only is the “genre” less appreciated, but there’s also simply not enough interest in the Transformers movies to raise expectations anymore. But, Transformers One pleasantly surprised viewers. The art style is uniquely refreshing, featuring a mix of beautiful shots that play with light and shadow on breathtaking backdrops, and Transformers characters who look and feel like the Hasbro toys. Moreover, there are genuine emotional stakes for the characters and a meaningful message, neither of which can be found in the later Michael Bay live-action movies.

5 Kung Fu Panda (2008)

Directed by Mark Osborne and John Stevenson

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8/10 Kung Fu Panda PGAnimationActionAdventureComedyFamily

Kung Fu Panda is an animated martial arts comedy directed by Mark Osborne and John Stevenson. Set in ancient China, it follows Po, an overweight and clumsy panda voiced by Jack Black, who dreams of becoming a kung fu master. When an evil snow leopard named Tai Lung threatens the Valley of Peace, Po is unexpectedly chosen as the Dragon Warrior.

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*Availability in US Release Date June 4, 2008 Runtime 95 minutes Cast Jack Black , Dustin Hoffman , Angelina Jolie , Ian McShane , Jackie Chan , Seth Rogen Director Mark Osborne , John Stevenson Writers Jonathan Aibel , Glenn Berger

Sitting in 2024, Kung Fu Panda is anything but unpopular, having grown into a highly celebrated franchise with a Kung Fu Panda 5 rumored to release in the future, but this wasn’t always the case. A panda voiced by Jack Black beats other animals using kung fu was not exactly a killer elevator pitch. Unsurprisingly, many moviegoers in 2008 approached Kung Fu Panda with skepticism, expecting it to be another silly animated movie without anything meaningful to say.

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The
Kung Fu Panda
franchise, as it stands right now, includes four feature films and three TV shows.

Instead, Kung Fu Panda features funny and thrilling action choreography and also offers a refreshing take on the hero’s journey. As a trope, even in the Chosen-One-who-doesn’t-believe-in-themselves form, it’s become a formula for martial arts films. But the final reveal in Kung Fu Panda reinvents the idea of a hero destined for greatness and sends a heartwarming message about the importance of believing in oneself. It also features one of the most terrifying villains ever, someone who viewers might even sympathize with. Despite appearing silly, the film is nuanced enough to deserve the recognition it gets.

4 Toy Story 4 (2019)

Directed by Josh Cooley

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8/10 7.2/10 Toy Story 4 GComedyAnimationAdventure

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Josh Cooley directed the fourth installment in the Toy Story series and the direct sequel to 2010’s Toy Story 3. Once again starring the voices of Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, and Annie Potts, 2019’s Toy Story 4 sees Woody struggling to adapt to his new life as one of Bonnie’s toys, as Andy heads off to college.

Release Date June 21, 2019 Runtime 100 Minutes Franchise(s) Toy Story Cast Patricia Arquette , Tim Allen , Kristen Schaal , Estelle Harris , Jodi Benson , Tony Hale , Blake Clark , Jeff Pidgeon , Joan Cusack , Laurie Metcalf , Tom Hanks , Annie Potts , Jeff Garlin , Bonnie Hunt , Wallace Shawn Director Josh Cooley Writers Stephany Folsom , Andrew Stanton prequel(s) Toy Story , Toy Story 2 , Toy Story 3 Sequel(s) Toy Story 5 Budget $200 million Studio(s) Walt Disney Pictures , Pixar Animation Studios Distributor(s) Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures Expand
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The first Toy Story film introduced the world to Pixar Studios, and the rest is history. The dearly beloved group of characters from the film returned twice more before Toy Story 3 (2010) provided everyone with a perfect farewell to the trilogy that would live in people’s hearts forever. However, almost a decade later, the same year that DreamWorks’ universally loved How to Train Your Dragon was to end its trilogy, Toy Story 3 got an unlikely sequel in Toy Story 4.

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The convenient timing of release led many to believe that Pixar brought back the speaking toys to ensure How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World (2019) had a potential competitor for the Oscar, which Toy Story 4 ultimately won in 2020. The expectations were low because it seemed like a story would have to be forced since things ended perfectly in the previous film, but as is often the case, Pixar managed to exceed those expectations and then some. With a meaningful premise to bring the characters back, it poignantly reflects on life and gives the perfect goodbye again.

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3 The Mitchells VS The Machines (2021)

Directed by Mike Rianda

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8/10 7/10 The Mitchells vs. the Machines PGAnimationAdventureComedy

The Mitchells vs. The Machines is an animated action-comedy that sees creative outsider Katie Mitchell  as she is accepted into the film school of her dreams and is eager to leave home and find “her people.” However, when her nature-loving dad insists on having the whole family drive her to school and bond during one last family road trip, the family suddenly finds itself in the middle of the robot apocalypse. Katie and her father will need to find common ground to stand a chance against the armies of smartphones, fridges, and whatever other sentient machines are out to capture humanity.

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*Availability in US Release Date April 30, 2021 Runtime 117 minutes Cast Eric Andre , Maya Rudolph , Abbi Jacobson , Beck Bennett , Mike Rianda , Fred Armisen , Conan O’Brien , Olivia Colman , Danny McBride , Sasheer Zamata , Charlyne Yi Director Mike Rianda Writers Jeff Rowe , Mike Rianda Studio(s) Netflix Distributor(s) Netflix Expand

There are simply too many films about AI taking over, and many have nothing new to say. So, The Mitchells VS The Machines‘ premise makes it seem like an exhausting exercise in anti-AI philosophy. However, the film, one of the best comedy movies of 2021, instead uses the premise of an evil corporation to tell a story about family dynamics. The sheer reliability of this dysfunctional family, where everyone has their quirks and no one gets along as they try to contain their individualism to fit into the family, makes it an instant hit with viewers.

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The quirkiness of the characters comes through beautifully in the blend of hand-drawn animation and highly energetic 3D art. The visual design is less focused on being realistic and is instead brimming with creativity, using the freedom from limitations of live filmmaking to flesh out a lively world. It’s also a perfect use of POV storytelling because the protagonist’s creativity seems to inform the visuals of The Mitchells VS The Machines. Moreover, the main character is gay, but that’s not addressed through a storyline of struggle or romance, and normalized through subtle character choices.

2 Megamind (2010)

Directed by Tom McGrath

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6/10 8.3/10 Megamind PGComedyFamily

From Dreamworks Studios, Megamind follows the titular character, played by Will Ferrell, an alien supervillain who, after defeating his arch nemesis Metro Man (Brad Pitt), must do battle with the new superhero he created to replace Metro Man when his powers start to become out of control. Along the way, Megamind struggles to share his true self with Roxanne (Tina Fey), a reporter who has been dating in the disguise of a normal human. 

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*Availability in US Release Date November 11, 2010 Runtime 96minutes Cast Will Ferrell , Ben Stiller , Brad Pitt , Jonah Hill Director Tom McGrath Writers Will Ferrell , Brad Pitt Studio(s) Universal Pictures Distributor(s) Paramount Pictures , Universal Pictures Expand

Two films from 2010 made the villain the protagonist. One of them became so popular that their supporting character became a worldwide sensation and prompted an entire film franchise. The other flew so under the radar that it didn’t even get a sequel until 2024, which made a low Rotten Tomatoes score record. The former is, of course, Despicable Me, which introduced the world to Minions, and the latter, featuring a character called Minion, is Megamind, which continues to be criminally underrated today.

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Megamind is a fashionable villain with a flair for the dramatic.

The film takes a critical look at what it means to be a hero or a villain and smartly overturns the tropes of the superhero genre to create a wacky adventure through extravagant displays of villainy and heroism, and unforgettable needle drops. Megamind is a fashionable villain with a flair for the dramatic who goes through a major character transformation through the course of the film, and he’s naturally a favorite for fans of the film. The story structure, the soundtrack, the stylish visuals, the fleshed-out characters, there’s simply no dearth of good things about Megamind.

1 Spider-man: Into the Spider-verse (2018)

Directed by Bob Persichetti, Peter Ramsey, and Rodney Rothman

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9/10 25 9.4/10 Spider-Man Into the Spider-Verse PGAnimationAction

In the first animated Spider-Man film released in theaters, Miles Morales, a teenager who idolizes Spider-Man, gains Spider-Man powers of his own. While learning to use his new abilities, Miles crosses parallel dimensions and teams up with the different versions of Spider-Man from those dimensions to stop a threat to all reality. 

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*Availability in US Release Date December 14, 2018 Runtime 117 minutes Cast Jake Johnson , Kimiko Glenn , Hailee Steinfeld , Liev Schreiber , Luna Lauren Velez , Nicolas Cage , Lily Tomlin , Mahershala Ali , John Mulaney , Shameik Moore , Brian Tyree Henry Director Bob Persichetti , Peter Ramsey Writers Phil Lord , Chris Miller Studio(s) Sony Distributor(s) Sony Expand
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It might sound too dramatic, but Spider-man: Into the Spider-verse changed animation forever. With a unique visual style that’s always in flux and reflects the character’s emotional state, the world, or the Spider-verse, is imaginative and immersive, to the point that the runtime of the film and its sequel never feel long enough. The characters are fresh and real and have relatable instincts and problems, and they all go through meaningful emotional arcs. The film evokes thrill, laughter, and tears over 2 hours, and it’s unforgettable.

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The ensemble of side characters all get their moment to shine, and the protagonist goes through a training arc that changes the chosen trope by introducing the concept of infinitely many chosen ones. It is simply impossible to list the number of ways it changed things for animation not only in movies but also in TV. And yet, a standalone animated Spider-Man film didn’t feel like the type of event-movie that the live-action installments had been, which is why Into the Spider-Man would later find an even bigger audience on streaming and VOD.

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