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. Whilethere’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 ofThe Lion King, which is still entirely animated.
As a result,it’s not uncommon for animated films to fly under the radar or have low expectations from viewers.Even thoughanimated 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 excitingupcoming 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.
Directed by Travis Knight
Kubo and the Two Strings
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.
In a field largely dominated by Disney, Pixar, and Dreamworks, animation studios like Laika and Cartoon Saloon inadvertently fly under the radar. WhileCoralineandCorpse Bridehave a cult following,Laika Studios remains underappreciated. Most viewers ofKubo and the Two Stringsare 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.
It exceeds expectations with its tender storytelling that turns the action-packed adventure into an emotional journey.
However,Kubo and the Two Stringsis much more than that. One ofthe 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 Stringsis a tale about identity and the importance of memories, packaged as a samurai movie.
Directed by Chris Miller and Phil Lord
The Lego Movie
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.
2014 was one ofthe 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, butThe LEGO Moviehas a lot more heart than one would expect.
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Directed by Gore Verbinski
Rango
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.
One ofthe best underrated Western movies,Rangowas a total surprise hit for moviegoers in 2011. Gore Verbinski, who made the highly popularPirates of the Caribbeanmovies, 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.
Rangowon 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.
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 ofRango, 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 inRango. 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.
Directed by Joel Crawford
Puss in Boots: The Last Wish
Puss in Boots: The Last Wish follows the titular character as he embarks on a quest to restore his nine lives. Realizing he has exhausted all but one of his lives, Puss seeks the mythical Last Wish, embarking on an epic adventure to rediscover his destiny.
TheShrekfranchiseseemed to have run its course withPuss 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 toPuss 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 Wishuses a unique animation style that is a mix of the CGI style used for theShrekmovies 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 throughan emotionally rich journey of reconciling with his limitations, and it adds a layer of meaning to the film that reminds viewers of how the originalShrekfeatures commentary on the real world.
Directed by Josh Cooley
Transformers One
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.
TheTransformersmovies 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 theTransformersfranchise has always been tied to animation, the saga’s last animated feature had been in 1986. To make matters worse, the first trailer forTransformers Onefailed 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 theTransformersmovies to raise expectations anymore. But,Transformers Onepleasantly surprised viewers. The art style is uniquely refreshing, featuring a mix of beautiful shots that play with light and shadow on breathtaking backdrops, andTransformerscharacters wholook 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.
Directed by Mark Osborne and John Stevenson
Kung Fu Panda
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.
Sitting in 2024,Kung Fu Pandais anything but unpopular, having grown into a highly celebrated franchise with aKung Fu Panda5rumored to releasein 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 approachedKung Fu Pandawith skepticism, expecting it to be another silly animated movie without anything meaningful to say.
TheKung Fu Pandafranchise, as it stands right now, includes four feature films and three TV shows.
Instead,Kung Fu Pandafeatures 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 inKung Fu Pandareinvents the idea of a hero destined for greatnessand 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.
Toy Story 4
Cast
Toy Story 4 is part of Pixar’s animated franchise, where Woody, voiced by Tom Hanks, embarks on a road trip with old and new friends. As Bonnie introduces Forky, an unconventional toy, Woody navigates the challenges of his evolving role while exploring the wider world beyond Andy and Bonnie.
The firstToy Storyfilm introduced the world to Pixar Studios, and the rest is history. The dearly beloved group of characters from the film returned twice more beforeToy 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 lovedHow to Train Your Dragonwas to end its trilogy,Toy Story 3got an unlikely sequel inToy Story 4.
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The convenient timing of release led many to believe that Pixar brought back the speaking toys to ensureHow to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World(2019) had a potential competitor for the Oscar, whichToy Story 4ultimately 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 expectationsand then some. With a meaningful premise to bring the characters back, it poignantly reflects on life and gives the perfect goodbye again.
Directed by Mike Rianda
The Mitchells vs. the Machines
The Mitchells vs. the Machines is an animated feature about a quirky family’s road trip that takes an unexpected turn during a robot apocalypse. Thrust into the role of champions, the Mitchells must overcome their dysfunction to become humanity’s last hope against the rise of the machines. Released by Sony Pictures Animation.
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 attempt to contain their individualism to fit into the family, makes it an instant hit with viewers.
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 alsoa perfect use of POV storytellingbecause the protagonist’s creativity seems to inform the visuals ofThe 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.
Directed by Tom McGrath
Megamind
Megamind, released in 2010, explores the tale of an alien supervillain who, after conquering his long-time rival Metro Man, creates a new hero adversary. However, when this creation turns malevolent, Megamind is compelled to protect the city from the threat he inadvertently unleashed.
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 madea 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, isMegamind, which continues to be criminally underrated today.
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 aboutMegamind.
Directed by Bob Persichetti, Peter Ramsey, and Rodney Rothman
Spider-Man Into the Spider-Verse
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.
It might sound too dramatic, butSpider-man: Into the Spider-versechanged 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 arefresh 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 whyInto the Spider-Manwould later find an even bigger audience on streaming and VOD.
