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Best animated films of all time
The ten best animated films of all time, from Spirited Away and Toy Story to Into the Spider-Verse and Your Name, with director, studio and who each suits.
Bitezine Editorial TeamRankings, reviews & guides 9 min read
AI generatedThe best animated films prove that animation is a medium, not a genre: they can be funny, frightening, heartbreaking and visually unlike anything in live action. The ten below are the best animated movies of all time according to critics, awards and audiences, and they range from hand-drawn classics to groundbreaking computer animation.
We compared critics' polls, Academy Award winners and long-running audience rankings, and chose films that appear consistently near the top. We balanced Hollywood studios with Japanese animation, and included both family animated movies and films that work best as animated movies for adults, with director, studio and year for each.
At a glance
#1 · Best for Everyone, any age
Spirited Away
Miyazaki's enchanting masterpiece
Ten-year-old Chihiro wanders into a spirit world and must work in a bathhouse for gods to save her parents. Hayao Miyazaki fills the film with unforgettable creatures and quiet, observant moments. It won the Oscar for Best Animated Feature and the Golden Bear in Berlin.
- Hand-drawn fantasy world
- Strong young heroine
- Oscar and Golden Bear winner
- Works for all ages
- Director
- Hayao Miyazaki
- Studio
- Studio Ghibli
- Year
- 2001
#2 · Best for Family movie night
Toy Story
The film that changed animation
Toy Story follows Woody, a cowboy doll who feels threatened when a flashy space ranger toy named Buzz Lightyear arrives. As the first fully computer-animated feature, it launched a new era for the industry. Its sharp script and warm humour still hold up.
- First fully CGI feature
- Buddy comedy for all ages
- Launched a four-film series
- Memorable songs by Randy Newman
- Director
- John Lasseter
- Studio
- Pixar
- Year
- 1995
#3 · Best for Teens and superhero fans
Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse
A bold new visual language
Brooklyn teenager Miles Morales gains spider powers and meets Spider-People from other dimensions. The film looks like a living comic book, with halftone dots, varied frame rates and graphic effects. It won the Oscar for Best Animated Feature and influenced many animated films that followed.
- Comic-book visual style
- Coming-of-age story
- Oscar winner
- Great soundtrack
- Directors
- Bob Persichetti, Peter Ramsey, Rodney Rothman
- Studio
- Sony Pictures Animation
- Year
- 2018
#4 · Best for Families and sci-fi fans
WALL-E
Nearly wordless and deeply moving
A lonely waste-collecting robot on an abandoned Earth falls for a sleek probe robot named EVE and follows her into space. The first act has almost no dialogue and tells its story through images and sound. The film mixes romance with a gentle warning about consumerism and the environment.
- Near-silent opening act
- Robot love story
- Environmental themes
- Oscar for Best Animated Feature
- Director
- Andrew Stanton
- Studio
- Pixar
- Year
- 2008
#5 · Best for Disney fans
The Lion King
Disney's hand-drawn high point
Young lion Simba flees his kingdom after his father's death and must return to face his uncle Scar. The film pairs sweeping hand-drawn animation with songs by Elton John and Tim Rice and a score by Hans Zimmer. It remains one of the most successful traditionally animated films ever made.
- Hand-drawn Disney classic
- Songs by Elton John and Tim Rice
- Hans Zimmer score
- Epic coming-of-age story
- Directors
- Roger Allers, Rob Minkoff
- Studio
- Walt Disney Feature Animation
- Year
- 1994
#6 · Best for Young children
My Neighbor Totoro
Pure childhood wonder
Two sisters move to the countryside and meet Totoro, a large, gentle forest spirit. There is no villain and little conflict, just curiosity, family and nature beautifully observed. Totoro became the emblem of Studio Ghibli.
- Gentle, low-conflict story
- Rural Japan setting
- Iconic Totoro character
- Ideal for young children
- Director
- Hayao Miyazaki
- Studio
- Studio Ghibli
- Year
- 1988
#7 · Best for Adults and older teens
Grave of the Fireflies
The most powerful war film in animation
Teenager Seita and his little sister Setsuko try to survive on their own in Japan near the end of the Second World War. Isao Takahata's film is quiet, restrained and heartbreaking. It is widely regarded as one of the great anti-war films in any medium.
- Based on a semi-autobiographical story
- Unflinching war drama
- Directed by Isao Takahata
- Best for older viewers
- Director
- Isao Takahata
- Studio
- Studio Ghibli
- Year
- 1988
#8 · Best for Families who like music
Coco
Colourful, musical and emotional
Aspiring musician Miguel crosses into the Land of the Dead during Mexico's Día de Muertos and uncovers his family's past. The film is built on Mexican culture and music, and its final scenes are famously moving. It won Oscars for Best Animated Feature and Best Original Song.
- Day of the Dead setting
- Songs including "Remember Me"
- Family and memory themes
- Two Academy Awards
- Director
- Lee Unkrich
- Studio
- Pixar
- Year
- 2017
#9 · Best for Teens and romantics
Your Name
A romantic body-swap puzzle
A Tokyo boy and a country girl begin waking up in each other's bodies, and a mystery gradually unfolds. Makoto Shinkai's film is known for its detailed, light-filled backgrounds and a twist that turns the story into something bigger. It became one of the highest-grossing anime films ever.
- Body-swap romance
- Richly detailed visuals
- Pop-rock soundtrack by Radwimps
- Clever narrative twist
- Director
- Makoto Shinkai
- Studio
- CoMix Wave Films
- Year
- 2016
#10 · Best for All-ages adventure
Up
Adventure with a famous opening
Retired balloon seller Carl ties thousands of balloons to his house and flies toward South America, with young scout Russell accidentally along for the ride. Its opening montage about Carl's marriage is one of the most celebrated sequences in animation. The film won the Oscar for Best Animated Feature and was nominated for Best Picture.
- Moving opening montage
- Flying-house adventure
- Best Picture nominee
- Funny talking dog Dug
- Director
- Pete Docter
- Studio
- Pixar
- Year
- 2009
How to choose
For family viewing, Toy Story, The Lion King, Coco, Up and My Neighbor Totoro are safe and much-loved choices for all ages. Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse suits older children and teenagers, with fast action and a striking comic-book style.
For adults, the best Studio Ghibli films and anime films offer something different. Spirited Away is a rich fantasy that works at any age, Your Name is a romantic, twisty drama, and Grave of the Fireflies is a devastating war story that is best watched by older teens and adults. Many of these are Oscar-winning animated films, and most are easy to find on streaming services or disc, although availability varies by country.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best animated movie of all time?
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Hayao Miyazaki's Spirited Away is the film most often named, and it won both the Oscar for Best Animated Feature and the Golden Bear at the Berlin film festival. Toy Story, The Lion King and Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse are also regularly ranked at the top.
What was the first fully computer-animated feature film?
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Pixar's Toy Story, released in 1995, was the first feature-length film made entirely with computer animation.
What are the best animated movies for adults?
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Grave of the Fireflies, Your Name, Spirited Away and Princess Mononoke are often recommended for adult viewers. Films such as Anomalisa and Waltz with Bashir are also aimed squarely at grown-up audiences.
What is the best Studio Ghibli film to start with?
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Spirited Away is the best-known starting point, while My Neighbor Totoro is gentler and ideal for young children. Princess Mononoke and Kiki's Delivery Service are good next steps.
Which animated film was nominated for Best Picture?
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Beauty and the Beast (1991) was the first animated film nominated for the Best Picture Oscar. Up (2009) and Toy Story 3 (2010) were also nominated after the category expanded.
What is the best Pixar movie?
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Toy Story, WALL-E, Up, Inside Out and Coco are the Pixar films most often ranked highest. Toy Story is the historic landmark, while WALL-E and Up are frequently praised as its most ambitious storytelling.
Is Grave of the Fireflies suitable for children?
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It is animated but very sad, following two orphaned children in wartime Japan. It is generally better suited to older teenagers and adults, or watched together with a parent.
Spirited Away is our pick for the best animated movie ever, but the list is strong from top to bottom. Choose Toy Story or Coco for a family night, Into the Spider-Verse for pure energy, and Grave of the Fireflies when you are ready for something deeply moving.
How we research: We compare each product on the same criteria, using makers’ documentation, independent reviews and owner feedback, and re-check the list when products change.
Written by
Bitezine Editorial Team
Rankings, reviews & guides
Our editors research every piece from makers’ documentation, independent tests and owner reports, and update it when products change.
