Best Animated Movies Of 2024 So Far

Every year brings with it a fresh crop of animated offerings, and 2024 looks set to be another stellar 12 months. Unbound by the same restrictions as live-action films, the only things holding animated movies back can be those pesky budgets and the limits of the imaginations of the incredibly talented artists tasked with bringing them to life. Whether hand-drawn, computer-animated, stop-motion or a hybrid blend, animation is arguably the most exciting medium in film. And no, it isn't just for kids, so take that, Jimmy Kimmel (the late-night host hinted as much while hosting the 2024 Oscars).

The newest films from Disney, Pixar, Dreamworks, and Illumination will always bring in the crowds, but there are plenty of lesser-known offerings hiding among the plethora of streaming options and films from smaller studios that are well worth your time.

Whether it's further installments in beloved franchises, hotly anticipated sequels, ambitious anime offerings, or new original stories set to become future favorites, 2024 is looking bright for animated movies so far. We're here to keep track of the year's best animated movies, so keep checking back as we'll be adding more as the year goes along.

Cast: Jacob Tremblay, Paul Walter Hauser, Colin Hanks, Angela Bassett

Director: Sean Charmatz

Rating: TV-Y7

Runtime: 93 minutes

Where to watch: Netflix

From the writer of cozy, accessible films such as "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind" and "I'm Thinking of Ending Things," "Orion and the Dark" explores childhood fears in a truly imaginative and interesting way. Given that writer Charlie Kaufman's last foray into animation was an R-rated stop-motion movie about a man suffering from Fregoli delusion, it is perhaps surprising to see him tackle much more family-friendly fare.

That's not to say "Orion and the Dark" isn't without Kaufman's trademarks, as it tackles weighty themes such as existentialism, crippling anxiety, and the importance of facing your fears so they're not passed on to the next generation. It is hugely ambitious, and embodying the "Night Entities" — as they're known in the film — as tangible "Inside Out"-esque colorful characters should spark interesting conversation between parents and kids when it comes to talking about the things they're scared of.

The film is pretty accessible at its core, particularly in the way it tackles Orion's (Jacob Tremblay) fear of the Dark (Paul Walter Hauser). Though his adventures with Dark are a made-up story for the benefit of Orion's daughter Hypatia (Mia Akemi Brown), there is still an easy-to-understand takeaway for kids about confronting and overcoming fears that should resonate. "Orion and the Dark" is proof that animated films can be challenging and introspective as well as fun and exciting, and this has certainly set the bar for the rest of the animated movies of 2024. It even made the list of our best movies in general of 2024.

Cast: Jack Black, Awkwafina, Dustin Hoffman, Viola Davis, James Hong, Bryan Cranston

Director: Mike Mitchell and Stephanie Stine

Rating: PG

Runtime: 94 minutes

Where to watch: Peacock, PVOD

"Kung Fu Panda" is one of the few animated franchises that seems to develop and add something new with each entry, rather than feeling like a rehash of the fun we had before. The third and fourth installments don't quite reach the heady heights of the first two, but they provide something that is often lacking the further into a franchise you get: character development and growth.

Lovable panda Po (Jack Black) is faced with a new challenge this time around as he grapples with the idea of no longer being the Dragon Warrior and instead becoming the guardian of the Valley of Peace. Of course, there's still plenty of kung fu action — the dynamism of these sequences is among the highlights of the film's exquisite animation — and some great comedic moments courtesy of Po and newcomer Zhen (Awkwafina).

There's enough in the new "Kung Fu Panda" film for adults to enjoy as well as some truly poetic and heartfelt moments that will catch you off guard. We see Po battling himself — literally at one point — as he tackles his insecurities and fears of passing the Dragon Warrior mantle on. There are also some wonderful moments with Po's two dads, Mr. Ping (James Hong) and Li Shan (Bryan Cranston), now in a hilarious co-parenting role. Crucially, "Kung Fu Panda 4" feels like the ending of one era and the possible beginning of another. Whether we'll get another film with Zhen now front and center or the return of Po and the Furious Five remains to be seen, but if this is the end, it's a fitting one.

Cast: Matt Bomer, Jensen Ackles, Meg Donnelly, Zachary Quinto, Darren Criss, Stana Katic, Jimmi Simpson

Director: Jeff Wamester

Rating: PG-13

Runtime: 93 minutes

Where to watch: Max, PVOD

Away from the tumult of the DC Extended Universe (DCEU) — now replaced with James Gunn and Peter Safran's rebooted DC Universe (DCU) — the animation branch of DC continues to knock it out of the park, and "Justice League: Crisis on Infinite Earths — Part One" is no exception. Based on the popular DC Comics storyline — elements of which cropped up in 2023's "The Flash," and one of the Arrowverse crossover events — "Crisis on Infinite Earths — Part One" effectively establishes the key players for the main event.

As this is the first part of a trilogy, it is worth noting that much of the spectacle is still to come in the remaining installments. But that doesn't mean that this film short-changes anyone. "Crisis on Infinite Earths — Part One" is very much Barry Allen aka The Flash's (Matt Bomer) film, and it chronicles his integration into the Justice League and the part his time-traveling and multiverse-hopping antics play in breaking everything.

Along with the beautifully crisp animation, the voice cast of "Crisis on Infinite Earths — Part One" is another highlight, with Jensen Ackles, Meg Donnelly, and Zachary Quinto among the star-studded line-up. It may be the first piece in the puzzle, but this trilogy is poised to be something very special indeed — particularly as the third part is set to feature a posthumous Batman performance from Kevin Conroy, reuniting with Mark Hamill's Joker for one last time.

Cast: Rie Tanaka, Sôichirô Hoshi, Maaya Sakamoto, Ken'ichi Suzumura, Michiko Neya, Takehito Koyasu, Kotono Mitsuishi, Nanako Mori

Director: Mitsuo Fukuda

Rating: not rated

Runtime: 124 minutes

Where to watch: in theaters

"Mobile Suit Gundam" has been a beloved anime franchise for more than four decades, amassing fans around the globe since premiering in 1979. Slotting into the mecha (or robot anime) subgenre alongside series like "Neon Genesis Evangelion" and "Ghost in the Shell," the expansive franchise extends into TV series, movies, manga, and video games.

Trying to work out the correct order to watch the "Gundam" franchise is a bit of a minefield, but brushing up on the "Mobile Suit Gundam SEED" spin-offs should put you in a good position to enjoy the latest big-screen adventure, "Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Freedom." Further exploring events in the Cosmic Era timeline, "Freedom" is a direct sequel to the previous series and picks up where "Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Destiny" left off. Lacus Clyne (Rie Tanaka) is now the president of the peacekeeping organization, Compass, working alongside friend and pilot Kira Yamato (Sōichirō Hoshi), as they negotiate new threats and the ongoing tensions between the Naturals and the Coordinators.

Even for those unfamiliar with the overarching franchise, "Freedom" is a thrilling and beautifully animated movie. It effortlessly blends its exploration of the inhumanity of war and the frustration of negotiating through bureaucracy with really cool space fights and deliberately melodramatic relationship theatrics, meaning it has something for everyone. Of course, this long-awaited movie (it has been in development since 2006) will resonate even more with hardcore fans, but there is still fun to be had for more casual viewers.

Cast: Melinée Leclerc, Clotilde Hesme, Laetitia Dosch

Director: Chiara Malta and Sébastien Laudenbach

Rating: not rated (content equivalent to PG)

Runtime: 73 minutes

Where to watch: Criterion Channel, PVOD

"Chicken for Linda!" is a French film that won the top prize at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival, and it's easy to understand why. Beautiful and poignant, the film is about the loss of a parent and a child's struggle to remember him.

The film tells the story of Paulette (Clotilde Hesme), a widowed mother who feels guilty when she punishes her 8-year-old daughter Linda (Mélinée Leclerc) for something she didn't do. She tells Linda to name something to make it up to her, and Linda asks her to make chicken with peppers, the final dish that her father made when Linda was a baby. Paulette doesn't know how to cook, and there is a strike that day, closing all the grocery stores — but Paulette is determined to make the chicken for Linda.

The movie is especially striking for its simple but vivid hand-drawn animation that uses a single color for each character. It's a decision that makes the movie feel special. And as director Malta observed to Animation Magazine, "It reinforced the playful aspect: one color, always the same, per character. ... The characters can be realistic when they are close-up, but very abstract when they are far away." This unique animation style, combined with what the film says about childhood and memory, makes "Chicken for Linda!" a winner.

Cast: Amy Poehler, Maya Hawke, Phyllis Smith, Lewis Black, Liza Lapira, Tony Hale, Kensington Tallman

Director: Kelsey Mann

Rating: PG

Runtime: 96 minutes

Where to watch: in theaters

Pixar has had a hard time opening movies recently. This is mainly because it released several movies to streaming service Disney+ during the pandemic, but its theatrical feature "Elemental" also didn't clean up like many of Pixar's best movies. "Inside Out 2," though, is a return to form. Not only was it the third largest domestic opening for an animated film, it's also crossed the $1 billion mark world-wide faster than any other animated movie. If that weren't enough, the reviews by both critics and audiences have been absolutely glowing.

The film once again centers on Riley (Kensington Tallman). Despite it being nine years in real time since the first film was released, it's only been two years in movie time. That makes Riley just 13 years old in "Inside Out 2," and because she's becoming a teenager, her emotions get thrown for a loop. The core emotions, Joy (Amy Poehler), Sadness (Phyllis Smith), Anger (Lewis Black), Fear (Tony Hale), and Disgust (Liza Lapira) welcome Anxiety (Maya Hawke), Envy (Ayo Edebiri), Embarrassment (Paul Walter Hauser), and Ennui (Adele Exarchopoulos) to the mix. But soon these new emotions turn on the original five in an attempt to better prepare Riley for high school. 

Needless to say, these emotions are going to have to learn to work together to keep Riley running at optimum capacity. As they do, we're treated to Pixar at its best: "Inside Out 2" is a moving film that has something to say about the human experience.

Cast: Yuki Yamada, Fumiyo Kohinata, Ayumi Tsunematsu, Fumihiko Tachiki

Director: Shannon Tindle

Rating: PG

Runtime: 117 minutes

Where to watch: Netflix

Ultraman has been around since 1966, when Tsuburaya Productions put him on the map with a Japanese TV series. Since then, the tokusatsu hero has taken on all manner of kaiju, but outside of Japan, he's never gained a following like Godzilla has. Netflix is hoping to change that with "Ultraman: Rising," a CG-animated film that introduces some wrinkles in the typical Ultraman plot. That's because in this version of the story, Ultraman becomes a father to a very big baby.

The plot centers around Kenji "Ken" Sato (Yuki Yamada in the Japanese version, Christopher Sean in the dub), who returns to his home in Japan to become the latest Ultraman, a mantle he inherits from his father, Professor Sato (Fumiyo Kohinata and Gedde Watanabe). Ken is also a baseball player who played in America until recently. On a mission, he takes down a kaiju called Gigantron ... and realizes she has an egg with her, which soon hatches. The baby Gigantron imprints on Ken, and Ken is thrust into the world of parenting, with his career suffering as a result. But Ken soon becomes attached to the baby and does whatever it takes to save her.

"Ultraman: Rising" is a beautifully animated adventure that audiences will love, whether they are aware of Ultraman's origins or not. This new story doesn't require the audience to know anything about who Ultraman is, his powers, or his costume, and by adding child-rearing to the usual Ultraman mix, it tells a clever story with a combination of high-octane thrills and heartfelt moments that everyone in the family can enjoy.

Cast: Steve Carell, Kristen Wiig, Pierre Coffin, Will Ferrell, Sofía Vergara, Joey King

Director: Chris Renaud

Rating: PG

Runtime: 95 minutes

Where to watch: in theaters

Despite this being the fourth film in the "Despicable Me" series (and the sixth film in the franchise overall), "Despicable Me 4" doesn't show any signs of the franchise slowing down. In fact, this fourth entry in the series adds some new wrinkles when the family must go on the run from Maxime Le Mal (Will Ferrell), the French-accented nemesis of Gru (Steve Carell).

With the help of the AVL, the Anti-Villain League, the family settle in the bland town of Mayflower with new identities and attempt to get used to their new lives as Gru attempts to get his baby son, Gru Jr., to like him. To Gru's surprise, he ends up being forced to help an aspiring 13-year-old supervillain (Joey King) — who happens to live next door — with a heist or get outed as a supervillain himself. Meanwhile, the minions (all voiced by Pierre Coffin) are taken in by the AVL, where five of them are augmented with superpowers, an initiative that fails because the Minions make terrible superheroes.

The film isn't quite fresh for critics, but at a generous 90% audience rating on Rotten Tomatoes, most people can find something to like. "Despicable Me 4" will make you laugh and maybe even touch your heart while still being quirky and off-kilter, making it hard to resist.

Cast: N/A

Director: Pablo Berger

Rating: PG-13

Runtime: 102 minutes

Where to watch: PVOD

Does "Robot Dreams" count as a 2024 film? It's complicated. This Spanish-French production got the bare minimum run to qualify for awards in 2023, and even got nominated for the best animated feature Oscar, but didn't have a regular theatrical release in the United States until May 2024. But however you qualify it, this is one film you shouldn't miss.

One of two films on this list to tell its story completely without dialogue, "Robot Dreams" follows a lonely dog who orders a robot companion in an anthropomorphic version of 1980s New York City. Alas, Robot and Dog's time together is cut short when Robot gets in an accident at the beach — on the same day the beach closes for the season, preventing Dog from returning to rescue his friend. As the duo wait throughout the year to see each other again, viewers might find themselves reflecting on their own loves lost and found.

Pablo Berger formed his own animation studio to make this lovely work of hand-drawn 2D animation, based on the graphic novel of the same name by Sarah Varon. The wordless storytelling conveys a wide range of complex emotions, the animal characters and period detail providing humor even when the story leans in sadder directions. You'll never listen to "September" by Earth, Wind, & Fire the same way again.

Cast: Léa Drucker, Mathieu Amalric, Daniel Njo Lobé

Director: Jérémie Périn

Rating: Not rated (content equivalent to R)

Runtime: 89 minutes

Where to watch: PVOD

2024 has been an excellent year for the release of French animated movies in the United States. "Mars Express" is one of the best science fiction movies of 2024 so far and comes highly recommended to adult fans of cyberpunk anime like "Ghost in the Shell."

Taking place in the 23rd century, Jérémie Périn's debut feature follows two detectives from Mars, Aline Ruby (Léa Drucker) and Carlos Rivera (Daniel Njo Lobé), who travel to Earth to investigate two interconnected mysteries: a series of hacks breaking robots out of their subservience to humans, and the disappearance of a college student. Aline is human, while Carlos used to be but had his consciousness uploaded into an android upon his physical body's death.

"Mars Express" is packed to the brim with fascinating sci-fi ideas and cool film noir styling, building social commentary around the conflicts between the rich and the poor and between humans and robots. The animation is stunning, reminiscent of Japanese anime but more realistic than most examples of the form.

Cast: Loïse Charpentier, Maryne Bertieaux, Géraldine Asselin, Pierre Lognay, Aurélie Konaté

Director: Benoît Chieux

Rating: Not rated (content equivalent to PG)

Runtime: 74 minutes

Where to watch: PVOD

Imagine a hybrid of Dr. Seuss, "Alice in Wonderland," the anime of Hayao Miyazaki, and The Beatles' "Yellow Submarine." That might give you a hint of the surreal wonders in store in "Sirocco and the Kingdom of the Winds," an excellent French-Belgian animated film released in the United States in the summer of 2024.

Sisters Juliette (Loïse Charpentier) and Carmen (Maryne Bertieaux) are being babysat by the fantasy author Agnes (Géraldine Asselin) when suddenly they find themselves transported into the world of Agnes' books. Transformed into cats, the girls get into trouble with this world's strange inhabitants, and must seek out the storm wizard Sirocco (Pierre Lognay) to find passage home.

The colorful animation is beautiful and captivating, sweeping the viewer away in this universe-hopping fantasy. The metafictional elements, where characters in the fantasy world reflect the heavy personal experiences of the book's author, give the story emotional power on top of all the whimsy.

Cast: Lupita Nyong'o, Kit Connor, Pedro Pascal

Director: Chris Sanders

Rating: PG

Runtime: 102 minutes

Where to watch: in theaters, PVOD

Adapted from the popular children's book of the same name by Peter Brown, "The Wild Robot" is the latest masterpiece from Chris Sanders, whose past credits include "Lilo and Stitch" and "How to Train Your Dragon." With its moving tale of motherhood and painterly approach to computer animation, it marks a new high point for DreamWorks Animation.

Through Roz (Lupita Nyong'o), an intensely friendly but somewhat clueless helper robot who gets lost in the wilderness and accidentally imprints on a gosling (Kit Connor), "The Wild Robot" explores a variety of themes: the ways parenting changes you, the ability to surpass one's assigned "programming," and the necessity of cooperation in the face of ecological disaster. More than most family films, it's unafraid to depict the cruelty of nature, both via heart-wrenching drama and surprisingly dark comedy, which makes it all the more inspiring how its moral core of love and hope shines through. 

The ending of "The Wild Robot" is precision-engineered to bring everyone who watches it to tears, and leave them begging for the inevitable sequel. "The Wild Robot" isn't simply the best animated movie of 2024 — it's one of the year's best movies, period.

Cast: Yumi Kawai, Mizuki Yoshida

Director: Kiyotaka Oshiyama

Rating: 13+

Runtime: 58 minutes

Where to watch: Prime Video

In case you didn't sob enough watching "The Wild Robot," "Look Back" should do the trick: it's one of those sad animes that will leave you crying your eyes out. Running less than an hour, it just narrowly qualifies as a feature film (theatrical screenings in America added a behind-the-scenes feature to pad out the runtime), but you'll be thinking about it long after the short time it takes to watch.

Based on the one-shot manga by "Chainsaw Man" author Tatsuki Fujimoto, "Look Back" is about two girls, Fujino (Yumi Kawai) and Kyomoto (Mizuki Yoshida), who spend their teenage years drawing manga together. To say anything else about what happens gets into spoiler territory, but fair warning: "Look Back" was made as a response to a very real tragedy that befell the anime industry in recent years.

The first film produced by Kiyotaka Oshiyama's Studio Durian, "Look Back" became a surprise box office hit in Japan. Befitting a story about the joys and pains of putting art into the world, the team at Durian did an incredible job translating the beauty of Fujimoto's manga artwork into motion.

Cast: N/A (the animal sounds are from real animals)

Director: Gints Zilbalodis

Rating: PG

Runtime: 85 minutes

Where to watch: in select theaters November 22, expanding December 6

"Flow," Latvia's official submission for best international feature at the 97th Academy Awards, has been picking up awards left and right on the festival circuit. This dialogue-free fantasy film is an incredible achievement for independent animation and should enchant audiences of all ages.

Our main character is a cat trying to survive a Biblical-level flood. The cat teams up with a menagerie of different animals — a dog, a bird, a lemur, and a capybara — on a voyage by boat across the drowned planet, facing perilous obstacles. The action is easy to follow while still leaving many mysteries up for interpretation, allowing one to read societal and spiritual metaphors into their journey. Impressively, the animals' personalities shine through with hardly any anthropomorphization — the animators' observation of real animal behavior is spot-on.

With its episodic adventures, stylized animation, and hypnotic musical score, "Flow" sometimes feels like the best indie video game you never had the chance to play. As a cinematic experience, it's a unique work unlike anything else in theaters.

Cast: Sarah Snook, Kodi Smit-McPhee, Eric Bana, Dominique Pinon

Director: Adam Elliot

Rating: R

Runtime: 94 minutes

Where to watch: in theaters

Yet another animated tearjerker — and this one might be the most depressing of them all. "Memoir of a Snail," Australian stop-motion animator Adam Elliot's follow-up to 2009's "Mary & Max," is framed around the snail-obsessed hoarder Grace Pudel (Sarah Snook) narrating her life story on the day she plans to kill herself.

Grace's mother died in childbirth, and after her alcoholic father (Dominique Pinon) dies, she and her brother Gilbert (Kodi Smit-McPhee) are pulled apart into separate foster homes. Grace ends up in an abusive relationship, while Gilbert gets tortured by a homophobic religious cult. The R-rated misery gets so over-the-top at times that it becomes darkly comic, reminiscent of Roald Dahl's adult-oriented works or the similarly bleak stop-motion show "Moral Orel."

And yet "Memoir of a Snail" is not just a story of suffering — it has something important to say about how we can heal from trauma, paying off with a satisfying inspirational ending worthy of Frank Capra. The animation style suits the material: grotesque, yet hand-crafted with so much love that it's impossible to look away from.

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