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 films in general of 2024.

Cast: Henry Golding, Brandon Soo Hoo, Lucy Liu, Michelle Yeoh, Sandra Oh, Greta Lee, Bowen Yang

Director: Raman Hui, Yong Duk Jhun, and Paul Watling

Rating: PG

Runtime: 84 minutes

Where to watch: Paramount+

Tackling Chinese folklore and mythology in an accessible and kid-friendly package, "The Tiger's Apprentice" doesn't have a groundbreaking premise, but contains plenty of elements that elevate it over similar offerings. It focuses on a kid called Tom Lee (Brandon Soo Hoo) who learns he is related to a legendary warrior and must embark on a journey of self-discovery to become the hero he was always meant to be, under the tutelage of a talking tiger, Mr. Hu (Henry Golding).

Interestingly, you could transpose the plot of this film with a certain panda-centered movie on this list and both would still make total sense, but what it lacks in originality it makes up for with its desire to be respectful to the source material — not just the novel by Laurence Yep, but also the mythology behind it. The cast is also one of the major selling points, featuring the vocal talents of Lucy Liu, Sandra Oh, Michelle Yeoh, and Greta Lee.

While critics were a little lukewarm on "The Tiger's Apprentice," calling it generic and uninspired, audiences have been much more favorable, giving it a rating of more than 70% on Rotten Tomatoes. It is certainly a film that is much more skewed toward younger viewers, but that doesn't mean there isn't something for everyone to enjoy.

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: Mayalinee Griffith, Bill Nighy, Bill Bailey, Anthony Howell

Director: Jianping Li and Salvador Simó

Rating: PG

Runtime: 98 minutes

Where to watch: in theaters, PVOD

This Spanish-Chinese animated fantasy brings together directors Salvador Simó and Jianping Li in a charming adaptation of Carole Wilkinson's book of the same name, focusing on a girl named Ping (Mayalinee Griffiths) and her journey to become a Dragonkeeper. It is hard not to make immediate comparisons with "How to Train Your Dragon" — both are based on novels and both feature magical creatures prominently. "Dragonkeeper" may not be the best animated dragon film you'll ever see, but it is bolstered by its focus on Chinese mythology and its effortlessly loveable protagonist.

"Dragonkeeper" has been a long time coming, starting production in 2016 and then delayed due to the global pandemic. However, the care and attention to detail are clear to see in the stunningly simple animation and heartfelt storytelling. The filmmakers' decision to pare things back to better serve the story was a deliberate one. Speaking to Animation Magazine, producer Larry Levene said, "There are no secrets in the tools used, but the artistic approach was more simple and realistic than the classical Disney or Pixar animation, which in this case was perfect for the film ... our mantra was 'less is more.'"

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: Chris Pratt, Samuel L. Jackson, Hannah Waddingham, Nicholas Hoult, Harvey Guillén

Director: Mark Dindal

Rating: PG

Runtime: 101 minutes

Where to watch: in theaters

The version of Garfield in "The Garfield Movie" doesn't resemble the grumpy cat of creator Jim Davis' iconic comic strip. But we had two movies featuring that version of Garfield — "Garfield: The Movie" and "Garfield: A Tail of Two Kitties," and perhaps outside of Bill Murray's voice-work, they were horrible. Not even Murray likes them. Despite critics not being big fans of this new one either, "The Garfield Movie" sports an 80% "fresh" audience rating on Rotten Tomatoes. This is largely because the movie is great for kids and their families, who likely aren't Garfield purists anyway.

The movie revolves around the lasagna-loving, Monday-hating Garfield (Pratt), who is adopted by the kind-hearted Jon Arbuckle (Nicholas Hoult). Garfield loves his indoor-cat lifestyle, but when Garfield and his dog pal Odie (Harvey Guillén) are kidnapped by the cat Jinx (Hannah Waddingham), all seems lost. That is, until Vic (Samuel L. Jackson), Garfield's estranged father, comes to rescue them. It turns out that Jinx knew the kidnapped Garfield and Odie would lure Vic to her, and she wanted to capture Vic because she has demands for him. Namely that Vic, Garfield, and Odie get a huge quantity of milk from a nearby farm to make up for Vic getting her sent to the pound for years.

The film is zany and entertaining, cruising along at a fun pace. But most of all, it has a big heart, and while it lacks the standard-issue Garfield many are familiar with, it makes up for it with an enjoyable story.

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" 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, 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.