There’s no limit to what the imagination can dream up — and, with animation, there’s no limit to what filmmakers can accomplish on screen. From stealing the moon, to exploring the sea, to traveling through time, the medium is one of pure potential. Visually gripping, with art rendered in 2-D, 3-D, motion graphics, or stop motion, animation is for all ages. And Netflix has curated an impressive collection, including comedies, cartoons, and a few of the platform’s original features.
Here are our picks for the best animated movies streaming on the site as of January 2025, including Nimona, Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse, and some underrated classics.
Apollo 10½: A Space Age Childhood (2022)
Netflix
Richard Linklater returned to rotoscope animation following Waking Life (2001) and A Scanner Darkly (2006), with this nostalgic trip back to the summer of ’69. Young Stanley is an imaginative young boy whose investment in the Apollo 11 mission to the Moon causes him to fantasize about being onboard the history-making spaceship. Jack Black voices the adult version of Stanley, looking back on his childhood memories with fondness.
Fans of Linklater’s Oscar-nominated film Boyhood (2014) will find the director working in familiar territory here, exploring the coming-of-age process with a wistful eye. The dreamlike film earned widespread acclaim from critics, praising its dreamlike atmosphere and vivid animation. —Kevin Jacobsen
Where to watch Apollo 10½: A Space Age Childhood: Netflix
Director: Richard Linklater
Cast: Jack Black, Milo Coy, Glen Powell, Zachary Levi
Captain Underpants: The First Epic Movie (2017)
20th Century Fox/Courtesy Everett Collection
The wildly popular Captain Underpants book series has kept kids entertained since 1997, but it wasn’t until 20 years later that the tighty-whities-clad hero made it to the big screen. The First Epic Movie centers on George and Harold, fourth-grader best friends who create the Captain Underpants comic book and hypnotize their strict principal into becoming the superhero — who doesn’t actually have superpowers.
Kid-friendly without being too mind-numbing to their parents, Captain Underpants: The First Epic Movie has “charm to spare,” praises EW’s critic, noting it works “mostly because it never tries to be more or less than what it is.” It also spawned a series on Netflix, The Epic Tales of Captain Underpants, which ran from 2018 to 2020. —K.J.
Where to watch Captain Underpants: The First Epic Movie: Netflix
EW grade: B+ (read the review)
Director: David Soren
Cast: Kevin Hart, Ed Helms, Nick Kroll, Thomas Middleditch, Jordan Peele, Kristen Schaal
Grave of the Fireflies (1988)
Studio Ghibli/Kobal/Shutterstock
WARNING: Of all the films on this list, this anime tragedy is unsuitable to watch with little ones.
Set during the Pacific War, Grave of the Fireflies follows two orphaned siblings, Seita and Setsuko, struggling to survive amid harsh conditions. In the aftermath of the bombing of Kobe, rations run scarce and the children desperately try to sustain themselves through dire circumstances. This Studio Ghibli classic certainly isn’t for the faint of heart, but it’s one of the most powerful, unflinching looks at the devastating effects of war. —K.J.
Where to watch Grave of the Fireflies: Netflix
Director: Isao Takahata
Cast: Tsutomu Tatsumi, Ayano Shiraishi, Yoshiko Shinohara, Akemi Yamaguchi
Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio (2022)
Netflix
Codirectors Guillermo del Toro and Mark Gustafson transport the classic story of Pinocchio to World War II-era Italy in this meticulously crafted stop-motion animated film. Following the death of his young son, carpenter Geppetto cuts down a tree and carves a wooden boy, who is subsequently brought to life and dubbed Pinocchio. As the boy ventures to the outside world, he is met with dark forces that attempt to use and corrupt him, all against the backdrop of Benito Mussolini’s reign as leader of Fascist Italy.
Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio is a darker take on the tale compared to the well-known Disney adaptation (which also received a far-inferior live-action remake in 2022). From the fraught setting to the detailed creature designs, del Toro and Gustafson create a distinct world while providing valuable life lessons to viewers of all ages. The film became the first Netflix production to win the Oscar for Best Animated Feature. —K.J.
Where to watch Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio: Netflix
Directors: Guillermo del Toro and Mark Gustafson
Cast: Ewan McGregor, David Bradley, Gregory Mann, Burn Gorman, Ron Perlman, John Turturro, Finn Wolfhard, Cate Blanchett, Tim Blake Nelson, Christoph Waltz, Tilda Swinton
I Lost My Body (2019)
Netflix
A severed hand goes on a perilous journey to reunite with its owner in this French animated drama. When we’re not following the hand’s quest, we get to know its owner, Naoufel, who accidentally caused his parents’ death and now lives with his uncle in Paris. Working as a pizza delivery driver, Naoufel is also hopelessly infatuated with Gabrielle, a librarian. We ultimately come to learn the series of events that led Naoufel’s hand to be severed.
I Lost My Body was a huge critical success when it was released in 2019, winning a prize at the Cannes Film Festival and earning an Oscar nomination for Best Animated Feature. Its eccentric story combined with its striking 2-D animation make for an unforgettable experience. —K.J.
Where to watch I Lost My Body: Netflix
Director: Jérémy Clapin
Cast: Hakim Faris, Victoire du Bois, Patrick d’Assumçao
Klaus (2019)
Netflix
Regardless of whether or not ’tis the season, Klaus is a Santa Claus origin story that’s enjoyable any time of the year. Starring J.K. Simmons as the film’s eponymous hero, Klaus tells the tale of a widowed Norwegian lumberman who is recruited by the town’s new postman Jesper (Jason Schwartzman) to make toys for him to deliver in an effort to prove his father, the postmaster general, wrong. But, when Klaus’ toys begin to cheer up the children of Smeerensburg — a town whose inhabitants are perpetually engaged in a feud between two familial clans — Jesper and Klaus must step out of their comfort zones to help save the town from itself.
Klaus isn’t just another feel-good film; it’s also a film that looks great. Employing unique technology to transform 2-D animation into what looks like 3-D, the film is well-deserving of its Academy Award nomination for Best Animated Feature (the first of Netflix’s original animated features to receive that distinction). —Ilana Gordon
Director: Sergio Pablos
Cast: Jason Schwartzman, J.K. Simmons, Rashida Jones, Will Sasso, Neda Margrethe Labba, Sergio Pablos, Norm Macdonald, Joan Cusack
Kubo and the Two Strings (2016)
Focus Features/Courtesy Everett Collection
Kubo (Art Parkinson), a 12-year-old boy with a missing eye, goes on a mission to protect himself against his predatory relatives in this vibrant stop-motion animated film. Kubo’s ailing mother cautions him about her twin sisters and father, who are eager to take Kubo’s other eye, instructing him to find his missing father’s armor. A wild adventure unfolds from there as the film tackles potent themes about family and memory. EW’s critic calls Kubo and the Two Strings “a marvel — a visually stunning, richly imagined oasis in a sea of candy-colored safety.” —K.J.
Where to watch Kubo and the Two Strings: Netflix
EW grade: A– (read the review)
Director: Travis Knight
Cast: Art Parkinson, Charlize Theron, Ralph Fiennes, Rooney Mara, George Takei, Matthew McConaughey
Leo (2023)
Courtesy of Netflix
Produced by Adam Sandler’s company Happy Madison, this playful comedy centers on a 74-year-old tuatara named Leo (voiced by Sandler). Serving as a class pet over several decades, Leo panics upon learning his lifespan may be coming to an end. Multiple students bring him home during the school year, with Leo imparting his decades of wisdom upon them to help with each of their individual needs. Perfectly attuned to today’s anxiety-riddled youth, Leo is a well-observed charmer about how everyone is going through something. —K.J.
Directors: Robert Marianetti, Robert Smigel, David Wachtenheim
Cast: Adam Sandler, Bill Burr, Cecily Strong, Jason Alexander
The Mitchells vs. the Machines (2021)
Sony Pictures Animation
Every family has problems, but the Mitchell family has big problems — robot apocalypse-type problems. In this animated comedy, a dysfunctional family’s already messy road trip is thrown into further chaos when robots attempt to take over the world. As the only people left to fight them off, it’s up to the Mitchells (voiced by Abbi Jacobson, Danny McBride, Maya Rudolph, and director Mike Rianda) to take out the machines and save humanity. But, to do that, they’ll have to ensure their family’s connection to each other is stronger than their connection to their phones and iPads.
In an ironic twist, The Mitchells vs. the Machines — whose message warns of the dangers of relying too much on technology — employs both hand-drawn and CGI animation to create its visuals. —I.G.
Where to watch The Mitchells vs. the Machines: Netflix
Director: Mike Rianda
Cast: Abbi Jacobson, Danny McBride, Maya Rudolph, Mike Rianda, Eric André, Olivia Colman
Nimona (2023)
Netflix
Blending medieval folklore and futuristic fantasy, this high-spirited, Oscar-nominated adaptation of the 2015 graphic novel is more timely now than ever. Chloë Grace Moretz gives voice to Nimona, a mischievous shapeshifter who comes to the aid of Ballister Boldheart (Riz Ahmed), a knight who has since been ostracized by the kingdom due to his background as a commoner. Naturally, Nimona has her own history with being outcast, and the pair unravel a conspiracy that resulted in the queen’s death.
Featuring a powerful queer allegory, both Nimona and Ballister try to overcome prejudice from their community while forging a bond due to their circumstances. As EW’s critic writes, “The story admiringly delves into how such monsters are in fact created by a society that refuses to accept their differences.” —K.J.
Where to watch Nimona: Netflix
EW grade: B+ (read the review)
Directors: Nick Bruno and Troy Quane
Cast: Chloë Grace Moretz, Riz Ahmed, Eugene Lee Yang, Frances Conroy, Lorraine Toussaint, Beck Bennett, RuPaul, Indya Moore, Julio Torres, Sarah Sherman
Orion and the Dark (2024)
DreamWorks Animation
Based on the 2014 children’s book of the same name by Emma Yarlett, Orion and the Dark is an inventive exploration of what it means to face your fears. Adapted by surrealist extraordinaire Charlie Kaufman, the film follows 11-year-old Orion (Jacob Tremblay), who suffers from debilitating fears. One night, the power goes out, and the personification of the dark (Paul Walter Hauser) arrives to take him on a journey that will help quell his anxieties. Along the way, he meets other personified nighttime beings such as Sleep and Unexpected Noises, coming to understand their functions.
As the film goes on, however (and as adult viewers have come to expect from Kaufman), it becomes clear that there are many layers to this story. Beneath the colorful animation and lively voice performances, Orion and the Dark offers a thought-provoking message for all ages. —K.J.
Where to watch Orion and the Dark: Netflix
Director: Sean Charmatz
Cast: Jacob Tremblay, Paul Walter Hauser, Colin Hanks, Angela Bassett, Ike Barinholtz, Natasia Demetriou, Golda Rosheuvel, Nat Faxon, Aparna Nancherla, Carla Gugino
Over the Moon (2020)
Netflix
Netflix’s original animated feature, Over the Moon is one of the platform’s most stunning visual works of art. Directed by Oscar-winner Glen Keane (the Disney animator behind The Little Mermaid, Aladdin, and Beauty and the Beast), this vibrant film tells the story of Fei Fei (Cathy Ang), a young Chinese girl mourning the death of her mother. A passionate scientist, Fei Fei finds solace in a story her parents told her about Chang’e (Phillipa Soo) — a goddess who lives on the moon — and decides to build a rocket ship so she can visit her.
A vibrant exploration of Chinese culture, grief, and believing in the face of adversity, the film features gorgeous animated sequences, memorable songs, and the voices of John Cho, Ken Jeong, and Sandra Oh. An ambitious feature lovingly crafted by a pedigreed production team, Over the Moon is a family film that will haunt you long after the credits have rolled. —I.G.
Where to watch Over the Moon: Netflix
Director: Glen Keane
Cast: Cathy Ang, Phillipa Soo, Ken Jeong, John Cho, Ruthie Ann Miles, Margaret Cho, Sandra Oh
The Sea Beast (2022)
Netflix
A brave orphan girl named Maisie stows away aboard a ship of sea monster hunters in The Sea Beast, helmed by Big Hero 6′s co-director Chris Williams. The sailors are renowned for their hunting abilities, though their status is threatened by their society’s admiral, who wishes to replace them. They go out on one last hunt to track down a powerful sea beast called the Red Bluster, but, as Maisie soon discovers, the creatures may not have the kind of malicious intent for which they’ve come to be known.
With dazzling colors, fast-paced thrills, and classical storytelling, it’s easy to see why The Sea Beast became Netflix’s most watched animated original film as of October 2022, according to the streamer. The film also earned a Best Animated Feature nomination at the Oscars, following a wave of critical praise. —K.J.
Where to watch The Sea Beast: Netflix
Director: Chris Williams
Cast: Karl Urban, Zaris-Angel Hator, Jared Harris, Marianne Jean-Baptiste
Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse (2023)
Sony Pictures Animation
Following up on the massive success of the Oscar-winning Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse (2018) was a huge responsibility, but this dazzling sequel was well worth the five-year wait. Across the Spider-Verse finds Miles Morales (Shameik Moore) adjusting to the struggles of life as Spider-Man, while Gwen Stacy (Hailee Steinfeld) deals with the unique situation of her father hunting down her alter ego, Spider-Woman, not knowing she’s her. Both heroes soon join a team looking to defeat a particularly slippery villain known as the Spot (Jason Schwartzman), who is quickly traveling through the multiverse on a path of destruction.
Featuring even more eye-popping visuals than its predecessor, Across the Spider-Verse is an animation geek’s dream, As EW’s critic describes, “Gwen’s homeworld is painted almost entirely with the neon pinks and greens of the Spider-Gwen comics she hails from, while Spider-Punk (Daniel Kaluuya) ripples with the loud fonts and cut-up collages of 1970s anarchist zines.” —K.J.
Where to watch Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse: Netflix
EW grade: B+ (read the review)
Directors: Joaquim Dos Santos, Kemp Powers, and Justin K. Thompson
Cast: Shameik Moore, Hailee Steinfeld, Jason Schwartzman, Oscar Isaac, Brian Tyree Henry, Lauren Vélez, Jake Johnson, Issa Rae, Daniel Kaluuya, Mahershala Ali
Vivo (2021)
SONY PICTURES ANIMATION
Viva la Vivo! Lin-Manuel Miranda partnered with Netflix for this computer-animated original that starts in Havana and ends in Miami, with stops in Key West and the Everglades along the way. Underscored by Latin beats, propelled by a fast-moving story, and even featuring some rapping, Vivo is a buoyant celebration of Caribbean culture.
Miranda stars as Vivo, a kinkajou living in Havana as one half of a street-performing act. When his partner Andrés (voiced by Juan de Marcos González) passes away, Vivo resolves to deliver a song Andrés wrote for his long lost love Marta (Gloria Estefan), who is about to perform her retirement show in Miami. Aided by Andrés’ great-niece Gabi (Ynairaly Simo), Vivo hits all the wrong notes in his quest to keep love alive, but his journey is a delight to watch. Musically, Vivo combines mambo, hip-hop, and EDM, and, while it’s not Miranda’s best-known work, earworms like “My Own Drum” are sure to lodge themselves deep into your subconscious. —I.G.
EW grade: B (read the review)
Director: Kirk DeMicco
Cast: Lin-Manuel Miranda, Zoe Saldaña, Juan de Marcos, Brian Tyree Henry, Michael Rooker, Nicole Byer, Ynairaly Simo, Gloria Estefan
Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl (2024)
Courtesy of Netflix
Feathers McGraw is back, and he’s looking for revenge against our plucky heroes. The criminal mastermind penguin was last seen being locked up (at the local zoo) in the 1993 short The Wrong Trousers, having tried to steal a precious blue diamond. Vengeance Most Fowl features bumbling inventor Wallace and his trusty dog Gromit trying to apprehend the slippery villain, though Feathers’ army of evil robot gnomes won’t make it easy.
As reliably entertaining as all Wallace & Gromit installments, this second feature film in the franchise creatively tackles the perilousness of modern technology and lampoons numerous crime films with its signature cheeky wit. —K.J.
Where to watch Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl: Netflix
Directors: Nick Park, Merlin Crossingham
Cast: Ben Whitehead, Peter Kay, Lauren Patel, Reece Shearsmith
A Whisker Away (2020)
Netflix
Who among us hasn’t pretended to be something we’re not, to attract the attention of a crush? In the 2020 Japanese anime film A Whisker Away, a middle-school girl named Miyo struggles with unrequited love as she yearns for her classmate, Kento, who continues to reject her romantic advances. Upon receiving a magical mask capable of turning her into a cat, Miyo is able to spend time with Kento without fear of rejection — but it’s a risky proposition, as one day, the transformation could become permanent.
The film’s Japanese title, which literally translates to Wanting to Cry, I Pretend to be a Cat, tells you all you need to know about the simplicity and heart of the narrative. Packed with sumptuous visuals and a universally relatable core, this winsome coming-of-age story is intended for teens and young adults, but is also a must-see for anime enthusiasts, magical realism fans, and those looking to have their faith in love renewed. —I.G.
Where to watch A Whisker Away: Netflix
Directors: Junichi Sato and Tomotaka Shibayama
Cast: Mirai Shida, Natsuki Hanae, Hiroaki Ogi