History of Movies
My Library

The Best Animated Movies of All Time

The animation canon, measured: every animated feature in our library ranked by composite score across 20+ lists, awards and polls.

Animation is a medium the canon long mistook for a genre, and its history is a two-studio story with a third act: Disney's golden-age features (Snow White, Pinocchio, Dumbo) invented the form's grammar, Studio Ghibli — above all Hayao Miyazaki, the most canonized animator in this library — gave it auteur weight, and Pixar's run from Toy Story to WALL-E made computer animation respectable on the same lists. Around the majors sit the independents the polls quietly cherish: Švankmajer, Laika's stop-motion, and the adult animation of Persepolis and Waltz with Bashir.

Spirited Away (2001) leads with a composite score of 4.98. Top 100 of 141 films in our library.

Masters of the genre

  1. 1
    Spirited Away2001 · Hayao Miyazaki · Japan · fantasy, animation, drama
    4.98

    Berlin Golden Bear winner 2002 · Japan Academy Prize winner 2002 · Kehr's annual top 10 2002 #1

  2. 2
    Dumbo1941 · Ben Sharpsteen, Norm Ferguson, Wilfred Jackson, Bill Roberts, Jack Kinney, Samuel Armstrong · United States · musical, fantasy, drama
    2.00

    Palme d'Or winner 1947 · National Film Registry (inducted 2017) · NYT Best 1,000 Movies

  3. 3
    My Neighbor Totoro1988 · Hayao Miyazaki · Japan · fantasy, drama, animation
    1.98

    Kinema Junpo Best Ten (Japanese) 1988 #1 · Sight & Sound 2022 critics' poll #72 · Empire 500 (2008) #275

  4. 4
    Princess Mononoke1997 · Hayao Miyazaki · Japan · fantasy, animation, action
    1.97

    Japan Academy Prize winner 1998 · Kinema Junpo Best Ten (Japanese) 1997 #2 · Letterboxd Top 250 #72

  5. 5
    Who Framed Roger Rabbit1988 · Robert Zemeckis · United States · film-noir, fantasy, action
    1.67

    Kehr's annual top 10 1988 #2 · Siskel's annual top 10 1988 #2 · National Film Registry (inducted 2016)

  6. 6
    WALL-E2008 · Andrew Stanton · United States · comedy, romance, sci-fi
    1.55

    Film Comment year-end poll 2008 #5 · Rolling Stone 100 Best of the 21st Century #47 · National Film Registry (inducted 2021)

  7. 7
    Beauty and the Beast1991 · Gary Trousdale, Kirk Wise · United States · romance, musical, comedy
    1.46

    Oscar Best Picture nominee 1991 · Ebert's annual top 10 1991 #3 · National Film Registry (inducted 2002)

  8. 8
    Toy Story1995 · John Lasseter · United States · fantasy, adventure, comedy
    1.41

    Siskel's annual top 10 1995 #2 · AFI 100 (2007) #99 · Empire 500 (2008) #99

  9. 9
    Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs1937 · David Hand, William Cottrell, Wilfred Jackson, Larry Morey, Percival C. Pearce, Ben Sharpsteen · United States · romance, fantasy, musical
    1.39

    AFI 100 (2007) #34 · AFI 100 (1998) #49 · National Film Registry (inducted 1989)

  10. 10
    Fantastic Mr. Fox2009 · Wes Anderson · United States · comedy, drama, action
    1.37

    Cahiers du Cinéma annual top 10 2010 #5 · Film Comment year-end poll 2009 #5 · Rolling Stone 100 Best of the 21st Century #88

  11. 11
    Cinderella1950 · Wilfred Jackson, Hamilton Luske, Clyde Geronimi · United States · romance, fantasy, musical
    1.34

    Berlin Golden Bear winner 1951 · National Film Registry (inducted 2018) · Rosenbaum's Essential Cinema

  12. 12
    Mary Poppins1964 · Robert Stevenson · United States · fantasy, musical, comedy
    1.23

    Oscar Best Picture nominee 1964 · Kinema Junpo Best Ten (International) 1965 #5 · National Film Registry (inducted 2013)

  13. 13
    Grave of the Fireflies1988 · Isao Takahata · Japan · drama, animation, war
    1.19

    Sight & Sound 2022 critics' poll #225 · Kinema Junpo Best Ten (Japanese) 1988 #6 · Letterboxd Top 250 #26

  14. 14
    Toy Story 32010 · Lee Unkrich · United States · comedy, drama, animation
    1.15

    Oscar Best Picture nominee 2010 · Cahiers du Cinéma annual top 10 2010 #4 · Film Comment year-end poll 2010 #12

  15. 15
    Finding Nemo2003 · Andrew Stanton, Lee Unkrich · United States · adventure, comedy, animation
    1.15

    TIME All-TIME 100 · Kehr's annual top 10 2003 #3 · Film Comment year-end poll 2003 #16

  16. 16
    Waking Life2001 · Richard Linklater · United States · drama, fantasy, animation
    1.14

    Film Comment year-end poll 2001 #7 · Kehr's annual top 10 2001 #4 · Ebert's annual top 10 2001 #6

  17. 17
    In This Corner of the World2016 · Sunao Katabuchi · Japan · war, drama, animation
    1.00

    Kinema Junpo Best Ten (Japanese) 2016 #1

  18. 18
    Waltz with Bashir2008 · Ari Folman · Israel / France / Germany · documentary, war, animation
    0.99

    Cahiers du Cinéma annual top 10 2008 #6 · Film Comment year-end poll 2008 #8 · Kinema Junpo Best Ten (International) 2009 #8

  19. 19
    The Wind Rises2013 · Hayao Miyazaki · Japan · drama, biography, animation
    0.90

    Cahiers du Cinéma annual top 10 2014 #5 · Kinema Junpo Best Ten (Japanese) 2013 #7 · Film Comment year-end poll 2013 #42

  20. 20
    Pinocchio1940 · Ben Sharpsteen, Hamilton Luske, Norm Ferguson, T. Hee, Wilfred Jackson, Jack Kinney, Bill Roberts · United States · fantasy, musical, animation
    0.90

    TIME All-TIME 100 · National Film Registry (inducted 1994) · NYT Best 1,000 Movies

  21. 21
    Fantasia1940 · James Algar, Samuel Armstrong, Ford Beebe Jr., Norm Ferguson, Jim Handley, T. Hee, Wilfred Jackson, Hamilton Luske, Bill Roberts, Paul Satterfield, Ford Beebe, Ben Sharpsteen · United States · musical, fantasy, action
    0.87

    AFI 100 (1998) #58 · National Film Registry (inducted 1990) · Vatican film list

  22. 22
    The Nightmare Before Christmas1993 · Henry Selick · United States · musical, fantasy, comedy
    0.79

    Cahiers du Cinéma annual top 10 1994 #5 · National Film Registry (inducted 2023) · Empire 500 (2008) #327

  23. 23
    The Emperor's Nightingale1948 · Jiří Trnka, Miloš Makovec · Czechoslovakia · fantasy, animation
    0.75

    Locarno Golden Leopard winner 1955

  24. 24
    Prince Bayaya1950 · Jiří Trnka · Czechoslovakia · adventure, animation, fantasy
    0.75

    Locarno Golden Leopard winner 1954

  25. 25
    Bambi1942 · David Hand, James Algar, Bill Roberts, Norman Wright, Samuel Armstrong, Paul Satterfield, Graham Heid · United States · musical, fantasy, drama
    0.73

    Kinema Junpo Best Ten (International) 1951 #7 · National Film Registry (inducted 2011) · NYT Best 1,000 Movies

  26. 26
    Shrek2001 · Andrew Adamson, Vicky Jenson · United States · fantasy, comedy, adventure
    0.70

    National Film Registry (inducted 2020) · NYT Best 1,000 Movies · Kehr's annual top 10 2001 #7

  27. 27
    Kamikaze Girls2004 · Tetsuya Nakashima · Japan · comedy, animation
    0.69

    Kinema Junpo Best Ten (Japanese) 2004 #3 · Letterboxd Top 250 #236

  28. 28
    Up2009 · Pete Docter, Bob Peterson · United States · adventure, comedy, fantasy
    0.67

    Oscar Best Picture nominee 2009 · Film Comment year-end poll 2009 #23

  29. 29
    The Incredibles2004 · Brad Bird · United States · action, comedy, animation
    0.66

    Film Comment year-end poll 2004 #13 · National Film Registry (inducted 2025) · Empire 500 (2008) #400

  30. 30
    Conspirators of Pleasure1996 · Jan Švankmajer · United Kingdom / Czech Republic / Switzerland · comedy, action, animation
    0.64

    Hoberman's annual top 10 1997 #1 · Hoberman's annual top 10 1999 #null

  31. 31
    The Tale of the Princess Kaguya2013 · Isao Takahata · Japan · fantasy, drama, animation
    0.62

    Kinema Junpo Best Ten (Japanese) 2013 #4 · Letterboxd Top 250 #213

  32. 32
    Howl's Moving Castle2004 · Hayao Miyazaki · Japan · fantasy, animation, adventure
    0.62

    Letterboxd Top 250 #104 · Film Comment year-end poll 2005 #27 · Empire 500 (2008) #230

  33. 33
    Look Back2024 · Kiyotaka Oshiyama · Japan · drama, animation
    0.53

    Kinema Junpo Best Ten (Japanese) 2024 #7 · Letterboxd Top 250 #198

  34. 34
    The Boy and the Heron2023 · Hayao Miyazaki · Japan · adventure, drama, fantasy
    0.53

    Kinema Junpo Best Ten (Japanese) 2023 #9 · Film Comment year-end poll 2023 #20

  35. 35
    Akira1988 · Katsuhiro Otomo · Japan · sci-fi, action, animation
    0.48

    Letterboxd Top 250 #190 · Empire 500 (2008) #440 · Edgar Wright's 1,000 favorite movies

  36. 36
    Invention for Destruction1958 · Karel Zeman · Czechoslovakia / United States · sci-fi, adventure, fantasy
    0.45

    Kinema Junpo Best Ten (International) 1959 #10 · Criterion Collection spine #1016

  37. 37
    Avatar2009 · James Cameron · United States · sci-fi, action, adventure
    0.45

    Oscar Best Picture nominee 2009

  38. 38
    Duck Amuck1953 · Chuck Jones · United States · comedy, fantasy, animation
    0.45

    National Film Registry (inducted 1999) · Edgar Wright's 1,000 favorite movies · Rosenbaum's Essential Cinema

  39. 39
    Porco Rosso1992 · Hayao Miyazaki · Japan · fantasy, animation, adventure
    0.43

    Kinema Junpo Best Ten (Japanese) 1992 #4

  40. 40
    Yellow Submarine1968 · George Dunning · United Kingdom / United States · musical, fantasy, animation
    0.41

    NYT Best 1,000 Movies · Roger Ebert's Great Movies · Edgar Wright's 1,000 favorite movies

  41. 41
    The Lion King1994 · Roger Allers, Rob Minkoff · United States · musical, drama, adventure
    0.41

    National Film Registry (inducted 2016) · Empire 500 (2008) #319

  42. 42
    The Little Mermaid1989 · John Musker, Ron Clements · United States · romance, musical, fantasy
    0.40

    National Film Registry (inducted 2022) · Siskel's annual top 10 1989 #6

  43. 43
    Kiki's Delivery Service1989 · Hayao Miyazaki · Japan · fantasy, animation
    0.39

    Kinema Junpo Best Ten (Japanese) 1989 #5

  44. 44
    Summer Days with Coo2007 · Keiichi Hara · Japan · comedy, animation, drama
    0.39

    Kinema Junpo Best Ten (Japanese) 2007 #5

  45. 45
    Anomalisa2015 · Charlie Kaufman, Duke Johnson · United States · comedy, drama, romance
    0.38

    Film Comment year-end poll 2015 #12 · Edgar Wright's 1,000 favorite movies

  46. 46
    The King and the Mockingbird1980 · Paul Grimault · France · animation, fantasy, romance
    0.36

    Kinema Junpo Best Ten (International) 1955 #6

  47. 47
    Aladdin1992 · Chinami Namba · United States / Japan · fantasy, animation
    0.35

    Empire 500 (2008) #322 · NYT Best 1,000 Movies

  48. 48
    Monsters, Inc.2001 · Pete Docter, Lee Unkrich, David Silverman · United States · fantasy, comedy, animation
    0.35

    Empire 500 (2008) #343 · NYT Best 1,000 Movies

  49. 49
    Coraline2009 · Henry Selick · United States · horror, fantasy, thriller
    0.34

    Film Comment year-end poll 2009 #19 · Edgar Wright's 1,000 favorite movies

  50. 50
    Motion Painting No. 11947 · Oskar Fischinger · United States · animation
    0.34

    National Film Registry (inducted 1997) · Rosenbaum's Essential Cinema

  51. 51
    What's Opera, Doc?1957 · Chuck Jones · United States · musical, animation
    0.34

    National Film Registry (inducted 1992) · Edgar Wright's 1,000 favorite movies

  52. 52
    Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind1983 · Hayao Miyazaki · Japan · sci-fi, animation, fantasy
    0.33

    Kinema Junpo Best Ten (Japanese) 1984 #7

  53. 53
    Castle in the Sky1986 · Hayao Miyazaki · Japan · fantasy, romance, animation
    0.32

    Kinema Junpo Best Ten (Japanese) 1986 #8

  54. 54
    Pom Poko1994 · Isao Takahata · Japan · drama, animation, fantasy
    0.32

    Kinema Junpo Best Ten (Japanese) 1994 #8

  55. 55
    Summer Wars2009 · Mamoru Hosoda · Japan · romance, animation, sci-fi
    0.32

    Kinema Junpo Best Ten (Japanese) 2009 #8

  56. 56
    The End of Evangelion1997 · Kazuya Tsurumaki, Hideaki Anno · Japan · sci-fi, action, animation
    0.31

    Letterboxd Top 250 #27

  57. 57
    Only Yesterday1991 · Isao Takahata · Japan · animation, drama
    0.30

    Kinema Junpo Best Ten (Japanese) 1991 #9

  58. 58
    Inside Out2015 · Pete Docter, Ronnie del Carmen · United States · comedy, fantasy, adventure
    0.30

    Film Comment year-end poll 2015 #9

  59. 59
    Run with the Wind2006 · Sumio Ōmori · Japan · animation
    0.29

    Kinema Junpo Best Ten (Japanese) 2009 #10

  60. 60
    Watership Down1978 · Martin Rosen, John Hubley · United Kingdom · adventure, fantasy, drama
    0.27

    Criterion Collection spine #748 · Edgar Wright's 1,000 favorite movies

  61. 61
    Faust1994 · Jan Švankmajer · United Kingdom / France / Germany · fantasy, drama, mystery
    0.25

    Hoberman's annual top 10 1994 #3

  62. 62
    Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse2023 · Joaquim Dos Santos, Kemp Powers, Justin K. Thompson · United States · comedy, action, drama
    0.25

    Letterboxd Top 250 #64

  63. 63
    Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse2018 · Peter Ramsey, Rodney Rothman, Bob Persichetti · United States · action, adventure, sci-fi
    0.24

    Letterboxd Top 250 #71

  64. 64
    Perfect Blue1997 · Satoshi Kon · Japan · thriller, animation, mystery
    0.23

    Letterboxd Top 250 #84

  65. 65
    Little Nemo1911 · J. Stuart Blackton, Winsor McCay · United States · silent, action, animation
    0.23

    National Film Registry (inducted 2009)

  66. 66
    Gertie the Dinosaur1914 · Winsor McCay · United States · fantasy, silent, action
    0.23

    National Film Registry (inducted 1991)

  67. 67
    The Sinking of the Lusitania1918 · Winsor McCay · United States · silent, animation
    0.23

    National Film Registry (inducted 2017)

  68. 68
    Koko's Earth Control1928 · Dave Fleischer · United States · silent, comedy, animation
    0.23

    National Film Registry (inducted 2024)

  69. 69
    Steamboat Willie1928 · Walt Disney, Ub Iwerks · United States · musical, comedy, animation
    0.23

    National Film Registry (inducted 1998)

  70. 70
    Flowers and Trees1932 · Burt Gillett · United States · animation, musical
    0.23

    National Film Registry (inducted 2021)

  71. 71
    Snow White1933 · Dave Fleischer · United States · comedy, musical, animation
    0.23

    National Film Registry (inducted 1994)

  72. 72
    Three Little Pigs1933 · Burt Gillett · United States · fantasy, animation, musical
    0.23

    National Film Registry (inducted 2007)

  73. 73
    Popeye the Sailor Meets Sindbad the Sailor1936 · Dave Fleischer · United States · fantasy, musical, animation
    0.23

    National Film Registry (inducted 2004)

  74. 74
    The Old Mill1937 · Wilfred Jackson, Graham Heid · United States · animation
    0.23

    National Film Registry (inducted 2015)

  75. 75
    Porky in Wackyland1938 · Bob Clampett · United States · comedy, fantasy, animation
    0.23

    National Film Registry (inducted 2000)

  76. 76
    Tarantella1941 · Mary Ellen Bute, Norman McLaren, Ted Nemeth · United States · animation
    0.23

    National Film Registry (inducted 2010)

  77. 77
    John Henry and the Inky-Poo1946 · George Pal · United States · animation
    0.23

    National Film Registry (inducted 2015)

  78. 78
    The Story of Menstruation1946 · Jack Kinney · United States · animation
    0.23

    National Film Registry (inducted 2015)

  79. 79
    Gerald McBoing-Boing1950 · Robert Cannon, John Hubley · United States · comedy, adventure, animation
    0.23

    National Film Registry (inducted 1995)

  80. 80
    Duck and Cover1952 · Anthony Rizzo · United States · documentary, action, animation
    0.23

    National Film Registry (inducted 2004)

  81. 81
    Magical Maestro1952 · Tex Avery · United States · comedy, musical, animation
    0.23

    National Film Registry (inducted 1993)

  82. 82
    Lady and the Tramp1955 · Clyde Geronimi, Wilfred Jackson, Hamilton Luske · United States · comedy, romance, musical
    0.23

    National Film Registry (inducted 2023)

  83. 83
    One Froggy Evening1955 · Chuck Jones · United States · musical, comedy, animation
    0.23

    National Film Registry (inducted 2003)

  84. 84
    Sleeping Beauty1959 · Clyde Geronimi, Les Clark, Eric Larson, Wolfgang Reitherman · United States · fantasy, musical, animation
    0.23

    National Film Registry (inducted 2019)

  85. 85
    Frank Film1973 · Frank Mouris, Caroline Mouris · United States · animation
    0.23

    National Film Registry (inducted 1996)

  86. 86
    Free Radicals1979 · Len Lye · United States · animation
    0.23

    National Film Registry (inducted 2008)

  87. 87
    Luxo Jr.1986 · John Lasseter · United States · comedy, animation
    0.23

    National Film Registry (inducted 2014)

  88. 88
    Tin Toy1988 · John Lasseter · United States · animation, fantasy
    0.23

    National Film Registry (inducted 2003)

  89. 89
    The Red Book1994 · Janie Geiser · United States · animation
    0.23

    National Film Registry (inducted 2009)

  90. 90
    It's Such a Beautiful Day2012 · Don Hertzfeldt · United States · drama, comedy, fantasy
    0.22

    Letterboxd Top 250 #106

  91. 91
    Chainsaw Man – The Movie: Reze Arc2025 · Tatsuya Yoshihara · Japan · action, drama, romance
    0.22

    Letterboxd Top 250 #110

  92. 92
    The Polar Express2004 · Robert Zemeckis · United States / Canada / United Kingdom · fantasy, adventure, animation
    0.22

    Kehr's annual top 10 2004 #4

  93. 93
    Puella Magi Madoka Magica: Rebellion2013 · Akiyuki Shinbo · Japan · drama, animation
    0.21

    Letterboxd Top 250 #144

  94. 94
    The Triplets of Belleville2003 · Sylvain Chomet · Canada / France / United Kingdom · comedy, drama, adventure
    0.20

    Film Comment year-end poll 2003 #30

  95. 95
    Toy Story 21999 · John Lasseter, Lee Unkrich, Ash Brannon · United States · fantasy, comedy, animation
    0.20

    Empire 500 (2008) #179

  96. 96
    Azur & Asmar: The Princes' Quest2006 · Michel Ocelot · France / Italy / Spain · fantasy, adventure, animation
    0.20

    Letterboxd Top 250 #183

  97. 97
    Evangelion: 3.0+1.0 Thrice Upon a Time2021 · Hideaki Anno, Mahiro Maeda, Katsuichi Nakayama, Kazuya Tsurumaki · Japan · sci-fi, animation
    0.20

    Letterboxd Top 250 #184

  98. 98
    Song of the Sea2014 · Tomm Moore · Luxembourg / France / Ireland · fantasy, animation
    0.20

    Letterboxd Top 250 #188

  99. 99
    Interstella 5555: The 5tory of the 5ecret 5tar 5ystem2003 · Leiji Matsumoto · France / Japan · musical, animation, adventure
    0.20

    Letterboxd Top 250 #197

  100. 100
    Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit2005 · Nick Park, Steve Box · United Kingdom / United States · fantasy, comedy, mystery
    0.20

    Film Comment year-end poll 2005 #34

Every list of the best animated movies has to decide, first, what animation even is — a genre with a shelf of its own, or the medium in which any genre can happen. Our library's answer is deliberately promiscuous: the hundred films on this page run from a hand-drawn Little Nemo (1911) to features released in 2025, and they are ranked by one composite score, not by studio, technique or target audience. The result is a canon that looks very little like a family video shelf — and that is the point.

From trick film to art form

Animation's history reads as a series of technologies learning to carry feeling. Winsor McCay's Gertie the Dinosaur (1914) — an early landmark of character animation, and the first film to combine live-action footage with animation — proved a drawing could have a personality. Walt Disney's Steamboat Willie (1928) added synchronized sound; Flowers and Trees (1932) added full three-strip Technicolor and won an Academy Award; and Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937), premiered that December, was not the first animated feature — at least eight preceded it — but its worldwide success made the animated feature a business, one Disney would run almost alone in America for decades. The next hinge is Toy Story (1995), the first computer-animated feature in the 3D style that has dominated the industry ever since.

The Miyazaki verdict

The top of the page delivers a verdict the industry's own awards have been slower to reach: the medium's most canonized author is Japanese. Spirited Away (2001) sits at #22 in our entire library — no other animated film even cracks the top 350; the runner-up, Dumbo (1941), lands at #384. Hayao Miyazaki has ten films on this page, more than any other director, which makes him the most canonized animator in this library by a wide margin. Around him the list sorts the tradition into its three acts: Disney's golden-age features, the Pixar run from Toy Story to WALL-E (2008), and the auteurs the polls quietly cherish — Isao Takahata, whose devastating Grave of the Fireflies (1988) is Ghibli's stern conscience, and the Czech animator Jan Švankmajer.

How to read our list

Membership here is carried by the data pipeline, not by editorial taste: films are bucketed into canonical genres from their upstream database genre tags, and everything tagged as animation — feature or short, drawn or computed — competes on composite score alone. That has two honest consequences. The tail preserves the medium's short-film history, from Gertie to Chuck Jones's Duck Amuck (1953). And the tag admits live-action hybrids: Mary Poppins (1964), Who Framed Roger Rabbit (1988) and Avatar (2009) carry animation tags upstream, so they sit alongside the pure article — read them as borderline cases the data declines to adjudicate. The score also rewards accumulated canonical weight over franchise memory: the original Toy Story, at #688 library-wide, outranks Toy Story 3 (2010) at #936 — the film that invented the form still outweighing its most celebrated sequel.