Animation movies have existed for a long time now. However, every once in a while, there is an animated movie that shakes the world and defines an entire genre. While the animation genre started to feel a bit stale in the past few years, there are still some gems that shine bright in the wild.
So, I’ve watched dozens of animated movies over the past few months and compiled this list of five animated movies you need to watch. Since you’ll be streaming movies, I recommend having a fast internet connection.
I’ve checked out multiple ISPs, but Optimum servicio al cliente convinced me to get their internet, which offers fast speeds with no data caps and no contracts.
With fast internet, here are five great animated movies you need to watch with your family. I recommend watching them in the highest quality for the best experience.
Coco
Coco comes close to achieving cinema perfection. While opinions are subjective, I had an amazing time watching this movie with mi familia(my family). Without spoiling too much, it’s a movie about a young boy who dreams of following the steps of his idol, Ernesto de la Cruz, and becoming a musician.
Inspired heavily by Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead), the boy soon finds himself in the Land of the Dead. There, he meets Héctor, a charming trickster, and the two embark on a journey to find out the real story about the boy’s family.
The Pixar charm is in its full force here. The movie beautifully represents Mexico and its vibrant culture, and its jaw-dropping animation beautifully presents the heartwarming story of a young boy chasing his dreams.
The Spider-Verse Movies
Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse was a movie that I went into blind. I expected a predictable film that featured the same Spider-Man stories we’d seen before. Boy, I was wrong. This movie features a story that we haven’t seen before, with different versions of Spider-People coming together to save the universe.
Miles Morales develops powers after being bitten by a radioactive spider that transforms him into Spider-Man. However, he meets Peter Parker and realizes that there are a lot of others who share the same powers as him as they join forces to fight against the evil Kingpin.
The second movie, Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse, kicks off a while after the events of the first movie. It’s best not to spoil the movie’s story here, but it continues the events from the first movie, showing that everything isn’t as good as it seems.
Both movies feature a unique art and animation style that looks straight out of a comic book. The movies are filled with action along with a unique story that seems impossible to recreate in live-action. This trilogy of movies is set to conclude with Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse, which doesn’t have a set release date yet.
Encanto
In an animation world filled to the brim with remakes after remakes and formulaic stories that feature a hero and a villain, Encanto’s story feels like a breath of fresh air.
The story is about the Madrigal family that lives hidden in a place called Encanto in the Colombian mountains. Through the magic of this place, every child in the family possesses a unique gift. However, Mirabel doesn’t have the same gifts as the others.
Mirabel learns that her family is starting to lose their magic and decides to head out to find out why this is happening, with the hopes of saving her house and family.
The movie features a lot of musical sequences and can be a great movie to watch if you and your family enjoy musicals.
The Road to El Dorado
This movie does a lot of things– and so well. It’s an adventure comedy musical that’s an excellent watch for all ages. If you’re a fan of adventure movies like The Mummy or Indiana Jones, then you’re going to have an absolute blast watching The Road to El Dorado.
The movie is about two con artists, who receive a map to El Dorado. They stow away in a Spanish explorer’s ship and eventually reach the famed city. There, they meet a priest who proclaims them as gods in an effort to take control of the city. During their travels, they meet a beautiful girl who helps them through their journey.
The chemistry between the characters is amazing to watch on screen. While the animation feels a bit dated, since this movie was released more than two decades ago, it is still a fun movie to watch with family.
Klaus
In a sea of Christmas movies that don’t offer anything new, Klaus is a film that stands out. It offers a twist on an old story and presents an uplifting message about being kind to others. Its animation is beautiful and its characters are unique.
The story is about Jesper Johansen, who’s enrolled in the Royal training academy for postmen. Jesper deliberately underperforms, trying to return to his privileged lifestyle. However, things don’t go as he wants as he is sent to a frozen town where he finds a toymaker named Klaus.
The visual style of the movie is great and feels very unique. The runtime isn’t too long either, with every scene feeling very important to the story. Bonus points if you actually watch it on Christmas Day with your family.
These were just my picks for some of the best animated movies you need to watch. Since I’m an animated movie fanatic, I’m always looking for new movie suggestions. So, feel free to suggest movies for me to check out in the comments below.