As the last week of December approaches and viewers prepare forthe upcoming animated movies of 2025, it’s time to look back at the past year for the best animated movies of 2024. While a recent update about therelease window ofSpider-Man: Beyond the Spider-verse, the current most-anticipated animated movie, practically confirms that there won’t be a release date for another 2 years, 2024 has still been very exciting foranimation, with the release of sequels to many beloved franchises.
Every animated movie released in 2024didn’t make as big a stir in the box office or among critics as they were supposed to, but there have been some noteworthy surprise hits. WhileKung Fu Panda,Inside Out,Moana, andDespicable Megot anticipated sequels, theTransformersfranchise branched out into animation, andThe Wild Robotgot critical and commercial successbeyond what anyone had imagined it would.
Inside Out 2
Cast
Inside Out 2 is the sequel to the 2015 original film, which starred a young girl named Riley with a head full of emotions. - literally. With Amy Pohler as Joy, Bill Hader as fear, Mindy Kaling as Disgust, Phyllis Smith as Sadness, and Lewis Black as Anger, the all-star cast brought to life the emotions that adolescents face as they grow, change, and adapt to new situations. This sequel, currently in development, will bring Amy Pohler back as Joy, with Riley, now a teenager.
Pixar’s sequels have often proved in the past to be disappointing returns to beloved franchises, butInside Out 2is the highest-grossing movie of 2024. The highly awaited sequel that came out nearly a decade after the firstInside Outfilm exceeded viewers' expectations, providing an insightful look at the development of new feelings through Riley’s growth as a person. The heartfelt exploration of how adolescent children outgrow but never forget their formative childhood experiences provides a strong emotional backdrop for the plot to develop.
Inside Out 2 Review: Anxiety & Envy Breathe New Life Into Formulaic Pixar Sequel
Inside Out 2 leans more towards greatness than redundancy & though it falls short of being one of Pixar’s best, it’s a worthy addition to the library.
While it isn’t as groundbreaking as the first film,Inside Out 2does a solid job of developing the world ofInside Outto explore the role of newer emotions, especially anxiety, which is a highly relatable premise for viewers of all ages. However, it’s hard not to feel disappointed with the sequel because it seems tomake the same point regarding the necessity of peaceful coexistenceof conflicting emotions. The new characters introduce fresh drama, but the narrative beats are similar enough toInside Outto justify calling the approach formulaic.
9The Most Precious of Cargoes (2024)
Directed by Michel Hazanavicius
Over 15 years have passed since an animated film competed for the Palme d’Or award at the Cannes Film Festival. It last happened in 2008 withWaltz of Bashir.Finally, in 2024, another animated feature entered the competition. Michel Hazanavicius' movie on the Holocaust tackles the contentious subject with the utmost sincerity, usinga soft style of animation to focus on the humanity of the well-intentioned peoplewho made survival a possibility for the doomed populace of Nazi-occupied Poland.
Switching between the heartwarming story of an abandoned child being brought up by an empathetic family and the horrifying tale of the child’s father who is taken to a concentration camp,The Most Precious of Cargoesends with a tender message about the importance of learning from history. While it doesn’t succumb to the temptations of sentimentality like many other films set in that era of history, the movie’s emotional strength mostly lies in Alexandre Desplat’s beautiful score, which gets overbearing at times, because the images, despite their honesty, often struggle to create dramatic tension.
Transformers One
Transformers One is an animated action-adventure movie that marks the first animated feature-length film for the series in decades. The film will be a prequel to the franchise, and will tell the story of Optimus Prime and Megatron in their early years, how they met, and a closer look at the war on their home planet, Cybertron.
TheTransformersfranchise seems to have finally found stable ground with one ofthe animated movies that turned out better than expected.Transformers One reminds viewers why the animated shows of the past remain the best content made on Hasbro’s toys. With beautiful visuals and an emotionally compelling narrative, it tells the origin story of the two most famous Transformers characters —Optimus Prime and Megatron. With poignant characterization peppered with humorous moments from the main characters, it does a fantastic job of establishing the rivalry that defines the franchise.
WhileTransformers Oneis a prequel, it is ideal for newcomers to the franchise to start withTransformers(2007) and watch in the order the movies were released, because the characters' traits become Easter eggs and witty callbacks inTransfotmers One.
The development of the lore follows a straightforward emotional thread, allowing the creative visual design of the world to engross viewers who feel compelled by the attention to detail. The lack of complexity in the plot helps develop the depth of the characters, providing audiences with thrills from the infectiously energetic action sequences as well as powerful dialogue to understand the characters and their motivations. Thethemes of rebellion and transformation are reflected in the fluid animation, with the toy-like design of the characters and the vibrant, crisp design of the planet complementing each other.
Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl
Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl features the beloved duo as they confront a “smart” invention gone rogue. When an autonomous gnome hints at larger schemes by a vengeful adversary, Gromit must navigate perilous challenges to protect Wallace and prevent a threat that could end their inventive escapades forever.
Aardman Studios' beloved characters seem to never run out of relevant adventures, as Wallace and Gromit return for a heartwarming and cheesy story about the dangers of automation. The meta joke of making a movie about the perils of artificial intelligence with handmade stop-motion adds a layer of mirth to the adorable adventure. The iconic character of Feathers McGraw is back as well, proving once again that he’s one of the most formidable foes for the protagonists.
The return of the characters has been long awaited for the better part of two decades, and it lives up to all expectations with the devilishly funny British humor that made viewers fall in love with them from their first appearance. There’sa comforting sense of familiarity aboutWallace and Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl, as the characters are still their same breezy, clumsy, and charming selves. Gromit continues to be insufferable as ever, and Gromit the anti-establishment hero who protects Wallace from his own follies.
Directed by Gints Zilbalodis
Flow
Flow (2024) follows a solitary animal named Cat who must find refuge and collaborate with other species on a boat after a great flood devastates their home. As they sail through mystical, overflowed landscapes, the group navigates challenges and dangers while adapting to a transformed world.
While the nominations are yet to be announced,Flowis a strong contender for the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature 2025. The dialogue-less survival story of a cat trying to do its best in the face of an apocalyptic flood is an anxiety-riddled cautionary tale about the perils of ignoring climate change. The lack of exposition and dialogue does create a sense of confusion, but instead of being a drawback, that adds to the intensity of the adventure, andreviews are callingFlowthe best animated movieof the year.
While it’s not confirmed in the movie,Flowreads like a contextualization of a story from the Bible, using the theme of the Biblical flood to allude to the climate crisis.
The simplicity of the premise itself eases viewers into the atmosphere of the primal survival story where plot details, while important, aren’t the focus of the narrative. The power of animation can be felt through the way the silent characters impact viewers bycommunicating their emotional states entirely through body language and expressions. The animals aren’t humanized or universalized, and each species represents its own archetype. This creates a complex ensemble of characters who work together in the face of adversity to survive the consequences of presumably human actions.
Dandadan: First Encounter
DAN DA DAN: First Encounter is a theatrical event showcasing the first three episodes of the series featuring high schoolers Momo and Okarun, who explore paranormal sites and awaken hidden powers. The event includes an exclusive interview with the author and editor of the original manga, the director, and voice actors.
While viewers were skeptical of an anime adaptation of the beloved manga Dandadan because of its unique art style, the showDan Da Danis one of the best anime of 2024. It brings to energetic and vibrant life the heartfelt and hilarious moments of the manga that made fans fall in love with it. A theatrical release of the first 3 episodes was released as a feature-length film,DAN DA DAN: First Encounter, and it got viewers hyped for the release of the anime later in the year.
Dandadan Is One of the Top Anime of 2024, And We Have Its Manga Creator to Thank
Dandadan has been one of 2024’s best anime, and unlike other popular shows, the original manga’s author is heavily involved in its production.
A cross between shōnen and romance,Dan Da Danfollows the two protagonists as they face off against ghosts and aliens and debate about their beliefs regarding spirits when they aren’t fighting mysterious creatures. The color palette reflectsthe same chaotic and vibrant mix of colorsthat the manga uses to bring their adventures to life, and the care taken by the directors to create the anime shows how much they’re fans of the source material as well.
Memoir of a Snail
In 1970s Australia, Grace Pudel, a shy and melancholic woman, navigates a life of loss and loneliness after being separated from her twin brother. Finding solace in her love for snails and eccentric friendships, Grace’s journey highlights themes of resilience and self-discovery, told through Adam Elliot’s signature stop-motion animation.
Memoir of a Snailisone of the most underappreciated animated filmsof 2024. This R-rated movie tells the story of a snail’s resilience who learns to embrace her differences from everyone who pushes her away, buoyed by Sarah Snook’s beautiful voice acting as the main character. A painful study of the human experience rendered in bleak claymation by director Adam Elliot, it manages to spark hope and love in its lonely world of ostracism and loss.
Memoir of a Snailisn’t a direct sequel to Adam Elliot’s previous featureMary and Max, but it’s a spiritual successor, the second part in his third intended thematic trilogy of feature films.
Heartbreaking imagery accompanies the story to make viewers feel the full extent of Grace’s depression, but it never pities her, even when she wallows. The abstract clay modeling renders the experience surreal, allowing the movie to tap into emotions on a visual level, where Grace’s trauma becomes a canvas on which characters and their impacts on her turn into brushstrokes. Those brushstrokes are as whimsical as they’re devastating, crafting a tragicomedy inMemoir of a Snailthrough a morbid sense of humor.
HAIKYU!! The Dumpster Battle
“HAIKYU!! The Dumpster Battle” brings the long-awaited showdown between Karasuno High School and Nekoma High School to the big screen. The film focuses on the intense rivalry that has been building up over the series, highlighting the fierce competition and strategic play between the two powerhouse volleyball teams. As Karasuno’s Hinata and Kageyama refine their quick attacks, Nekoma’s captain Kuroo and genius setter Kenma prepare counter-strategies to match their opponents' prowess.
In 2022, Crunchyroll announced two final films to complete the story of their dearly beloved volleyball animeHaikyu!!The long-anticipated release of the first of them,Haikyu!! The Dumpster Battlewas met with positive responses from fans all over the world, who are hailing it as one of the best animated movies of 2024. With a hooking premise that allows long-time rivals Karasuno and Nekoma to face-off in competition against each other in a high-stakes game,it rewards fans who have been waiting for closuresince the anime ended in 2020.
Haikyu!! The Dumpster Battleis worth the wait, bringing back the adrenaline and rollercoaster of emotions that have ruled the hearts of anime fans for the past decade. Picking up from where the Season 4 finale ended, the movie doesn’t spend time recapping the past, as it expects viewers to remember the important bits necessary to understand the events of the film. While many viewers had expressed skepticism, claiming a fifth season would be a better way to close the anime, it brings its A-game, with an assist from its beautiful animation to win over everyone.
The Wild Robot
The Wild Robot is an animated drama film based on a series of books by Peter Brown. The adaptation is written and directed by Chris Sanders and stars Lupita Nyong’o, Pedro Pascal, and Catherine O’Hara. The Wild Robot centers on a robot named Rozzum 7134, who becomes stranded on a deserted island and the guardian of a young orphan.
It’s no surprise that the man who directedLilo and StitchandHow to Train Your Dragonhas directed another movie about an unlikely familial bond between a robot and the residents of an island that she has crashed into. While the marketing for the film didn’t do it justice, it has received resounding critical acclaim and commercial success, making it a serious contender for the Oscars. While the story isn’t new and the characters, unlike what the first trailer seemed to suggest, do speak, it creates a compelling emotional narrative that keeps viewers engaged throughout.
The Wild Robot Review: Stunning, Hilarious DreamWorks Animation Is An Instant Classic
It’s an uplifting, hilarious, gut-wrenching, and stunning animated adventure that reaffirms the power of a parent’s love.
TheWild Robot’s use of humor is particularly commendable, as it complements the seriousness of the tragedy it depicts in its exploration of the circle of life and the inevitability of death. While the characters' silence might have added to the movie’s levity,the dialogue adds to the emotional weight, buoyed by the beautiful voice acting of the cast. Lead actress Lupita Nyong’o stands out in her first animated film sinceThe Jungle Book(2016).
Look Back
Confident artist Fujino and reclusive Kyomoto bond over their shared passion for drawing manga. As they navigate the challenges of growing up and pursuing their artistic dreams, their friendship deepens. The story beautifully explores themes of creativity, dedication, and the impact of personal connections on their journey.
Chainsaw Mancreator Tatsuki Fujimoto’s one-shot mangaLook Backwas finally adapted into an anime movie, and it’s exactly as good as the manga deserves. With a short runtime, it explores the bittersweet experience of being a creative person in a world where commitment to art seemingly creates isolation from those who are blissfully unaware of the painstaking journey necessary to create something of substance. The same artistic hunger that drives people to remove themselves from their surroundings when committing to the creative process also allows them to connect with people on a level they never thought possible.
In less than an hour,Look Backtakes a haunting look at the loneliness of an artist who fails to connect with someone they share a creative space with, feeling jealous, and even renouncing artistry when they feel overtaken. When the bleak reality seems to have overtaken the character’s artistic drive, they discover a saving grace - connection with the same artist they considered their competition and blamed for their loss of confidence. A world is born which no one else is privy to, aheartening collection of half-boiled ideas and beautifully rendered artwhich replenishes both its occupants.
