2023 was filled with amazing animated movies for the fans. From an engaging superhero epic to a poignant love story and visually breathtaking, 2023 provided some fantastic films in this medium for viewers of all ages to enjoy. 2023’s biggest animated hits ranged from family-friendly picks to more complex films for adults – and utilized a range of animation styles to bring characters alive on screen.
Here are the best 11 Animated Movies of 2023.
Leo
Stream Now at Netflix
Run Time: 1h 42m
Leo is an animated movie about an angry school pet who decides to help some troubled students. Though its classroom setting and central conceit may sometimes feel rote, Leo’s earnest heart is buoyed by its charming execution; some of its best moments occur between Leo and some children struggling with confidence issues or inability to express emotions.
Nevertheless, the film succeeds in achieving both light-heartedness and sentimentality through the delightful performances of Sandler and Bill Burr, as well as an exceptional ensemble of voice actors. Another thing that filmmaker Lokesh Kanagaraj brings to the table is his signature style, which is evident in the way he subtly inserts comedic moments into his narrative.
Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget
Stream Now at Netflix
Run Time: 1h 38m
Chicken Run 2 may seem impossible to top, yet that’s precisely what happened with this Netflix-produced effort. While still warm and full of friendly dad jokes that are not offensive or controversial, this movie doesn’t quite live up to its predecessor’s momentum. Animation remains excellent, though this time around, the animation features more synthetic colors than earth tones found in the original film.
Follows the escaped chickens from the original film as they live peacefully on an island, but their old plot remains close at hand: Tweedy has remarried and discovered a method to enchant chickens, turning them into easy prey. Ginger and Rocky remain determined to save their fellow chickens; joining forces this time is Frizzle.
The Inventor
Stream Now at Not Available Yet
Run Time: 1h 40m
Stunningly and illuminatingly depicting Leonardo da Vinci’s latter career, The Inventor combines 2D and stop-motion animation. Stephen Fry’s voice anchors this film with an amicable presence that keeps this surprisingly mature and complex story engaging. While remaining grounded in 16th-century history, its plot never stagnates: two-dimensional animation or musical numbers add flair.
At a time when CGI dominates our movies, this film serves as a refreshing reminder that traditional techniques can still create stunning and captivating animation. Not only can children watch it with pleasure, but parents can share with younger viewers an account of a great thinker who continues to influence society today.
Robot Dreams
Stream Now at Not Available Yet
Run Time: 1h 42m
Robot Dreams, an adorable animated film about the friendship between a dog and a robot set in 1980s New York City, was one of the best movies released in 2023. Refreshingly charming from start to finish, Robot Dreams showcases animation as a universal language easily understood by all audiences regardless of age or language skills. It honors each unique relationship while acknowledging inevitable changes that accompany time and distance.
Beginning in an East Village apartment, Dog purchases an unintentional make-your-own-robot kit from an infomercial. Over the course of a summer of sightseeing, rollerskating, eating hot dogs, and watching movies, Dog and Robot bond over their shared interests, yet slowly begin shifting and evolving as their relationship changes and develops further.
Elemental
Stream Now at Disney+
Run Time: 1h 41m
Set against an idyllic multicultural setting known as Element City, where Water, Fire, Air, and Earth live side-by-side but sometimes struggle against each other, the movie follows Wade and Ember, who represent the diverging nature of family expectations; despite her best efforts to avoid displease her parents, Ember finds herself torn between following in their footsteps or following in her glass blowing dreams. Wade’s lighthearted character and unwavering support of Ember make him an endearing romantic lead who adds another sweet element to this tale.
Elemental’s world-building is impressive and entertaining, yet upon closer examination, it loses some of its appeal. Too many visual gags and jokes seem incongruent with its profound premise, and plot holes can sometimes appear. Still, Elemental offers an enjoyable family filmgoing experience that’s safe for younger children.
Suzume
Stream Now at Crunchyroll
Run Time: 2h 2m
In Makoto Shinkai’s enthralling and emotionally charged fantasy adventure thriller, 17-year-old Suzume helps a guy named Kaoru stop doorways from the other side, releasing disasters all over Japan. One way the picture stands out is that the original story tells about loss, which manages to captivate audiences of all ages.
Oversaturated hues and inventive use of light create surreal surroundings with unearthly grandeur; Shinkai excels at depicting modern Japan in this fashion, from level crossings and lobster traps to the massive freeways beyond Tokyo. But what makes the picture stand out are the tender moments when characters help each other out; the film’s rhythm is the subtle exchanges between complete strangers.
Nimona
Stream Now at Netflix
Run Time: 1h 41m
The uplifting story Nimona is based on the graphic novel of the same name by ND Stevenson. It is all about loving and accepting oneself. The characters in this animated picture may swing from being very funny to very sad in an instant, and the film as a whole manages to walk that delicate line between being sincere and being ludicrous. So, it’s hard to love or hate this tale of a new knight and an unfixable shapeshifter.
Thanks to its humorous one-liners, this animated feature is a joy to see. For those seeking an unexpectedly funny or shocking experience, this film sticks out from the crowd because of its adult humor and provocative themes.
The Super Mario Bros. Movie
Stream Now at AppleTv
Run Time: 1h 32m
An undercover plumber from Brooklyn named Mario goes on a mission with an anthropomorphic mushroom named Princess and her brother to save the Mushroom Kingdom from the terrible fire-breathing Koopa known as Bowser. The animation in this film is just jaw-dropping, with realistic water effects and bright, vivid colors.
This animated feature is sure to be a hit with fans of Nintendo games because of how humorous it is. Donkey Kong and Mario Kart racing were among the other famous Nintendo games that they were able to include! As a whole, it’s a must-see for Mario fans and animation movie buffs alike!
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem
Stream Now at Prime Video, AppleTv
Run Time: 1h 39m
Mutant Mayhem is a watershed moment in the TMNT film canon since it successfully attempts to portray the characters as teenagers for the first time. The exploits of the turtles are given a uniquely New York flavor in this video. Four turtles who personify adolescence are introduced in the film — Master Splinter tries to keep them close, but he knows when it’s time for them to go their separate ways in karate. They’re bespectacled but also hormonal, and their voices crack when they’re stressed.
No matter how you feel about the Michael Bay remakes or other more recent adaptations, this film is sure to please lovers of the original animated series. Additionally, this picture provides an unexpectedly pleasant introduction to this adored series for individuals who might have stayed away from it in the past because of its gloomy action and “Cowabunga!”-fueled attitude.
The Boy and the Heron
Stream Now at AppleTv
Run Time: 2h 4m
The Boy and the Heron delves deeply into loss and grief, as do Miyazaki’s other works, while also touching on topics that have captivated him for the entirety of his 82-year career, such as absent parents, war, and the miseries of mortality. You may quickly become engrossed in its surreal universe thanks to Miyazaki’s signature visual flair and the plot’s winding narrative that is replete with references.
Mahito, a 12-year-old protagonist in The Boy and the Heron, is introduced to a world full of both friendly and deadly creatures. Eventually, Mahito is guided by his heron to locate his mother and release the guilt that has impeded his personal growth after being enticed into an abandoned tower his grandfather constructed. Inside, he encounters man-eating birds, a vicious dragon, and the granddaughter of his late granduncle.
Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse
Stream Now at Netflix, Prime Video
Run Time: 2h 20m
Across the Spider-Verse continues the story of Miles Morales, who, like in the original, must navigate a web of interconnected realities to find Spider-Man in his many forms. The first film connected Spider-Men films from before the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) by tying together different Spider-Men in incredible ways; the second film expands on this idea even further.
With its marvelously bizarre assortment of spider entities, The Spider Society has lots of space to display its remarkable visual humor, color palette, and animation styles. “Into the Spider-Verse” features an incredible ensemble cast that brings the actors to life. Their assured and funny delivery of comedy beats is only matched by the profound gravity of the story they create by finding empathy and sadness along the way.
