While I most often prefer to watch non-animated movies on Netflix with my family, sometimes I enjoy a good animated film too. CGI animation is truly so impressive compared to the classic cartoons I grew up on. And while Disney+ definitely has the best cartoon movies, therearesome of the best animated movies on Netflix too.
Some of the stories are really inspiring and interesting too. I’ve found that Netflix has tons of the best films to watch with the whole family. And sometimes watching animation with your kids is the best way to bond.
I put together a list of the best animated movies on Netflix to help you find the perfect film to watch for family movie night. I always keep this post updated with new additions to the streaming service, so be sure to bookmark or pin this page so you always have the latest list.
Best Animated Movies on Netflix Right Now
No matter which type of animated film is your favorite, I hope you find a new movie to watch with your kids.
Leo
Rated PG. 1 hour 46 minutes.
Leo is an animated musical comedy film about a 74-year-old tuatara named Leo (voiced by Adam Sandler), who dreams of life beyond his Florida school classroom terrarium. Alongside his turtle friend Squirtle, Leo embarks on adventures spurred by a strict substitute teacher, exploring themes of longing and fulfillment.
Back to the Outback
Rated PG. 1 hour 35 minutes.
This new for 2021 Netflix original tells a common story in animation… a group of animals, this time from the Outback, breaking out of captivity to find their own sense of freedom. Features the voices of Isla Fisher, Tim Minchin and Eric Bana.
The Willoughbys
Rated PG. 1 hour 32 minutes.
Another adorable Netflix original film with a unique style of animation, The Willoughbys tells the story of 4 siblings that are living in a dysfunctional family with extremely selfish parents who want ditch them. The kids hatch a plan to form their own little family. Voices by Will Forte, Maya Rudolph, Ricky Gervais and more.
Wish Dragon
Rated PG. 1 hour 42 minutes.
This adorable animated film follows Din, a young man who is attempting to reconnect with his childhood best friend. Then he meets a Wish Dragon, who shows him just how full of possibilities life really can be.
Vivo
Rated PG. 1 hour 39 minutes.
Featuring the voices of Lin-Manuel Miranda and Zoe Saldana, Vivo is the very first Sony Pictures Animations musical adventure film. In this heart-warming movie, Andrés and Vivo are a man and his honey bear who perform music in a square, then years later, Andrés sets out to write the perfect love song to recapture his feelings for his long lost love.
Mitchell vs the Machines
Rated PG. 1 hour 54 minutes.
The Mitchells are the strangest family on the planet, so when the apocalypse strikes while on a family road trip, everyone left on earth is counting on the Mitchells to save the human race from extinction. Features the voices of Maya Rudolph, Abbi Jacobson and Danny McBride.
Gnome Alone
Rated PG. 1 hour 25 minutes.
When highschooler Chloe and her mom move into a new house, she gets a surprise when she discoveres talking gnomes. These magical creatures need her help to save the world.
Pets United
Rated TV-Y7. 1 hour 32 minutes.
When the evil mayor and his robot army seize the city, two pets – one pampered and one street-smart – band together to save their town.
White Fang
Rated PG. 1 hour 27 minutes.
Go on an adventure with White Fang, a wolf who serves three different masters over time. Voice over actors include Paul Giamatti, Nick Offerman and Rashida Jones.
Bigfoot Family
Rated TV-Y7. 1 hour 28 minutes.
These days, with modern life being what it is, Bigfoot is no longer in hiding. In fact, he’s missing and his family is worried! It’s up to his teen son to take on an evil CEO to find his dad and and save the nature preserve.
Trolls
Rated PG. 1 hour 32 minutes.
In this animated film, Princess Poppy and her friend Branch set out on an adventure to save their fellow trolls by the Bergens. Features the voices of Anna Kendrick, Justin Timberlake, Russell Brand and More.
The Angry Birds Movie
Rated PG. 1 hour 38 minutes.
The Angry Birds Movie is an animated comedy film based on the popular video game series, which brings to life the story of Red, a temperamental bird who struggles to fit in with the other happy birds on Bird Island. When mysterious green pigs arrive, Red and his unlikely band of friends embark on a quest to uncover the pigs’ true intentions, leading to zany antics and a battle to save their home.
Storks
Rated PG. 1 hour 26 minutes.
The storks are used to delivering packages to their final destination. They’ll have to figure out what to do when a cute little baby shows up on their delivery route.
Riverdance: The Animated Adventure
Rated TV-Y7. 1 hour 33 minutes.
In this musical story of loss, an Irish boy and a Spanish girl journey into a strange and mythical world. On this magical journey, reindeer, frogs and fish teach them to appreciate Riverdance as a celebration of life and loss.
Over the Moon
Rated PG. 1 hour 40 minutes.
An animal musical about a girl searching for a moon goddess, Over the Moon follows Fei Fei as she builds a rocket ship and flies to the moon to attempt to meet mythical goddess Chang’e.
Extinct
Rated TV-Y7. 1 hour 25 minutes.
When two adorably fuzzy creatures find themselves on a time travel adventure to the future, they discover they’re extinct! What happens next is an epic attempt to save their species from this uncertain future.
Dog Gone Trouble
Rated TV-7. 1 hour 28 minutes.
When pampered puppy Trouble finds himself lost on the big-city streets, he must quickly learn to adapt so he can survive outside his privileged life.
Minions
Rated PG. 1 hour 30 minutes.
Minions is an animated comedy film that serves as a prequel/spin-off to the Despicable Me franchise, focusing on the small, yellow, and mischievous creatures known as Minions. The film humorously chronicles their quest for a new evil master, leading them to Scarlet Overkill, an ambitious villain, as they inadvertently create chaos and comedy in their journey through history from the dawn of time to the 1960s.
Next Gen
Rated TV-PG. 1 hour 46 minutes.
Lonely young girl Mai forms an unlikely friendship with a top-secret robot in this cute animated film starring John Krasinski, Charlyne Yi and Jason Sudekis.
Secret Magic Control Agency
Rated TV-Y7. 1 hour 45 minutes.
You’ve heard the tale of Hansel and Gretel, but do you know what happened to them after they escaped? In Secret Magic Control Agency, Hansel and Gretel use their magic and intelligence to become secret agents and go on a mission to find the missing king.
Kung Fu Panda 3
Rated PG. 1 hour 34 minutes.
Voiced by Jack Black, a lazy panda who trained to become a Kung Fu Warrior teams up with lots of other goofy pandas to defend China from a marauding spirit. Series also stars the voices of Bryan Cranston, Dustin Hoffman, Angelina Jolie and more. If you love the movies, check all 3 seasons of the series: Kung Fu Panda: The Dragon Night.
Jungle Beat: The Movie
Rated TV-Y7. 1 hour 29 minutes.
Jungle Beat: The Movie is a delightful animated film that follows the story of a lovable alien creature who crash-lands in the jungle and embarks on a series of hilarious misadventures with the local animal inhabitants. Filled with humor, heartwarming moments, and vibrant animation, it’s a family-friendly movie that celebrates the power of friendship and the joy of embracing our differences.
Latte and the Magic Waterstone
Rated TV-Y7. 1 hour 22 minutes.
This cute animated film tells the story of a selfish bear who wants all of the forest’s water for himself. A young hedgehog and squirrel band together to save the forest and all of its inhabitants from a horrible drought by stealing the magical waterstone back from the bear.
Animal Crackers
Rated TV-Y7. 1 hour 45 minutes.
Animal crackers can turn Owen into any shape he wants. However, his family must keep the box away from their evil uncle and use it to save their rundown circus.
Charming
Rated TV-Y7. 1 hour 25 minutes.
A prince must find his one true love before his 21st birthday, or his entire kingdom loses love. Unfortunately, the a curse also makes him compulsively propose to every woman he meets, making it truly difficult to find the one.
The Sea Beast
Rated PG. 1 hour 59 minutes.
The Sea Beast was such a good fantasy movie for families! In this animated tale young girl Maisie, decides to stow away on a legendary sea monster hunter’s ship. The both learn something about themselves and the world through their adventures hunting, and saving, sea beasts.
Firedrake the Silver Dragon
Rated TV-Y7. 1 hour 33 minutes.
After spending the entirety of his life hiding from humans who want to hurt him, Firedrake, a rare silver dragon reveals himself in order to help save all dragons around the world.
Open Season: Scared Silly
Rated PG. 1 hour 24 minutes.
Open Season: Scared Silly is an animated comedy film and the fourth installment in the Open Season series, where the lovable bear Boog and his friends return for another adventure. In this outing, they embark on a hilariously mischievous mission to overcome Boog’s fear of the dark, leading them through zany antics and unexpected challenges in the wilderness.
The Boss Baby
Rated PG. 1 hour 37 minutes.
The Boss Baby is a whimsical animated comedy that follows the imaginative story of Tim, a seven-year-old boy who discovers that his new baby brother is not an ordinary infant but a suit-wearing, briefcase-carrying, talking boss. Together, they embark on a hilarious adventure to uncover a secret plot in the world of babies and restore balance to their family life.
The Super Mario Bros. Movie
Rated PG. 1 hour 32 minutes.
The Super Mario Bros. Movie is an animated adventure film that brings Nintendo’s iconic video game franchise to life, following the adventures of Mario and his brother Luigi in the Mushroom Kingdom. As they embark on a quest to rescue Princess Peach from the clutches of the villainous Bowser, the brothers face numerous challenges and enemies, all while discovering the power of teamwork and friendship.
Turbo
Rated PG. 1 hour 36 minutes.
A snail with a dream of becoming the fastest racer on Earth? That’s exactly what happens when Turbo has an accident that gives him the speed he’s been craving.
Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken
Rated PG. 1 hour 31 minutes.
Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken tells the story of Ruby, a teenage kraken living in disguise as a human girl in a small coastal town. Her ordinary life takes a turn when her secret heritage calls her to embrace her unique powers, leading her on an adventurous journey of self-discovery and acceptance while navigating the challenges of high school life.
Orion and the Dark
Rated TV-Y7. 1 hour 32 minutes.
Orion and the Dark explores the heartwarming story of a young boy named Orion who is terrified of the dark. The movie takes a magical turn when the Dark comes to life as a friendly character, embarking on an enchanting adventure with Orion to confront and overcome his fears, illuminating the beauty and friendship that can be found in the most unexpected places.
UglyDolls
Rated PG. 1 hour 27 minutes.
UglyDolls is an animated musical adventure celebrating the uniqueness and beauty of being different. The story follows Moxy and her UglyDoll friends as they embark on a journey beyond their Uglyville home, confronting what it means to be different, facing their desires to be loved, and ultimately discovering that being true to oneself is what really matters.
How to Train Your Dragon 2
Rated PG. 1 hour 42 minutes.
If your kid enjoyed How to Train Your Dragon, they’ll love the sequel, which is streaming on Netflix right now. Hiccup, Toothless and a mysterious new dragon rider work together to protect Berk from an outside dragon army. Voice actors include and Jay Baruchel and Cate Blanchett.
For even more dragon adventures, check out the various shows that Netflix has created to give you more of your favorite characters.
The Monkey King
Rated PG. 1 hour 36 minutes.
The Monkey King brings to life the legendary tale from the classic Chinese novel “Journey to the West.” It follows the rebellious yet heroic Sun Wukong, the Monkey King, on his epic quest to obtain immortality, battling gods, demons and his own hubris, showcasing his transformation from a mischievous monkey into a formidable warrior and protector.
If you like musicals, be sure to check out my list of the best Kids Sing Along Shows and Movies on Netflix.
I hope you enjoyed this list of the best animated films on Netflix. Be sure to check out Hulu for some great original kids movies and more great animated feature movies to watch as a family.
My kids also love Disney+ for classic Disney movies like Toy Story, The Little Mermaid as well as all of their newer short films.
