#21

Wreck It Ralph

Released: Noivember 2, 2012

Runtime: 101 minutes

Rating: PG

Animation Style: multi-style 3D computer approach

Studio: Disney

Wreck It Ralph was a surprise hit. A brand new IP, Ralph took lots of the old video games we loved as children and made a word all its own.

Voice cast: John C. Reilly, Sarah Silverman, Jack McBrayer, Jane Lynch, Alan Tudyk, Mindy Kaling, Joe Lo Truglio, Ed O’Neil, Dennis Haysbert, Adam Corolla, Horation Sanz, Rich Moore,  Edie McClurg, Raymond S. Persi, Jess Harnell, Rachael Harris, Skylar Astin, Katie Lowes, Jamie Elman, Josie Trinidad, Cymbre Walk,  Phil Johnston, Stefanie Scott, John DiMaggio, Raymond S. Persi, Brian Kesinger, Martin Jarvis, Tucker Gilmore, Brandon Scott and Tim Mertens.

#22

Transformers One

Released: September 20, 2024

Runtime: 104 minutes

Rating: PG

Animation Style: a blend of stylized realism and handcrafted keyframe animation

Studio: Paramount Animation

This was a film that I almost decided to not go and see. The first trailer they released for this movie was one of the worst trailers I had ever seen. It was so bad that, after all of the Michael Bay Transformers movies that I hated so much, I could not see myself wasting time on this. I am glad I went as it turned out to be one of my favorite movies of 2024.

Voice cast:  Chris Hemsworth, Brian Tyree Henry, Scarlett Johansson, Keegan-Michael Key, Steve Buscemi, Laurence Fishburne, Jon Bailey, and Jon Hamm.

#23

ParaNorman

Released: August 12, 2012

Runtime: 92 minutes

Rating: PG

Animation Style:

Studio: Laika Studios

ParaNorman is the story of a young boy who can speak with the dead, which comes in handy when the town is swarmed by zombies. I sometimes get this film confused with Frankenweeine. Maybe it is time for a rewatch.

Voice cast: Kodi Smit-McPhee, Jodelle Ferland, Bernard Hill, Tucker Albrizzi, Anna Kendrick, Casey Affleck, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Leslie Mann, Jeff Garlin, Elaine Stritch, Bernard Hill, Jodelle Ferland, and John Goodman

#24

Puss in Boots: The Last Wish

Released: December 21, 2022

Runtime: 102 minutes

Rating: PG

Animation Style: hybrid 2D and 3D look

Studio: DreamWorks Animation

I always liked the character of Puss in Boots, but the first solo film from the character was okay, at best. So I went into Puss in Boots: The Last Wish with low expectations and questions about why we needed another Puss in Boots movie. Those questions were answered big time as the movie was tremendous.

Voice cast: Antonio Banderas, Salma Hayek, Harvey Guillén, Florence Pugh, Olivia Colman, Ray Winstone, Samson Kayo, John Mulaney, Wagner Moura, Da’Vine Joy Randolph, Anthony Mendez, Kevin McCann, Bernardo De Paula, Betsy Sodaro and Artemis Pebdani.

#25

Monsters vs. Aliens

Released: March 27, 2009

Runtime: 94 minutes

Rating: PG

Animation Style: stereoscopic 3-D computer

Studio: DreamWorks Animation

This film is done in an old, B-movie format, like some of the old alien/monster movies of the 1950s. The characters in the film are very funny and led by Susan, it has a surprising amount of heart.

Voice cast:  Reese Witherspoon, Seth Rogen, Hugh Laurie, Will Arnett, Kiefer Sutherland, Rainn Wilson, Paul Rudd, Stephen Colbert, Amy Poehler, Jeffrey Tambor, Julie White, Renée Zellweger, John Krasinski, and Ed Helms .

#26

Toy Story 2

Released: November 24, 1999

Runtime: 92 minutes

Rating: G

Animation Style: 3D computer-animated style

Studio: Pixar/Disney

Toy Story 2 is my least favorite of the original trilogy for this movie, which, considering that it is just short of the Top 25 all time, should tell you what I think of this franchise. It was a great reveal on the villain twist and introduced us to some amazing characters.

Voice cast: Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, Joan Cusack, Kelsey Grammer, Don Rickles, Estelle Harris, Jim Varney, Wayne Knight, Wallace Shawn, John Ratzenberger, Annie Potts, R. Lee Ermey, John Morris, Laurie Metcalf, Jeff Pidgeon, R. Lee Ermey, Joe Ranft, Jodi Benson, Jonathan Harris, Andrew Stanton and Dave Foley.

#27

Ratatouille

Released: June 29, 2007

Runtime: 111 minutes

Rating: G

Animation Style: stylized, caricatured computer-animation style

Studio: Pixar/Disney

I did not watch this Pixar movie for years. I do nto know why I shunned this film for so long, but when I did finally watch it, I absolutely loved it. Ratatouille is one of the hidden gems in the Pixar catalog.

Voice cast:  Patton Oswalt, Lou Romano, Ian Holm, Janeane Garofalo, Peter O’Toole, Brian Dennehy, Peter Sohn, Brad Garrett, Will Arnett, John Ratzenberger, James Remar, Teddy Newton, Brad Bird, Jake Steinfeld, Tony Fucile and Stéphane Roux  . 

#28

How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World

Released: February 22, 2019

Runtime: 104 minutes

Rating: PG

Animation Style: realistic lighting and advanced technology with expressive, stylized character designs

Studio: DreamWorks Animation

The third film in one of the most satisfying and engaging animated trilogies ever produced. This is a trilogy that allowed its protagonist to actually age and become an adult.

Voice cast:  Jay Baruchel, America Ferrera, Cate Blanchett, Craig Ferguson, Gerard Butler, Jonah Hill, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Kristen Wiig, Kit Harington, F. Murray Abraham, Julia Emelin, Ólafur Darri Ólafsson, James Sie, David Tennant, Robin Atkin Downes, Kieron Elliot, Ashley Jensen, Gideon Emery and Randy Thom.

#39

Kung Fu Panda

Released: June 6, 2008

Runtime: 92 minutes

Rating: PG

Animation Style: advanced computer-generated (CG) 3D animation combined with artistic inspiration from traditional Chinese ink painting and wuxia martial arts films.

Studio: DreamWorks Animation

Kung Fu Panda has been one of the most successful animated franchises of the past 25 years. Po is a beloved character who everybody can relate to in some way or another.

Voice cast: Jack Black,  Dustin Hoffman, Angelina Jolie, Ian McShane, Seth Rogen, Lucy Liu, David Cross, Randall Duk Kim, James Hong, Dan Fogler, Michael Clarke Duncan, and Jackie Chan

#30

Inside Out 2

Released: June 14, 2024

Runtime: 96 minutes

Rating: PG

Animation Style: stylized 3D computer animation style combined with traditional 2D hand-drawn elements

Studio: Pixar/Disney

One of the most successful animated films of all time making $1.699 billion at the box office.

Voice cast:  Amy Poehler, Phyllis Smith, Lewis Black, Diane Lane,  Kyle MacLachlan,  Maya Hawke, Kensington Tallman, Liza Lapira, Tony Hale,  Ayo Edebiri, Lilimar, Grace Lu, Sumayyah Nuriddin-Green, Adèle Exarchopoulos, Paul Walter Hauser, Yvette Nicole Brown, Ron Funches, James Austin Johnson, Yong Yea, Steve Purcell, Paula Pell, Pete Docter, Dave Goeltz, Frank Oz, Flea, Bobby Moynihan, John Ratzenberger, Paula Poundstone and June Squibb.

#31

Batman: Mask of the Phantasm

Released: December 25, 1993

Runtime: 76 minutes

Rating: PG

Animation Style: “dark deco” or art deco neo-noir animation style

Studio: WB

One of the best animated Batman movies of all time, Mask of the Phantasm came from the iconic animated series, Batman: The Animated Series by Bruce Timm. This is a a story that rocked so hard, there were several Batman live action movies that I wish would have taken this route (I’m looking at you, Batman and Robin!)

Voice cast: Kevin Conroy, Mark Hamill,  Efrem Zimbalist Jr., Bob Hastings, Robert Costanzo, Dana Delany, Hart Bochner, Stacy Keach, Abe Vigoda, Dick Miller, John P. Ryan, Marilu Henner, Arleen Sorkin, Dan Castellaneta, Tress MacNeille, and Jeff Bennett .

#32

Tangled

Released: November 24, 2010

Runtime: 100 minutes

Rating: PG

Animation Style: computer-generated (CG) 3D animation style

Company: Disney

Based on the story of Rapunzel, Tangled was a wonderful surprise. It has some great comedic moments and cool songs.

Voice cast:  Mandy Moore, Zachary Levi,  Donna Murphy, Brad Garrett, Ron Perlman, Jeffrey Tambor, Richard Kiel, M. C. Gainey, and Paul F. Tompkins.

#35

The Lego Batman Movie

Reelased: February 10, 2017

Runtime: 1 hour 44 minutes

Rating: PG

Animation Style: emulated stop-motion computer-generated (CG)

Studio: Warner Brothers

What else could follow up the classic Lego Movie, but Batman? Even though this is played for humor, this is actually one of the best renditions of Batman that you are going to find.

Voice cast:  Will Arnett, Zach Galifianakis, Michael Cera, Rosario Dawson,Ralph Fiennes, Jenny Slate, Héctor Elizondo, Ellie Kemper, Mariah Carey, Lauren White, Todd Hansen, Brent Musburger, Ralph Garman, Chris Hardwick, Channing Tatum,Jonah Hill, Mark Jonathan Davis, Adam DeVine, Adam West,  Billy Dee Williams, Riki Lindhome , Jason Mantzoukas, Matt Villa , Kate Micucci, Doug Benson, John Venzon, David Burrows , Laura Kightlinger , Jemaine Clement, Riki Lindhome, Eddie Izzard, Seth Green, Lauren White, Nicholas Briggs, and Siri.