Best Animated Movies on Disney Plus Right Now (2024)

The library of movies available on Disney+ includes not only classics from Walt Disney Animation Studio’s history but also recent hits from its resurgence, as well as Pixar movies, given that Disney purchased Pixar in the 2000s. There’s no lack of iconic films here. What they all have in common is a great sense of humanity, even in stories about talking animals. Indeed, the Disney library is full of profoundly emotional stories that speak specifically to the human experience. Stories about love, loss, growing up, and of course family. So, find your next viewing option below in our list of the best animated movies on Disney+.

For more recommendations, check out our list of the best movies on Disney+ or the best animated and kid and family movies on Netflix.

Disclaimer: These titles are available on US Disney+.

'Inside Out' (2015)

Rotten Tomatoes: 98% | IMDb: 8.1/10

Inside Out

Animation

Comedy

Adventure

Release Date

June 19, 2015

Director

Pete Docter , Ronaldo Del Carmen

Cast

Amy Poehler , Phyllis Smith , Richard Kind , Bill Hader , Lewis Black , Mindy Kaling

Runtime

95 minutes

After tickling our funny bones with Monsters Inc. and breaking the world record for “earliest you’ve ugly-cried in a movie” with Up, filmmaker Pete Docter’s third Pixar movie tackled a large abstract idea with an unsurprising amount of compassion and intelligence. The Oscar-winning Inside Out anthropomorphizes the emotions of a young pre-teen girl named Riley struggling with conflicting feelings about moving to a new city, as Joy (Amy Poehler) works overtime to keep overwhelming feelings of Sadness (Phyllis Smith), Fear (Bill Hader), and Anger (Lewis Black) from irreparably changing the personality of Riley. But what makes Inside Out go from good to great is that it understands that change is necessary, life is messy, and it’s perfectly normal and even healthy to feel sad or angry or anxious sometimes. It’s an important message told in a tremendously entertaining (and, yes, emotional) way, and as a bonus you get a magnificent originals core by Michael Giacchino. – Adam Chitwood

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'A Goofy Movie' (1995)

Rotten Tomatoes: 59% | IMDb: 6.9/10

A Goofy Movie

Animation

Comedy

Adventure

Release Date

April 7, 1995

Director

Kevin Lima

Cast

Bill Farmer , Jason Marsden , Jim Cummings , Kellie Martin

Runtime

1 hr 16 min

A 1995 animated feature film, A Goofy Movie is a follow-up to the Disney Afternoon TV show Goof Troop. Directed by Kevin Lima, the film features the voices of Jason Marsden, Jim Cummings, Kellie Martin, Wallace Shawn, and Rob Paulsen, with Bill Farmer reprising his role from the show as Goofy. The movie follows Goofy and his son, Max (Marsden), on a cross-country fishing trip around the United States, with Goofy struggling to bond with his troubled teenage son. A Goofy Movie was rather under-marketed at the time of its release and received mixed reviews from critics. However, the film has since garnered a cult following and is now considered a hidden gem in Disney’s catalog. Dealing with teenage angst and father-son relationships in a simple yet emotionally resonant way, A Goofy Movie has a lot of heart behind its silly humor. A sequel titled An Extremely Goofy Movie was released direct-to-video in 2000.

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'Turning Red' (2022)

Rotten Tomatoes: 95% | IMDb: 7.0/10

Turning Red

Animation

Adventure

Comedy

Release Date

March 11, 2022

Director

Domee Shi

Cast

Rosalie Chiang , Sandra Oh , James Hong

Runtime

100 minutes

Although it only got a Disney+ release and no theatrical release, Turning Red was an instantly beloved movie from Disney/Pixar. The teenaged Mei Lin Lee is on the cusp of puberty and stuck between her close relationship with her strict mother and her tight bond with her girlfriends at school. When the girls hear that their favorite boy band, 4*Town, is coming to town, going to the concert is the main thing on their mind. But, everything turns south when Mei wakes up one morning to find that she is a giant, fluffy red panda instead of a young girl. Turns out her mom has been keeping some secrets from her and the family curse is rearing its ugly head. Mei must decide whether or not she will embrace her inner panda and the freedom of her youth, all the while facing the pressure from her overbearing, but loving, mother. — Therese Lacson

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'A Bug’s Life' (1998)

Rotten Tomatoes: 92% | IMDb: 7.2/10

A Bug's Life

Animation

Adventure

Comedy

Family

Release Date

November 25, 1998

Director

John Lasseter , Andrew Stanton

Cast

Dave Foley , Kevin Spacey , Julia Louis-Dreyfus , Hayden Panettiere , Phyllis Diller , Richard Kind

Runtime

95

Loosely based on Aesop's fable The Ant and the Grasshopper with a bit of Akira Kurosawa’sSeven Samurai (or The Magnificent Seven if you’re a Western fan) thrown in there for good measure, A Bug’s Life is Pixar’s second feature-length film. The story follows a colony of ants who are tired of being raided by a hoard of grasshoppers every year, so they hire a band of warriors to defend their crop. Unfortunately, these “warriors” are actually just a ragtag group of circus performers who have no idea what they’re up against. This animated comedy is filled with fun, unique characters that are a delight to watch, whether you’re an adult revisiting the film or a kid enjoying it for the first time.

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'Isle of Dogs' (2018)

Rotten Tomatoes: 90% | IMDb: 7.8/10

Isle of Dogs

Animation

Adventure

Comedy

Release Date

March 23, 2018

Director

Wes Anderson

Cast

Bryan Cranston , Koyu Rankin , Edward Norton , Bob Balaban , Bill Murray , Jeff Goldblum

Runtime

101

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Animation lovers will howl for the stop-motion sci-fi spectacle of Isle of Dogs. The film takes place in 2035 after a canine flu forces all dogs in Japan to be sent away to Trash Island, causing our determined young protagonist Atari Kobayashi (Koyu Rankin) to embark on a daring odyssey to retrieve his pet Spots. Inspired by the Japanese live-action epics of Akira Kurosawa (Seven Samurai) and the rich, sweeping beauty of Studio Ghibli’s Hayao Miyazaki (Princess Mononoke), director Wes Anderson (Fantastic Mr. Fox) creates a brand new vision set in a future not too far from our own. Not only is the film visually stunning, but it is jam-packed with a mindblowing ensemble of voice talent, including Bryan Cranston (Breaking Bad), Edward Norton (The Grand Budapest Hotel), Liev Schreiber (The French Dispatch), Bill Murray (Fantastic Mr. Fox), Jeff Goldblum (The Grand Budapest Hotel), and Ken Watanabe (Inception). – Tauri Miller

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'Brave' (2012)

Rotten Tomatoes: 79% | IMDb: 7.1/10

Brave

Animation

Action

Adventure

Comedy

Family

Fantasy

Release Date

June 19, 2012

Director

Mark Andrews , Brenda Chapman , Steve Purcell

Cast

Kelly Macdonald , Billy Connolly , Emma Thompson , Julie Walters , Robbie Coltrane , Kevin McKidd

Runtime

100

If you had the chance to change your fate, would you? Brave offers a refreshing twist on the classic Disney princess tale. The film centers around Merida (Kelly Macdonald), a skilled archer who refuses to get married – an attitude that causes conflict with her traditional mother (Emma Thompson). Things get wild when Merida accidentally turns her mother into a bear, and the two must learn to communicate to reverse the spell. A funny, fantastical fairytale, Brave will prove enjoyable for the whole family. – Taylor Gates

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'Finding Nemo' (2003)

Rotten Tomatoes: 99% | IMDb: 8.2/10

Finding Nemo

Animation

Adventure

Comedy

Family

Release Date

May 30, 2003

Director

Andrew Stanton , Lee Unkrich

Cast

Albert Brooks , Ellen DeGeneres , Alexander Gould , Willem Dafoe , Brad Garrett , Allison Janney

Runtime

100

As funny as it is sad, heartwarming as it is heartbreaking, Finding Nemo revolves around a single father named Marlin (Albert Brooks): a clownfish who lives in the Great Barrier Reef. When his son Nemo (Alexander Gould) gets taken to a dentist's office in Sydney, he must team up with a blue tang named Dory (Ellen DeGeneres) and go on an epic adventure to find him. Along the way, they encounter everyone from vegetarian sharks to hippie turtles. The film is a timeless classic, delivering the important message that – no matter what – you should just keep swimming. – Taylor Gates

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'Raya and the Last Dragon' (2021)

Rotten Tomatoes: 93% | IMDb: 7.3/10

Raya and the Last Dragon

Animation

Release Date

March 3, 2021

Director

Don Hall , Carlos López Estrada , Paul Briggs , John Ripa

Cast

Alan Tudyk , Gemma Chan , Awkwafina , Kelly Marie Tran , Ross Butler , Daniel Dae Kim

Runtime

90

The first Disney animated film to be released simultaneously in theaters and on Disney + Premier Access, the 2021 film Raya and the Last Dragon is an unexpectedly timely tale of the importance of humanity coming together during a crisis. Set in the fictional Southeast Asian inspired land of Kumandra, the film tells the story of the fall of humanity not only to the life-absorbing cloud-like creatures called the Druun, but to their own fear and distrust of each other. Years after losing her father and tribe to the Druun, warrior princess Raya sets out to find the last living dragon, Sisu, and reunite the pieces of the Dragon Gem, a magical artifact that possesses the last dragon magic in the land, and the only thing that can stop the Druun once and for all. Raya’s journey isn’t about proving herself as a warrior as other Disney films like Moana or Mulan have been – her physical capabilities are clear and strong from the beginning. It’s about learning to trust and have hope when your whole world has fallen apart. — Brynna Arens

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'Lilo & Stitch' (2002)

Rotten Tomatoes: 87% | IMDb: 7.3/10

Lilo & Stitch

Animation

Adventure

Comedy

Release Date

June 21, 2002

Director

Dean DeBlois , Chris Sanders

Cast

Daveigh Chase , Chris Sanders , Tia Carrere , David Ogden Stiers , Kevin McDonald , Ving Rhames

Runtime

85 minutes

Most Disney films revolve around romance, and even the movies that don’t focus on couples’ relationships find a way to give their characters a romantic interest. Not Lilo & Stitch. In the middle of a story about an alien who was created to conquer planets, Lilo & Stitch finds time to explore the love between family members, connected by blood or by fate. Lilo & Stitch has its fair share of tragedy, but it focuses on the joy of sharing life by the side of those that we’ll never abandon or forget. That’s what makes Lilo & Stitch so universal: it's a beautiful message about how we must stick together and protect those we love, no matter what life throws in our way. And it also teaches that, through that love, we can find the strength to become better people. — Marco Vito Oddo

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'Wreck-It Ralph' (2012)

Rotten Tomatoes: 87% | IMDb: 7.7/10

Wreck-It Ralph

Animation

Adventure

Comedy

Family

Release Date

January 1, 2012

Director

Rich Moore

Cast

John C. Reilly , Sarah Silverman , Jack McBrayer , Jane Lynch , Alan Tudyk , Mindy Kaling

Runtime

108

Forget video game adaptation, Wreck-it Ralph might be the best film about gaming culture ever created. Following an arcade villain who decides he doesn’t want to be a bad guy, Wreck-it Ralph dives deep into what makes games so enticing to create a world filled with dangers and surprises. The story follows Ralph (John C. Reilly), who escapes his arcade machine and ends up meeting Vanellope von Schweetz (Sarah Silverman). While Ralph is trapped in a job he hates, Vanellope is a glitchy character that her game thinks shouldn’t exist. Instead of opting for an easy answer to the centuries-old question of what’s our place in the world, Wreck-it Ralph should be praise by how it allows Ralph to find peace in his given purpose, at the same time that it fights for Vanellope’s right to exist outside the boundaries of her world. — Marco Vito Oddo

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'Cars' (2006)

Rotten Tomatoes: 75% | IMDb: 7.2/10

Cars

Animation

Adventure

Comedy

Family

Sport

On the way to the biggest race of his life, a hotshot rookie race car gets stranded in a rundown town and learns that winning isn't everything in life.

Release Date

June 8, 2006

Director

John Lasseter , Joe Ranft

Cast

Owen Wilson , Paul Newman , Bonnie Hunt , Larry the Cable Guy , Cheech Marin , Tony Shalhoub

Runtime

117 Minutes

The surprising start to Pixar’s most untraditional trilogy, the original Cars isn’t always given the credit it deserves. It's among the least flashy Pixar films, and the slower pace doesn’t overstay its welcome. Although the majority of the story focuses on Lightning McQueen (Owen Wilson) learning to enjoy a softer side of life, the racing sequences themselves are still electrifying. It's also notably one of the final appearances by the great Paul Newman, who passed away in 2008. Even if it did inspire the disappointing Cars 2 and the Planes franchise, Cars can at least be credited for giving us Disney World’s “Carsland.” - Liam Gaughan

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'Soul' (2020)

Rotten Tomatoes: 95% | IMDb: 8.0/10

Soul

Animation

Comedy

family

Release Date

December 25, 2020

Director

Pete Docter , Kemp Powers

Cast

Jamie Foxx , Tina Fey , Graham Norton , Rachel House , Alice Braga , Richard Ayoade

Runtime

100 minutes

Soul didn’t get all the love it deserves when it was first released, mainly because the film wasn’t able to attract children, Pixar’s usual public. But who said that animated movies should always be aimed at kids? Soul’s main character is a musician unhappy with his own life, and who blames his misfortunes on a world that prevents him from following his destiny. But is there really a destiny? Or should we just enjoy the present and live our lives the best way we can? If you leave the youngest members of the family outside the living room, you’ll be able to appreciate Soul for what it really is: a deeply emotional meditation on the meaning of life, and how there’s not a defined path for anyone roaming this earth in search of their calling. — Marco Vito Oddo

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'Encanto' (2021)

Rotten Tomatoes: 91% | IMDb: 7.2/10

Encanto

Animation

Release Date

November 24, 2021

Director

Jared Bush , Byron Howard , Charise Castro Smith

Cast

Stephanie Beatriz

Runtime

99

We are going to shout it from the rooftop of Casita, representation matters! Encanto has been embraced by Latin American viewers and that’s because the film showcases the vibrant, diverse and eclectic landscape of Colombia, and by extension, many other Latin American countries. This beautifully-rendered animated film tells the story of the multigenerational Madrigal family, all of whom are blessed with a magical gift at a young age—all except for one person. The film subverts many of the formulaic tropes we’ve come to expect from a Disney film, and that’s one of the many reasons why Encanto is such a refreshing addition to the studio’s roster. The details in this film are out of this world, and once you watch the film you will find yourself searching for all the connections and Easter Eggs that you missed. The catchy songs by Lin-Manuel Miranda advance the story and provide greater insight into the dynamics among the characters. Encanto is what happens when creators take the time to research the culture that their film is based on and approach the characters and story with sensitivity and passion. – Monita Mohan

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'Cinderella' (1950)

Rotten Tomatoes: 98% | IMDb: 7.3/10

Cinderella (1950)

Animation

Musical

Fantasy

Release Date

March 4, 1950

Director

Wilfred Jackson , Hamilton Luske , Clyde Geronimi

Cast

Homer Brightman , Erdman Penner

Runtime

1 hr 14 min

Cinderella is a classic of Disney animation and rightly so. While we've all grown up and moved to deconstructing the Disney Princess trope, it's valuable to see where it all started. We all know the story—a young woman is forced to work for her wicked stepmother and stepsisters—but she gets a chance to change her life when the prince holds a ball. But even though you know the plot beats, there's no ignoring the gorgeous animation or the delightful comedy provided by Cinderella's animal pals. While other Disney animated films haven't aged as well over the past decades, Cinderella has lost none of its charm and remains the platonic ideal of a fairy tale romance. – Matt Goldberg

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'The Incredibles' (2004)

Rotten Tomatoes: 97% | IMDb: 8.0/10

The Incredibles

Animation

Action

Adventure

Family

Release Date

October 27, 2004

Director

Brad Bird

Cast

Craig T. Nelson , Holly Hunter , Samuel L. Jackson , Jason Lee , Dominique Louis , Teddy Newton

Runtime

121

Brad Bird's 2004 superhero/spy movie has lost none of its appeal. The story takes place in a world where superheroes were basically sued into hiding, which has left Bob Parr feeling lost and directionless. He seemingly gets the opportunity to be a hero again when he's contacted by a mysterious entity, but this new chance at being super puts him at odds with his family, who all have their own superpowers. Although The Incredibles wears the clothes of a superhero story or a 1960s spy caper, at its heart it's a story about a family and what true risk really entails. It's one thing for Bob to take on giant robots or villains named "Bomb Voyage", but real risk involves being present for your family and understanding what they need. That emotion is what animates The Incredibles and provides its enduring value. – Matt Goldberg

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'Big Hero 6' (2014)

Rotten Tomatoes: 90% | IMDb: 7.8/10

Big Hero 6

Animation

Action

Adventure

Comedy

Family

A special bond develops between plus-sized inflatable robot Baymax and prodigy Hiro Hamada, who together team up with a group of friends to form a band of high-tech heroes.

Release Date

October 24, 2014

Director

Don Hall , Chris Williams

Cast

Scott Adsit , Ryan Potter , Daniel Henney , T.J. Miller , Jamie Chung , Damon Wayans Jr.

Runtime

108

An unusual mashup of Disney Animation and a Marvel Comics property, Big Hero 6 excels as a story about grief and the power of science. The story follows Hiro, who loses his brother in a catastrophic lab explosion that also steals a powerful piece of technology. Hiro, working with his brother's friends and a healer robot named Baymax, forms a superhero team where they put their science knowhow to the test in order to save the world. But what sets Big Hero 6 apart from other superhero tales is that it's really about Hiro's grief and how that can manifest as anger and depression. It's a lovely story with some fantastic visuals and hopefully one day Disney will get around to making a sequel. – Matt Goldberg

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'The Hunchback of Notre Dame' (1996)

IMDb: 7.0/10

The Hunchback of Notre Dame

Animation

Documentary

Drama

Family

Musical

Romance

Release Date

June 21, 1996

Director

Gary Trousdale , Kirk Wise

Cast

Jason Alexander , Mary Kay Bergman , Corey Burton , Jim Cummings , Bill fa*gerbakke , Tom Hulce

Runtime

91

*Obama voice* Let me be clear. I do not think The Hunchback of Notre Dame is a good movie. It’s a gorgeously animated and thoroughly Disney-fied adaptation of a punishingly depressing Victor Hugo novel about some very adult themes, including broad existentialism and extreme horniness in 15th century France. Basically, it’s a movie Disney never should have made, certainly not as one of their annual blockbuster animated musicals. But the music is the reason it deserves a watch, specifically the song “Hellfire”, which is sung by the villainous Claude Frollo. Folks, this is a wild song to be included in a G-rated Disney film - the gist of it is Frollo is super hornt up over Esmerelda and is conflicted because of the implication his lust for a commoner has on his religious piety. He ultimately convinces himself through the power of song that she must either agree to be with him or he will burn her alive. It’s one of the darkest sequences in any Disney animated film, the impact of which is heightened by the fact that the song absolutely slaps. It’s regarded by Disney nerds as being the best villain song in any of the Disney musicals, and it makes the rest of the average-to-not-good movie worth sitting through. - Tom Reimann

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'Up' (2009)

Rotten Tomatoes: 98% | IMDb: 8.3/10

Up (2009)

Comedy

Drama

Adventure

Release Date

May 29, 2009

Director

Pete Docter

Cast

Ed Asner , Christopher Plummer , Jordan Nagai , Bob Peterson

Runtime

1 hr 36 min

Yes, we all know the first ten minutes are amazing, but I'm going to let you in on a little secret: so is the rest of the movie. Up is one of the best adventure stories of the past 30 years, and it does so with two unlikely protagonists at its center: a cranky old man and a wilderness scout. Although it's filled with fanciful details like a flying house, a talking dog, and a giant bird named "Kevin", Up is really a story about how you're never too old for you next adventure, and that even when you're suffering from great loss, you can find a way to let other people into your heart. It's a beautiful movie and more than just its exquisite prologue. – Matt Goldberg

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'Beauty and the Beast' (1991)

Rotten Tomatoes: 93% | IMDb: 8.0/10

Beauty and the Beast (1991)

Animation

Musical

Romance

Fantasy

Release Date

November 22, 1991

Director

Gary Trousdale , Kirk Wise

Cast

Paige O'Hara , Robby Benson , Richard White , Jerry Orbach

Runtime

84 min

Beauty and the Beast is a masterpiece, through and through. The film marked the first-ever animated feature to be nominated for Best Picture, and deservedly so. It’s remarkably operatic and romantic at heart, featuring some of Disney’s most stunning animation to date. Decades of advances in technology still don’t hold a candle to some of the iconography achieved in Beauty and the Beast under directors Gary Trousdale and Kirk Wise’s watch, as the animators knew the power of the silhouette that would permeate throughout the Beast’s dark and lonely castle.

Thematically, Beauty and the Beast treads the well-worn territory of being an outsider looking in, and longing for more out of one’s life, but the romanticism of the Belle and Beast relationship—and its pitch-perfect execution that gives Belle agency—is the beating heart of the film. It’s sweeping, it’s passionate, it’s fun, and as the song goes, it’s a tale as old as time. As such, it’s one that’s universally relatable, and that in concert with the film’s lush animation, tremendous score, unforgettable songs, and rich characters makes it Peak 90s Disney. - Adam Chitwood

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'Zootopia' (2016)

Rotten Tomatoes: 98% | IMDb: 8.0/10

Zootopia

Animation

Adventure

Comedy

Family

Release Date

February 11, 2016

Director

Byron Howard , Rich Moore , Jared Bush

Cast

Ginnifer Goodwin , Jason Bateman , Idris Elba , Jenny Slate , Nate Torrence , Bonnie Hunt

Runtime

108

Walt Disney Animation Studios found itself lagging behind when Pixar’s track record was pristine, but look no further than Zootopia for evidence that the tables have turned. While Pixar is more hit-or-miss nowadays, Disney Animation is on a roll with 2016’s Zootopia proving to be a pleasantly surprising hit both commercially and critically. While talking animal stories have been done to death, Disney dared to use the colorful, vibrant, and diverse world of Zootopia to tackle issues of inherent bias and racial prejudice head on, resulting in a viewing experience that’s both entertaining and thought-provoking. The movie is funny and gorgeous, with top-notch world building, but it also has something to say, which ensures that it’s much more than a lazy cash grab. With any luck, this one’s gonna have a lengthy shelf life. – Adam Chitwood

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