Which animated film is right for you?
Every animated title here says who it's good for, and who it isn't. Tap what you want tonight.
Not sure yet? Start with these.
Inside Out 2015
Film
When 11-year-old Riley moves to a new city, her Emotions team up to help her through the transition. Joy, Fear, Anger, Disgust and Sadness work together, but when Joy and Sadness get lost, they must journey through unfamiliar places to get back home.
The sides of Inside Out
- Emotions running a girl's head
- Sadness finding her place
- A lost imaginary friend
Good for you if
- you like a family film that makes the adults cry.
- you like clever jokes about how our minds work.
- you like a world built out of memories and dreams.
Bad for you if
- you don't watch animated films.
- you can't watch a girl slowly overtaken by sadness after a move. It hits too close.
About: sadness · memory · growing up · family
Up 2009
Film
Carl Fredricksen spent his entire life dreaming of exploring the globe and experiencing life to its fullest. But at age 78, life seems to have passed him by, until a twist of fate (and a persistent 8-year old Wilderness Explorer named Russell) gives him a new lease on life.
The sides of Up
- A whole marriage in five minutes
- An old man and a boy scout
- A house carried by balloons
Good for you if
- you're ready to cry in the first ten minutes.
- you like a talking dog and a grumpy old man.
- you like an adventure to a waterfall at the end of the world.
Bad for you if
- you don't watch animated films.
- you need the logic to hold up. A house crosses a continent tied to balloons.
About: grief · adventure · friendship
Coco 2017
Film
Despite his family’s baffling generations-old ban on music, Miguel dreams of becoming an accomplished musician like his idol, Ernesto de la Cruz. Desperate to prove his talent, Miguel finds himself in the stunning and colorful Land of the Dead following a mysterious chain of events. Along the way, he meets charming trickster Hector, and together, they set off on an extraordinary journey to unlock the real story behind Miguel's family history.
The sides of Coco
- A boy who wants to play music
- A trip to the land of the dead
- A song for a great-grandmother
Good for you if
- you like a family film with an ending that floors you.
- you like songs that carry the story.
- you want a world glowing with orange flowers and colour.
Bad for you if
- you don't watch animated films.
- a story of dead relatives and a fading great-grandmother is too much for you tonight.
About: family · memory · death · music
Finding Nemo 2003
Film
Nemo, an adventurous young clownfish, is unexpectedly taken from his Great Barrier Reef home to a dentist's office aquarium. It's up to his worrisome father Marlin and a friendly but forgetful fish Dory to bring Nemo home -- meeting vegetarian sharks, surfer dude turtles, hypnotic jellyfish, hungry seagulls, and more along the way.
The sides of Finding Nemo
- A father crossing the ocean for his son
- A fish who forgets everything
- Sharks trying to quit eating fish
Good for you if
- you like a forgetful fish who's funny every time she speaks.
- you like a story about a worried parent letting go.
- you want something the whole family can watch.
Bad for you if
- you don't watch animated films.
- you're watching with toddlers. A shark chase and a deep-sea anglerfish can frighten them.
About: fatherhood · letting go · friendship
WALL·E 2008
Film
After hundreds of years doing what he was built for, WALL•E— a robot designed to clean up the earth—discovers a new purpose in life when he meets a sleek search robot named EVE. EVE comes to realize that WALL•E has inadvertently stumbled upon the key to the planet's future, and races back to space to report to the humans. Meanwhile, WALL•E chases EVE across the galaxy and sets into motion one of the most imaginative adventures ever brought to the big screen.
The sides of WALL·E
- A little robot alone on Earth
- A love story with almost no words
- Humans who forgot how to walk
Good for you if
- you like being moved by a robot holding hands.
- you like silence, stars and a lonely planet.
- you like a film that tells everything with images.
Bad for you if
- you don't watch animated films.
- you need dialogue. The first part has almost none.
About: loneliness · love · waste
Toy Story 1995
Film
Led by Woody, Andy's toys live happily in his room until Andy's birthday brings Buzz Lightyear onto the scene. Afraid of losing his place in Andy's heart, Woody plots against Buzz. But when circumstances separate Buzz and Woody from their owner, the duo eventually learns to put aside their differences.
The sides of Toy Story
- Toys that come alive
- A cowboy jealous of a spaceman
- A rescue from the boy next door
Good for you if
- you like a buddy comedy between two rivals.
- you want a short, warm film for any age.
- you like the idea that your toys come alive when you leave the room.
Bad for you if
- you don't watch animated films.
- you scare easily. Sid's room is full of toys stitched back together wrong.
About: friendship · jealousy · childhood
Monsters, Inc. 2001
Film
Lovable Sulley and his wisecracking sidekick Mike Wazowski are the top scare team at Monsters, Inc., the scream-processing factory in Monstropolis. When a little girl named Boo wanders into their world, it's the monsters who are scared silly, and it's up to Sulley and Mike to keep her out of sight and get her back home.
The sides of Monsters, Inc.
- Monsters scaring kids for energy
- A little girl loose in the factory
- A big furry guy who melts
Good for you if
- you like a funny duo who argue like a married couple.
- you want something sweet for the whole family.
- you like a big blue monster who becomes a kind of father to a toddler named Boo.
Bad for you if
- you don't watch animated films.
- you want a love story. Mike's dates with Celia keep getting cut short.
About: fear · friendship · care
The Lion King 1994
Film
Young lion prince Simba, eager to one day become king of the Pride Lands, grows up under the watchful eye of his father Mufasa; all the while his villainous uncle Scar conspires to take the throne for himself. Amid betrayal and tragedy, Simba must confront his past and find his rightful place in the Circle of Life.
The sides of The Lion King
- A lion cub who runs away
- A wicked uncle
- Hakuna matata
Good for you if
- you don't mind crying at a family film. Simba's story has real tragedy in it.
- you like Elton John's songs and a Hans Zimmer score.
- you want a classic you can share with kids.
Bad for you if
- you don't watch animated films.
- you roll your eyes at solemn talk of destiny and the circle of life.
About: guilt · responsibility · home
Shrek 2001
Film
It ain't easy bein' green -- especially if you're a likable (albeit smelly) ogre named Shrek. On a mission to retrieve a gorgeous princess from the clutches of a fire-breathing dragon, Shrek teams up with an unlikely compatriot -- a wisecracking donkey.
The sides of Shrek
- An ogre who wants to be left alone
- A donkey who never stops talking
- Fairy tales turned upside down
Good for you if
- you like jokes for kids and other jokes for adults.
- you want something short and funny for everyone.
- you like a soundtrack of pop hits.
Bad for you if
- you don't watch animated films.
- you need suspense to stay hooked. Shrek plays its dragon and its villain for laughs.
About: appearance · friendship · love
The Incredibles 2004
Film
Bob Parr has given up his superhero days to log in time as an insurance adjuster and raise his three children with his formerly heroic wife in suburbia. But when he receives a mysterious assignment, it's time to get back into costume.
The sides of The Incredibles
- A superhero family forced to hide
- A dad bored in an office
- A villain who was once a fan
Good for you if
- you like Dash outrunning henchmen through an island jungle.
- you like family arguments, but with superpowers.
- you like a brassy 60s spy-movie score behind the chases.
Bad for you if
- you don't watch animated films.
- you can't laugh at death. Edna lists the heroes killed by their capes.
About: family · identity · being special
Ratatouille 2007
Film
In one of Paris's finest restaurants, Remy, a determined young rat, dreams of becoming a renowned French chef. Torn between his family's wishes and his true calling, Remy and his pal Linguini set in motion a hilarious chain of events that turns the City of Lights upside down.
The sides of Ratatouille
- A rat who wants to cook
- A Paris restaurant kitchen
- A critic tasting his childhood
Good for you if
- you want a warm film that makes you hungry.
- you like a rat steering a cook by his hair.
- you like a story that truly believes anyone can cook, even a rat.
Bad for you if
- you don't watch animated films.
- you can't stand a love story on the side. Linguini falls for Colette, the tough cook who trains him.
About: talent · ambition · friendship
Spirited Away 2001
Anime
On the way to their new house, a ten-year-old girl and her parents wander into the world of spirits. Her parents are turned into pigs, and she has to work in a bathhouse to save them.
The sides of Spirited Away
- A strange world with its own rules
- A child finding her courage
- Quiet moments and nature
- Every frame drawn by hand
Good for you if
- you love getting lost in a world with its own strange rules.
- you like not knowing what will walk through the door next.
- you like films that stop to breathe, like that quiet train ride.
Bad for you if
- you don't watch animated films.
- you want everything explained. A lot of the bathhouse never is.
About: growing up · greed · keeping your name · work
Zootopia 2016
Film
Determined to prove herself, Officer Judy Hopps, the first bunny on Zootopia's police force, jumps at the chance to crack her first case - even if it means partnering with scam-artist fox Nick Wilde to solve the mystery.
The sides of Zootopia
- A bunny who wants to be a cop
- A fox who's a small-time con artist
- A city where every animal lives
Good for you if
- you like a buddy cop comedy with a sloth at the DMV.
- you like a real investigation, even for kids.
- you want something smart the whole family will enjoy.
Bad for you if
- you don't watch animated films.
- you roll your eyes at big-hearted speeches. Judy ends on one about prejudice.
About: prejudice · ambition · friendship
Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse 2018
Film
Struggling to find his place in the world while juggling school and family, Brooklyn teenager Miles Morales is unexpectedly bitten by a radioactive spider and develops unfathomable powers just like the one and only Spider-Man. While wrestling with the implications of his new abilities, Miles discovers a super collider created by the madman Wilson "Kingpin" Fisk, causing others from across the Spider-Verse to be inadvertently transported to his dimension.
The sides of Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse
- A Brooklyn teen becoming Spider-Man
- Spider-people from other worlds
- Graffiti, comics and hip-hop
Good for you if
- you want animation that looks like a comic book come alive.
- you like a spider-pig and a noir detective in the same team.
- you like a hip-hop soundtrack.
Bad for you if
- you don't watch animated films.
- you can't take grief tonight. Under the jokes, this is a story about mourning.
About: identity · family · courage
Frozen 2013
Film
Young princess Anna of Arendelle dreams about finding true love at her sister Elsa’s coronation. Fate takes her on a dangerous journey in an attempt to end the eternal winter that has fallen over the kingdom. She's accompanied by ice delivery man Kristoff, his reindeer Sven, and snowman Olaf. On an adventure where she will find out what friendship, courage, family, and true love really means.
The sides of Frozen
- Two sisters, one with icy powers
- A snowman who loves summer
- A song everyone knows
Good for you if
- you like songs your kids will sing for months.
- you want a film for the whole family, with a snowman and a reindeer for the little ones.
- you like a castle built of ice in one song.
Bad for you if
- you don't watch animated films.
- you have no patience for trolls, talking snowmen and a queen with ice magic.
About: sisterhood · fear · love
Big Hero 6 2014
Film
A special bond develops between plus-sized inflatable robot Baymax, and prodigy Hiro Hamada, who team up with a group of friends to form a band of high-tech heroes.
The sides of Big Hero 6
- A boy genius and a soft robot
- A team of nerds turned heroes
- A brother's legacy
Good for you if
- you like a huggable robot who takes everything literally.
- you like a family film about grief.
- you want something warm and fun for all ages.
Bad for you if
- you don't watch animated films.
- you'd rather skip superhero fights. The second half turns into a long battle with a masked villain.
About: grief · friendship · invention
Despicable Me 2010
Film
Determined to prove he's the world's greatest supervillain, Gru hatches an audacious plan to steal the Moon. To pull it off, he adopts three orphaned girls—Margo, Edith, and Agnes—intending to use them as pawns in his scheme. But the unexpected bond they form forces him to question the criminal life he's always known.
The sides of Despicable Me
- A villain who wants to steal the moon
- Three girls who adopt him
- Little yellow minions
Good for you if
- you like minions babbling and causing chaos.
- you like rooting for a supervillain who wants to steal the Moon.
- you like a grump melting for three kids.
Bad for you if
- you don't watch animated films.
- you roll your eyes at tender moments. Agnes hugging her fluffy unicorn is the heart of this film.
About: family · fatherhood · rivalry
Toy Story 3 2010
Film
Woody, Buzz, and the rest of Andy's toys haven't been played with in years. With Andy about to go to college, the gang find themselves accidentally left at a nefarious day care center. The toys must band together to escape and return home to Andy.
The sides of Toy Story 3
- A boy leaving for college
- Toys stuck in a daycare
- Holding hands at the incinerator
Good for you if
- you like a family film that will make adults sob.
- you like a prison-break comedy with toys.
- you like a real sense of danger in an animated film.
Bad for you if
- you don't watch animated films.
- you like patient, quiet films. The toys race from one escape to the next.
About: growing up · letting go · friendship
Cars 2006
Film
Lightning McQueen, a hotshot rookie race car driven to succeed, discovers that life is about the journey, not the finish line, when he finds himself unexpectedly detoured in the sleepy Route 66 town of Radiator Springs. On route across the country to the big Piston Cup Championship in California to compete against two seasoned pros, McQueen gets to know the town's offbeat characters.
The sides of Cars
- A cocky race car lost in a small town
- Friends on Route 66
- Slowing down
Good for you if
- you want something gentle to watch with kids, set in a sleepy desert town.
- you like a rusty tow truck with a big heart.
- you like a story about slowing down and making friends.
Bad for you if
- you don't watch animated films.
- you need momentum. Most of the film idles in a sleepy town on Route 66.
About: friendship · humility · home
Toy Story 2 1999
Film
Andy heads off to Cowboy Camp, leaving his toys to their own devices. Things shift into high gear when an obsessive toy collector named Al McWhiggen, owner of Al's Toy Barn kidnaps Woody. Andy's toys mount a daring rescue mission, Buzz Lightyear meets his match and Woody has to decide where he and his heart truly belong.
The sides of Toy Story 2
- Woody stolen by a collector
- A rescue across the city
- A cowgirl's song
Good for you if
- you like toys on a road-crossing mission.
- you like a song about being forgotten by a child.
- you want a short, warm film for all ages.
Bad for you if
- you don't watch animated films.
- you like patient films. This one races from a yard sale to an airport baggage hall.
About: belonging · friendship · growing up