There is something timeless about a good animated movie. Animation of any kind tends to carry the stigma of tailoring only to children and younger generations. However, how much they stay with us throughout our lives cements them as iconic in the film industry. Family-friendly themes, inspiring adventures, and even deep dives and reflections into real life are all aspects of a fantastic animated movie. Animated movies from the 2000s were next level, to say the least. Disney, Pixar, DreamWorks, Studio Ghibli, and many other animation studios have had the daunting task of creating films that are meant to shape the childhoods of current generations and generations to come. And, in the 2000s, they had definitely done just that.
Update August 26, 2023: This article has been updated with even more great animated films, including recent developments about various franchises and a special anniversary.
From a little chef to alternate universes and aliens, the imagination it takes to create an entirely unique world in an animated movie is something to behold. Animated movies open the door for every child and adult’s wildest dreams to come to life. However, what is so amazing about what these animated movies do revolves around what they teach us about our lives, making it just as if not more impactful than any live-action movie out there. Here is a list of some of the best-animated movies from the 2000s:
15 The Powerpuff Girls Movie (2002)
Fans knew the story of how the Powerpuff Girls were born as it was recounted week after week in the series intro. The Powerpuff Girls Movie decides to flesh out this origin story, giving these iconic heroes the epic big-screen treatment they deserve. The film shows how Blossom, Bubbles, and Buttercup were not originally accepted but how they eventually became beloved heroes. It deepened their conflict with their arch enemy, Mojo Jojo, and allowed for some more emotional maturity that the series never could get into.
While a box office disappointment, as it was reported young boys who watched the series were ashamed to ask their parents to go see the movie in theaters, it quickly developed a cult following and is highly regarded today. It is a superhero action film that only the medium of animation can deliver.
14 Kung Fu Panda (2008)
Kung Fu Panda came out in 2008, and it was an instant hit for DreamWorks Animation. The movie follows Po, a young Panda and son of a single father and noodle shop owner. When Po gets chosen as the Dragon Warrior, everyone, even Po himself, does not expect much. However, Po goes on a journey of self-discovery that makes him a formidable match against our main antagonist, Tai Lung.
Kung Fu Panda went on as an established franchise with two sequels and a fourth film set for release in 2024, multiple television continuations and an attraction at Universal Studios Hollywood. After being known as the cheap alternative to Pixar, Kung Fu Panda proved DreamWorks could deliver the goods.
13 Curious George (2006)
One that likely flew under the radar of many, 2006's Curious George perfectly captures the whimsical nature of the story. The film tells the origin story of how the titular chimp came to be in the possession of the Man in the Yellow Hat (voiced by Will Ferrell). The movie is bright and colorful, invoking the finger-paint vibes that many of the film's target audience would likely generate. Refreshingly, the movie never tries to mature Curious George or make it appeal to older kids with dated pop culture references. Instead, trusting the heart and sincerity of the character will allow it to endure.
12 The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie (2004)
Although many people tend to think that cartoon movies and shows are for kids, The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie teaches us that they are not just for kids, but they are also for Goofy Goobers. In 2004, Nickelodeon released a live-action/animated movie based on the hit TV show SpongeBob Squarepants. This iconic movie adaptation kept the charm and appeal of our favorite SpongeBob characters while also raising the stakes and extending their adventures throughout the sea and beyond. And come on, David Hasselhoff makes an insane cameo, helping SpongeBob and Patrick make it back to Bikini Bottom from Shell City.
11 Howl’s Moving Castle (2004
Studio Ghibli has an impeccable reputation for creating beautiful animated films. In 2004, Howl's Moving Castle was released, and to this day, 19 years later, still holds up as an incredible movie for children and adults. The movie follows the friendship between Sophie and Howl, a wizard who helps her with her curse that turns her into an old woman. This animated movie includes all the magic and fantasy you could want, and if you haven't checked this one out, you will not be disappointed when you do.
10 Monsters, Inc. (2001)
What is better than a film about a world full of monsters trying to make a living? This is exactly the case in Monsters, Inc. The beloved 2001 Pixar film tells the story of the biggest scare factory in the monster world that is known as Monsters, Inc. James P. Sullivan, or "Sulley" (John Goodman), and Mike Wazowski (Billy Crystal) are successful employees. Sulley is a scarer who generates energy for the monster world by scaring kids at night. Mike and him are a team.
One day, a human child named Boo, who is seen as toxic because that is how humans are seen in the monster world, comes through one of the doors at the factory. Mike and Sulley must find a way to get Boo, who they start to care for, home safely before any other monsters find out. Monsters, Inc. was a smash hit when it opened and remains a classic.
9 Lilo & Stitch (2002)
Lilo & Stitch came out in 2002 and is now seen as a classic Disney film. Lilo is an outcast, and she doesn't fit in with the other girls her age. Nani is Lilo's struggling caretaker and older sister, thereby one of Disney's most empowering women characters. When Experiment 626 quite literally crash-lands into their life, they end up on a wild Hawaiian roller coaster ride that will change and maybe even save their family.
Lilo and Stitch is a beautiful, fun, and hilarious film that also includes a heartbreaking depiction of what a broken family looks like. It also is a consistent reminder that "Ohana" means family, and sometimes, that strength goes beyond a bond of blood and into the connection of a found family. Disney is working on a live-action remake, which will be difficult to top, given how great the original is.
8 Coraline (2009)
Coraline is a unique entry into this list. The 2009 film from LAIKA is a stop-motion animation mix and creates a much darker and creepier atmosphere than the other movies on this list. The story follows Coraline as she falls into an alternate dimension that mirrors her life but in a parallel universe. She now has to find her way home back to the family she knows.
Coraline over the years has become a staple for childhood movies regardless of some of the scarier imagery it creates. The artistic approach, as well as the themes of finding and making your way back home, help this movie stand out in this list and in the minds of those who watched it. It recently got a two-day theatrical release through Fathom that was so popular that it grossed $5 million, coming in just behind Barbie and Oppenheimer at the box office those two days.
7 Spirited Away (2001)
Studio Ghibli's Spirited Away is a coming-of-age movie for the record books. The movie follows a young girl, Chihiro, and her parents, who get turned into pigs after getting cursed for eating the food of the spirits. Chihiro is now left to save her parents. The character Chihiro successfully establishes this story of friendship, bravery, and perseverance to make this movie not only relatable in a thematic sense but also to inspire past and future generations to believe in themselves and see the endless possibilities of what they are capable of.
6 The Incredibles (2004)
The best animated superhero film of all-time? If you guessed The Incredibles, you might be right. Released in theaters nearly 20 years ago, the film tells the story of a real family of superheroes who were forced into hiding due to the law of superheroes being illegal. The family is made up of Mr. Incredible (Bob Parr), Elastigirl (Helen Parr), Violet Parr, and Dash Parr. Together, they battle an old enemy of Mr. Incredible's, who is intent on becoming the superhero that Mr. Incredible denied him of being many years ago. It is the first of two films in the franchise and has inspired movie fans of all ages to want to be super.
5 Ratatouille (2007)
Ratatouille follows Remi the Rat and his insane journey to becoming an acclaimed chef in Paris. Yes, you have definitely read that right. In his adventures after getting separated from his family, Remi ends up at the world-famous French restaurant Gusteau's and establishes a friendship and partnership with a young man named Linguini.
This movie's insistence that "anyone can cook," inspires people of all ages that they can do quite literally anything they set their mind to. This movie encapsulates all the fun and overly dramatic twists and turns of a rat's journey in the big city — a must-watch to say the least, and one of Pixar's most acclaimed projects to date.
4 Shrek 2 (2004)
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In 2004, DreamWorks Animation released one of the greatest cinematic masterpieces of all time, and it happened to be a sequel. Shrek 2 picks up after Shrek and Fiona's honeymoon, where they are now set to meet Fiona's parents. However, they are blissfully unaware that Fiona's "curse" has left her looking a little green. This then translates to their disapproval of her marriage to Shrek and the introduction of Prince Charming and The Fairy Godmother.
While 2001's Shrek might have set the template, the sequel surpassed it in everyway. The film remains a beloved a classic, and the "Holding Out For a Hero" sequence stands to an entire generation as one of the greatest action scenes of all time. With an impeccable soundtrack to go along with a hilarious and adventurous plot, Shrek 2 changed the animated movie game and is cemented in history as one of the best.
3 WALL-E (2008)
The 2008 animated film follows a garbage-cleaning robot named WALL-E as he exists on what is left of the planet Earth. He meets and grows affection for another robot named EVE, and his journey becomes intergalactic when it is revealed that he holds the key to saving the planet: a plant. WALL-E successfully points out both the best and worst of the human race in a way that is completely unique.
It is a masterpiece. For a film that lacks so much in dialogue, it makes up for it with fantastic cinematography, charm, innocence, fun, and, of course, love. WALL-E has a way of touching the hearts of anyone who watches it, and many believe it's being snubbed alongside The Dark Knight for Best Picture in 2008 was part of the reason the Academy Awards expanded the nominee slots from five to ten.
2 Up (2009)
Adventure is out there! The 2009 movie Up became a Disney Pixar must-see almost instantly. In Up, the main character Carl Fredricksen is set to make a journey to Paradise Falls when he meets Russell, a bright and overly optimistic young Wilderness Explorer. Together, they face the obstacles of the journey, meeting friends and foes along the way while also growing more and more like family themselves.
Up is a masterpiece, one whose opening scene had the ability to bring a tear to anyone's eyes who watched that opening sequence of Carl and Ellie's love story. Up was nominated for Best Picture at the Academy Awards and won Best Animated Picture.
1 Finding Nemo (2003)
Disney and Pixar have contributed immensely to the animated film genre, and the 2003 movie Finding Nemo is one for the record books. Finding Nemo follows a Clownfish named Marlin who is left to raise his only son, Nemo. When Nemo gets taken away, Marlin ends up braving the sea in search of his son. Along the way, he meets some new friends who become vital parts of his journey, like the breakout character Dory, who was so popular she got her own sequel in 2016, Finding Dory.
Finding Nemo explores themes surrounding life as a single father, found family, adventure, courage, and determination that make this movie one to remember. The movie was a box office sensation that would be rivaled a decade later by Frozen. In fact, Finding Nemo held the record for best-selling DVD, with Frozen becoming the best-selling Blu-Ray. It is hard to believe Finding Nemo just celebrated its 20th anniversary, and what is more impressive is that it is just as amazing today as it was in 2003.