2025 has been an excellent year for film, but while live-action movies tend to get most of the attention, animated films are just as deserving of praise. Animation opens up storytelling possibilities that simply aren’t possible with live-action, leading to incredibly imaginative and beautiful movies. That’s certainly been true this year, with 2025’s animated films being among the most creative and visually impressive releases.
This year has seen a lot of new animated movies released, from big studios like Disney, DreamWorks, and Sony Pictures Animation, as well as smaller, independent ones. Films such as David, The Bad Guys 2, Fixed, and In Your Dreams have all gotten attention, but only the very best stand out. Here’s my list of the top 10 animated movies of 2025.
10) Elio
Pixar’s newest original movie, Elio, isn’t everyone’s favorite, but I really enjoyed it. The story centers around a boy named Elio who wants to escape life on Earth, so he manages to get kidnapped by aliens. Once in space, the aliens mistakenly believe he’s Earth’s leader, which creates a big problem for the galaxy.
As a critic, I have to say Elio really struck a chord with me. It’s a surprisingly heartfelt story, and you can feel the personal touch of directors Adrian Molina, Domee Shi, and Madeline Sharafian throughout. What I especially appreciated was how they blended genuinely moving themes of acceptance with a comedic setup – it elevates the film beyond typical animated fare and, frankly, makes it a bit of an underrated Pixar treasure.
9) Zootopia 2
Disney’s Zootopia, released in 2016, was a huge critical success. Fans had been eagerly awaiting the sequel, Zootopia 2, which finally came out in 2025. In the new film, Nick and Judy go undercover to investigate the mysterious appearance of a reptile in a city populated by mammals.
Although not quite as good as the original, Zootopia 2 is still a really enjoyable movie. It continues the first film’s surprisingly thoughtful look at society, and the creative world and funny animal-based jokes are just as strong this time around, making it a fun watch.
8) Dog Man
DreamWorks’ Dog Man, released in 2025, is considered their most successful animated film to date. Based on the popular Captain Underpants series, the story centers around a police officer who, after an accident, receives a dog’s head transplant. This new hero, known as Dog Man, continues to protect the city while battling his nemesis, Petey the Cat.
What makes Dog Man so great is its art style – it wonderfully captures the simple, childlike drawings from the original comic book. Beyond that, the story is surprisingly touching, and even adults might find themselves emotionally moved by it.
7) The SpongeBob Movie: The Search for SquarePants
While there have been several SpongeBob SquarePants movies recently, and 2025’s The Search for SquarePants seemed similar to the others, it’s actually a really good film. It’s an exciting adventure that teams SpongeBob and Patrick up with the Flying Dutchman, a ghost pirate who’s been a character in the SpongeBob cartoon series for years.
Currently, The Search for SquarePants has an 84% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, making it the best-reviewed SpongeBob movie so far. The film’s improved animation and clever humor make it very enjoyable, particularly for longtime viewers of the show.
6) The Day the Earth Blew Up: A Looney Tunes Movie
The classic Looney Tunes characters, known worldwide, star in their very first full-length animated movie, released in 2025. The Day the Earth Blew Up features Daffy Duck and Porky Pig discovering a secret alien plot, and they must team up to save the planet.
Released in 2025, The Day the Earth Blew Up is a hilarious movie that successfully revives the classic, wacky humor of the series. Its animation style is reminiscent of the original Looney Tunes cartoons, a welcome change from more recent versions. The film also focuses on Daffy Duck and Porky Pig, shifting the spotlight away from Bugs Bunny for a fresh perspective.
5) Predator: Killer of Killers
In 2025, two new Predator movies were released: the live-action Predator: Badlands and the animated anthology Predator: Killer of Killers. Badlands, directed by David Trachtenberg and Joshua Wassung, continues the story begun in Prey, showing three separate tales of Yautja (the Predators) battling formidable human warriors from different periods: Vikings, ninjas, and soldiers during World War II.
The Predator movies have had their ups and downs, but Killer of Killers is widely considered the strongest entry in the series. It’s the highest-rated Predator film on Rotten Tomatoes and really delves into the Predator’s background, showing their home world and culture. Plus, it cleverly connects to other films in the Predator universe, which fans will appreciate.
Even though it’s part of a larger series, Killer of Killers stands out as a fantastic film. The animation is stunning, leading to some truly creative and impressive Predator designs. Plus, the movie delivers exciting action scenes that really highlight how deadly the Predators are.
4) Little Amélie or the Character of Rain
I just saw Little Amélie or the Character of Rain, and it’s easily one of my favorite animated films of the year! It’s a French and Belgian production directed by Maïlys Vallade and Liane-Cho Han, and the story is so touching. It’s about a little girl named Amélie who’s born unable to move or react, but then, amazingly, she wakes up and starts experiencing the world for the very first time. It’s a really beautiful and heartwarming adventure.
Little Amélie is a deeply moving film that has resonated with audiences since its release in 2025. Its beautiful and distinctive animation style truly enhances the story. The movie has already received a lot of awards and is expected to be a strong contender at the Oscars.
3) Arco
Despite not being as well-known as other films this year, Arco, a 2025 French animated movie, is truly exceptional. Directed by Ugo Bienvenu, this sci-fi fantasy follows ten-year-old Arco as he journeys through time – traveling from the year 2932 to 2075 via a rainbow.
With a 91% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, Arco is easily one of the year’s best films. What really stands out is its incredible worldbuilding, and the movie makes excellent use of its time travel concept. Beyond that, it’s a heartwarming story with memorable characters, and fans of Studio Ghibli will definitely recognize its influences.
2) Ne Zha 2
With record-breaking box office numbers, Ne Zha 2 is now the highest-grossing animated film ever. This exciting sequel, directed by Yu Yang, continues the story of Ne Zha, a powerful young boy destined to protect the world from a dangerous evil. The film is based on the classic 16th-century novel, Investiture of the Gods.
The action sequences are truly the standout feature of Ne Zha 2. The fight scenes are some of the most imaginative and exciting ever animated, and consistently deliver the biggest thrills. Beyond the action, the film boasts an ambitious and sweeping story, making it a grand sequel to an already lengthy original film – both movies clock in at over two hours.
1) KPop Demon Hunters
I have to say, out of all the animated movies this year, KPop Demon Hunters is easily the best – and it seems like everyone else agrees! It’s a really fun movie directed by Maggie Kang and Chris Appelhans, and it’s about three K-pop stars who secretly fight demons to protect their fans and the world. What’s really cool is how it blends fantasy and mythology with amazing, original K-pop songs – you even get to hear music from groups within the movie, like the Saja Boys and Huntrix. It’s a total blast!
The music by KPop Demon Hunters is the best part of the film, so it’s no wonder their songs are so popular. They successfully capture the feel of their musical influences while also developing the characters, telling the story, and being incredibly memorable.
The animation in this film is beautiful. The characters and overall art style are distinct and easy to remember, and the action sequences are visually impressive. The demons are creatively designed and captivating, and the film is vibrant with striking colors in nearly every shot.
While it’s not flawless, KPop Demon Hunters is a truly excellent movie. It stands out as my favorite animated film of 2025 among a lot of great options. What are your thoughts? Share them in the comments and join the discussion in the ComicBook Forum!
https://comicbook.com/movies/list/3-most-underrated-animated-films-of-the-last-decade/embed/#
Read More
- Darkwood Trunk Location in Hytale
- Best Controller Settings for ARC Raiders
- Hytale: Upgrade All Workbenches to Max Level, Materials Guide
- Ashes of Creation Rogue Guide for Beginners
- Daredevil Is Entering a New Era With a Chilling New Villain (And We Have A First Look) (Exclusive)
- So Long, Anthem: EA’s Biggest Flop Says Goodbye
- 7 Announcements We’re Dying to See at Dragon Ball’s Genki Dama Festival This Month
- We’ll Never Get Another Star Wars Show Like Andor, But Not Because of Dave Filoni
- Katy Perry Shares Holiday Pics With Justin Trudeau & Ex Orlando Bloom
- RHOBH’s Jennifer Tilly Reacts to Sutton Stracke “Snapping” at Her
2026-01-17 17:42