10 DreamWorks Animated Movies Just As Good As Disney And Pixar

by

When people talk about great animated movies, Disney and Pixar usually get most of the attention. However, DreamWorks consistently creates films that are just as deserving of praise. While some criticize DreamWorks for focusing on broad appeal and simple humor, their best movies prove they’re capable of the same quality and artistry as Disney or Pixar.

As a huge animation fan, I remember when Shrek really put DreamWorks on the map back in 2001. Winning the Oscar for Best Animated Feature was a game-changer, and the movie was just a massive success with both critics and audiences. Ever since then, I’ve always felt DreamWorks has been right up there with Pixar in terms of how amazing their animation looks, and honestly, their stories often feel as good as, or even better than, a lot of Disney’s classics.

Madagascar 3: Europe’s Most Wanted (2012)

Following the success of Shrek, 2005 saw DreamWorks score another hit with the movie Madagascar. The film tells the story of a group of animals from a New York City zoo who unexpectedly find themselves on an incredible adventure when they’re shipped off to Madagascar. It was a popular film that launched a franchise, though many fans consider the third movie to be the strongest installment.

In 2012, Madagascar 3: Europe’s Most Wanted arrived in theaters, putting it in direct competition with films from Disney and Pixar. The movie follows the familiar animal crew as their adventures lead them to Europe, where they unexpectedly join a traveling circus. The script was co-written by Noah Baumbach for DreamWorks Animation.

The series really hit its stride with Captain Chantel DuBois, a hilarious new villain who quickly became the best antagonist yet. Building on the established friendships and loyalty of the animals, the story moved at a fast and exciting pace. Both critics and audiences agree it’s one of the strongest sequels, even surpassing the original movies.

The Croods (2013)

Nicolas Cage’s involvement with DreamWorks Animation in The Croods was a big draw, but the movie itself is also worth watching. It’s set in the prehistoric world, like Ice Age, and tells the story of a caveman family trying to make it through tough times.

The Croods launched a franchise with a sequel and animated series, but the original movie is still the most beloved. At its heart, the story centers on a father who struggles to let his children take risks, illustrating the important lesson that parents must allow their kids independence for them to thrive.

The movie features a fantastic voice cast, including Nicolas Cage as the dad, along with Emma Stone, Ryan Reynolds, Catherine Keener, Cloris Leachman, and Clark Duke playing the rest of the family and one unexpected friend. Like other DreamWorks films, it boasts stunning, cutting-edge animation and combines beautiful visuals with a compelling story.

Rise Of The Guardians (2012)

DreamWorks’ 2012 film, Rise of the Guardians, is a surprisingly overlooked gem. It’s a fun, holiday-themed adventure about a team of magical Guardians who work to protect children everywhere. But when a villain named Pitch Black tries to plunge the world into darkness, the Guardians must band together to stop him.

This film is a holiday adventure centered around Santa Claus, the Easter Bunny, the Tooth Fairy, and the Sandman. While Jack Frost wasn’t originally part of their team, he’s selected by the Man in the Moon to help them defeat the villain, Pitch Black.

It’s a shame this amazing film has largely been forgotten. It boasts a wonderful story and truly impressive animation, and deserves to be on everyone’s holiday movie list – it’s better than many of the Disney and Pixar films that were popular around the same time.

The Bad Guys (2022)

In 2022, DreamWorks released The Bad Guys, a film that showcased their advancements in animation. The story follows a group of notorious criminals who pretend they want to reform to avoid jail time. However, their leader genuinely decides to change his ways.

The movie’s animation is inspired by Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, which pioneered a unique style that moved away from realistic visuals – like those seen in older Pixar films – and embraced a comic book aesthetic. Unlike Spider-Verse, which frequently switched animation styles, The Bad Guys maintained a consistent look, and it was exceptionally well done.

Beyond its impressive animation – a key area where DreamWorks shines compared to Pixar – The Bad Guys tells a compelling story about morality and the challenges of making good choices. Overall, it’s a fantastic film, both as a story and as an animated movie.

Shrek (2001)

Although DreamWorks had previously released an animated film, Antz in 1998, Shrek was the movie that truly established the studio as a major player. Released in 2001, Shrek follows an ogre whose peaceful swamp life is disrupted when it becomes overrun with characters from fairy tales who have been cast out of their own stories.

He embarks on a quest with a talking donkey to save a princess from a dragon, hoping to find some inner peace. While the movie felt like a classic fairy tale reminiscent of Disney films, it stood out thanks to its clever sarcasm, sharp wit, and impressive computer-generated animation.

The result was the critically acclaimed film Shrek, which won the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature and continues to be a cultural touchstone – so much so that it was added to the Library of Congress’s National Film Registry in 2020. Shrek also launched a successful series of films, including three sequels (with another one planned) and two spin-off movies.

Kung Fu Panda (2008)

As a huge animation fan, I remember when Kung Fu Panda first came out in 2008. It quickly became one of DreamWorks’ biggest successes! The story centers around Po, a panda voiced by Jack Black, who’s a bit of an underdog. He lives with his dad, who happens to be a goose, and suddenly finds out he might be the hero everyone’s been waiting for in an upcoming kung fu battle. It’s a really fun and surprisingly heartfelt movie.

Similar to the movie Shrek, you can easily tell the difference between DreamWorks and Pixar based on their sense of humor. Pixar focuses on heartwarming stories with funny scenes, while DreamWorks prioritizes making audiences laugh, then adds a positive message.

While Kung Fu Panda didn’t win an Oscar like the original Shrek, it’s actually more successful at what it does. Similar to Shrek, it launched a series of movies, and though the first film remains the strongest, the animation quality in the sequels is on par with the best Disney has produced in recent years.

Puss In Boots: The Last Wish (2022)

Everyone was surprised by Puss in Boots: The Last Wish. It’s a sequel to a spin-off of the Shrek series. While the first Puss in Boots movie was enjoyable, it wasn’t a blockbuster and didn’t really challenge Disney or Pixar. It simply showcased a popular character from the Shrek films.

But Puss in Boots: The Last Wish really stood out. It featured a groundbreaking new animation style, building on the successful look of Kung Fu Panda 2 and incorporating the innovative techniques from Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse. The result was a truly unique animated experience.

Puss in Boots: The Last Wish featured a surprisingly deep story, exploring themes of mortality and an existential crisis for the main character, culminating in a moment of self-discovery that wasn’t about action—though the action sequences were excellent. While it lost the Oscar to Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio, many felt it was equally deserving of the award.

Wallace & Gromit: The Curse Of The Were-Rabbit (2005)

You know, it’s funny – a lot of people don’t immediately think of Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit as a DreamWorks film, and that makes sense. It’s really an Aardman Studios creation at heart. But I was reminded the other day that DreamWorks actually distributed it back in 2005, and they collaborated closely with Aardman to get it out to cinemas. It’s a neat little bit of film history!

The result was a truly exceptional stop-motion animated film. While the charming friendship between inventor Wallace and his clever dog, Gromit, had been explored in shorter films, this full-length movie demonstrated Aardman’s ability to create compelling stories for a feature-length format.

This charming horror-comedy is great for the whole family! It’s about a were-rabbit who shows up and causes trouble at the yearly Giant Vegetable Competition. The movie is packed with clever wordplay and features a script that’s as well-made as anything from Disney or Pixar.

How To Train Your Dragon (2010)

Look, Shrek and Kung Fu Panda definitely made DreamWorks a big name, but for me, How to Train Your Dragon was the movie where they really stepped up their game. That’s when critics – and honestly, a lot of us fans – started to see DreamWorks competing with Pixar in terms of genuinely creative storytelling. It felt like they’d finally hit a new level with that film.

This film tells the story of a Viking village constantly threatened by dragons. When the chief’s son, Hiccup, unexpectedly becomes friends with a dragon named Toothless, he faces the challenge of changing his tribe’s beliefs and proving that dragons aren’t always foes – they can be allies too.

This movie’s animation was truly outstanding, even better than what you typically see from Disney or Pixar. The story was clever and beautifully presented, making it one of the best animated films of the 21st century, period.

The Wild Robot (2024)

DreamWorks truly shines with The Wild Robot, a film that demonstrates the studio’s ability to create original stories and stunning animation comparable to Pixar and Disney. The movie tells the heartwarming story of a robot, originally designed to help people, who becomes stranded and ends up raising a baby goose.

The movie beautifully unfolds the story of a young goose discovering what happened to his mother, understanding the purpose of his robotic caretaker Roz, and navigating a dangerous world that threatens both animals and robots alike. It’s a heartwarming family story that feels like a classic Pixar film.

The Wild Robot wasn’t just a good animated movie – it was a truly wonderful film for the whole family. It received incredible recognition, winning nine out of ten Annie Awards, including the top prize for Best Animated Feature. It also earned nominations for four Golden Globes and three Oscars. Many consider it to be DreamWorks Animation’s best film to date, and it’s comparable to the quality of Pixar’s work.

Read More

2026-01-24 21:14