10 Greatest Disney Animated Movies of the Last 15 Years, Ranked

Disney boasts one of the most impressive collections of films ever created. Alongside studios like Pixar and DreamWorks, Disney has produced generations of beloved, classic movies that continue to be enjoyed today.

Everyone remembers Disney’s classic animated films from the 90s and early 2000s, but the studio has continued to create excellent movies since then. Here are some of the best Disney animated films released after 2011, ranging from modern princess stories to exciting action adventures.

Winnie-the-Pooh Is a Quaint Adventure for All Ages

Inspired by the stories of A.A. Milne, the 2011 film follows Winnie-the-Pooh and his friends – including Christopher Robin, Piglet, Tigger, and Eeyore – through three adventures on a single, bustling day in the Hundred Acre Wood.

A.A. Milne’s beloved characters from Winnie-the-Pooh have always captured hearts, and Disney clearly understands why. With a fantastic voice cast, this animated Winnie-the-Pooh is a charming and classic story that both children and adults will love.

Frozen II Raises the Stakes With a Surprisingly Dark Story

As a huge Disney fan, I was so excited when Frozen II came out in 2019 – it’s not often they do theatrical sequels to their animated hits! The movie picks up with Elsa hearing this strange call, and it leads her to a magical world beyond Arendelle where she starts to really understand her powers and what she’s capable of. When she goes missing, Anna, Kristoff, Sven, and Olaf bravely venture into the unknown to find her and bring her back home. It was a fantastic adventure!

Though not quite as strong as the first Frozen movie, Frozen II is a surprisingly good sequel, especially considering Disney’s history with them. Released in 2019, the film expands on the story and world of Frozen, with a noticeably more serious and grown-up feel. It was clearly a hit, as Disney is already planning more installments.

Raya and the Last Dragon Introduces One of Disney’s Greatest Heroes

Raya and the Last Dragon is a unique animated adventure. The story unfolds in the fantastical world of Kumandra, but takes a dark turn when dangerous creatures threaten to destroy everything. Raya, voiced by Kelly Marie Tran, must find a way to survive and restore light to the world. Her only hope lies with Sisu, the last dragon, but Raya will need to convince people from different, often hostile, groups to work together to succeed.

Despite being released during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2021 and not getting much attention at the time, Raya and the Last Dragon has become a standout film in Disney’s animated collection. It’s more intense and action-filled than many typical Disney movies, and it tells a powerful story that resonates with real-life issues. If you didn’t see it when it first came out, it’s definitely worth watching now.

Big Hero 6 Is One of the Best Superhero Movies Ever

Released in 2014, Big Hero 6 was Disney Animation’s one and only movie based on Marvel Comics. The film centers on Hiro Hamada, a fourteen-year-old robotics prodigy whose life changes forever when his older brother, Tadashi, dies in an accident. Hiro discovers Tadashi’s healthcare robot, Baymax, is still functioning and, after equipping Baymax with a high-tech suit, he joins forces with a group of friends to uncover what really happened to his brother.

Big Hero 6 builds a bright and imaginative world by blending elements of Marvel comics and the retrofuturistic style of Japan, making it one of Disney’s most original settings. Beyond its visuals, the film tells a powerful and moving story about a teenager coping with loss and the support he finds in his friends. Big Hero 6 succeeds in every way.

Zootopia 2 Perfectly Expands the Lore of the Original

Nearly ten years after the first movie, Zootopia 2 delivers exactly what fans want in a sequel. Set once again in the vibrant animal city, the 2025 film brings back beloved characters as they investigate a new criminal smuggling operation. Their investigation leads them to the discovery of the first snake seen in years, and this discovery unravels everything they believed to be true about Zootopia.

Zootopia 2 successfully expands on the world created in the first film, addressing long-held questions and cleverly incorporating what some viewers saw as a gap in the original story. The sequel introduces memorable new characters, such as Gary, voiced by Ke Huy Quan, and became a massive box office success and cultural highlight in 2025.

Wreck-It-Ralph Is an Endearing Redemption Story

The 2012 film Wreck-It Ralph takes viewers inside a colorful world of video games, seen through the eyes of Ralph, a character voiced by John C. Reilly who is usually the villain in an arcade game. Feeling frustrated with his role as the bad guy, Ralph leaves his own game and travels through different video game worlds. During his journey, he befriends someone who helps him realize he has the potential to be more than just a villain.

While it might not be as widely known as Disney hits like Frozen and Tangled, Wreck-It Ralph is just as deserving of praise. What makes it special is its original story – something you don’t often see in Disney animation, which usually draws from fairy tales and myths. Released in 2012, the film had the freedom to create its own world and story from scratch, and it uses this to become one of the most unique Disney films of the past fifteen years.

Disney Fans Can’t Let Frozen Go

I still can’t believe how popular Frozen is, even after all these years! It’s inspired by the classic story The Snow Queen, and it takes place in this amazing, made-up city called Arendelle. The movie starts with Princess Elsa getting ready to become queen, but she has this secret – she can control ice and snow! When everyone finds out, things go crazy and Arendelle gets completely frozen over. That’s when Anna has to go on this incredible adventure through the snow to find Elsa and save the kingdom.

Disney’s Frozen became a global sensation thanks to its beautiful animation, lovable characters, and especially its incredibly popular music. Songs like “Do You Want to Build a Snowman?” and “Let It Go” are still widely sung by fans of all ages. The film is now considered a Disney classic and one of the studio’s biggest successes, leading to sequels, a Broadway show, and numerous related products. Frozen is arguably the most popular animated movie of the 2010s.

Encanto Is a Beautiful Story With Endlessly Catchy Music

Following the success of Moana, Lin-Manuel Miranda and Disney collaborated again in 2021 to create Encanto. This animated musical tells the story of the Madrigal family, who are all blessed with unique gifts—except for Mirabel. Feeling like an outcast, Mirabel unexpectedly becomes the family’s only hope for saving their magical home and preserving their powers.

Similar to Lin-Manuel Miranda’s previous work with Disney, this film features incredibly catchy songs, most notably “We Don’t Talk About Bruno.” But beyond the music, the movie is celebrated for its surprisingly thoughtful message about being yourself and discovering your unique gifts. Mirabel’s story is easy for everyone to connect with, and it offers a positive and empowering message for young audiences, making her character development one of Disney’s strongest in recent years.

Moana Modernizes the Iconic Disney Princess Formula

I absolutely love Disney’s Moana! It’s quickly become one of my favorite Disney movies. The story follows Moana, this amazing young princess from a Polynesian island, who has to go on this really challenging journey to save everyone. It’s so cool because the ocean chooses her for the mission! She ends up teaming up with Maui, a demigod voiced by Dwayne Johnson, and let me tell you, he’s a bit of a show-off, but he has awesome powers. Together, they have to restore the heart of Te Fiti, and it’s just an incredible adventure.

Moana generally follows the classic Disney Princess movie structure, but it updates the formula in smart and effective ways. Moana takes charge of her own journey, and she’s still a likable and easy-to-connect-with character. The movie is also notable for being the first time Disney worked with acclaimed songwriter Lin-Manuel Miranda, who created some of their most memorable songs in years. Given how well-loved the film was, it’s not surprising that a sequel is coming out only ten years after the original.

Zootopia Is a Triumph of Disney’s Animated Filmography

Released in 2016, Zootopia quickly became a turning point for Disney Animation. The movie is set in a bustling city where animals live together harmoniously. But when rookie police officer Judy Hopps stumbles upon a puzzling case, she discovers that Zootopia isn’t as peaceful as it seems. To solve the mystery and stop a hidden villain from causing trouble, she reluctantly partners with a sly con artist named Nick Wilde.

Zootopia is a lively and imaginative adventure with a captivating world that keeps viewers wanting to explore further. It’s one of Disney’s most immersive films and feels perfect for future stories. The 2025 sequel delves deeper into the city of Zootopia and its mysteries. Following the first film’s huge success, the sequel became the highest-grossing American animated film ever, firmly establishing Zootopia as Disney’s next major franchise.

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2026-05-05 00:14