The Best Animated Movies From Every Year of The 2000s

Movies often connect with us through beautiful images, lovable characters, and captivating stories. While animation continues to produce excellent films today, many people fondly remember the 2000s, a time when several studios consistently released timeless classics.

The 2010s were a fantastic decade for animation fans. Thanks to the success of studios like Pixar, animated movies became incredibly popular and produced some truly memorable films – not just animated ones, but movies overall. Here’s a look at the best animated films released each year of the 2010s.

2000: The Emperor’s New Groove Is the Most Underrated Animated Film Ever

After a hugely successful period in the 1990s, Disney’s animated films didn’t perform as well in the early 2000s. Several movies from this time weren’t very popular, including The Emperor’s New Groove, a story about the spoiled Emperor Cuzco who learns a valuable lesson about humility when he’s turned into a llama.

Despite initially being overlooked when it was released in 2000, The Emperor’s New Groove has become a much-loved favorite, especially with younger generations who frequently quote lines from the movie. Though it doesn’t quite reach the heights of Disney’s Renaissance period, it’s one of their most underrated films and is finally getting the recognition it deserves.

2001: Spirited Away Shows the Power of Studio Ghibli

Studio Ghibli is widely considered a groundbreaking and influential animation studio, and for good reason. One of their most beloved films tells the story of Chihiro, a ten-year-old girl whose parents are mysteriously turned into pigs. She must then journey through a magical world, guided by a friend named Haku, to find a way to break the curse and save her family.

Hayao Miyazaki’s Spirited Away is a wonderfully imaginative film that takes viewers to a world that feels both recognizable and magical. The story centers on Chihiro, a captivating character who bravely navigates an unfamiliar and challenging environment. The film beautifully combines modern animation with traditional Japanese stories and thoughtfully examines what it means to be human, including its difficulties.

2002: Lilo & Stitch Created One of Disney’s Most Iconic Friendships

Released in 2002, Lilo & Stitch stood out as a unique success for Disney in the early 2000s. The movie tells the story of Stitch, an alien on the run who crash-lands in Hawaii after escaping from the United Galactic Federation. There, he’s adopted as a pet – a “dog” – by a lively six-year-old girl named Lilo. As they become friends, Stitch discovers what family truly means, even if it’s not perfect.

I truly believe Lilo & Stitch is Disney’s best film from the early 2000s. It just has everything – amazing animation, a really fun sci-fi story, and surprisingly touching moments. It reminds me of all the magic from the Disney Renaissance films I grew up with, but it feels completely fresh and original. Even now, over twenty years later, it’s still incredibly popular, and you can see its influence everywhere!

2003: Finding Nemo Is a Triumph of Pixar’s Animated History

Finding Nemo was Pixar’s fifth full-length movie and played a huge role in establishing the studio as a leader in the animation industry. Released in 2003, the film tells the story of a father fish who bravely travels across the ocean to find his son, Nemo. During his journey, he encounters many memorable characters, like Dory, a friendly but forgetful blue tang fish who joins him along the way.

Finding Nemo really showcases what makes Pixar great, grabbing viewers right from the start with a powerful and moving opening. The movie then explores surprisingly thoughtful ideas about being a parent and what it means to be a hero, all mixed with lots of memorable funny moments. Above all, it’s a stunning achievement in animation. Animating water is famously challenging and costly, but Pixar boldly chose to set the entire film underwater, and it still looks incredible over two decades later.

2004: The Incredibles Is One of the Greatest Superhero Movies Ever Made

Pixar Animation had a remarkably successful run in the 2000s, consistently releasing hit films. In 2004, just a year after Finding Nemo, they launched The Incredibles, their first superhero movie—well before superhero films became hugely popular with franchises like the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The story centers on the Parr family, a group of superheroes forced to live in secret, who discover a dangerous scheme targeting people with powers like theirs.

Although The Incredibles came out before the current wave of superhero movies, it remains a standout film. It focuses more on the realistic challenges and relationships within the Parr family, making them one of Pixar’s most relatable families. The movie’s animation is also stunning, demonstrating how much Pixar’s ability to animate people had improved since Toy Story.

2005: Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit Makes a Great Case for Stop-Motion Animation

Stop-motion animation can be unpredictable, but the 2005 film Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit really showcases its potential. The movie features the beloved characters Wallace and Gromit as they try to solve a strange mystery that has puzzled their town. Their investigation leads them to a terrifying creature they never expected: the Were-Rabbit.

The Curse of the Were-Rabbit is packed with the fun and excitement you’d expect from a Wallace & Gromit film, but it’s also remarkably well-made. The filmmakers put incredible effort and detail into every part of the story. Each scene was carefully planned, and animators sometimes spent days working on just a few seconds of footage. This movie demonstrates the amazing potential of stop-motion animation, even though it can be a challenging technique.

2006: Paprika Is a Masterpiece in an Otherwise Underwhelming Year

Paprika is a 2006 film about Dr. Atsuko Chiba, who works as a scientist by day and a ‘dream detective’ named Paprika by night. She’s developing a device to help people with mental health issues by entering their dreams, but when the device is stolen, she has to chase after the thief through a series of bizarre and imaginative dream worlds to prevent it from being misused.

Though not as famous as some animated classics, Paprika is a vibrant, original, and thought-provoking film, especially considering 2006 wasn’t a particularly strong year for animation. Compared to movies like Over the Hedge and Flushed Away, which were somewhat disappointing, Paprika captures the magic that makes animated films so enjoyable.

2007: Ratatouille Deserves More Love as One of Pixar’s Best Movies

The movie Ratatouille follows Remy, a rat with big dreams of becoming a chef in Paris. He teams up with Linguini, a clumsy kitchen worker, and secretly controls his movements from inside Linguini’s hat. While that might sound simple, the 2007 animated film is actually a deeply moving and complex story.

Ultimately, Ratatouille is a heartwarming story about pursuing your passions and achieving your dreams. Once viewers accept the idea of a rat chef, they’ll be captivated by Remy’s journey to succeed and overcome everyone’s expectations. The film is further enhanced by a beautiful, often overlooked musical score and stunning animation.

2008: WALL-E Captivated the World With Its Endearing Characters

Pixar’s WALL-E is a truly groundbreaking film. Released in 2008, it paints a picture of a future where Earth has become uninhabitable due to pollution and overuse of resources, forcing humans to leave the planet. The story centers around WALL-E, a lonely robot left behind to clean up the mess, who becomes fascinated with remnants of human life. When a sleek new robot arrives, WALL-E follows her to the spaceship where humanity now resides, and discovers a society consumed by the very things he’s been collecting.

I absolutely adore how Pixar consistently takes on ambitious projects, and WALL-E is a perfect example. It’s amazing how they created such a lovable character with such a limited vocabulary – you instantly connect with that little robot! And, of course, the animation is breathtaking, beautifully bringing both a desolate Earth and the wonders of space to life. Even almost twenty years after its release, WALL-E still feels as magical and heartwarming as it did back in 2008.

2009: Coraline Is a Darker Kind of Animated Classic

The movie Coraline is based on the popular children’s book of the same name. It tells the story of Coraline, a young girl who discovers a seemingly ideal world that quickly turns frightening. Feeling neglected, she enters this alternate dimension where her parents are everything she wishes they were, but her dream soon becomes a nightmare as she realizes things aren’t what they seem.

Unlike many cheerful animated movies, Coraline is a delightfully spooky and unsettling film. It’s filled with creepy twists and images that might have scared some younger viewers. Despite this, it’s become a beloved classic thanks to its incredible stop-motion animation, distinctive style, and charming main character. While it’s not for all tastes, everyone can agree that Coraline is a remarkable film.

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2026-05-09 05:08