The Best Animated Movie Each Year Of The 2010s

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The 2010s were a fantastic decade for animated movies. The technology used to create these films was truly impressive, allowing animators to push boundaries and tell bigger, more imaginative stories. Plus, with so many talented studios releasing quality films from diverse backgrounds and genres, it was a golden age for animation.

Walt Disney Animation has consistently been a leader in animation, and studios like Pixar, Studio Ghibli, and DreamWorks have always been excellent as well. During the 2010s, Sony Pictures Animation and Illumination rose to prominence, adding to the wealth of fantastic animated films. Because each year of that decade produced several exceptional movies, choosing the very best from each year is quite challenging.

Sometimes the best movies of the decade were superhero films, and other times they were fantasy adventures. We also saw incredible animated projects that explored genres like westerns, science fiction, and even video games. There’s been an explosion of animated films available, making it harder than ever to pick the very best one from the decade.

2010 – How To Train Your Dragon

It’s rare for an animated movie to become instantly popular and launch a major franchise, but that’s exactly what happened with How to Train Your Dragon in 2010. The film is based on the 2003 book of the same name.

This film follows Hiccup, a Viking who doesn’t quite fit in, and his unlikely friendship with a dragon – even though his village is determined to destroy all dragons. Their bond helps everyone overcome their biases and misunderstandings. With memorable characters, a heartwarming story, and a fantastic soundtrack, it’s a truly special movie.

2011 – Rango

2011 wasn’t a standout year for major animated films. While sequels and spin-offs like Cars 2 and Puss in Boots didn’t really impress, the original film Rango managed to stand out and gain attention from viewers.

Rango is an unusual animated Western about a chameleon who becomes the sheriff of a dusty town called Dirt. Its unique animation style, combined with director Gore Verbinski’s vision, helped make it a critical success, earning it the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature.

2012 – Wreck-It Ralph

With Wreck-It Ralph, Walt Disney Animation Studios took a fresh approach. Instead of a traditional fairy tale or fantasy setting, the movie takes place inside a video game. The story follows a video game villain who dreams of being seen as a hero instead of the bad guy.

Ralph, brought to life by John C. Reilly’s voice, ventures into a new video game on a mission, where he meets and becomes friends with Vanellope, a princess from a racing game. Their connection is one of the most heartwarming friendships ever shown in a Disney film.

2013 – Batman: The Dark Knight Returns 2

Although Frozen was the most popular animated movie of 2013 and a critically acclaimed film, Batman: The Dark Knight Returns – Part 2 stands out as truly exceptional. The first part was released in 2012, but this second installment is the stronger of the two, adapting the graphic novel beautifully.

The second part of the story features an older Batman returning to crime-fighting and confronting his classic enemy, the Joker. Many fans consider Batman: The Dark Knight Returns – Part 2 to be DC’s best animated movie, and it remains a fantastic film even now.

2014 – Big Hero 6

Walt Disney Animation Studios and Marvel Studios are behind some of the most popular movie franchises globally. While these two companies both belong to Disney, they rarely combine their universes. However, the film Big Hero 6 was an exception, as it originally started as a Marvel comic book.

Big Hero 6 tells the story of Hiro Hamada, a brilliant young robotics expert, and Baymax, a caring healthcare robot created by his older brother. Together with his friends, Hiro and Baymax form a superhero team. The movie is packed with action and surprisingly heartwarming moments, making Baymax a fan-favorite character.

2015 – Inside Out

Pixar dominated animated filmmaking throughout the 2000s with a string of excellent movies. While they had a slight dip in quality in the early 2010s, the release of Inside Out marked a return to form and became a truly beloved film.

This animated film explores the inner world of a young girl, showing how her five emotions – Joy, Sadness, Anger, Fear, and Disgust – influence her thoughts and actions. With a fantastic voice cast, including Amy Poehler, and a deeply moving story, it’s no surprise this film won the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature.

2016 – Your Name

Makoto Shinkai’s “disaster trilogy” includes some of the most visually stunning and critically acclaimed animated films of recent years. Your Name is the first movie in the series (though each film tells its own complete story) and centers around two high school students who mysteriously begin switching bodies, even though they’ve never met.

Beginning as a funny story about two people switching bodies, Your Name unexpectedly transforms into a thrilling disaster movie, a sweet romance, and a science fiction adventure. It’s a beautifully made film that feels truly original and is considered one of the best animated movies of the 2010s.

2017 – Coco

Pixar regained its position as a leading animation studio with Coco, widely considered one of their greatest films. The story centers on Miguel, a boy in Mexico with a passion for music that his family forbids. Through a surprising turn of events, he finds himself in the Land of the Dead, seeking his ancestors’ blessing.

The success of Coco comes from its blend of a fantastical setting with a story and characters that feel real. The film is visually stunning, and its original song won an Academy Award for being deeply moving. It was also named the Best Animated Feature at the Academy Awards.

2018 – Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse

Sony’s live-action Spider-Man movies, like Morbius and Kraven the Hunter, haven’t been very successful. But they’ve really hit it out of the park with animation, especially Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, which is a fantastic film.

I was completely blown away by this movie! It’s an amazing introduction to Miles Morales as Spider-Man, and I loved how they brought in Spider-People from different universes. The animation is just stunning – every dimension felt so unique and vibrant. Plus, the music was fantastic and the story was perfect from beginning to end. It totally deserved its award for Best Animated Feature!

2019 – Klaus

Although Klaus is considered the best animated movie of 2019, it faced strong competition from other excellent films like Toy Story 4, I Lost My Body, Frozen II, Weathering With You, and Missing Link.

“Klaus” is a delightful and often overlooked Netflix movie. It tells the story of a postman sent to a famously feuding town, where he unexpectedly befriends a lonely toymaker named Klaus. Together, they start a tradition of giving gifts to children, and the film cleverly reveals how Santa Claus came to be.

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2026-05-27 18:42