Entertainment
30 Best Animated Fantasy Movies, Ranked
Ever since the German The Adventures of Prince Achmed in 1926, animated movies have changed cinema for the better. Animation is a medium unlike any other, capable of expanding the limits of artists’ imagination by granting them a space to push visual boundaries. The creativity and freedom allowed by animation hold a strong connection with fantasy, a genre that’s all about making magic feel believable.
As a medium tailor-made for its demands, fantasy has often recurred to animation to tell its stories. The genres often achieve their greatest iterations together, from timeless classics like Disney’s Pinocchio to modern masterpieces like Puss in Boots: The Last Wish; from beautifully hand-drawn movies to fully CG-animated efforts; from the simple and subtle to the sprawlingly epic. These are the best fantasy movies from animation, stunning triumphs of thought and execution.
30
‘Ne Zha 2’ (2025)
There are box office hits that seem to come out of nowhere, and then there’s the Chinese animated fantasy film Ne Zha 2. It’s the direct sequel to 2019’s Ne Zha, a movie with immensely respectable box office numbers; but how it managed to join the ranks of history’s few films that have made over $2 billion dollars worldwide is one of the most impressive financial success stories in cinema’s recent history.
It’s the highest-grossing animated film and the highest-grossing non-English language film for a reason. Visually impressive, endearingly funny and charming, and with a frenetically paced and surprisingly dense plot, it’s pure fantasy spectacle that fans of the genre are bound to enjoy. Clocking in at nearly two and a half hours, there’s no shortage of fun to be had here.
29
‘Flow’ (2024)
The third-ever non-English language film to win the Best Animated Feature Academy Award, the Latvian post-apocalyptic movie Flow is one of the best movie masterpieces of 2024. Despite its shoestring budget and having been animated entirely on the free and open-source software Blender, it’s still one of the most impressive animated movies of the 2020s so far.
Its visual style is delectably charming and dances around its limitations with ease, but what really makes Flow special is how much heart it has. There are minimal attempts here at anthropomorphizing these animals in any significant way. Rather, Flow‘s magic comes from watching a regular cat travel with other regular animals through this gorgeous, fantastical world ravaged by climate change.
28
‘The Secret of Kells’ (2009)
Nowadays, the Irish Cartoon Saloon is well known as an outstanding animation studio celebrating Irish culture and folklore through excellent films. Back in 2009, they were an up-and-coming new studio with a debut that took the world by storm. The Secret of Kells follows a young boy from a Medieval town beckoned to adventure when a master illuminator arrives with an ancient book, one brimming with secret wisdom and powers.
Tomm Moore’s beautiful The Secret of Kells is nothing short of one of the best Irish films of all time. The almost fully hand-drawn animation, while deceptively simple, is absolutely gorgeous; its depiction of Irish mythology makes it compelling for international audiences of all ages, and its love for the source material is nearly palpable in every scene.
27
‘Mad God’ (2021)
Simply looking at stills from Mad God is an unsettling experience, but even that isn’t enough preparation for the unforgettable journey that is actually watching the film. A surrealist horror fantasy film following an assassin’s trip through a hellscape of tortured souls and wretched monstrosities, the movie is constantly one-upping itself in testing how much grotesque imagery viewers will be able to take.
Written and directed by Phil Tippett, a master puppeteer and VFX specialist involved in films of the caliber of Jurassic Park and RoboCop, Mad God is a genuinely terrifying fantasy extravaganza with some of the most immersive stop-motion animation of the 21st century. For those with the stomach for it, it’s an absolute must-see.
26
‘The Night Is Short, Walk On Girl’ (2017)
Not many people have heard about Masaaki Yuasa‘s rom-com anime The Night Is Short, Walk On Girl, which only makes it even more of a must-see. It’s one of those forgotten animated movies that are still perfect, an ambitious and inventively surrealistic little gem that feels like the work of an artist in full control of their craft.
Though some may point to The Night Is Short, Walk On Girl as one of those films that favor style over substance, the style is the substance here. The movie is a true creative tornado in every sense of the metaphor, a whirlwind of aesthetics and artistic directions that blend together unexpectedly well throughout the whole thing.
25
‘Song of the Sea’ (2014)
After Kells, Cartoon Saloon’s next animated feature was another Tomm Moore masterpiece. Song of the Sea is one of the best family movies of the 2010s as a whole, one of those perfect animated movies that nobody remembers anymore. Its blend of hand-drawn and computer-generated animation has aged like fine wine, making it one of the most visually delightful animated films ever produced outside of Hollywood.
But while its delightful tone and rich visuals may be its two biggest strengths, Song of the Sea also boasts plenty of narrative depth and complexity to satisfy the whole family. Soaked in elements of Irish folklore and with a sweet story bolstered by a phenomenal voice cast, it’s Irish animation at its most exquisite.
24
‘Coco’ (2017)
In preparation for Coco, the dedicated team of artists behind the movie reportedly did extensive research to get Día de Muertos, one of the traditions that define Mexican culture, right. The result is one of Pixar’s best films, about a kid dreaming of becoming a musician who’s transported to the Land of the Dead, where he intends to look for his mysterious great-great-grandfather, a legendary singer.
Coco is a beautiful celebration of family love, traditions, and Mexican culture. The Land of the Dead is a beautifully complex, realized fantasy world both visually and in terms of its mechanics, making for the perfect location for this story to take place in. Tender, funny, and just the right amount of heartbreaking, Coco is yet another masterpiece from Pixar.
23
‘Son of the White Mare’ (1981)
Over the years, but particularly in the 20th century, Hungarian animation has built up a reputation for incomparable excellence, and yet, it’s a criminally underrated industry by most movie fans. Perhaps the most famous Hungarian animated feature is Son of the White Mare, a dreamlike adventure about three powerful brothers who set out into the Underworld in an effort to save three princesses and reclaim their ancestors’ lost kingdom.
Based on an ancient Hungarian folk myth, Marcell Jankovics‘ masterpiece has unique experimental animation and an engrossing aesthetic, which really make the entertaining story pop. It may be one of the weirdest animated movies ever made, but that’s precisely one of the main sources of its charm since it makes its richly intricate story much more exciting to absorb and analyze.
22
‘Kiki’s Delivery Service’ (1989)
Since the late ’70s, Hayao Miyazaki started steadily building up his name as the undisputed master of anime cinema, a title which he undoubtedly holds today. Most particularly, he’s interested in exploring the magic of fantasy through the endless possibilities of animation. Kiki’s Delivery Service, one of his best works ever, holds such an exploration. It’s the story of Kiki, a young witch trying to fit into a new community during her mandatory year of independent life.
Kiki is a delightful protagonist to follow. Resourceful and creative but also headstrong and a bit rough around the edges, she’s one of the most charming, funniest, and relatable characters in Studio Ghibli’s library. Kiki’s Delivery Service is a beautifully heartwarming depiction of teens’ search for identity, told through the enchanting allegory of a young witch trying to find her place in a world of magic.
21
‘Sleeping Beauty’ (1959)
One of Walt Disney‘s most magical classics, Sleeping Beauty is about a princess cursed by a malevolent fairy; only a prince can break the spell with the help of three good fairies. Directed by a dedicated team of four, it’s the kind of classical tale of magic and heroism that only old Walt Disney Productions could have been able to deliver.
Maleficent is arguably the most intimidating animated Disney villain; Aurora is one of the most beloved Disney princesses; and all the side characters are every bit as memorable. Elegant colors populate the screen, aggrandizing both the thrilling action scenes and the moving moments of emotion. All in all, Sleeping Beauty is a deeply endearing reminder that fairy tales can win over the hearts of any audience member, no matter their age.
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