If you are looking for something great to watch, you will like our list of the Best Cartoons of 2024 because it will guide you through the year’s most impressive animated films. We put together a single list of films that stole our hearts — and the hearts of millions of viewers. Animation is changing a lot; it’s getting more interesting and more varied.
Content
- The Remarkable Life of Ibelin
- The Wild Robot
- The Flow
- The Memoir of a Snail
- Inside Out 2
- Moana 2
- Imaginary
- Orion and the Dark
- Kung Fu Panda 4
- Despicable Me 4
The Remarkable Life of Ibelin
IMDb: 8.2/10
2024, Documentary, Animation
Norway, PG-13
Director: Benjamin Ree
Top Cast: Mats Steen, Robert Steen, Trine Lise Steen
This documentary is about Mats Steen, a young Norwegian known in World of Warcraft as Ibelin. He died at 25 from a rare illness. Afterward, his parents learned he wasn’t as alone as they feared: he was part of a large group of friends in the game, where he played a brave, thoughtful warrior. The film uses real in-game chat logs shared by his parents and animation that rebuilds the World of Warcraft world to show Mats’s life in the game.
The Wild Robot
IMDb: 8.2/10
2024, Animation, Adventure, Family, Sci-Fi
USA, PG
Director: Chris Sanders
Top Cast: Lupita Nyong’o, Pedro Pascal, Kit Connor
The animated film is based on the novel of the same name by Peter Brown. It tells the story of a robot named Roz (unit ROZZUM 7134) who finds herself on a deserted island after a shipwreck.
Built for city life, Roz has to learn to survive in the wild, adapt to her new environment, and connect with the local animals. They are initially wary of her, but eventually, they become her friends and family.
This film is the first project from DreamWorks Animation to be entirely hand-drawn, without using any computer graphics.
The Flow
IMDb: 8.3/10
2024, Animation, Adventure, Family
Latvia, France, Belgium, PG
Director: Gints Zilbalodis
The film is set in a world that has survived a massive flood. The main character is a cat who has always preferred to be alone. When his home floods, he’s forced to escape on a small boat. Soon, other animals join him in their fight for survival: a calm and wise capybara, a nervous and selfish lemur, a kind and naive Labrador, and an arrogant secretary bird.
“The Flow” is completely silent. All the characters' emotions and thoughts are shown through their movements, expressions, gestures, and the wonderful music composed by the director.
The Memoir of a Snail
IMDb: 8.2/10
2024, Animation, Comedy, Drama
Australia, R (MPA)
Director: Adam Elliot
Top Cast: Sarah Snook, Jacki Weaver, Eric Bana
“The Memoir of a Snail” is a dark comedy-drama made with stop-motion animation. It tells the story of Grace Pudel, a woman whose life has been filled with tragedy since childhood, including losing her parents and being separated from her brother. Grace becomes a recluse, and her only comfort comes from her snails.
The turning point happens when she finds friendship with an eccentric old woman named Pinky, who helps her deal with her grief. The film is a story about survival, finding hope, and accepting yourself, told with warmth and dark humor.
Inside Out 2
IMDb: 7.5/10
2024, Animation, Adventure, Comedy, Family, Fantasy
USA, PG (MPA)
Director: Kelsey Mann
Top Cast: Amy Poehler, Maya Hawke, Phyllis Smith
Inside Out 2 is the sequel to the Oscar-winning Inside Out. The movie continues the story of Riley, who is now a teenager. Her mind is going through new, more complicated changes.
The original emotions — Joy, Sadness, Fear, Anger, and Disgust — are faced with unexpected new guests: teenage emotions. Anxiety, Envy, Ennui, and Embarrassment show up and take over the control panel, causing chaos in Riley’s life. The old emotions have to find a way to work with the new ones to help Riley navigate the challenges of growing up.
Moana 2
IMDb: 6.5/10
2024, Animation, Adventure, Family, Fantasy, Musical
USA, PG (MPA)
Director: David G. Derrick Jr., Jason Hand, Dana Ledoux Miller
Top Cast: Auliʻi Cravalho, Dwayne Johnson, Alan Tudyk, Nicole Scherzinger
Three years after the first movie, Moana gets a message from her ancestors telling her to go on a new, more dangerous ocean journey. Her mission is to unite the separated people of Oceania. She puts together a new crew and meets an ancient spirit who helps her on her quest.
The movie was originally planned as a TV series for Disney+. However, after seeing its potential, the studio decided to release it as a full-length film. In this sequel, audiences will meet new characters and mythical creatures.
Imaginary
IMDb: 8.2/10
2023, Animation, Fantasy, Adventure
Japan, PG
Director: Yoshiyuki Momose
Top Cast: Kokoro Terada, Rio Suzuki, Riisa Naka
The movie is about Rudger, an imaginary friend of a little girl named Amanda. They live an amazing life, spending their days in fantastic worlds created by Amanda’s endless imagination. Her room transforms into magical places, from snowy landscapes to outer space.
But their perfect friendship is cut short when Amanda is in an accident. Rudger suddenly finds himself alone and starts to disappear because imaginary friends can only exist as long as their creators remember them. With his existence in danger, he has to find a safe place.
With the help of a mysterious cat named Zinzan, Rudger finds his way to the “Town of Imaginary Beings.” This safe haven is where other forgotten imaginary friends live, drawing power from books to avoid disappearing completely. Here, Rudger meets new friends and starts a new life.
Orion and the Dark
IMDb: 6.3/10
2024, Animation, Adventure, Comedy, Family, Fantasy
USA, TV-Y7
Director: Sean Charmatz
Top Cast: Jacob Tremblay, Paul Walter Hauser, Colin Hanks
This is an animated movie from DreamWorks Animation, based on the book by Emma Yarlett. The story is about a boy named Orion who is afraid of the dark. One night, his fear comes to life as a creature called Dark, and they go on an exciting journey through the night sky. Dark wants to show Orion that there’s nothing to be scared of in the dark.
Kung Fu Panda 4
IMDb: 6.3/10
2024, Animation, Action, Adventure, Comedy, Family, Fantasy
USA, PG (MPA)
Director: Mike Mitchell; co-director Stephanie Ma Stine
Top Cast: Jack Black, Awkwafina, Viola Davis, Dustin Hoffman
After years of adventures and training, Po the Dragon Warrior faces a new, unexpected challenge. He needs to move up and become a leader. His new job is to find and train a new Dragon Warrior, because it’s time for him to take on the role of the spiritual leader of the Valley of Peace.
A new threat soon appears: a sorceress and chameleon who can turn into any of Po’s old enemies. She comes back to steal his staff and gain access to the “Hall of Heroes.” Po must team up with a fox thief named Zhen to defeat this new enemy.
This is the first film in the franchise without the full “Furious Five” team, which shows Po’s transition to a new level. The movie broke box office records, becoming the most successful film in the franchise so far, proving that fans missed their favorite characters.
Despicable Me 4
IMDb: 6.2/10
2024, Animation, Adventure, Comedy, Family
USA, PG (MPA)
Director: Chris Renaud; co-director Patrick Delage
Top Cast: Steve Carell, Kristen Wiig, Will Ferrell, Sofía Vergara
Now a father of many and an Anti-Villain League agent, Gru faces a dangerous new enemy: the criminal mastermind Maxime Le Mal and his girlfriend Valentina. After escaping from prison, Maxime is out for revenge against Gru and his family.
To keep them safe, Gru has to hide his family in a secure place. He also brings along a new family member, little Gru Jr., who looks just like him. In the movie, new Minions with superpowers also appear.
