Top 10 Animated Movies of 2024

As the year draws to a close, I want to take a moment to celebrate the amazing year in animation that was 2024. I mean, it was so amazing that it led to me finally taking the step of starting this blog. I wanted a place to gush about all of the great movies I was watching. I've enjoyed having this outlet.

This year, I saw more than 100 new-release animated movies, which is easily a record for me (my previous record was 82 last year). Of course, that means that a lot of great movies (including a certain Oscar frontrunner) didn't end up making this list. But that just goes to show what a stunning year it was. I hope 2025 can keep up.

Because of when and where I see movies, a few 2024 releases are considered 2023 releases in my book (/on my Letterboxd). Chicken For Linda!, Sirocco and the Kingdom of the Winds, Scarygirl, Robot Dreams, and A Greyhound of a Girl all are 2023 for me.

A few honorable mentions, in alphabetical order: The Colors Within, Look Back, Rosa and the Stone Troll, and Tender Metalheads.

Now, without further ado, here are my favorite animated movies of 2024:

10. Olivia & the Clouds -- This movie is such a feast for the eyes, one of the most visually dazzling things I've ever seen. It feels like it's constantly reinventing itself, moment to moment, scene to scene, finding new ways to visually express its narrative, which in its splintered and abstract telling, is very suited to such an aesthetic mish-mash. To try to synopsize it is an exercise in futility, and maybe not really the point. It's better to dive in and let it wash over you. (Review)

9. The Wild Robot -- In a year where a lot of the big studios' releases were pretty bland, The Wild Robot really stands out. It's gorgeous to look at, rendering its world -- both the sylvan setting and the more far-off futuristic vistas -- in brilliant colors, and with dynamic movement. The story is so sweet, there are tons of big laughs, and most importantly, it's an emotional powerhouse. I absolutely wept, multiple times, basically the whole time. And Lupita Nyong'o's performance is one for the ages. (Review)

8. Spy x Family Code: White -- One of my greatest joys this year was getting into Spy x Family, an addictive anime with the kind of goofy premise that makes me burst out laughing anytime I think about it. A spy, an assassin, and a telepath form a fake family. But the spy and assassin don't know each other's secret identities. The telepathic daughter (Anya, one of my all-time favorite characters in anything ever) does, but she's not saying anything, lest the charade expire. This feature brings this fantastically funny world to the big screen with everything I love about the show intact. A delight!

7. The Imaginary -- While I haven't particularly liked Studio Ponoc's previous work, The Imaginary completely worked for me. From the opening moments all the way until the credits rolled, the movie had me right where it wanted me. It brings the world of imaginary friends to brilliant life, does a lot of nifty world-building, and packs an emotional punch. All while looking jaw-droppingly beautiful. I'm not sure any other movie this year made me cry more. I was a sopping puddle by the end, barely breathing, it wasn't pretty. But the movie sure is.

6. Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl -- The return of these classic characters -- along with iconic villain Feathers McGraw -- was worth the long wait. After last year's fine-but-forgettable Chicken Run follow-up, I was a little wary of this one. Ends up, there was no reason to be concerned. This has everything you want from Wallace & Gromit: cheeky British humor, wonderful animation, silly gizmos, and -- maybe a bit surprising -- some heartstring-pulling. Blending the classic sensibility with some modern concerns made for a winning combination. Hopefully we don't have to wait so long for another feature outing. (Review)

(l to r, t to b: Olivia & the Clouds, The Wild Robot,
Spy x Family Code: White,
The Imaginary, Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl)

5. Pelikan Blue -- I can't put into words how cool and unique this movie is. It's an animated documentary about some friends in 1990s Hungary who start forging train tickets. It's a fascinating subject that plays out like a hangout heist movie, with perfect pacing and thoughtful execution. It's easy to watch and gets under your skin, giving you a lot to think about. I found myself grappling with what freedom looks like, like in a really concrete way. Here, it means the ability to move around freely, to travel, to see the world that's always been nearby but inaccessible. I saw it early this year and haven't been able to shake it.

4. No Dogs or Italians Allowed -- The most eye-catching title on this list also belongs to one of the movies that is most likely to leave a lasting impression. This is a deeply personal film, telling an often brutal family history with smart meta-textual delivery, beautiful stop-motion animation, and a perfect touch of humor. I've never seen a movie delivered with quite this voice, this cadence. It's really thoughtfully done, and it's a gift to behold.

3. Mars Express -- I'm always impressed by GKIDS' slate each year, and for 2024, this was my standout from the taste-making distributor. This French sci-fi noir is one of the coolest movies I've ever seen, drawing from genre classics while never feeling derivative or redundant. It builds a world all its own, unraveling its compelling mystery with a masterful grasp of pacing and tone. I love it so much!

2. The Concierge -- From the moment I saw this small-but-mighty gem (it clocks in at around 70 minutes), it hit the top of my list for the year. That it got dethroned is wild to me, because few movies have ever made me so happy. The story of a new worker at a department store that caters to endangered and extinct animals is so charming, so funny, so sweet, it's a little miracle. Its episodic structure means it's always interesting, and I loved meeting each new customer. The way it all comes together in its emotional finale is icing on the cake.

1. Memoir of a Snail -- It's no surprise to me that this ended up being my favorite movie of the year. When Mary and Max came out in my college days, it hit me like a bolt of lightning. I don't think I had ever seen such a mature animated work, one that tackled heavy subject matter so head-on, but also with so much humor and artfulness. Adam Elliot's return had a similar impact on me, immediately burrowing into my heart, moving me and touching me, while also being supremely entertaining. Memoir of a Snail is quite bleak on its surface, sometimes distressingly so, but it's also profoundly hopeful, and profoundly human. It's a rich, gorgeous work that I'll treasure forever, and my favorite movie of the year. (Review)

(l to r, t to b: Pelikan Blue, No Dogs or Italians Allowed,
Mars Express, The Concierge, Memoir of a Snail)

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If you'd like to see my full animation ranking for the year, you can check out my list on Letterboxd. I also have another celebratory post coming up soon, where I'll hand out awards in a plethora of categories, as a way to honor all the amazing work that came out this year, and highlight more movies that didn't make this list.