Animated films are a fan-favorite at my house—it doesn’t matter if it’s 2D or 3D. We just really love the medium and the unique art styles, but these movies in particular are among our favorites. They’ll win over mom, dad, and the kids!
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K-Pop Demon Hunters
Watch K-Pop Demon Hunters on Netflix
To the public, Huntrix are just an incredibly popular—some would say the most popular—K-pop band around, but secretly they slay demons and keep the Honmoon protected with their singing. However, a group of demons disguised as a K-pop boy band (and have catchy music of their own) threaten to destroy the Honmoon and let demons roam free.
If you have a subscription to Netflix and you haven’t watched K-Pop Demon Hunters yet, you and your kids are sorely missing out. It has some of the catchiest music I’ve ever heard in an animated film, and you will find yourself humming the tunes. The story itself is also pretty simple to follow, with great choreography and awesome action scenes.
4
The Boxtrolls
Watch The Boxtrolls on Tubi and Pluto TV
Boxtrolls are actively exterminated in the town of Cheesebridge, led by Archibald Snatcher, after being accused of kidnapping a child dubbed the “Trubshaw Baby.” Eggs, a 10 year-old human, lives among Boxtrolls, gathering junk and creating wondrous inventions, and even believing he’s a Boxtroll one himself. When a few Boxtrolls disappear, Eggs sets out to find them.
The Boxtrolls has the same allure as a Fuggler—these often strange and grotesque trolls are actually cute and uncommonly kind. You and your kids will instantly fall in love with their silly nature and antics, unlike the annoying Minions from Despicable Me. It also has wonderful performances from Isaac Hempstead Wright, Elle Fanning, and Ben Kingsley as Eggs, Winnie, and Snatcher, respectively.
3
The Mitchells vs. the Machines
Watch The Mitchells vs. the Machines on Netflix and Apple TV
The Mitchells vs. the Machines is an unexpected family road trip that goes completely off the rails. And by that I mean straight off into robots taking over the world. After PAL, an AI virtual assistant, is replaced by its creator, it takes control of highly sophisticated robots and household electronics to enslave the world. It seems only the Mitchells are the only ones who can stop them!
I’d consider The Mitchells vs. the Machines a feel-good movie, only because it’s so incredibly good at being sincere and goofy. The Mitchells clearly love one another, but misunderstandings and good intentions get in the way (and robots), which hits differently when you’re watching as a parent. The artists and actors nailed the humor too, like Rick’s phobia of technology, the dialogue of the robots, and Katie’s quirky films.
2
Coraline
Watch Coraline on Apple TV and Amazon Prime Video
Not once, but twice Laika Studio shows up on my list, and it isn’t a coincidence. The studio is just really good at making beloved animation that my little family happens to click with. Coraline is an adaptation of Neil Gaiman’s novella of the same name, where a young girl finds a portal into the Other World. It’s a realm that seems too good to be true, and Coraline makes it her mission to find out.
Coraline is the perfect horror film for young kids, with the stop-motion animation giving it an otherwordly look (no pun intended). Coraline herself is also a wonderful character, being both a brave soul and an intelligent problem-solver as she unravels the mysteries of the Pink Palace. There’s something also very unsettling and creepy about Coraline’s Other Father and Other Mother and their button eyes. It’s just the right amount of anxiety and fear for your kids without causing unwanted nightmares.
1
Spirited Away
Watch Spirited Away on HBO Max
To be fair, any Studio Ghibli animation will fill this spot, but Spirited Away was one of the first I showed my kids. While moving to a new home, an opportunity to explore leads to Chihiro’s parents transformed into pigs and Chihiro herself trapped in the spirit world. Now she has to find a way to save her parents, remember her true name, and unravel the mystery of the spirit of the river.
Spirited Away makes a fantastic first impression on the studio’s work—the strange creatures, spooky and scary scenes, likable characters, and the breathtaking scenery. I particularly love its themes, like empathy and the dangers of greed and disrespecting nature, which I believe are important messages everyone needs to hear, but it’s wrapped in fantasy and myth.
There are so many more animation films we love to revisit, but these were especially good at bridging the age gap between kids and parents. At least one of these movies will draw out your inner child. Speaking of animation, if you want to introduce anime to someone, your friends will love these anime series.
