It’s that time again! The time to reflect on all of the movies we’ve seen, gear up for the heart of the awards season and start the film ranking frenzy. Most years, I try to combine all genres into one big list, allowing drama, documentaries, and animated features to all co-exist together. Some years that’s pretty easy, but in 2025 it would simple kill one too many darlings and leave out far too many films I want to highlight. I’ll probably say this in all of these list prologues, but I think it has been a really solid movie year. While greatness and masterpieces have been minimal, there is a very long and robust list of 3.5-4 star films. There were very few films I disliked, and that makes it harder to put everything together in a comprehensive ranking.
And so, we’re going to separate them out by certain categories, hence animated features get their own ranking! As always, this is only comprised of the films I’ve seen, and is purely subjective and reflective of my own personal tastes. If you’re favorite isn’t on here, that’s ok. Even for someone who tries to see everything every year, there’s always plenty that I miss! These misses include “The Bad Guys 2,” “Ne Zha 2,” and pretty much every single anime film released this year, which was by choice.
So let’s get to it: here are the 7 best animated films of 2025!
7. “Junk World“
Though unfamiliar with this particular filmmaker’s work – including his previous short in this similar styling – I wasn’t quite sure what to make of “Junk World,” an out of this world stop motion animated sci-fi film that is so out there it’s hard to know how to feel about it. And yet, I couldn’t stop watching it as it went on, and as it starts to put its strange pieces together and conclude its sprawling multi-verse, time loop narrative, it grew on me with each passing minute. And “Junk World” has stuck with me months after watching it, and that’s always a good sign of a good solid flick. I don’t think it’s for everyone, and if we’re being honest I don’t even know who the hell I would recommend it to. But “Junk World” is worth checking out if you can. Just make sure you maybe take an edible before because shit is about to get real weird real fast.
6. “Arco“
Gorgeously animated and thematically rich, “Arco” is another film that has grown on my significantly since I saw it at TIFF. It has all the staples of an awards contender; stunning animation, celebrity voices, environmental messaging and power of friendship etc. But it is also just earnestly sweet, winning over the most critical viewer to drop the pretentiousness and enjoy the ride. “Arco” soars with emotion but never feels overbearing, creating gorgeous worlds and dystopian history/future in ways only animation can do. It’s beautiful, simple, and sweet and totally worth checking out. I actually have this one in my list of 5 for Best Animated Feature this year. Don’t count out “Arco,” and definitely give it a chance when it hits Netflix.
5. “Zootopia 2“
I know you’re screaming at the screen for “Zootopia 2” not being number 1 – how could a billion dollar movie not be the best? Well first of all, I like all of these films on the list so we’re splitting hairs about the best of the best, and second I think “Zootopia 2” is a good sequel that still doesn’t quite reach the heights of its predecessor. It is as good as unnecessary sequels can get and will most likely have an evergreen effect as I return to it randomly once it hits Disney+. Hopps and Wilde make an excellent pair, and I’m totally down to watch them on just about any adventure they want to take us on even if those journeys start to have diminishing returns if we pull from the well too often. Still, “Zootopia 2 ” is quite good, and any kids movie that sneaks in a “The Shining” reference is a winner in my book.
4. “Predator: Killer of Killers“
So crazy we get two “Predator” movies in one year, and I’d actually argue that “Killer of Killers” is the better of the two. A bad ass, blood-soaked animated anthology that gives us exactly the kind of Predator we’ve always wanted. Predator vs Vikings? Predator vs. Ninja Samurai? Um, YES PLEASE! “Killer of Killers” doesn’t just rank as one of the best animated films of the year, but quite possibly one of the best Predator films in a very long time. Whatever Dan Trachtenberg wants to do with this franchise I’m game for, especially if he can do something like “Killer of Killers” in animation. Loved this one. Give me more.
3. “The Day The Earth Blew Up: A Looney Tunes Movie“
A criminally underrated and underseen hidden gem, “The Day The Earth Blew Up: A Looney Tunes Movie” kind of shocked me with how good it was and reminded me how much David Zaslav messed up by wanting to throw all of WB’s animation in the trash. It may not be top tier Looney Tunes, but “The Day The Earth Blew Up” is still perfectly looney in all the ways we’ve come to love about their hijinks. It made me feel like a kid again sitting in the theater, and that pure joy untainted by a crumbling reality was exactly what I needed when I needed it most. It’s very possible you didn’t even know “The Day The Earth Blew Up” existed, seeing as how WB’s would rather bury it at all costs. But now that you know it DOES exist, you should definitely check it out!
2. “KPop Demon Hunters“
Surprising no one, “KPop Demon Hunters” is one of the best animated films of the year. An infectious burst of song and dance and vibrant colors, it feels impossible to escape its reach and you shouldn’t want to, either. I know parents are probably exhausted from having to listen to “Soda Pop” on repeat, but I’ve been perfectly capable of playing out the whole soundtrack myself. The music slaps, the animation dazzles, the characters are charming and the story is wonderfully emotional. “KPop Demon Hunters” would be number 1 on the list were it not for a little hidden gem that struck me slightly more, but the 1 vs 2 rankings are the narrowest of margins. “KPop Demon Hunters” made my mid year list and may still end up on the big ranking later. It’s THAT good. I loved this one so much, the true surprise of the year and a song I can’t stop singing. Believe the hype!
1. “Little Amelie of The Character of Rain“
Ya, this one is my “Flow” from last year. “Little Amelie or The Character of Rain” completely floored me, capturing true movie magic in a wondrous world of color and child like discovery. Layered, nuanced, and beautiful, “Little Amelie” is a marvelous little film, a hidden gem in the truest sense of the word and one that left a profound lasting impact on me. The way it weaves tradition and deep rooted generational trauma in a post WW2 era into a child’s perspective of discovering life for the time all while beautifully exploring Japanese beliefs and lore. “Little Amelie” is just a gorgeously rendered slice of wonder, pure joy and emotion that will leave you both in tears and smiling from ear to ear. If there was ever a film poised as the true underdog in this awards race, it’s “Little Amelie or The Character of Rain” and I hope more people get a chance to see it and fall in love with it like I did.
So there’s my list of the best animated films of the year. What were some of your favorites?
