Animated movies hold a special place in the hearts of film fanatics everywhere. They provide boundless worlds where anything is possible, and where the limits of their creation are left up to the imagination. Nowadays, this is especially true because of the rapid progression of animation technology. These advancements allow for images as clear as an IMAX film reel, or stylized cartoons that look like they came right off the sketch pad.
2023 gave viewers some spectacular animated films, telling stories that touched the hearts of millions around the world. Some of these films were a long time coming. Others were unfamiliar stories that audiences didn’t know they needed to see, but were delighted to have been a part of. It was a tough list to compile, but here are the best animated movies of 2023.
Aaron Horvath and Michael Jelenic
92 minutes
59%
95%
Metacritic Score
46
One word comes to mind with 2023’sThe Super Mario Bros. Movie: Finally! Nintendo fans everywhere have been dying for a good Super Mario movie, and they finally got one. Studios have tried it twice before, with the short Japanese filmSuper Mario Bros: The Great Mission to Rescue Princess Peachback in 1986, and thetrain-wreck live-action1993Super Mario Brosmovie.
This year, Illumination came through with this simple story that satisfied even casual Super Mario fans. With a stellar cast who have all proved themselves as great voice actors before,The Super Mario Bros. Moviehad great humor and heart. What’s more, it beautifully illustrated the iconic worlds that gamers have played in for years.
The film provided excellent references to the classic games, including the nostalgic score, characters and their costumes, and smooth transitions into a one-directional 2-D landscape. Possibly the best reference to the video game is the cameo from the original voice actor for Mario and Luigi, Charles Martinet. Even more unexpected, the film managed to open up the potential for anew cinematic universefor future Super Mario, and even other Nintendo films. Raking in the biggest animated box office of all time,The Super Mario Bros. Movieis a must-watch.
99 minutes
96%
90%
74
Talk about another fan favorite that has been a long time coming.Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhemis thefirst enjoyable TMNT projectin a while, in part because they chose to go back to an animated style. While bringing classic animated characters to live-action sometimes works, maybe the giant mutant turtles of New York City are best left to the world of animation. The animation style in this film is wonderful, making viewers feel like they are inside a comic book. Especially notable is the unique story, bringing classic characters back to life in new ways.
Thanks to the help of Seth Rogen, the story has witty humor and tremendous emotion, as well asplenty of pizza. Choosing to cast younger actors to voice the turtles better conveys their child-like mannerisms and helps make them more relatable to kids, especially ones who feel like they don’t belong.TMNT: Mutant Mayhemtells the heartfelt story of acceptance and giving people a chance. It’s a wonderful lesson to teach children, and even some grown folks, around the world.
Troy Quane and Nick Bruno
101 minutes
94%
91%
75
With streaming services nowadays, companies sometimes pump out content with little regard to its quality. But with the amount they produce, some are bound to be good.Nimonais on that list. Following a soon-to-be knight and an isolated shape-shifting girl, both outcasts in their own regard,Nimonais a fabulous story of learning about someone based on who they are, and not what’s been said about them. The film includes excellent representation, especially for the LGBTQ+ community, in a way that is easy enough for a child to understand and accept as normal.
The setting of the story also boosts this film, supplying a unique environment of a Medieval-style monarchy set in a futuristic city with flying cars and zany weapons. The animation features vibrant colors and awesome action sequences.Nimonahas arebellious theme, encouraging people to reevaluate what they know about history. It’s a worth-while watch for both adults and children who want a story filled with twists, that explores the complexities of friendship and honesty.
74%
93%
58
Pixar had hit a bit of a dry spell, but they’ve come back in the last few years with films likeSoul,Luca, andTurning Red. They’ve kept their streak alive withElemental. In the spirit ofFinding NemoandCars,Elementalis set in a world where humans are either non-existent or just aren’t at the forefront of the story, yet the content is directly relatable to the human condition. Underneath the difficult,emotional love storyare major themes about immigrants and the prejudices they undergo because of their histories, despite the hardships they endure to make a better life for themselves and their families.
Elementaldoes a great job at personifying the idea of prejudice by utilizing two things that are known to not mix well: fire and water. With terrific shots of the city skyline and colorful sequences, the film does not disappoint in the visuals.Elementalis an emotional roller coaster, filled with forbidden love, loss of loved ones, and the burden and pressures put on children by parents. The story is told wonderfully and is a great watch for people of all ages.
140 minutes
86
This shouldn’t come as a surprise to many.Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verseis an instant classic and a spectacular sequel to an already amazing movie. Miles Morales is an easy character to root for as he tries to find his place in all the madness that comes with being Spider-Man. Diving even more into the concept that Miles doesn’t belong,Across the Spider-Verseopens up a world filled withhundreds of different Spider-Peoplefrom the seemingly infinite stories of New York City’s friendly neighborhood hero. The film explores the complexities of systemic racism by having Miles not conform to how the Spider-Society thinks he should live his life, and in turn, allowing Miles to be the writer of his own destiny.
The story has an almostequal focus on Gwen Stacyand her own emotional war as she tries to rationalize her place in her own household. The theme of parental acceptance is huge inAcross the Spider-Verse, giving terrifically insightful character development to both Gwen and Miles. They both struggle to find their place as a Spider-Person and as a child to parents who want the best for them, but don’t necessarily know how to exhibit their feelings in a loving and understanding way.Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Versedoes an exceptional job at continuing a story, telling its own stand-alone story, and setting up the conclusion to what should be a masterpiece of a Spider-Man epic.
