30 Animated Movies and Shows every child should watch before 13
There are so many movies and television shows out there that it's hard for parents to pin point which ones are better and more fulfilling then the others. Animation is the best way to speak to any child and I am going to create a list of the best animated media one should show. Each of these programs or movie teach a rare lesson, have better story elements, more relatable characters or are simply not annoying (which is a plus for those who don't want another repeat of an annoying theme song or catchphrase)
List activity
2.1K views
• 1 this weekCreate a new list
List your movie, TV & celebrity picks.
30 titles
- CreatorMichael Dante DiMartinoBryan KonietzkoStarsDee Bradley BakerZach Tyler EisenMae WhitmanIn a war-torn world of elemental powers, a young boy reawakens to undertake a dangerous mystic quest to fulfill his destiny as the Avatar, and bring peace to the world.This isn't just the greatest thing Nickelodeon has created. This is one of the greatest shows period. The characters feel like real children, with a hint of silly along with their desire to evolve their talents. Their journey is really creative, offering plenty of philosophy on life and how we need to treat people. Most of all, this is FUN.
- DirectorJohn LasseterStarsTom HanksTim AllenDon RicklesA cowboy doll is profoundly threatened and jealous when a new spaceman action figure supplants him as top toy in a boy's bedroom.This story is a masterpiece for a reason.
- DirectorJerry ReesStarsJon LovitzTimothy StackTimothy E. DayA group of dated appliances embark on a journey to the city to find their master after being abandoned in a cabin in the woods.A lot of the Pixar way of storytelling was started here. A lot like how Toy Story is about living toys, this is about living appliances that search for their master. It's a strange set up, but it makes for a fantastic adventure. Though there are plenty of nice moments in which the characters are a part of a gag, there is a dark overtone that will throw off a lot of people. It's a good one if you want something a bit edgier, but not too much
- DirectorHayao MiyazakiStarsKirsten DunstMinami TakayamaRei SakumaA young witch, on her mandatory year of independent life, finds fitting into a new community difficult while she supports herself by running an air courier service.No child should miss anything from Studio Ghibli!
Kiki's Delivery Service makes for a fantastic coming of age story in a world where no one questions magic or witches. The point isn't even about the fantasy elements (there is plenty though), its about one teenage girl learning who she is in stunning hand drawn Japanese animation. - CreatorCraig BartlettSteve VikstenJoe AnsolabehereStarsFrancesca Marie SmithJamil Walker SmithDan CastellanetaThe everyday life of Arnold, a fourth-grader in the city of Hillwood, Washington, who lives in a multi-racial boarding house with his grandparents and a motley assortment of friends and neighbors.This is a lot like The Little Rascals, but better. Every character is great, even the adults as they sometimes get their own stories.
Hey Arnold not only understands the struggles of being a kid, but living in a city. It doesn't have to be a drag, but an adventure. This football head kid knows how to take me back to my childhood. - DirectorPhil LordChristopher MillerStarsChris PrattWill FerrellElizabeth BanksAn ordinary LEGO construction worker, thought to be the prophesied as "special", is recruited to join a quest to stop an evil tyrant from gluing the LEGO universe into eternal stasis.
- DirectorDean DeBloisChris SandersStarsJay BaruchelGerard ButlerChristopher Mintz-PlasseA hapless young Viking who aspires to hunt dragons becomes the unlikely friend of a young dragon himself, and learns there may be more to the creatures than he assumed.
- DirectorJames AlgarSamuel ArmstrongFord Beebe Jr.StarsLeopold StokowskiDeems TaylorThe Philadelphia OrchestraA series of eight famous pieces of classical music, conducted by Leopold Stokowski and interpreted in animation by Walt Disney's team of artists.Music; Classical music at it's finest!
- CreatorJoanna ColeBruce DegenKristin Laskas MartinStarsLily TomlinDaniel DeSantoLisa JaiAn eccentric teacher takes her class on wondrous educational field trips with the help of a magic school bus.
- CreatorAlex HirschStarsJason RitterAlex HirschKristen SchaalTwin siblings Dipper and Mabel Pines spend the summer at their great-uncle's tourist trap in the enigmatic Gravity Falls, Oregon.
- DirectorHayao MiyazakiStarsDaveigh ChaseSuzanne PleshetteMiyu IrinoDuring her family's move to the suburbs, a sullen 10-year-old girl wanders into a world ruled by gods, witches and spirits, and where humans are changed into beasts.
- CreatorBill ScottJay WardStarsBill ScottJune ForayPaul FreesRocky, a plucky flying squirrel and Bullwinkle, a bumbling but lovable moose, have a series of ongoing adventures.
- CreatorGenndy TartakovskyStarsPhil LaMarrMakoKevin Michael RichardsonA samurai, sent through time, fights to return home and save the world.
- CreatorBob KaneEric RadomskiBruce TimmStarsKevin ConroyLoren LesterEfrem Zimbalist Jr.The Dark Knight battles crime in Gotham City with occasional help from Robin and Batgirl.
- DirectorPete DocterBob PetersonStarsEdward AsnerJordan NagaiJohn Ratzenberger78-year-old Carl Fredricksen travels to Paradise Falls in his house equipped with balloons, inadvertently taking a young stowaway.
- DirectorPete DocterRonnie Del CarmenStarsAmy PoehlerBill HaderLewis BlackAfter young Riley is uprooted from her Midwest life and moved to San Francisco, her emotions - Joy, Fear, Anger, Disgust and Sadness - conflict on how best to navigate a new city, house, and school.
- CreatorJymn MagonStarsAlan YoungRussi TaylorTerence McGovernHuey, Dewey, and Louie are in for an epic surprise when they meet their wealthy but reclusive uncle, Scrooge McDuck. The family embark on globe-trotting adventures and treasure hunts, uncover family secrets, and face dangerous enemies.
- CreatorGreg WeismanStarsKeith DavidSalli Richardson-WhitfieldJeff BennettA clan of heroic night creatures pledge to protect modern New York City as they did in Scotland one thousand years earlier.
- CreatorTim HillStephen HillenburgNick JenningsStarsTom KennyRodger BumpassBill FagerbakkeThe misadventures of a talking sea sponge who works at a fast food restaurant, attends a boating school, and lives in an underwater pineapple.
- CreatorPendleton WardStarsJohn DiMaggioJeremy ShadaTom KennyA 12-year-old boy and his best friend, a wise 28-year-old dog with magical powers, go on a series of surreal adventures in a remote future.
- CreatorTom RueggerStarsRob PaulsenJess HarnellTress MacNeilleThe zany adventures of a trio of 1930s animated characters in the modern world.
- DirectorHenry SelickStarsDanny ElfmanChris SarandonCatherine O'HaraJack Skellington, king of Halloween Town, discovers Christmas Town, but his attempts to bring Christmas to his home causes confusion.
- DirectorBrad BirdStarsEli MarienthalHarry Connick Jr.Jennifer AnistonA young boy befriends a giant robot from outer space that a paranoid government agent wants to destroy.
- DirectorGary TrousdaleKirk WiseStarsPaige O'HaraRobby BensonJesse CortiA prince cursed to spend his days as a hideous monster sets out to regain his humanity by earning a young woman's love.If I had to pick one Disney fairy tale, then Beauty and the Beast is the perfect one!
The all of the elements here are perfect (Story, Songs, Characters, and Animation), so well that it was the first animated movie nominated for best picture.
I'd tell you to go see it, but odds are you already have! - DirectorRobert ZemeckisStarsBob HoskinsChristopher LloydJoanna CassidyWhen a cartoon rabbit is accused of murder, he enlists the help of a burnt out private investigator to prove his innocence.Though I'm cheating a bit as it has live-action, this is the best movie that combines live action with animation. This is one of my favorite movies as this is something that everyone has wanted; a movie in which all of the golden age characters are all together. It's still surreal to see Mickey Mouse interact with Bugs Bunny.
On it's own, the mystery is still interesting if you want your children introduced to a easy detective story