2001 | 1h 32m | Directed by Pete Docter, David Silverman, and Lee Unkrich
 

Voiced by Billy Crystal, John Goodman, Mary Gibbs

One of the first Pixar movies ever made and it’s still everything you want in a family film: hilarious, imaginative, heartwarming, and altogether dazzling in its animation. The world of Monstropolis is so well-conceived that you know how it all works before the characters have to explain it to you. And the relationship between Mike and Sulley is so genuine that it feels like an extension of the fondness we feel for our own best friends.
 

2007 | 1h 51m | Directed by Brad Bird and Jan Pinkava
 

Voiced by Brad Garrett, Lou Romano, Patton Oswalt

Ratatouille is one of the few films to exemplify the fact that Pixar has an artistic license to do anything it wants. Some may think that the story of a rat who becomes a chef is too far-fetched, but Ratatouille is such a relatable animated movie. The film’s themes of pursuing your dreams and striving to be more than what others expect you to be are universal concepts that will resonate with children and adults alike.

2015 | 1h 35m | Directed by Pete Docter and Ronnie Del Carmen
 

Voiced by Amy Poehler, Bill Hader, Lewis Black

Who would’ve thought the secret to our happiness lies in a bunch of tiny creatures living in the control room of our brain? Inside Out is one clever movie that explores that very theory and shows us how emotions can affect our lives and decisions: it’s easy to see why it’s considered one of the best Pixar movies! It also earned several awards, including a Golden Globe and an Academy Award for Best Animated Feature Film Of The Year.

1973 | 1 hour 23 minutes | Directed by Wolfgang Retherman, David Hand
 

Voiced by Brian Bedford, Phil Harris, Roger Miller

Robin Hood is an animated musical adventure comedy film that's based on the English folk tale of the same name with the characters reimagined as anthropomorphic animals. Here the famous swashbuckler and the hero of the poor, Robin Hood, is a red fox. His sidekick, Little John, is a bear, and together with other inhabitants of Sherwood, they try to suppress the rule of greedy Prince John, a lion. Besides being well-animated and highly entertaining, Robin Hood can surely boast about its undeniable wit, one that's intelligent and savory.

2010 | 1 hour 40 minutes | Directed by Nathan Greno, Byron Howard
 

Voiced by Mandy Moore, Zachary Levi, Donna Murphy

Tangled is a 3D computer-animated musical adventure comedy film loosely based on the German folk fairy tale Rapunzel collected and published by the Brothers Grimm. The film tells the story of Rapunzel - a young princess with magical blonde hair imprisoned in a tower by her mean stepmother. But when a runaway thief stumbles upon her, she takes the chance to escape and to see the world for the very first time. It's always fun to see a princess story in vivid animated colors, and Tangled does not disappoint!

The Madagascar franchise, consisting of three movies and one spin-off, follows the adventures of four anthropomorphic Central Park Zoo animals. The foursome has spent their lives happily in captivity until they are unexpectedly shipped back to Africa. Thus, the foursome’s main goal now is to find a way back from the wilderness to New York City. What’s interesting with the Madagascar franchise is that each consecutive movie has gained warmer and warmer praises from critics! So, if you liked the original, you’ll love the sequels.

1998 | 1 hour 28 minutes | Directed by Tony Bancroft, Barry Cook
 

Voiced by Ming-Na Wen, Eddie Murphy, BD Wong

Mulan is one of those rare Disney movies that were not based on an existent tale but rather employed an original script. To make it authentic, several artistic supervisors visited various places in China where they found their inspiration for the story of Mulan, a misfit tomboy ready to guard her family's honor at whatever cost. The movie's vibrant characters, impeccable voice acting, and the story itself made Mulan into a hugely successful feature that every '90s kid has watched and loved.

While the Hotel Transylvania franchise encompasses way more than movies, let’s stick to them this time. After all, we’re here to talk about films, aren’t we? So, consisting of four films, the last of which has been released early this year, the franchise follows the events happening at the titular hotel. The residents of said hotel are all monsters of various breeding and this is the only place where they can relax from fear of being persecuted by humans. No matter which of the four movies you pick, be prepared for hilarious mishaps, adorable characters, and some quality fun!

1989 | 1 hour 23 minutes | Directed by Ron Clements, John Musker
 

Voiced by Jodi Benson, Samuel E. Wright, Rene Auberjonois 

The Little Mermaid is an animated musical fantasy film based on the 1837 Danish fairytale of the same name by Hans Christian Andersen. The film centers around the story of Ariel - a rebellious mermaid princess who's fascinated with life on land. During one of her shore visits, which are strictly forbidden by her father, King Triton, she falls in love with a human prince. For a chance to spend three days as a human and meet him, Ariel makes a deal with an evil witch, Ursula. Unfortunately, the plan goes awry, and now it is King Triton who has to make the ultimate sacrifice for his daughter. The Little Mermaid is crowned as one of the best Disney animations ever, so if you've missed it - check it out now!

1995 | 1 hour 44 minutes | Directed by Joe Johnston
 
Starring Tom Hanks, Kirsten Dunst, Bonnie Hunt
 
Jumanji is a 1995 fantasy adventure movie starring everyone's favorite Robin Williams. And while you did already know that, you might not know that the Jumanji movie is based on a picture book of the same name by Chris Van Allsburg. If you need your memory refreshed, the story here centers around a board game that's undoubtedly more thrilling than Monopoly. It's a supernatural game that releases jungle-based hazards upon its player with each step they make. There's havoc, there are chilling adventures, but everything ends well for our heroes in the end. The movie's success later spawned a full-blown franchise, with plenty of films to follow up and one pretty creepy animated series.

2016 | 1 hour 47 minutes | Directed by Ron Clements, John Musker, Don Hall
 

Voiced by Auli'i Cravalho, Dwayne Johnson, Rachel House

Moana (also known as Vaiana or Oceania in some markets) is a 3D computer-animated musical adventure film that tells the story of Moana Waialiki. She's a strong-willed daughter of a chief of a Polynesian village who's chosen to reunite a mystical goddess Te Fiti with a lost relic. So she sets sail to find a demigod, Maui, in hopes of finding Te Fiti's relic and saving her people from hunger. And although it is an original story, it is heavily based on various Polynesian myths offering a glimpse into their mythology and culture. Moana is a truly delightful movie praised both by critics and the viewers.

1966 | 26 minutes | Directed by Chuck Jones, Ben Washam
 
Voiced by Boris Karloff, Thurl Ravenscroft, June Foray
 
The Grinch, a surly antisocial heel, has been trying to steal Christmas since the very day his story was published in 1957. His debut on the screen, though, was in 1966 - an animated TV special that revived Mr. Grinch and showed his evil intentions to the world. This cartoon also gave us one of our favorite Christmas songs - You're A Mean One, Mr. Grinch by Thurl Ravenscroft. And, if classy cartoons are your preference for the season, How The Grinch Stole Christmas will hit the bullseye.

1961 | 1 hour 19 minutes | Directed by Clyde Geronimi, Hamilton Luske, Wolfgang Reitherman
 

Voiced by Rod Taylor, Betty Lou Gerson, J. Pat O’Malley

Although 101 Dalmatians has had plenty of ecranizations throughout the years, the one that we’d like to include in our list is the original Disney animation from 1961. It is based on Dodie Smith’s novel The Hundred And One Dalmatians and centers, well, you know it, around Dalmatian puppies. A litter of them is kidnapped by the villainous Cruella de Vil who wants to turn them into fancy fur coats. The puppies' parents, Pongo and Perdita, set out to rescue their little ones, saving, in addition to their own, 84 more Dalmatian puppies brought from pet stores, bringing the total count to 101. It’s a witty, charming, heartwarming animation that proved to be a remarkable success among both the younger and the older audiences.

1992 | 1 hour 30 minutes | Directed by Ron Clements, John Musker
 

Voiced by Scott Weinger, Robin Williams, Linda Larkin

Aladdin, an animated musical fantasy comedy, made it into the pages of the history books not only because of its undeniable entertainment value but also by becoming the highest-grossing Disney movie of the time. Based on an Arabic folk tale of the same name from One Thousand And One Nights, the story brings us back to a time when genie-inhabited lamps were a thing and when a street urchin could pretend to be a wealthy prince and marry the beautiful princess in the end. The story is thrilling, the characters are scene-stealing, the music is memorable, and the animation style is impeccable. What's not to love about Aladdin!

1950 | 1 hour 14 minutes | Directed by Clyde Geronimi, Wilfred Jackson, Hamilton Luske
 

Voiced by Ilene Woods, James MacDonald, Eleanor Audley

Cinderella is an animated musical fantasy film based on the fairy tale of the same name by Charles Perrault. We all know the story - Cinderella is a good-hearted girl living with her mean stepmother and three stepsisters. A ball for the prince to meet his wife is announced, but Cinderella has no way of going as her stepmom won't let her. However, the loveable mice Gus and Jaq and her fairy godmother help Cinderella with a makeover and a ticket for the ball. And although the original story then has the three stepsisters chopping off their toes to fit in Cinderella's lost glass slipper, Disney's version is far more beautiful, kid-friendly, and enchanting!

2012 | 1 hour 41 minutes | Directed by Rich Moore
 

Voiced by John C. Reilly, Jack McBrayer, Jane Lynch

Wreck-It Ralph is a computer-animated comedy film that tells the story of the eponymous arcade game villain who rebels against his 'bad guy' role. What Wreck-It Ralph truly wants is to be a hero, but his quest brings havoc to the whole arcade where he lives. Full of references to the games and pop culture of the olden times, Wreck-It Ralph is a highly entertaining movie for kids and their parents. A rara avis in the world of animated film!

1996 | 1 hour 38 minutes | Directed by Danny DeVito
 
Starring Danny DeVito, Rhea Perlman, Mara Wilson
 
1996's Matilda, a fantasy comedy film, is probably the loveliest, most heartwarming movie of the decade. Based on the book by the legendary writer Roald Dahl, it follows the story of a girl, Matilda, who's a real genius and has just a slither of psychic powers. She's misunderstood and mistreated by her parents, and the school's principal is one tyrannic overlord. Thankfully, there's also a teacher who loves Matilda, and the story, ultimately, ends in the most beautiful way. It's a smart movie made very believable by great acting, a tight plot, and a pace that's just right.

2013 | 1 hour 42 minutes | Directed by Chris Buck, Jennifer Lee
 
Voiced by Idina Menzel, Kristen Bell, Jonathan Groff
 
Although Frozen isn't based on some classic Christmas story, but rather Hans Christian Andersen's fairytale The Snow Queen, its wintertime setting, snowman, and reindeers make it a perfect movie for the season. To say that this Disney movie was a tremendous success would be to put it lightly, as it has started a full-on craze among younger audiences. There probably isn't a kid who doesn't know who the sisters Anna and Elsa are! But, if you still haven't seen Frozen, try it - it's an absolutely masterfully made story.

1995 | 1 hour 21 minutes | Directed by Mike Gabriel and Eric Goldberg
 

Voiced by Mel Gibson, Linda Hunt, Christian Bale

Pocahontas is an animated musical historical drama based on the life of a Powhatan woman Pocahontas and the arrival of English colonial settlers in seventeenth-century Virginia. Of course, this is a heavy romanticization of the real story that occurred way back, but that's the deal with Disney in general, which isn't necessarily a bad thing. And while some might think that Pocahontas lacks in the fun department, it's still one of the most beautifully drawn animations of the time and one of the more thoughtful ones.

1967 | 1 hour 18 minutes | Directed by Wolfgang Reitherman
 

Voiced by Phil Harris, Sebastian Cabot, Louis Prima

The Jungle Book is an animated musical comedy film following a story from Rudyard Kipling's 1894 book of the same name. The plot follows Mowgli—a kid accidentally abandoned and left in an Indian jungle. He's raised by wolves there and has wise friends—Bagheera the panther and Baloo, the bear—to advise him. They understand that Mowgli has to go back to his kin, especially so before the arrival of human-hating tiger Shere Khan. The Jungle Book is a true Disney classic—uncomplicated, jovial, and absolutely suitable even for the youngest viewers.

2004 | 1 hour 40 minutes | Directed by Robert Zemeckis
 
Starring Tom Hanks, Chris Coppola, Michael Jeter
 
 
The Polar Express is a 2004 animated movie co-written and directed by Robert Zemeckis of Forrest Gump fame. A record budget allowed the animators to use the latest computer animation technologies of the time, resulting in the first-ever all-digital capture film. Because of that, The Polar Express might be the most visually stunning entry on our list! Besides being glory to the eyes, its story is also not any less beautiful. It follows a group of kids journeying to the North Pole in hopes of visiting Santa, but, between the lines, it talks about the beauty of belief and innocence. A truly heartwarming and effective movie that has become a real Christmas staple.