Animation is a medium enjoyed by audiences of all ages, though many movies are aimed towards kids. Thesemoviesdon’t go above a PG rating and are typically comedic with heartfelt messages. However, while many animated movies can be considered kid-friendly, some are still too dark or complex for younger viewers to sit through comfortably, such asGuillermo del Toro’s PinocchioorSpider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse.
Luckily,several recent animated releases are both entertaining and void of such narrativesthat may be too intense for young kids. The recent releases from the past five years or so introduce a range of animated adventures for kids to engage with, from the music-filled story of a magical family inEncantotoDog Man’s adaptation of the eponymous graphic novel series.
Minions: The Rise of Gru
Cast
Minions: The Rise of Gru is the second Minions film and the fifth movie overall in the Despicable Me franchise. The Minions sequel again stars Steve Carell as an eleven-year-old Gru who wants to become a supervillain. The only problem is that there’s a new group in town called the Vicious 6 that puts a wrench in his plans.
First introduced in 2010’sDespicable Me, the Minions have grown to become iconic figures in animation.The species of yellow creatures were the focus of the prequel movieMinions, which was followed by the more recentMinions: The Rise of Gru. Both films act as prequels toDespicable Me, with the latter detailing the early days of the Minions' partnership with the aspiring supervillain Gru (Steve Carell).
Minions: The Rise of Gru Becomes Highest-Grossing Despicable Me Movie
Minions: The Rise of Gru has grossed a total of $368.3 million at the box office, beating the previous franchise record held by Despicable Me 2.
Admittedly,Minions: The Rise of Grudoesn’t movetheDespicable Metimelineforward all that much, but for young audiences who just want to see their favorite unintelligible side characters participating in all sorts of shenanigans, it provides a rewarding watch.The movie is an engaging look into the origins of the characters kids have grown to love and there’s rarely a moment throughout the film that doesn’t result in laughter.
Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken
DreamWorks Animation presents Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken, an animated action-adventure film that follows high-schooler Ruby Gillman as she tries to fit in at Oceanside High. When Ruby finally discovers that she’s directly descended from the protectors of the seas, the Krakens, she’ll have to dig deep to protect her school and the oceans themselves from the popular but dangerous mermaid, Chelsea.
The coming-of-age tale inRuby Gillman, Teenage Krakenis tied up neatly with a timeless message for young audiences.Lana Condor leads the film as the shy Ruby Gillman, a high school student who wishes to fit in with her peers. One rebellious act by Ruby leads her to discover that she is a descendant of the Krakens, which are an underwater species known to be protectors of the sea.
The movie’s minimal violence and frightening scenes are outweighed by its positive depiction of a parent-teenage relationship and the emphasis on the importance of celebrating what makes one different.Additionally,Ruby Gillman, Teenage Krakenhas a catchy soundtrackand satisfying humor that round out the film’s appeal and make it one worth returning to.
The Croods: A New Age
The Croods: A New Age follows the prehistoric Crood family as they search for a safer habitat and encounter the Bettermans, a more evolved family. Tensions rise between the neighbors, but a new threat compels both families to embark on an adventure, adapting and supporting each other for survival.
Released nearly a decade after its 2013 predecessor,The Croods: A New Agereunites audiences withthe Crood familyas they set out on another wild adventure.Continuing after the events of the first film, the sequel sees the Croods venturing out for a safe habitat. However, upon finding what initially seems like an idyllic place to settle down, the family is met by their far more advanced neighbors.
The playful conflict between the Croods and the neighboring Betterman family is lighthearted and provides kids with a good laugh.
The improvements from the 2013 film may not be strong enough for some to warrant the seven-year gap between each movie’s release,butThe Croods: A New Ageremains a fun time for young audiences nonetheless. The playful conflict between the Croods and the neighboring Betterman family is lighthearted and provides kids with a good laugh.
Migration
Migration is an animated adventure-comedy from Illumination and features an ensemble cast including Kumail Nanjiani, Elizabeth Banks, Awkwafina, and Keegan-Michael Key. The cast takes on the role of a family of mallards who has lived in the safety of their pond all their lives and decide to migrate for a vacation. However, when the family discovers they migrated the wrong way, they end up in New York City, forcing them to find a way out and down to the Caribbean.
The story and message ofMigrationare relatively simple, yet moving for all audiences, no matter one’s age.At the beginning of the film, audiences see an anxious and overprotective Mack Mallard (Kumail Nanjiani) do everything he can to prevent his family from venturing beyond their home as he worries something bad will happen to them. This all changes when Mack is convinced to migrate with his family to Jamaica.
The main Mallard family is easy to get invested in, and the various characters they meet during their trip add a great amount of humor to the film. Through its comedic and visually stunning adventure,Migrationencourages audiences to take risks and put themselves out there. The message is important for kids to hear, but is especially powerful for parents who find they have a lot in common with Mack at the start of the film.
Leo
Leo follows the journey of a 74-year-old lizard named Leo, who, after decades in a Florida classroom, learns he has a year left to live. As he plans his escape to explore life beyond, he becomes entangled in the dilemmas of his students and a challenging substitute teacher.
Combining solid musical numbers with a heartwarming tale about a classroom pet isLeo. The title character is a 74-year-old lizard (Adam Sandler) who acts as the classroom pet at an elementary school.The film opens with Leo’s discouraging realization that he only has one year left to live, before he finds his purpose aiding various elementary students, by offering life advice and helping them solve a range of problems.
Sandler proves once again to be a strong voice actor and his friendship with Bill Burr’s Squirtle is among the actor’s best on-screen friendships.The animation, while not necessarily groundbreaking, is agreeable andLeohas an effective message everyone can get behind. Despite his age, Leo’s innate innocence is comparable to that of the young students he befriends, making it easy for audiences to root for his success.
The Super Mario Bros. Movie
The Super Mario Bros. Movie is an animated adventure film featuring Brooklyn plumbers Mario and Luigi. Released in 2023, the movie follows the brothers as they are transported to a magical world through a mysterious pipe, leading Mario on a quest to rescue Luigi after they become separated.
Despite earning a mixed response from critics,The Super Mario Bros. Moviedid extremely well at the box office, grossing over $1 billion and breaking numerous records.The film is packed with several familiar characters as Mario and Luigi embark on an adventure that leads them to partake in a fight against Bowser. The animated film is action-packed and filled with vibrant imagery guaranteed to catch young kids' attention.
The movie has just the right amount of nostalgia to please older crowds.
Additionally,there are plenty ofEaster eggs inThe Super Mario Bros. Moviethat older audiences with a wider knowledge of the Nintendo video games can appreciate.The movie has just the right amount of nostalgia to please older crowds, while its fun adventure narrative and memorable soundtrack welcome those who are younger.
Dog Man
Dog Man is a family film where a police dog and his officer are fused into one being after an accident. Now a half-canine hero, Dog Man balances his duties to protect the city and impress his Chief while facing off against the cunning feline villain, Petey the Cat.
Released at the beginning of 2025,Dog Manis a great start to one of DreamWorks' biggest years.Dog Manis based on Dav Pilkey’s graphic novel series of the same name and follows the titular dog-human hybrid who works as a police officer and tries to stop the villainous Petey the Cat from terrorizing the city.
Under dire circumstances, the film sees the two put their differences aside and team up to defeat a common enemy.The movie is elevated thanks to the performances of its talented,comedic cast and has the sort of humor that is sure to please both younger viewers and their parents. Even with all of its silly characters and absurd shenanigans,Dog Manstill has a heartfelt message and sets up a promising future for theCaptain Underpantsfranchise.
The Bad Guys
The Bad Guys is an animated film that follows a crew of criminal animals who have been notorious for their heists. When they are eventually caught, the leader, Mr. Wolf, negotiates a deal to avoid prison, setting the stage for a potential redemption arc.
One of DreamWorks Animation’s best films in a long time,The Bad Guysis a refreshing heist movie that’s entertaining for all ages.The movie revolves around the titular group of infamous criminals who begin to have a change of heart and contemplate what it would be like to do good. The movie is a great watch for younger kids, but it has something for everyone to enjoy.
The film’s themes are heartfelt and deep, which add an appreciated amount of depth for older audiences, while presented in a way that’s still easy for younger kids to digest. The unique mix of criminal characters is charming as well, andThe Bad Guys' animation, inspired by films likeSpider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, is stunning and sets the film apart from other animated movies in recent years.
The Day the Earth Blew Up: A Looney Tunes Movie
The Day the Earth Blew Up: A Looney Tunes Movie features Porky Pig and Daffy Duck as they inadvertently become heroes when they discover an alien mind control scheme at a bubble gum factory. Tasked with saving their town and the world, the duo faces challenges while navigating their own comedic chaos.
The nearly century-oldLooney Tunesfranchise first introduced its famous characters through a series of short films and television specials, with the most recent film beingThe Day the Earth Blew Up: A Looney Tunes Movie. Gaining a wide release in March, the film is the first fully animated theatrical release in the franchise.The movie revolves around Daffy Duck and Porky Pig as they work to save the world from a dangerous alien ploy.
The multigenerational appeal of theLooney Tunesfranchise has never been more apparent than inThe Day the Earth Blew Up. In the characterization and humor throughout the film, it’s evident that the creative team behind it has a great amount of love and respect for the legacy of the iconic characters.The film provides a welcoming and delightful introduction of these characters to younger audiences.
Encanto
Encanto tells the tale of an extraordinary family, the Madrigals, who live hidden in the mountains of Colombia, in a magical house, in a vibrant town, in a wondrous, charming (and enchanted) place called an Encanto. The magic of the Encanto has blessed every child in the family with a unique gift from super strength to the power to heal—every child except one, Mirabel (voice of Stephanie Beatriz). But when she discovers that the magic surrounding the Encanto is in danger, Mirabel decides that she, the only ordinary Madrigal, might be her exceptional family’s last hope. Mirabel will seek out her missing cousin, Bruno, to discover the truth that Abuela has buried away for all of their lives.
Encantois one of the biggest movies of 2021, impressing audiences with its musical numbers, worldbuilding, and emotional depth.The film centers around the Madrigals, a family made up of grandchildren who possess a range of magical abilities used to help out others in their community. The film’s protagonist, Mirabel (Stephanie Beatriz), the only grandchild without a gift, is determined to find out what’s causing the family home to lose its magic.
Encantodoes touch on deeper themes like generational trauma, which isn’t something most kids are going to be able to grasp. Still, the film’s catchy soundtrack, written by Lin-Manuel Miranda, and colorful imagery do enough to entertain a younger demographic. In addition to the eccentric Madrigal family, who are made up of amusing characters like the future-seeing Bruno and the shape-shifting Camilo.
