The 15 Best Animated Movies of 2026 (So Far)

Animation Is Having a Moment

2026 is shaping up to be a landmark year for animation. Studios are taking bigger creative risks, streaming platforms are investing heavily, and the line between "animated" and "live-action" continues to blur. The technical quality of animation has never been higher, and more importantly, the storytelling ambition has never been greater.

The Spider-Verse films proved that animation can be the most visually innovative medium in cinema. The Wild Robot showed that animated films can be the most emotionally resonant. And studios are responding by greenlighting projects that would have been considered too risky five years ago.

Here's our ranked list of the most exciting animated films of 2026, from confirmed releases to highly anticipated announcements.

The Rankings

1. Inside Out 3 (Pixar)

Release: Summer 2026 | Director: Kelsey Mann

Pixar returns to one of its most beloved franchises. This time, Riley is in college navigating even more complex emotions — from imposter syndrome to first love to the anxiety of independence. Early screenings suggest it's Pixar's most emotionally mature film yet, tackling young adult experiences with the studio's signature blend of humor and genuine insight.

Why we're excited: Inside Out 2 proved this franchise has legs beyond childhood. College-age emotions are rich territory, and Pixar's track record with sequels that match or exceed the original (Toy Story 2, 3, and 4) gives us confidence.

2. Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse (Sony)

Release: 2026 (date TBD) | Directors: Joaquim Dos Santos, Kemp Powers, Justin K. Thompson

The conclusion to the Spider-Verse trilogy. If it's anywhere near as good as Across the Spider-Verse — which pushed the boundaries of what animation can look like frame by frame — it'll be a masterpiece. The first two films weren't just great animated movies; they were among the best films of their respective years.

Why we're excited: The Spider-Verse team has consistently delivered some of the most visually inventive filmmaking in cinema history. The multiverse story demands a satisfying conclusion, and the creative team has earned the benefit of the doubt.

3. The Wild Robot 2 (DreamWorks)

Release: 2026 | Director: Chris Sanders

The sequel to 2024's surprise hit. The original was one of the best-reviewed animated films of the decade — a beautiful, emotionally devastating story about a robot who learns to nurture. The sequel explores the relationship between technology and nature further as Roz encounters a wider world beyond the island.

Why we're excited: The first film was a masterclass in visual storytelling with minimal dialogue. Chris Sanders (Lilo & Stitch, How to Train Your Dragon) is one of animation's best directors, and the source material (Peter Brown's book series) provides rich story territory.

4. Moana 2: Expanded Edition (Disney)

Release: 2026 | Theatrical re-release

A theatrical re-release with 25 minutes of new footage, essentially making it the definitive version of the 2024 sequel. The original theatrical release was criticized for feeling rushed (it was originally planned as a Disney+ series). The expanded edition addresses the pacing issues and adds character development that makes the story land.

Why it matters: Disney is experimenting with the "director's cut" concept for animation — releasing an improved version in theaters rather than just on streaming. If it works commercially, expect more studios to follow.

5. Shrek 5 (DreamWorks)

Release: 2026 | Original cast returning

Yes, it's real. Mike Myers, Eddie Murphy, Cameron Diaz, and Antonio Banderas are all back. The original cast is back, and the early concept art suggests DreamWorks is taking the franchise in a surprisingly fresh direction rather than rehashing the formula. After Puss in Boots: The Last Wish proved DreamWorks could revitalize a dormant franchise with genuine artistry, expectations are cautiously high.

Why we're cautiously excited: Puss in Boots: The Last Wish is the template — a legacy sequel that was genuinely great. If Shrek 5 follows that blueprint rather than the Shrek the Third/Forever After template, it could be special.

Ones to Watch

6. Dog Man (DreamWorks)

Based on Dav Pilkey's bestselling graphic novels (the Captain Underpants creator). A cop and his police dog are combined into one being. The animation style mirrors the books' hand-drawn aesthetic, and early footage suggests it captures Pilkey's anarchic humor perfectly.

7. Elio (Pixar)

Sci-fi adventure about an 11-year-old who becomes Earth's accidental ambassador to an intergalactic community. Pixar goes full sci-fi with alien civilizations, interplanetary politics, and a fish-out-of-water story that could be their most imaginative world-building since Monsters, Inc.

8. Transformers One Sequel (Paramount)

Following the 2024 origin story hit that surprised everyone with its emotional depth. The first film proved you could make a Transformers movie with genuine heart and character development. The sequel continues the Optimus Prime/Megatron friendship-turned-rivalry.

9. The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim (Extended Cut)

The anime-influenced Tolkien film gets an extended theatrical cut with additional scenes and an enhanced score. The original was visually stunning — this version promises to be definitive.

10. Nimona: Season 1 (Netflix)

The 2023 film becomes a series. Nimona's shapeshifting punk-rock energy translates well to episodic storytelling, and the creative team is expanding the world beyond the original film's scope.

Indie & International

The films below may not have the marketing budgets of Pixar and DreamWorks, but they represent some of the most exciting work in animation:

| Rank | Film | Country | Why It's Special | |------|------|---------|-----------------| | 11 | The Summit of the Gods sequel | France/Japan | Mountaineering drama. The original was breathtaking — literally and figuratively. | | 12 | Mars Express 2 | France | Sci-fi noir. The first film was the best animated sci-fi since Ghost in the Shell. | | 13 | My Father's Dragon 2 | Ireland (Cartoon Saloon) | Cartoon Saloon (Wolfwalkers, Song of the Sea) is the most consistent animation studio working. | | 14 | The Concierge at Hokkyoku Dept Store | Japan | A department store in the afterlife. Peak Japanese animation creativity. | | 15 | Memoir of a Snail sequel | Australia | Adam Elliot's claymation — raw, emotional, and unlike anything else in animation. |

Why You Should Care

Animation isn't just for kids — and it hasn't been for decades. The medium is producing some of the most innovative, emotionally resonant storytelling in cinema. Consider:

• Spider-Verse changed how we think about what animation can look like
• The Wild Robot made adult audiences cry harder than any live-action film that year
• Inside Out explained human psychology better than most textbooks
• Puss in Boots: The Last Wish reinvented a franchise with genuine artistic vision
• Memoir of a Snail dealt with grief, loneliness, and addiction with devastating honesty

The best animated films aren't competing with other animated films — they're competing with the best films being made. If you're sleeping on animation, you're missing out on some of the most ambitious, visually stunning, and emotionally powerful storytelling in all of cinema.

Check back throughout 2026 as we review each release and update our rankings.