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Best Animated Films of 2020

2020 was a weak year for animation due to the pandemic, but still there were just enough good releases to make a top five list. Most of these movies are foreign obviously as many American movies got delayed, but even if this year wasn’t the greatest, the number one film on this list is my number one movie for the year overall.

5. A Whisker Away

A Whisker Away is an anime movie that is quite predictable in its final outcome, but it’s a great movie for both animal lovers and romance enthusiasts. The whole premise is very cartoony, but it’s mostly very well executed with excellent characterization and gorgeous animation that is the best aspect this time around. It’s the type of lightweight movie that lacked sophistication, but it undoubtedly excelled in the fun factor and a lot of charm.

4. Jiang Ziya

Jiang Ziya is the second installment in China’s Fengshen Cinematic Universe. It is pretty similar to ‘Ne Zha’ in both its strengths and its weaknesses. While it is incredibly difficult to understand, especially to Western audiences, due to the very poorly explained narrative, the characters are memorable, the mythological elements are majestic and the movie’s animation is just breathtaking. It’s a messy, but undoubtedly epic cinematic experience.

3. Wolfwalkers

Wolfwalkers is very disappointing when comparing it to Tomm Moore’s previous efforts due to its overly familiar narrative and too simplified handling of its themes. Still, it remains quite good owing to the excellent characterization and voice work along with solid emotional investment as well. The highlight is its animation, which is the most expressive and artistic work so far from this director. It’s a genuine work of art that never stops astonishing you.

2. Onward

Onward is by far the most underrated animation of the year and one of Pixar’s most underappreciated efforts. For anybody who has a brother, the movie will undoubtedly prove to be very moving. The characterization here is outstanding, the animation is beautiful and the movie’s world building is simply magnificent. It’s a fantasy comedy that is both enchanting and hilarious in certain stretches.

1. Soul

Yes, Pixar truly had an amazing year in 2020 with both of their releases being instant classics in my opinion. There are many reasons why Soul is the best (animated) film of the year, but the biggest one is its relatability. It is the movie that proposes the importance of living your life to the fullest, which is something that I myself strongly value. The two main characters are incredibly well realized, the animation is even artistic in some moments and the score is the best of the year. It’s a movie that genuinely moved me to tears and it is one of Pixar’s greatest achievements.

Honorable Mentions:

Lupin II: The First – While definitely overly action-packed and messy in the inclusion of fantastical elements, the goofiness here is so amusing and the CGI animation is surprisingly solid. It’s a flick that I did not expect to be this fun and charming.

Earwig and the Witch – This is the first ever CGI Studio Ghibli offering and the animation is quite atrocious, but the characters are quite memorable and the movie is rather charming and endearing in its more childlike storyline. It’s too much of a mess, but I still liked it.

The Croods: A New Age – The second Croods movie is inferior to the first as its plot is nothing to write home about, but the adventurous elements still work and the character development for the entire family continues to shine in this franchise.