New Animated Movies On Hulu

[Mohammed Faerber]

Withanimation, all things are possible. Without any of the limitations imposed by physical reality, filmmakers can let their imaginations go absolutely crazysauce in whichever style of story they choose. Even if we disregard the vast history of animated films and focus exclusively on what's available on Hulu, we can see a catalogue that ranges from dystopian cyberpunk to CG fairy tale satire and iconic staples of children's media, with quite a few other stops in between.

Updated on December 29, 2021: When it comes to colorfully animated, (mostly) family-friendly movies, Hulu is constantly changing the offerings in its catalog. In order to keep things current, we'll be updating this list each month so you can stay informed on all the animated action happening over on Hulu.

Put the "Twilight" sequels in a blender with one or two of the numerous children's movies about talking dogs, and the resulting concoction might resemble this whimsical Australian production. The heir apparent to a secret society of werewolves unexpectedly transforms into a poodle, then embarks (pun intended) upon an amusing journey alongside his fellow English-speaking pooches.

Ever since they first showed up in the pages of The New Yorker, the Addams Family have been a pop culture institution. They made their way to TV in the 1960s and showed up on the big screen in the '90s. And in 2019, the creepy, kooky, and altogether ooky family got the CGI treatment for a whole new generation of fans. In fact, we give the film big points for gelling the original 1930s designs with 2020s computer animation. (If you think "The Addams Family" is just ripping off Tim Burton, you've got it a little backwards.) So anyone in the mood for something sweet and spooky, well, "The Addams Family" is where it's at.

Right up there next to "Blade Runner" and "The Matrix" on the list of most influential cyberpunk films in history, "Akira" is an utterly engrossing onslaught of mind-melting visuals and an essential watch for folks with any fondness for high-concept sci-fi. It's got sociopathic biker gangs, a shadowy authoritarian government, grotesque body horror, a telekinetic antichrist, and a profoundly creepy teddy bear; plus, it's one of the only established genre IPs that Hollywood cannot seem to remake despite its best efforts.

Here's a film that dares to ask questions like, "What if the Man in the Yellow Hat and Curious George switched places?" and, "What if instead of a horse, 'Horsin' Around' was about a gorilla who adopted a human orphan?"

An adaption of Osamu Tezuka's classic manga, "Astro Boy" didn't exactly set the world on fire during its theatrical run. More than a decade later, however, it stands a much better chance of resonating with the sort of folks who appreciate the Wachowskis' "Speed Racer" and other modern takes on retro Japanese pop culture. Plus, it's fairly bonkers. Essentially the tale of Pinocchio merged with Marvel's Vision, the titular robot youth has to fight a giant iron nemesis voiced by Samuel L. Jackson. It's exactly as fun as it sounds.

In this an essential watch for fans of superhero media in all of its forms, writer and exceptionally dedicated Batfan Marc Tyler Nobleman uncovers the unfortunate truth behind Batman's authorship. Bob Kane had been inaccurately credited as Batman's sole creator for decades, but the Dark Knight would look totally different and way less cool without the contributions of artist Bill Finger.

Charlie Brown is bad at baseball, a poor speller, and largely unsuccessful in romantic endeavors. But despite his many faults, his notoriety among American-made fictional characters is surpassed only by the likes of Batman, Darth Vader, and, uh ... his dog, Snoopy.

The first cinematic foray of the "Peanuts" gang landed in the late '60s, but it might as well have been last week. Charlie Brown is timeless. Who can't relate to constant uphill battles, low self-esteem, and the looming suspicion that your animal companion is constantly upstaging you?

The directorial feature-length debut from Chris Miller and Phil Lord, "Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs" borrows its title from a 1978 children's book, then buys a ticket for the crazy train and rides it straight to bonkersville.

In addition to that crazy plot, the voice cast is incredible. The combined awesomeness of Bruce Campbell and Mr. T might crush reality if they ever appeared in the same live-action movie, but within the animated framework of "Cloudy," their voices safely coexist.

Catching up with the cave-dwelling family introduced in 2012's "The Croods," this 2020 sequel garnered slightly better reviews than its predecessor, and includes 100 percent more Peter Dinklage and Kelly Marie Tran. The eponymous family must adjust to encroaching modernity and traverse eye-catching, vibrant CG environs. Meanwhile, prehistoric beasts provide amusement or antagonism, depending on the species and circumstances.

Curious George lacks the capacity to comprehend the concept of language, which prevents him from telling the Man with the Yellow Hat what he wants for Christmas. Making matters worse, George can't buy the Man with the Yellow Hat a Christmas present because George has no idea what money is or how it works. Do not fret, for these problems have solutions, and the process that brings about their resolution is utterly freakin' adorable.

Dr. Seuss's immortal saga of a boring, rainy afternoon interrupted by a rhyming, singing, anthropomorphic feline might not pan out so hot as a live-action project, but its status as a certified cartoon classic remains intact. Naturally it's splendid for kids, and better yet, this "Cat in the Hat" incorporates surrealism and stream-of-consciousness that should appeal to adults adhering to a certain chemical-consumption regimen.

Are you resistant to trying new things? Specifically, do you relentlessly push back against encouragement to sample oddly hued breakfast platters? Are you acquainted with a compact fellow named Sam-I-Am, and do you think poorly of this individual? Then, sir or madam, you have problems. Put "Dr. Seuss on the Loose" into your eyeballs posthaste, and learn the error of your ways...

On one hand, when people say they don't like anime, they're essentially talking about endeavors like "Fairy Tail...The Phoenix Priestess." And sure, fine, maybe not every element of the manga adaptation is wildly original, the plot occasionally wanders into incompressibility, and the casual sexualization of its characters is a little problematic. But if you're hunting for escapism stuffed with swords and sorceries, you could easily do worse.

While not a transcendent piece on the level of "Akira" or "Neon Genesis: Evangelion," "Ninja Scroll" is absolutely one of the first anime a generation of genre aficionados remembers renting on VHS, back when VHS rentals were a thing. Some of its shock value elements seem questionable in hindsight (content warning for sexual assault) but "Ninja Scroll" remains viable for its artful execution of quick 'n bloody fight sequences, and its bleak rendering of feudal Japan.

Blu, a domesticated exotic bird, is the last male Spix's macaw on the planet. He is, therefore, his species' only hope for another generation. If the story of "Rio" was as simple as putting Blu on a plane to Brazil and introducing him to a female macaw with a rebellious spirit, his life would be easy. Instead, Blu must contend with an attempted kidnapping, his own embarrassing inability to fly, and plenty of additional shenanigans.

Through a well-informed adult lens, "Space Jam" is essentially a sneaker commercial and an easy payday for Bill Murray barely disguised as a movie. But for some millennials, it's a cornerstone of their childhoods. And if folks want to celebrate an cultural artifact from a carefree period in their lives, who are we to judge? Come on and slam, and welcome to the jam, friends...

Not only does "StarDog and TurboCat" address the public's demand for crime-fighting kitties, it's also a pretty decent animated flick for the whole family. Sure, critics are split on the film, but if you or your kids are looking for something in the delightful vein of "PAW Patrol," then this is the perfect film for you.

Andy Samberg voices a baby-delivering bird in this Warner Bros. effort that pulls high marks for splashy animation and a wide range of supporting voice cast star power. Perhaps the script could've used another draft, but if you wanted to watch "Citizen Kane," you would watch "Citizen Kane." If you watch "Storks" it's because you're in the company of children who require a distraction, and if Key and Peele show up as cartoon wolves for a few scenes, that's only a deal sweetener.

The lone feature-length film entry of the "Trigun" franchise, "Badlands Rumble" presents us with an anachronistic sci-fi setting in the spirit of old school Hollywood Westerns. Naturally, it's loaded with outlaws and trigger-happy knuckleheads with absurdly awesome names like "Vash the Stampede," "Millions Knives," and "Dominique the Cyclops." Best viewed after consuming the 26-episode anime which, conveniently enough, you can also find on Hulu.

For some arbitrary reason, society tells us children need to know about colors, numbers, and what noises animals make. We've neglected to address the necessity of teaching kids the differences between genres of music ... until "Trolls World Tour."

Thanks to this film, which picks up where "Trolls" leaves off, today's youngsters won't have to wait until college to learn that metalheads can be narrow-minded, country music fans should be approached with caution, and every techno DJ is exactly the same.

Formerly the final hurrah of "Animaniacs" until the oddball '90s afterschool staple returned in 2020, "Wakko's Wish" entails a seemingly downtrodden Wakko Warner scrounging to afford surgery younger sister Dot needs quite urgently, apparently. But we can assure you, this film's plot synopsis makes it sound much more dire than it is. "Wakko's Wish" is actually a whole bucket of silliness and shenanigans, to tell you the truth.

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