New Animated Movies 2023

[Elenor Waas]

Ifor one, love a good animated movie perhaps even more than I love most live-action films. Sure, there are bad animated features, just like there are bad live-action ones. But when an animated film is made well, it gives off a magical, comforting sort of quality. Watching a solid animated feature for the first time feels like finding something I didn't know I'd lost. Going back to it feels like holding a pet or drinking a warm cup of tea. And while I have many personal reasons to be so fond of animated films, there are also plenty of objective advantages they have over the average live-action picture. Let's look at a few of these now, shall we?

The clearest divide between a live-action film and an animated one? How they visually present themselves, of course. While there are many pretty and even stylistically groundbreaking movies in both categories, those that are animated have a distinct edge because they are not limited by the bounds of reality. Creators of live-action films might be able to build impressive scenes by using flawless sets and costumes, but they'll never have the same complete control as those who work with a fully animated world.

Take Sony's Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse (2018), for example. The superhero film, which has a Brooklyn teenager developing spider-like powers and discovering a multiverse of others like him, looks like it was ripped out of a comic book. We've seen many live-action Spider-Man movies before; we know they work. Yet none of them have a design that's as dynamic and easily recognizable.

Or consider The Lego Movie (2014), which has an average construction worker accidentally getting looped into a world-saving adventure. It doesn't just fill its world with Legos for fun; it uses them to tell a greater story in which a father and son struggle to connect in the real world. Santa Claus origin story Klaus (2019), on the other hand, uses traditional hand-drawn animation techniques to create a 3D look. This gives it a warm, nostalgic Christmasy feel as well as an appearance comparable to other modern animations, which helped it keep up with movies released around the same time, like Disney's Frozen II and Dreamworks' Abominable.

Dreamworks' How to Train Your Dragon franchise features an exotic range of winged creatures that would have been costly to add to a live-action world. Disney's Sleeping Beauty (1959) is painted throughout in an enchanting green-and-purple color palette that flawlessly fits its moody narrative. Studio Ghibli films, such as Kiki's Delivery Service (1989) and The Wind Rises (2013), are loaded with charming towns and magical flying scenes that have a storybook-like quality. This is all owed to animation, which allows everything the creators dreamed up to look precise.

Even when a studio's budget is unlimited, and the format of a movie doesn't affect the story, some things still just look better animated. Compare Disney's vibrantly animated classics to their live-action remakes, for example. Let's focus on The Lion King.

While animated films have more visual freedom than live-action movies, they also have more narrative freedom. As mentioned, not every animated film had to be animated, but there are many times it wouldn't make sense any other way.

Pixar's Ratatouille (2007), for example, tells of a rat named Remy who wants to become a chef even though it goes against his animal nature. To achieve his dreams, Remy teams up with a bad but well-meaning young cook at a gourmet restaurant in Paris, hiding under his hat and pulling on his hair to make him move like a puppet and create delicious dishes.

Animation is what allows us to care about the life cycle of a toy in Pixar's Toy Story (1995). It helps us believe that a girl can stumble into an old theme park filled with outlandish supernatural beings in Studio Ghibli's Spirited Away (2001). And it leaves us with no choice but to cheer on the love story between two robots recovering from a climate-changed reality, despite there being little dialogue between the pair, in Pixar's Wall-E (2008).

The best kids' movies are the ones aimed in part at adults but packaged in vivid colors and grabbing storylines. No, I'm talking about films like Bee Movie (2007) or Shark Tale (2004), which famously thought they could keep mature audience members engaged by putting in cheap pop-culture jokes and big-name celebs. I'm talking about the animated movies that put great care into their plots to attract viewers of all ages but emotionally affect adults the most once they're sitting in front of the screen.

Director Brad Bird has long been a champion of the idea that animation is an art form rather than a genre. This has led him to weave stirring adult themes into his films including the aforementioned Ratatouille, The Iron Giant (1999), and Pixar's The Incredibles (2004).

An even starker example of an animated feature that tackles adult themes is Disney's The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1996), which tells of a disfigured bell-ringer who attempts to keep a Romani girl on the run, Esmerelda, safe from the evil Frollo. The musical deals with themes like genocide and damnation and gives its villain an entire song in which he wishes Esmerelda would burn in hell so that he no longer lusts after her. (Seriously, this film getting a G-rating is the eighth wonder of the world.) While Hunchback has its flaws, it serves as proof that animated films can confront dark subjects while still attracting general audiences.

All this goes to say, animated films aren't just for kids. Let's say that again, this time a little louder for everyone in the back: Animated films aren't just for kids. If you skip over an entire selection of movies just because you don't think you're in the target audience, you'll be missing out on a world of wonderful, nuanced stories that could leave you with a deeper understanding of life.

Animated movies are good for the soul, like a cozy mug of hot chocolate. Between the story, animation, and music, there is something inherently comforting about these movies. One reason for this is the nostalgia. Most of us grew up watching such movies and listening (and singing along) to the soundtracks (probably on repeat), so we associate them with our childhood.

This special place in our heart for these movies is meaningful for HSPs, given that we tend to be sentimental. Another reason why such movies offer comfort is due to their familiarity. We know the stories, including that there will be a happy ending. In a world that is largely unpredictable, chaotic, and out of our control, the familiarity and predictability of these movies make them an old, reliable friend we continue returning to.

Although these are issues that are important for children to learn, such themes will be more apparent to older audiences. And due to the compassionate nature of HSPs, we are often drawn to stories that have deeper meanings and address these vital issues, and we may even resonate with some of these themes.

However, I believe the two most prominent examples of HSP characters are Belle from Beauty and the Beast and the titular character of Pocahontas. Both Belle and Pocahontas are deeply compassionate, rely on their strong intuition, are authentically themselves, follow their own path, and have a rich and complex inner life. In a society that often undervalues sensitivity, it is a gift to see HSP qualities reflected and celebrated in movie protagonists.

HSPs are moved by beauty, and movies are no exception to this. Classic animated movies are beautiful in numerous ways. First, the animation in these movies is a work of art. In the older movies, the hand-drawn animation is breath-taking, while the new computer-animated movies continue to push the boundaries of what is possible.

Second, the music of these movies, often written and composed by Broadway professionals, are some of the most beloved songs of all-time. Such songs as Colors of the Wind (Pocohontas), The Circle of Life (The Lion King), God Help the Outcasts (The Hunchback of Notre Dame), and Part of Your World (The Little Mermaid) are deeply emotional and beautiful, both in the musical composition and the messages of these songs.

Finally, the stories themselves, along with the themes and lessons of these stories, are profound. The stories of such movies often contain themes that resonate with HSPs, such as the value of interpersonal relationships, the importance of compassion, and being true to oneself.

As previously mentioned, these movies acknowledge the hardships of life, as the characters in these movies have to endure some extremely challenging situations, including loss of a loved one, prejudice, depression, and finding self-acceptance. And, yet, hope is never lost.

Lacie (she/her) earned her Doctorate of Psychology from Loma Linda University. She is a psychotherapist with a private practice in Seattle, specializing in working with HSPs, LGBTQIA+ folx, and body image. Like many HSPs, she is passionate about helping others and trying to make the world a better place. When she is not therapizing or writing, Lacie enjoys exploring the natural beauty of the Pacific Northwest, reading, cooking and baking, engaging in joyful movement, and watching Disney movies. Lacie is a proud dog mom to her rescue pup. You can find her at

Animated films aren't just for kids. Animation comes in many genres, from family-friendly to comedy to action to horror. However, the best animated movies are not just great films but also art pieces. Whether it's stop-motion, cartoon or CGI, the best animated films of all time bring the viewer into new imaginative worlds. This list features both the top animated family films and those for older audiences. So please note that not all of these films are appropriate for kids. However, all of these films deliver great storytelling, beautiful visuals and a showcase of the best animation has to offer.

This list features films from 1940 to 2021. However, animation has been around since at least the late 1800s. While animated shorts have been a staple of the genre, only full-length films are included on this list. Notably, the first full-length animated film was Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs in 1937.

3a8082e126