2026 is shaping up to be a fantastic year for animation. We’re seeing original ideas from Pixar, innovative work from Sony Pictures Animation, and ambitious storytelling with Illumination’s latest Minions movie. Plus, Netflix has a growing collection of animated films that are really worth watching.
The first six months of the year have already delivered an exceptional amount of high-quality animation – more than many entire years typically offer. The five films listed below stand out as the very best, not just for their impressive visuals and technical skill, but also because they tell stories that truly justify seeing them in a theater or dedicating time to watch them at home.
Swapped Has One Of The Most Beautiful Worlds
Skydance Animation’s second film for Netflix, directed by Nathan Greno, who also directed Tangled, has received the most varied reviews of any movie on this list, and it’s best enjoyed with a little patience. Michael B. Jordan provides the voice for Ollie, a small creature called a Pooloo who lives on an island in a flooded valley, while Juno Temple voices Ivy, a beautiful bird called a Javan—and Ollie’s natural enemy.
The story follows two characters who unexpectedly switch bodies and must work together to find a way back to normal—all while uncovering a bigger danger threatening their unique world. The idea of people swapping bodies isn’t new, but this film stands out thanks to its creative setting: a vibrant ecosystem filled with plant-animal hybrids and unusual landscapes. Despite mixed reviews, the movie quickly gained popularity, racking up 38 million views on Netflix in its first week.
GOAT Is The Sports Animation The Year Needed
Sony Pictures Animation kicked off the year with the release of GOAT on February 13th, perfectly timed with the 2026 NBA All-Star Game Weekend in Los Angeles. The film quickly earned over $200.9 million around the world. This debut feature from director Tyree Dillihay tells the story of Will Harris, a small goat (voiced by Caleb McLaughlin) who hopes to become a Roarball champion. Roarball is a fast-paced, physical sport played by animal characters in the city of Vineland.
After a video of Will’s amazing dribbling skills goes viral, he unexpectedly receives an invitation to play for the Thorns – a professional team with some unusual players, including a black panther, a horse, and an ostrich! The movie’s animation style, similar to that of the Spider-Verse films, makes the sports scenes visually exciting and worth seeing on the big screen.
Hoppers Is The Greatest Pixar Film Yet
As a huge Pixar fan, I can honestly say their new film, Hoppers, is the most exciting original story they’ve done in ages! It really feels like the first time since Inside Out that they’ve taken a big creative and technical swing – it’s not just another polished version of what they already do. Directed by Daniel Chong and out on March 6th, the movie centers around Mabel Tanaka (voiced brilliantly by Piper Curda), a college student who finds an incredible way to talk to animals: she transfers her mind into a super-realistic robotic beaver!
The movie focuses on protecting the animals’ home from a mayor who’s eager to build and develop it – a character voiced by Jon Hamm. It was a huge financial success, earning $389 million globally with a $150 million production cost, and critics gave it some of the best reviews Pixar has seen in years. What made Hoppers stand out was its humor, self-assurance, and willingness to address political themes more directly than most other Pixar films.
Minions and Monsters Takes These Creatures To A Brand New Setting
The newest installment in the Despicable Me series, Minions and Monsters, opened the Annecy International Animation Film Festival. Directed by Pierre Coffin – who also directs all the Minions films and voices the Minions themselves – and co-written by Brian Lynch, the film takes the Minions to 1920s Hollywood. There, they stumble into fame as movie stars and try their hand at making a monster movie with a reformed villain.
The voice actors in this installment – including Allison Janney, Christoph Waltz, Jeff Bridges, Jesse Eisenberg, Zoey Deutch, and Trey Parker – make for the most engaging group in the series so far. And with its classic Old Hollywood monster movie vibe, the film lets the director playfully nod to Universal’s iconic creature features in a way we haven’t seen before.
Toy Story 5 Surpasses All Expectations To Become The Best Animation Of 2026
Andrew Stanton is back at Pixar with Toy Story 5, his first theatrical film since Finding Dory in 2016, and it marks the return of the beloved Toy Story franchise after a seven-year hiatus. Expected to be the best animated movie of 2026, Toy Story 5 – releasing June 19th with original voice actors Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, and Joan Cusack – offers a fresh perspective after five installments. The film introduces Lilypad, a tablet that becomes the main conflict as digital screens begin to take over playtime, something many parents can relate to.
Keanu Reeves reprises his role as Duke Caboom, alongside returning cast members Conan O’Brien, Craig Robinson, and Randy Newman. The film surprisingly offers a thoughtful exploration of growing obsolete, handling the theme with sensitivity and respecting viewers’ intelligence. While this installment likely marks the end of the series – aimed at fans who originally watched the first three movies as children now grown up – it doesn’t rely just on nostalgia to connect with audiences.
2026-07-21 00:09