The 20 funniest animated movies

If ever there was an animated series that is truly an American cultural institution, it would have to be the ever-evolving and seemingly immortal The Simpsons. Not content to stay confined to the small screen, in 2007, they finally got the big-screen treatment in the aptly-titled The Simpsons Movie. The brilliance of this particular animated film lies in its ability to take everything audiences love about the show and expand it in such a way that it feels authentic in the feature film form. It manages to be both a brilliant satire and a remarkably moving adventure with one of America’s favorite families. 

Given the significant box office and critical success of The Lego Movie, it was inevitable that it would receive a spin-off, and the result was the even more hilarious The Lego Batman Movie.  Unsurprisingly, it focuses on the title character and his efforts to foil the Joker. There’s no question that what makes the film so uproariously funny is the vocal performance from Will Arnett as Batman. It’s such a perfect send-up of the growly affection of Christian Bale in Nolan’s famous trilogy. There are also so many callbacks and Easter eggs for fans of Batman that it’s impossible not to fall under the film’s spell.

While Hercules might not be seen as one of the best films of the Disney Renaissance, it is inarguably one of the funniest. This partly stems from the presence of Hades, voiced by James Woods. Woods infuses the sinister god of death with a fast-talking style that is unique among Disney villains, but this doesn’t detract from his genuinely sinister persona. The film also includes one of the smartest and funniest of all romantic love interests, Megara, as well as the blunt and coarse hero-trainer Philoctetes (voiced by comedy great Danny DeVito). The film’s humor, combined with its unique aesthetic, makes it an underrated Disney gem. 

Disney’s Robin Hood has the misfortune of being released in the 1970s, during one of those periods when the studio experienced a bit of a slump. Fortunately, it has continued to receive love and praise from subsequent generations of viewers, who are enchanted by its sprightly sense of humor — evidenced in such musical numbers as “The Phony King of England” — and by the undeniable charisma of the title character. Moreover, it’s impossible not to laugh at the campy antics of the nefarious Prince John, played by the late Peter Ustinov in what was to be one of his most enduringly popular and beloved roles. 

It’s impossible to deny the charm and humor of the characters Wallace & Gromit, who finally got their feature film desserts in Wallace and Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit.  As its title suggests, the film focuses on the title characters as they have to contend with a giant rabbit wreaking havoc on the local crops. Part of the film’s humor stems from its clever allusions to various Hammer horror films, but it’s also because it’s quintessentially English. It certainly helps that it boasts a very talented cast, including Ralph Fiennes, Helena Bonham Carter, and the late, great Peter Sallis. 

There are few superheroes more beloved than Spider-Man, and, like so many other crusaders, he has taken many shapes over the years. One of the more remarkable recent Spider-Man films has been Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, which manages to stay true to many of the classic Spidey stories while breaking out in some new directions. There’s a refreshing sort of humor to this film, which helps to set it apart from its predecessors, and the textured and kinetic animation style is truly remarkable to behold. Shameik Moore is perfectly cast as Miles Morales, capturing the character’s sense of spirit and humor.

For quite a while, Disney’s The Emperor’s New Groove flew under the radar since it came in the period after the Renaissance. However, it has recently gained a significant following, and it is particularly beloved because of its dazzlingly funny dialogue and deft vocal performances from the likes of David Spade, John Goodman, Eartha Kitt, and Patrick Warburton. There’s a feverishness to the humor in this film, which never lets up, and it is remarkable how it manages to break away from the established Disney formula even as it also manages to capture so much of the studio’s unique brand of magic.

It’s quite a heavy lift to take an established franchise and make a story that somehow feels fresh and new, yet this is exactly what Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem achieved. Unlike many other iterations of the story, this one actually has the central foursome act like the young teens they are, and this helps to keep the film light on its feet. It’s also a remarkably well-written film, with lots of funny lines and great villains. What’s more, it also features a remarkably sophisticated visual design, 

Even though it has been a bit forgotten except by die-hard animation aficionados, there is still much to recommend Chicken Run. It’s one of those stop-motion films that manages to be very funny and thought-provoking, focusing as it does on a group of chickens desperate to keep themselves from getting turned into pies. Much of the humor derives from slapstick (not unusually for stop-motion). Still, there’s also a rich (and almost radical) feminist and Marxist edge to it, which helps to elevate it above many other more banal and less adventurous animated films of its era.. 

The Lego Movie is one of those delightful animated films that combines a strong story, bright and colorful animation, and brilliant voice-acting into an enormously enjoyable cinematic experience. Indeed, it is precisely the film’s sense of humor and its deft writing that help elevate it above many of the other animated films released simultaneously. It somehow manages to take the familiar cultural icon of the LEGO and turn it into something new, exciting, and fun. It boasts a truly extraordinary voice cast, including Chris Pratt, Will Ferrell (who makes for a very good villain in the form of Lord Business), and Elizabeth Banks.  

Pixar is indisputably one of the powerhouses for animation, and in Finding Nemo, the studio managed to hit the sweet spot between hilarious and touching. Its story about a clownfish who sets out on a perilous journey to find his son is quite touching, but there are so many deft comedic touches that it’s impossible not to laugh. And who could forget the remarkable vocal performance from Ellen DeGeneres as the absent-minded Dory? To add to this, the film is quite simply gorgeous to look at, a testament to the heights animation can achieve.  

After emerging as an animation powerhouse in the late 1990s, DreamWorks continued to burnish its reputation and its successes in the following decade, thanks to films like Madagascar.  It’s essentially a fish-out-of-water story focusing on a group of zoo animals who end up in Madagascar. It also features some heavy-hitting comedy voice talent, including Chris Rock, Ben Stiller, and David Schwimmer. What’s particularly refreshing about this film is that it never takes itself too seriously; it aims to make the audience laugh and allow them to have fun. It more than succeeds on both fronts.

Jack Black has repeatedly shown that he is one of the funniest actors of his generation, which applies as much to his voice work as his live-action adventures. In Kung Fu Panda,  he lends his voice to the character of Po, a panda who must learn the arts of kung fu to become a prophesied warrior. The film is the perfect combination of slapstick and sly humor, and it is buttressed by the usual brilliant DreamWorks animation and by a voice cast that, in addition to Black, includes Jackie Chan, Dustin Hoffman, and Angelina Jolie. 

There are many reasons to enjoy Shrek,  one of the best films ever produced by DreamWorks. Among other things, it features a strong voice performance from the ever-talented Mike Myers in the title role, who is joined by several other fantastic actors, including Cameron Diaz and Eddie Murphy. Even now, twenty years after it first hit cinemas, Shrek maintains its power to make audiences laugh, particularly since it is so skilled at skewering the various conventions associated with the animated film (particularly as produced by Disney). It’s easy to see why it was popular enough to spawn its own franchise. 

One of the best things about Pixar as a studio is its willingness to use animation to engage with meaningful topics. In Turning Red, the studio gave audiences a touching and hilarious story about Mei, a Chinese-Canadian girl who begins to experience the family curse of turning into a giant panda once she reaches adolescence. It has all of the energy, vivacity, and humor one expects of a Pixar film, but there’s also a whole lot of heart here, particularly when it comes to Mei’s relationship with her mother and the other older women in her family. As with the best animation, humor can be used to tell a remarkably sophisticated and philosophical story. 

As the first film in a franchise, Ice Age has some heavy lifting to do, and it more than succeeds. Focusing on a trio of animals — wooly mammoth Manny, ground sloth Sid, and Smilodon  Diego — it follows their adventure as they try to return a baby human to his tribe. It manages to exceed all expectations, primarily because of the witty banter and the chemistry among the three vocal leads (Ray Romano, John Leguizamo, and Denis Leary). It’s also a remarkably well-written comedy, and it manages to keep the audience in stitches even as it also has some moments of genuine emotional warmth and depth. 

Given just how powerful and prominent Pixar is in 2023, it’s hard to remember a time when it wasn’t a part of the film landscape. Though much has changed and animation has grown more sophisticated, there’s still something endearing about Toy Story. Part of its staying power comes from its undeniable sense of humor, and it’s still fun to watch Woody and Buzz feud with one another. There’s also so much heart in this film that it’s impossible not to fall under its spell, and it’s easy to see why the studio continues to make movies about this classic duo. 

Though much of the acclaim for Wes Anderson’s directing understandably focuses on his whimsical live-action films, he deserves just as much praise for Fantastic Mr. Fox.  It’s a brilliant piece of stop-motion animation, and it manages to capture much of what made Roald Dahl’s original novel so compelling and captivating. It certainly helps that it features an embarrassment of riches when it comes to its voice cast, including such heavy hitters as George Clooney, Meryl Streep, and Jason Schwartzman. Even though it is often quite funny and light, it also has strains of darkness, which is very much in keeping with the Dahl aesthetic. 

As the fourth film in the Disney Renaissance, Aladdin  shows all the signs of a studio at the height of its artistic powers. It has all of the classic ingredients of a great Disney film: catchy songs, a sinister villain, a powerful heroine, and a lovable hero. It also has Robin Williams, whose vocal performance as Genie is arguably one of the late actor’s best. He keeps the movie from ever getting bogged down, and he has some of the funniest lines. As so often with Williams, however, he also manages to give Genie a soul, which helps to explain why he remains one of the best Disney characters. 

Disney certainly hit it out of the park with Zootopia,  arguably one of their best post-Renaissance films. Featuring the voices of Ginnifer Goodwin and Jason Bateman as Judy Hopps and Nick Wilde, it has some sparkling wit, fun dialogue, and a ridiculously charismatic central duo. It’s one of those films that hits the right mix between being funny without being ridiculous and, like all of the best Disney movies past and present, has a surprisingly thoughtful and resonant message about the dangerous power of stereotypes and assumptions. It also deserves regard for being willing and able to move outside of the traditional Disney model.