Top 10 Animated Movies: 2010s

Script written by Sean Harris.

Top 10 Animated Movies of the 2010s

Animation is all the rage at the modern day movie theater! Welcome to WatchMojo.com, and today we’re counting down our picks for the top 10 animated movies from the first half of the 2010s!

For this list, we’ve looked at all animated films released within the decade, and have selected those that have achieved the most success, achieved the most originality, and advanced the animation industry furthest! We’re only looking at feature length films however, so no shorts! This is part of a series of videos spanning the decades of animated movies from the 1920s to the 2000s.

#10: “The Adventures of Tintin” (2011)

We open things up with a movie directed by Steven Spielberg and produced by Peter Jackson - which is about as impressive a backroom team as Hollywood has to offer! “The Adventures of Tintin” saw the iconic comic-strip character brought to the big screen as a 3D motion capture computer-animated masterpiece - with big success! ‘Adventure’ is the appropriate word, as this tale has often been compared with another Spielberg-ian classic, “Raiders of the Lost Ark” - supposedly the director himself saw Tintin as ‘Indiana Jones for kids’!

#9: “Wreck-It Ralph” (2012)

A movie which has the essence of animation at its heart, “Wreck-It Ralph” is all about exploring the possibilities within the impossible. We’ve all played video games, and wouldn’t we all like to believe there was life after ‘game over’!? That’s the fundamental principle behind this fun (and a little mental) movie! Retro Wreck-it Ralph teams up with race-star wannabe Venellope, as they both try to find their place in the world. Their pixel-ated partnership makes the arcade even more fun!

#8: “Rango” (2011)

When a pet chameleon becomes stranded in the desert, you might think the reptile would find it easy to adapt - not true in the case of ‘Rango’! Voiced by Johnny Depp, this lizard’s a little out of place within a seemingly natural environment. However, he muddles his way to the town of Dirt, and begins to set about his new life there. What follows is all manner of dusty, Wild West-y fun, and a movie that ironically stands out from the crowd!

#7: “Tangled” (2010)

Believed to be the most expensive animated movie ever made upon its release, “Tangled” proved more than capable of living up to the hype! A modern take on the traditional Brothers Grimm fairy tale “Rapunzel”, it was also the 50th film in the ‘Walt Disney Animated Classic’ series. It has all the familiar components to the well-known story - a princess, a tower, and some really long hair - with a little added spice. Rapunzel is no roll-over damsel in distress, as this movie cuts free from the cliché!

#6: “Despicable Me” (2010)

Giving us the ultimate animated anti-hero, “Despicable Me” takes the traditional children’s story, and rips it up! Gru is a supervillain in the midst of a supervillainous plan to steal the moon... He’s also super-likable though, and super-difficult not to root for! Who cares that he’s trying to rearrange the universe? With ‘minions’ like these, we were only ever going to be on his side! The cute yellow creatures have become a part of modern pop-culture - they’re this generation’s Oompa Loompas!

#5: “Frozen” (2013)

With this movie, Disney really went back to their roots! Princesses, magical powers, sing-along-able songs - “Frozen” has it all! Elsa and Anna are heirs to the throne of Arendelle, and they were the best of sisters... But they’ve gradually grown apart. When things get especially ‘frosty’, it looks as though their friendship might be over forever... Cue an epic journey, an eclectic group of companions and some really catchy lyrics! It’s a tried and tested formula, and this time it’s especially triumphant!

#4: “The LEGO Movie” (2014)

LEGO is one of those toys that simply never looks as though it will go out of fashion - and this film has further cemented these bright bricks into our consciousness! Emmet Brickowski is an everyday Lego-man, going about his everyday Lego-life... A construction worker, he helps build everyday Lego-things! Everything is safe and sound and square in Emmet’s life! That is, until he is unveiled as ‘the Special’! From that point forth, ‘everything is even more awesome’ than it already was before!

#3: “Ernest & Celestine” (2012)

With this movie, low-budget definitely doesn’t mean low-quality! While the computer-generated look tends to dominate the industry within the modern world, “Ernest and Celestine” is a timely reminder that this need not always be the case! An innovative combination of traditional animation techniques and new-age ideas, this French-Belgian film garnered success on a shoestring! Depicting an unlikely friendship in an un-accepting world, it was a favorite at film festivals and in family homes alike! Animation is an art form, and that’s especially clear here!

#2: “How to Train Your Dragon” (2010)

Roaring into second spot, a movie that has already inspired one sequel, and is scheduled to be given a third outing in 2017. “How to Train Your Dragon” follows the story of Hiccup, a young Viking boy in a dragon-slaying community. As the film’s title would suggest, though, there is another side to the mythical beasts, and another side to their slayers as well! This story scooped all manner of awards in what was an exceptionally competitive year - and it can now add our silver medal to its collection!

Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.
- “The Wind Rises” (2014)
- “Monsters University” (2013)
- “Frankenweenie” (2012)
- “Megamind” (2010)
- “The Secret World of Arrietty” (2012)

#1: “Toy Story 3” (2010)

Fifteen years after Woody and Buzz first blew away their animated rivals, they were at it again at the beginning of this decade! The cowboy and the spaceman are firm friends now, but that doesn’t mean that the game isn’t still afoot for the toys! This time, the problem’s a plush purple teddy bear who looks cute and cuddly, but harbors criminal intentions beneath those bushy eyebrows! There are new characters, old favorites, and a snappy storyline to rival movies one and two! It’s laughter, tears and another toy-tastic triumph!

Do you agree with our list? Which modern animated movie did we miss? For more colorful Top 10s published daily, be sure to subscribe to WatchMojo.com.