Top 10 Best Animated Movie Soundtracks of the 2020s

#10: The Super Mario Bros. Movie (2023)

Koji Kondo has given us some of the most iconic musical cues in Nintendos library, his Super Mario Bros. theme being in the National Recording Registry. For Illuminations cinematic journey to the Mushroom Kingdom, composer Brian Tyler works in plenty of nods to Kondo. At the same time, Tylers original compositions complement the distinct sound that Kondo established nearly forty years earlier. In adapting Kondos music, Tyler drew inspiration from John Williams, invigorating the 8-bit and 16-bit notes with an orchestral flair. Its a flawless fusion of two artists. The soundtrack also finds room for throwbacks like the Mario Brothers Rap and new ditties like Peaches, which balances silly lyrics with a sentimental melody in a ballad of unrequited love or obsession, in Bowsers case.

#9: Piece by Piece (2024)

Although celebrity documentaries are a dime a dozen, Pharrell Williams took an unconventional approach to his life story, telling it in Lego form. The title has multiple meanings, not only referencing the building blocks of Legos, but also the various musical pieces that define who Pharrell is. That said, the music is every bit as integral as the animation style. The soundtrack includes tunes we all associate with Williams, such as the Oscar-nominated Happy, as well as songs that he helped write for other artists like No Doubts Hella Good and Kendrick Lamars Alright. It goes beyond being a greatest hits album, with Williams writing five new songs while Michael Andrews provides an infectious score. In short, its a soundtrack set to Pharrells life.

#8: Wolfwalkers (2020)

French composer Bruno Coulais and folk band Kíla worked on all three films in Cartoon Saloons Irish Folklore Trilogy. Wolfwalkers finds this entire team at the top of their game, delivering a story as timeless as the score. Just as the film centers on characters who transform from human to wolf, the audience can feel themselves changing as they listen to the music, becoming one with nature. Its mystical, mysterious, and just a little intimidating, yet ultimately inviting. You can hear the heart of the forest beating with every step the wolves take. The music truly transports us, as if were running with the wolves under the moonlight. On that note, Norwegian singer Aurora recorded a new version of her 2015 single for the soundtrack.

#7: Suzume (2022)

Director Makoto Shinkai reunited with the rock band Radwimps for Suzume, which also features compositions from Kazuma Jinnouchi. The music team won a Japan Academy Film Prize for a road trip movie unlike anything youve experienced before, following an ordinary girl, a sentient three-legged chair, and a race to prevent disaster. It sounds bonkers, but Suzume is a poignant coming-of-age story with a larger environmental theme. This is mirrored in both the score and the title song, which aimed to convey the essence of the Earth as if were hearing the wind rush by. In an especially cool move, the title song was performed by newcomer Toaka, who was discovered through TikTok. Its an alluring tune that invites us to open the door to destiny.

#6: The Wild Robot (2024)

Composer Kris Bowers welcomed a daughter into the world not long before beginning work on The Wild Robot, his first animated film. Fuelled by his newfound parental perspective, Bowers music soars in more ways than one. Equally uplifting are Maren Morris songs, which encompass the warm embrace of a mother determined to see their little one succeed. Beyond its touching parent-child relationship, Chris Sanders film is just as much about technology integrating with the wilderness. The soundtrack reflects this blend as Roz the robot brings a synth sound to the forest, which we experience at its most peaceful, whimsical, and threatening. At its core is a unifying sound that makes us believe birds, foxes, bears, and even robots can live together in harmony.

#5: Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse (2023)

Daniel Pembertons Across the Spider-Verse score takes the listener on a journey. Even with your eyes closed, the music conjures a symphony of images that paint with every color and multiple styles. While the soundtrack works as an isolated masterstroke, it pairs perfectly with the kinetic visuals this team of animators labored over. Just as the narrative spans different universes, the soundtrack features a wide array of artists, and borrows from an assortment of genres, cultures, and eras. This speaks to the theme that every Spider-Person is unique, despite wearing similar masks. Nobody breaks the mold like Miles Morales and Gwen Stacy, who march to the beat of their own drums. Whether the characters are swinging solo or getting the band back together, the music remains a common thread in this web.

#4: The Boy and the Heron (2023)

Joe Hisaishis name might not be as recognizable as Hayao Miyazakis, but hes every bit as legendary. Hisaishi has been the composer on almost all of Miyazakis films, going all the way back to Nausicaä. While time will only tell if more collaborations await these masters, the score for The Boy and the Heron feels like a reflection on their decade-spanning cinematic voyage. Its a score that looks to the past with fond nostalgia while also considering the uncertain future. Hisaishi takes a minimalist approach, starting with a simple melody that grows grander as the story unfolds. Even at its most all-encompassing, the music always feels personal to Hisaishi, Miyazaki, and the titular boy at the center of this fantastical tale.

#3: KPop Demon Hunters (2025)

As the title suggests, this Sony Pictures Animation film is indeed about K-pop singers who hunt demons. Its much deeper than you might assume, though, telling a surprisingly meaningful story of self-acceptance and found family. The music adds another layer to the story. In what couldve simply been a collection of catchy tunes, the songs genuinely delve into what the characters are going through as they battle physical demons and internal ones. Various artists contributed to the soundtrack, which has zero skips. Every song is guaranteed to get you pumped, whether you need a confidence boost or youre looking to take someone else down. From Huntr/xs empowering ballads to the Saja Boys dementedly poppy tunes, this soundtrack is golden.

#2: Soul (2020)

Three years before lending their sound to Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem, Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross made their foray into feature animation with Pixars Soul. Just as integral was Jon Batiste, who won the Best Original Score Oscar with Reznor and Ross. The filmmakers also consulted the likes of Herbie Hancock, Questlove, and Quincy Jones in a film that rings true to the African-American experience, jazz being a crucial element. Of course, music is as universal as life itself. For the protagonist Joe, its as natural as breathing, driving his desire to live even in death. For anyone who considers music to be their spark, the Soul soundtrack will transport you to another plane of existence where zoning out is encouraged.

Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.

Belle (2021)

A Musical Sensation of the Cyber World

Puss in Boots: The Last Wish (2022)

Heitor Pereiras Score is as Bold as the Films Fearless Hero

Turning Red (2022)

A Throwback to '90s Boy Bands That Made Us All 4*Townies

Over the Moon (2020)

Nothing Short of Ultraluminary

Robot Dreams (2023)

A Soundtrack to Rememb-ah!

Joke

#1: Wish (2023)

On second thought, we wish to have something more for us than this.

#1: Encanto (2021)

After taking Broadway by storm, Lin-Manuel Miranda became one of this generations most prominent voices in animation with films like Vivo. Yet, nothing this decade has quite topped the cultural impact of Encanto. Speaking of culture, Mirandas songs and Germaine Francos score are a love letter to Colombia. While they supply the film with a sound that stands out from other Disney films, the soundtrack is still in the tradition of the studios storied legacy, featuring tunes that became instant sensations. The Oscar-nominated Two Oruguitas is right out of classic folklore, but the biggest breakthroughs were Surface Pressure and We Don't Talk About Bruno. The latter, in particular, took on a life of its own, ironically having everybody talking (and singing) about Bruno.

Whats your favorite animated soundtrack of the decade thus far? Let us know in the comments.