The 15 Best Netflix Original Animated Movies, Ranked According to Letterboxd
Writing from the Chicagoland area in Illinois, Robert is an avid movie watcher and will take just about any excuse to find time to go to his local movie theaters. Robert graduated from Bradley University with degrees in Journalism and Game Design with a minor in Film Studies. Robert tries his best to keep up with all the latest movie releases, from those released in theaters to those released on streaming. While he doesn't always keep up with the latest TV shows, he makes it a goal to watch nearly every major new release possible. He has been honing his craft and following any and all movie news all his life, leading up to now, where he has a vast knowledge of film and film history. He also logs every movie that he watches on his Letterboxd page, and has hosted a weekly online movie night with his closest friends for over 6 years.
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It has become increasingly apparent that the modern era of filmmaking has been defined by the rise and dominance of streaming services and the original content that they provide. Netflix has especially been at the forefront of this endeavor, producing many original films from a variety of genres compared to other services. Netflix has especially excelled in animation, a medium that is largely overlooked by other platforms like Amazon and Max.
Netflix has quickly risen through the ranks as one of the best modern platforms for exciting and original animated films from different creative and distinct filmmaker voices. With additions to larger franchises like The Witcher: Nightmare of the Wolf or a distinct cinematic vision that stands on its own, like Nimona, Netflix is by and large one of the best platforms for animated films in the streaming era. Fans on Letterboxd have anointed these movies as Netflix's best offerings in animation, further cementing the streaming service's place as the leader in the pack.
15 'The Witcher: Nightmare of the Wolf' (2021)
Letterboxd Average Rating: 3.47/5
Acting as an animated prequel spin-off to the successful Witcher series on Netflix, The Witcher: Nightmare of the Wolf tells the origin story of Vesemir, a fellow witcher and mentor to Geralt. As Vesemir escapes from his life of poverty into the treacherous and adventurous life of a witcher, he is forced to slay monsters and villains for coin and glory as he travels the world for answers. His new life is soon put to a halt when a new terror arrives, forcing him to face the dread of his past head-on.
Nightmare of the Wolf features a lot of the same writing, storytelling, and worldbuilding that made The Witcher one of the best fantasy series in recent years, yet only amplified by the exceptional 2D animated action on display. Its story also works wonders as a standalone story, not requiring any prior knowledge of the franchise to be able to fully enjoy its fantasy elements and story of self-growth. Many fans even consider this film to be better than the actual Witcher series, as well as more faithful to the messages of the original novels.
14 'KPop Demon Hunters' (2025)
Letterboxd Average Rating: 3.53/5
Easily the most immediately recognizable and successful animated film that Netflix has ever released, it may seem surprising that KPop Demon Hunters's complete cultural domination has not resulted in it completely dominating this ranking. While the film is still absolutely loved by a passionate fanbase on Letterboxd, its massive popularity has also drawn the eyes of more detractors to the film, with its biggest fans and biggest haters balancing out into a score that, while still respectable, isn't among the top of this list.
Still, the global passion and distinct strengths that allowed KPop Demon Hunters to soar into becoming Netflix's most-watched movie cannot be ignored. The animation is incredibly upbeat and exhilarating to watch, the music ranges from catchy to emotional and hits all the right beats, and the core story of K-pop stars fighting against demons is just a lot of fun to watch. With a sequel already announced, the stature and legacy of this film is already secure, whether or not it has an extremely high rating on Letterboxd.
13 'Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Movie' (2022)
Letterboxd Average Rating: 3.60/5
The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles have seen a wide variety of different renditions and reboots over the years, ranging from certified classics like the live-action '80s movies to new hits like Mutant Mayhem. However, Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Movie has quickly risen to be a fan favorite among fans of the turtles, with its focus on flashy 2D animation providing the best action in the entire franchise. Continuing the Nickelodeon series, the film sees a young time traveler from the future sent to the present day to warn the turtles of an impending alien threat.
Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Movie finds the perfect balance between action, comedy, and charm that has made the film such a smash hit among not only fans but critics as well. High-octane 2D animation is a continued rarity in the modern era of feature-length animation, with this film's glorious spectacle and use of 2D animation being some of the best of recent years. Even though it comes from a television series, Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Movie goes to considerable lengths to be unique and is a must-watch for all Turtles fans, even those who missed out on the original series.
12 'Apollo 10 ½: A Space Age Childhood' (2021)
Letterboxd Average Rating: 3.64/5
Acclaimed director Richard Linklater has proven himself to be a master of nostalgic, humanist filmmaking who can tap into the very essence of human nature and the beauty inherent to the simplicities of life. This is most effectively seen within his most recent animated work, Apollo 10 ½: A Space Age Childhood, the director's third rotoscoped animated film after A Scanner Darkly and Waking Life. The film follows one man's reminiscence and trip down memory lane to his childhood in 1969, during the height of the space race, and how he was invited to travel to the moon as a 10-year-old a month before Apollo 11.
While the exceptional rotoscope visuals are a clear highlight that helps carve out a signature identity for the film, the major staying power and strengths of A Space Age Childhood come from Linklater's signature humanist storytelling. The film acts like a direct look into the past, complete with charm and whimsy, blemishes and all, for the era, with an inherent love and respect for the generations of the past. The film accomplishes the seemingly impossible by having audiences feel nostalgic for an era they never lived through.
11 'Ultraman: Rising' (2024)
Letterboxd Average Rating: 3.73/5
Ultraman has been one of the most prominent and beloved superhero properties to come from Japan, with a multitude of memorable installments and beloved stories gracing multiple mediums over the years. Ultraman: Rising proves to be one of the series' finest moments when it comes to crossing over the cultural barrier and becoming a major hit not just in Japan but across the entire world. The film follows a young athlete who, after taking on the Ultraman mantle, is tasked with protecting a young kaiju baby from a government that wants to destroy it.
Ultraman: Rising finds the perfect balance between being a love letter to long-time fans while also evolving the character to new heights, creating an accessible story for those who have never heard of him. The film features breathtaking animated fight sequences that make the most out of modern animation, with colorful visuals and striking set pieces that live up to the legacy of Ultraman.
10 'Invader Zim: Enter the Florpus' (2019)
Letterboxd Average Rating: 3.75/5
One of a trio of legacy movies made for classic Nicktoons that was released on Netflix, Invader Zim: Enter the Florpus brings back the cult classic sci-fi animated series as if it never left. The film follows Zim undergoing a depressive episode after hearing that his leaders, the Almighty Tallest, never had any intentions of traveling to Earth for an invasion. His wallowing ends up catching his rival, Dib, off guard as Zim hatches up a new plan to get Earth in the path of the Almighty Tallest.
Invader Zim has a signature style of darkness and chaotic, absurdist humor, helping it become a fan favorite among the 2000s Nicktoons. Enter the Florpus recaptures that signature approach, amplifying these facets to a cinematic scale and scope and acting as a perfect sendoff and love letter to the series and fans. Even for those who haven't seen Invader Zim, the film has an infectious manic energy that makes it hard not to have a great time while watching.
9 'The Mitchells vs. the Machines' (2021)
Letterboxd Average Rating: 3.82/5
Originally planned to have a theatrical release under Sony, The Mitchells vs. the Machines eventually found itself being distributed as a Netflix original film following the COVID pandemic and major shift to streaming services. The film follows the titular Mitchell family, who, while on a road trip to drop off eldest daughter Katie Mitchell at college, end up being the last remaining humans during an AI robot uprising. They are now the unlikely last hope for humanity and must find a way to stop the robot takeover.
The Mitchells vs. the Machines is one of the most beloved and successful projects from producers Phil Lord and Chris Miller, with the same quirky style of humor and stylized animation that has made their recent works such a hit. The film acts as a beautiful love letter to the chaos and creation that happen during youth, slinging everything against the wall and simply having fun with making things, no matter how weird. It also tackles an "anti-technology" message with a more nuanced and intelligent take from its contemporaries, helping it become one of the most acclaimed animated films of recent memory.
Collider Exclusive · 8 Questions · 2 Minutes Which Netflix Character Would Be Your Best Friend? Dustin · Emily · Wednesday · Gi-hun
Some friends drag you out of the house. Some sit with you on the worst night of your life. Netflix has written both, plus the one who tells you the truth you have been avoiding all week. Answer eight quick questions about how you actually do friendship, and find out which of them was always going to end up in your corner.
🧢Dustin(Stranger Things)
🗼Emily(Emily in Paris)
🕷️Wednesday(Wednesday)
🟢Gi-hun(Squid Game)
01
How do you usually end up making a new friend? The origin story says a lot about the friendship that follows it.
02
What is a perfect Saturday with your best friend? Friendship is mostly built out of very ordinary hours.
03
You call them at two in the morning. What happens? This is the real test of a friendship, and everybody knows it.
04
What do you want from them when you are clearly wrong? The best friendships are the ones that survive being corrected.
05
What do your friends actually value about you? The friend you attract says something about the friend you are.
06
You have a falling out. How does it go? How a friendship repairs itself matters more than how it breaks.
07
What do you actually need a best friend for? Everybody is missing something. The right friend fills that gap.
08
Ten years from now, what keeps the two of you close? Eight questions in, this is the one that decides who you get.
The Group Chat Has Spoken Your Best Friend Is…
Four Netflix characters, four completely different ways of showing up for somebody. This is the one who fits how you actually do friendship, and what having them in your life would be like.
Dustin Henderson
You do not do friendship at half volume, and neither does he. What you want is somebody who says yes to the plan before you have finished describing the plan.
- Dustin is the friend the entire show runs on: loyal past the point of sense, enthusiastic about everything, and incapable of leaving anybody behind.
- You have the same instinct. Your friendships are loud, specific and slightly ridiculous, and they last for decades because of it.
- He is also the one person who would take your strangest interest completely seriously, which is far rarer than it sounds.
- You would have a group chat. It would never once be quiet.
Emily Cooper
You are the friend who makes things happen, and so is she. Together you would be mildly exhausting to everyone around you and completely delighted with yourselves.
- Emily treats an ordinary Tuesday as something that could be turned into an occasion, which is either the best or the worst quality in a friend depending on your energy levels.
- You share her refusal to sit still. Neither of you has ever accepted a night in when something was happening somewhere else.
- She is far more loyal than people give her credit for. She defends her friends loudly, publicly, and occasionally before checking the facts.
- She would post the photo without asking. You would forgive her, because it is a very good photo.
Wednesday Addams
You have no patience for pleasant lies, and she has no ability to tell them. What looks like coldness from the outside is the most reliable friendship on this list.
- Wednesday never says a kind thing she does not mean, which makes the rare ones count for an enormous amount.
- You would rather be told the truth than be made comfortable. She is constitutionally incapable of offering you anything else.
- Underneath all of it she is ferociously protective. She simply refuses to make a performance out of caring.
- Do not expect a birthday message. Do expect her to ruin anyone who wrongs you.
Seong Gi-hun
You look after whoever is having the worst day. So does he. It is the least strategic way to move through the world and the best possible quality in a friend.
- Gi-hun is not the strongest player in Squid Game, or the cleverest. He is the one who keeps choosing to protect somebody else, over and over, at genuine cost to himself.
- You have the same instinct. You notice who is struggling and you stay with them, long after anybody would blame you for leaving.
- He is a flawed friend, and that is part of why it lands. He lets people down, then comes back and tries again, which is more than most manage.
- He would give you his last chance and never once mention that he had done it.
8 'Cosmic Princess Kaguya!' (2026)
Letterboxd Average Rating: 3.82/5
A high-energy modern rendition of the classic Japanese folktale, Cosmic Princess Kaguya combines dazzling colors, idol music, and an intimate female relationship to create an experience that has massively connected with worldwide audiences. The film follows the unlikely relationship that blossoms between high school student Iroha Sakayori and the titular Kaguya, a girl from the moon. Together, the duo compete in an online streamer tournament and perform musical numbers in the virtual world, with their bond growing stronger as they sing together.
Cosmic Princess Kaguya, more than most other modern idol anime, taps into the signature charms and culture of online Japanese media in a way that overwhelmingly helps the film connect with its audience. More than simply referencing and paying tribute to this culture, it positions said culture at the very core of the film, using the raw passion for anime culture and streamer culture to create a tailored love letter to this dedicated audience. As such, the film has seen a massive wave of support and passion from said audience, leading to its prominent high rating on sites like Letterboxd.
7 'Entergalactic' (2022)
Letterboxd Average Rating: 3.82/5
Largely following in the massive trend of stylized animation set by films like Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse and the previously mentioned Mitchells vs. the Machines, Entergalactic utilizes this beautiful animation to create a one-of-a-kind musical romcom experience. This visual companion piece to Kid Cudi's album of the same name follows the charming romance that begins to blossom between artist Jabari (Cudi) and his next-door neighbor, Meadow (Jessica Williams).
With the story beats and flow of the film largely set to the passion and emotions of Cudi's music, Entergalactic is a beautiful combination of visual and audio mediums to create a one-of-a-kind experience unlike any other animated film on Netflix. What truly makes the film special is that it works tremendously well as its own standalone experience, as the core romance has enough chemistry and passion to work wonders, even without the masterful animation and emotional music.
6 'Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl' (2024)
Letterboxd Average Rating: 3.83/5
The quirky British stop-motion duo of Wallace & Gromit have been at the forefront of animation brilliance ever since their initial short film in 1989. Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl shows that the inherent charms of the duo are as effective as ever, as this modern evolution of the characters taps into the signature strengths that have made them cultural icons for decades. While it may not have as high a rating compared to other Wallace & Gromit stories on Letterboxd, it has still undeniably cemented itself as a prominent and well-suited chapter in this legendary franchise.
The film sees the classic duo facing a deadly enemy from their past, Feathers McGraw, as he makes use of Wallace's latest smart gnome invention to wreak havoc on the town and create a divide between Wallace & Gromit. Vengeance Most Fowl features the same sense of timeless, slapstick humor mixed with quaint dialogue that makes these characters so lovable.
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