Animation continues to rule the world in 2024. As many of its creatives go on strike in pursuit of a better deal and greater protections for thousands of workers, countless films and TV shows continue to push the medium forward.
Despite it changing under our feet in myriad ways over the past 12 months, there are plenty of incredible animated works worth highlighting, so here are some of the very best and why you should check them out.
Be sure to check out our best Movies and Games of the Year lists too. We’ve tried to cover all bases and I promise all of our opinions are correct.
Arcane
Netflix and Fortiche took over the world last month with the long-awaited arrival of Arcane’s second and final season. Few shows have captured the imagination of viewers quite like this one in recent memory, with the fandom still firing on all cylinders weeks later.
While its truncated run meant it didn’t have the liberty of taking its time with certain character arcs or story beats, the end result is an immaculately animated and superbly detailed epic with a cast that goes far beyond their restrictive League of Legends source material. Arcane is a flawed masterpiece.
Look Back
This adaptation of Tatsuki Fujimoto’s manga one-shot is an ode to the joys and hardship of creativity, and how, despite all the difficulty, victories, and sleepless nights that come from making our own art, we should be doing it for those who matter most in our life.
Propelled by two excellent lead characters, a razor-sharp runtime, and stellar animation, few films this year touched my heart quite like this one. If anything, it reminded me that maybe it isn’t too late to chase my dreams after all.
Jentry Chau vs. The Underworld
Instead of worrying about whether Netflix will cancel Jentry Chau vs. The Underworld like so many others of its animated shows, why not check out this hidden gem and share it with your friends? It’s a fun, stylish, and utterly charming action comedy with a heroine so of her time you can’t help getting swept up in her adventure.
It feels like a modern iteration of Jake Long: American Dragon with a more nuanced take on Eastern mythology and a cast of characters who are powerful, diverse, and exploring stories that go far beyond what is otherwise a tried-and-true concept. Tune in for the opening theme alone and I promise you won’t regret it.
Mars Express
This is the sort of mature, biting, and intelligent animated film that we sadly don’t see much of anymore. Much like Scavengers Reign, this is an introspective piece of science fiction that follows private detective Aline and her android colleague Carlos as they stumble upon a vast, planet-spanning conspiracy with terrifying consequences.
A thought-provoking slice of gritty noir that is equal parts beautiful and contemplative, it has fallen under the radar like a lot of animated gems from the past year, and deserves all of our attention.
My Adventures With Superman
I’m a hopeless romantic, so I’ve eaten up every second of this animated adaptation of the classic superhero that is all about Clark Kent and Lois Lane falling in love. The second season introduced countless new characters while advancing a wider narrative about iconic villains, familial ties, and what it means to be a hero.
The writing can be rushed at times and the animation quality can occasionally fall short, but there is something delightfully refreshing about a superhero adventure that isn’t afraid of being wholesome in a world that otherwise feels so dark.
The Wild Robot
After a film that is guaranteed to make you cry? You can’t do much better than this. The Wild Robot is an undeniable winner from DreamWorks that adapts the beloved book into a film all about what it means to belong, be human, and care for one another no matter who you are.
It’s a simple concept that is so perfectly executed it’s hard to believe it’s never been done so well before. Judging by its success, it’s only a matter of time until the sequels arrive.
The Concierge
There is something incredibly appealing about animals that decide to act like humans, even if it’s doing banal things like shopping for clothes or going out to eat. Yoshimi Itazu’s oddball anime feature does just that, offering belly laughs and oddball curiosity in equal measure.
It takes place in a world where endangered or extinct animals all flock to a department store in which concierges tend to their every need and want. Heroine Akino is new on the job and determined to make a good impression, and the film follows her exploits with hilarious results.
X-Men ‘97
When this show was first announced, most people expected it to be a nostalgic revisit of the classic cartoon. What we got instead was an ambitious continuation that managed to be the coolest thing Marvel has done since Avengers: Endgame.
Not only is it gorgeously animated, X-Men ‘97 builds upon versions of characters we first met decades ago, making them more complicated, flawed, and fascinating to follow than anyone could have expected. And yes, the opening theme still slaps.
Transformers One
In a landscape where robots in disguise have been tarnished by Michael Bay’s love of bad humour and incomprehensible action, Transformers One felt like a focused return to form.
Acting as an origin story for characters like Optimus Prime and Megatron, One is filled with action, heart, laughs, and a killer central performance from Chris Hemsworth. I never thought we’d see another Transformers film like this on the big screen, but here we are.
The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim
It feels like if Peter Jackson isn’t behind it, daring to put The Lord of the Rings on the big screen in any form is a recipe for disaster. But veteran anime director Kenji Kamiyama was up to the task, and the result is a visually stunning and narratively layered exploration of this beloved literary universe.
I’m no expert on Tolkien’s world, but that sort of knowledge isn’t necessary to enjoy a movie that tells a compelling story all its own. This one stands alongside the greats.
Here are some other greats from the past year worth your time: Twilight of the Gods, Robot Dreams, Flow, Hazbin Hotel, Sirocco and the Kingdom of the Winds, and Terminator Zero.
Secret Level
Yes, most of its episodes are advertisements for video games, but between all the filler are some incredibly imaginative takes on classic video games that deserve your attention.
Video game adaptations have long abandoned the curse that once held them back, and this anthology series is more often than not willing to explore franchises new and old in ways we have never seen before. Here’s hoping the second season is even more ambitious.
The Amazing Digital Circus
I’ve never seen a fandom quite like The Amazing Digital Circus. Glitch Productions has built an indie animation empire with this web series, amassing hundreds of millions of views after just four episodes. We can’t get enough of its cute jester protagonist Pomni breaking down over the hells of being trapped in digital purgatory.