Nimona, one of the most eagerly awaited animated films of the last few years, hit Netflix in June 2023. The film draws inspiration from ND Stevenson's graphic novel and has Nick Bruno and Troy Quane serving as directors. Nimona's journey to its release was far from smooth: this Blue Sky Studios original production was delayed numerous times and subsequently canceled by Disney after it merged with Fox due to its LGBTQ+ themes. Fortunately, this was not the end for the film, as it managed to reach audiences and turn into an instant blockbuster thanks to Annapurna Pictures and Netflix.
Nimona takes the audience to a futuristic medieval world featuring Ballister Boldheart, a knight who turns into the main threat to the kingdom after being accused of a crime he didn't commit. Just as he was willing to spend the rest of his life in solitude, he crosses paths with Nimona, a teenage shapeshifter who loves to wreak havoc that proves to be the perfect sidekick to help the knight clear his name.
Chloë Grace Moretz and Riz Ahmed head the voice cast of this production, joined by Eugene Lee Yang, Frances Conroy, and RuPaul Charles, among other artists. After being available on the streaming platform for only a few days, Nimona is already making waves and has earned rave reviews for its take on different themes and its unique animation, among many other aspects. On top of all this, it has managed to strike a chord with children and adults alike with its heartwarming and gripping story. If you enjoyed Nimona, here are 10 movies you can watch next.
10 Moana
The 2016 film Moana takes the audience to the Polynesian island of Motunui, a community that lives in peace and harmony under chief Tui. The island provides them with everything they need for survival, so for years they have been settled in the region. However, after blight attacks the island's vegetation putting the community in danger, the chief's rebellious daughter sets out on a quest across the ocean to find the demigod responsible for their misfortune in order to save her people, unaware that she would find her own identity along the way.
Auliʻi Cravalho and Dwayne Johnson voice the main characters in this film by John Musker and Ron Clements that became a hit with audiences and critics alike. Among all its accolades, Moana earned two Academy Award nominations for Best Animated Feature and Best Original Song. This groundbreaking Disney movie prompted the development of a live-action film due in 2025.
9 Turning Red
Domee Shi is a filmmaker who shaped Pixar's history. In 2018, she became the first woman in the studio's history to ever helm a short film and, four years later, she established herself as the first woman to direct a feature film by helming Turning Red. This 2022 production is inspired by her own childhood memories living in Toronto, and features a voice cast including Rosalie Chiang, Sandra Oh, Ava Morse and Maitreyi Ramakrishnan.
Turning Red introduces Mei, a young girl suffering from a hereditary curse that turns her into a giant red panda whenever she undergoes an overly strong emotion, a very common thing during the teenage years. To make matters worse, Mei is at a turning point in her life in which she debates whether to remain her mother's perfect daughter or allow her chaotic personality to come out. This film premiered on Disney+ to great audience acclaim, especially for the production's themes. Turning Red won, among other accolades, an Academy Award nomination for Best Animated Feature.
8 Onward
The 2020 film Onward is among the most personal entries in director Dan Scanlon's career, as it is inspired by his own experiences after losing his father when he was just a young boy. This Pixar film follows Ian and Barley, two elf brothers who embark on a unique adventure to determine if there is still magic in the world, so they can spend one last day with their late father and keep that memory forever.
Tom Holland and Chris Pratt lead the voice cast of this production alongside Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Octavia Spencer, and Kyle Bornheimer. Despite rave reviews and multiple nominations, Onward failed to perform at the box office, and didn't even gross as much as its original budget. It is likely that this flop was triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic, which led to multiple theaters shutting down. As a matter of fact, Onward was the last Pixar film to hit theaters until 2022, when Lightyear was released.
7 Wreck-It Ralph
Wreck-It Ralph is quite similar to Nimona, as it also features two social outcasts who somehow find company in one another. This 2012 production that marked Rich Moore's directorial debut follows Ralph, the villain of an arcade game who has had enough of always playing the bad guy and letting all the glory go to the hero, Fix-It Felix. Willing to turn his life around, he sets out on an adventure to prove that he can also be a hero, and even though he makes a few mistakes along the way, he ends up discovering things that are far greater than that.
Wreck-It Ralph quickly emerged as a blockbuster loved by audiences and earned critical acclaim. Its massive box office success prompted the development of a sequel titled Ralph Breaks the Internet, which was released in 2018.
6 How to Train Your Dragon
2010 marked the premiere of DreamWorks' How to Train Your Dragon, an animated film that sparked a hit franchise comprising two additional films and several TV series. It is directed by Chris Sanders and Dean DeBlois, inspired by Cressida Cowell's book of the same name and features Jay Baruchel, America Ferrera, Gerard Butler and Craig Ferguson in its voice cast.
How to Train Your Dragon follows Hiccup, a young boy from the Viking village of Berk whose dream has always been to grow into a powerful dragon slayer to earn the respect of those around him. However, his goal changes dramatically upon meeting Toothless, a Night Fury dragon who convinces him that the feud between Vikings and dragons isn't as real as he thought it was. This franchise is currently developing a live-action film scheduled for release in 2025.
5 Big Hero 6
Big Hero 6 hit theaters in 2014, becoming not only the highest-grossing animated production of the year, but also the Academy Award winner for Best Animated Feature. This film by Don Hall and Chris Williams inspired by the Marvel Comics superhero team features voice acting by Ryan Potter, Scott Adsit, Daniel Henney and Maya Rudolph, among other actors.
Big Hero 6 follows Hiro, a boy who loves robotics and, following his brother Tadashi's death, relies on Baymax, a healthcare-provider robot invented by the deceased. But when he uncovers a dangerous conspiracy that may have caused his brother's accident, he is left with no choice but to gather his courage and fight alongside Baymax and Tadashi's friends against an enemy that is bigger than anyone could ever hope for. Big Hero 6's success spawned two TV series, Big Hero 6: The Series and Baymax!
4 The Mitchells vs. the Machines
The Mitchells vs. the Machines is, hands down, one of the best animated movies available on Netflix, and a wonderful choice for both kids and adults alike. This award-winning production that marked Mike Rianda's directorial debut features a stellar voice cast led by Abbi Jacobson, Danny McBride, Maya Rudolph, and Mike Rianda.
Premiering worldwide on the streaming platform due to the COVID-19 pandemic, The Mitchells vs. the Machines features a very dysfunctional but supportive family who must find a way to work out their differences when, in the midst of a road trip, they are faced with an uprising of electronic devices that only they will be able to stop. Among the many awards received by this production, it is worth mentioning its nomination for Best Animated Feature at the Academy Awards and eight Annie Awards, winning in every category in which it was nominated.
3 Brave
The 2012 film Brave was a landmark in Pixar's history: not only was it the first production starring a female character, but its leading lady became the first Disney Princess created by Pixar. This film by Mark Andrews and Brenda Chapman features Merida, the daughter of King Fergus and Queen Elinor who is determined to avoid her destiny as a helpless princess to become a brave warrior. But her single-minded nature makes her go too far, and after she makes a wish that puts her family's future in danger, she is forced to embark on a daunting quest to revert her actions before it's too late.
Besides becoming an absolute hit at the box office, Brave garnered numerous nominations and awards, taking home the Academy Award, Golden Globe and BAFTA Award for Best Animated Feature.
2 Kubo and the Two Strings
Stop-motion animation studio Laika is renowned for numerous productions that became major hits, such as Coraline, ParaNorman, and the 2016 film Kubo and the Two Strings. The latter film marked Travis Knight's directorial debut and featured performances by Art Parkinson, Charlize Theron, Ralph Fiennes, and George Takei, among other artists. It follows Kubo, a young Japanese boy who embarks on a challenging journey against evil spirits to save his family and ultimately solve the mystery that surrounds it.
Kubo and the Two Strings was met with enormous critical acclaim and earned nominations at the Academy Awards and the Golden Globe Awards, among many other recognitions. However, in spite of its critical acclaim, it underperformed at the box office, garnering just slightly over its original budget.
1 Raya and the Last Dragon
Wrapping up this list is Raya and the Last Dragon, a 2021 Disney film that also enjoyed great critical and audience acclaim. This production that draws inspiration from Southeast Asian cultures is directed by Don Hall and Carlos Lopez Estrada, and features a voice cast made up of Kelly Marie Tran, Awkwafina, Sandra Oh and Benedict Wong.
It follows Raya, a warrior princess on her way to find Kumandra's last dragon hoping that it will help her save her community, unaware that said dragon may not be quite what she expects. Raya and the Last Dragon emerged as a strong awards contender upon its release and earned Academy Award and Golden Globe nominations for Best Animated Feature, among other accolades.