Famous cartoons for kids: Best Cartoons for Kids | Common Sense Media

Posted on 26 июня, 2021 by alexxlab

The 38 Best Cartoons of All Time

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Mickey Mouse

LMPC//Getty Images

No list of cartoon characters would be complete without including Mickey Mouse, who made his debut in the 1928 cartoon Steamboat Willie. Having endured for generations, Mickey has starred in numerous shorts, a number of TV series and 11 feature-length films to date.

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Popeye the Sailor Man

MGM Studios//Getty Images

The tough-guy, wise-cracking sailor, who always had a can of spinach handy, was created by Elzie Crisler Segar, a cartoonist who introduced the character in his 1929 newspaper cartoon strip, Thimble Theatre. Popeye and his pals, Olive Oyl, Bluto, Wimpy and Swee’pea, were the stars of cartoon shorts in the 1930s and early 1940s (he was even a member of the U.S. Navy during World War II), as well as numerous comic books, a TV series from 1960 to 1962, and a 1980 Popeye movie starring Robin Williams.

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Porky Pig

Warner Brothers

First introduced in 1935, the lovable pig starred in hundreds of films in the late 1930s. Often a sidekick, he had his own show from 1964 to 1967. He was voiced by Mel Blanc, who did the voiceovers for hundreds of animated characters from the 1930s until his death in late 1980s.

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Bugs Bunny

Warner Brothers

Created in 1938, Bugs Bunny is part of a whole stable of Looney Tunes characters that dominated the Golden Age of animation in America from the years 1928 to 1960. The wascally wabbit managed to outsmart Elmer Fudd for decades and remains one of the most popular cartoon characters of all time.

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Tom and Jerry

Warner Brothers

Created in 1940, the two rival characters, Tom (a cat) and Jerry (a mouse), first appeared in a series of shorts for MGM. The two rarely speak, although Tom sings in an early episode, and there are various sound effects. The cartoon has continued in many different incarnations to this present day in various TV shows, shorts and movies including Tom and Jerry: The Movie, released in 2021.

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Woody Woodpecker and Friends

Universal Television/Walter Lantz Productions

First appearing in 1940, Woody and his pals were featured in an amazing 286 episodes until 1972. Whether or not you are a fan, you can’t forget his goofy laugh!

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Foghorn Leghorn

Warner Brothers

Starring in only 28 cartoons from 1946 to 1963, Foghorn Leghorn had personality plus. His distinctive Southern accent and body language along with his memorable quotes («Go, I say, go away boy. You bother me.»), became part of every day speech. He actually was inspired by a character on The Fred Allen Show, a popular 1930s and 1940s radio show.

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Alvin and the Chipmunks

CBS Photo Archive//Getty Images

Actor/songwriter Ross Bagdasarian, Sr., who specialized in writing novelty songs, created The Chipmunk Song in 1958. The record shot to the top of the charts, sending its “stars” Simon, Theodore and Alvin to the top too. (It actually won two Grammys!) A string of successful records led to a short-lived TV series in 1962 and another more successful run from 1983 to 1990.

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Huckleberry Hound

Hanna Barbera

First appearing in 1958, Huckleberry Hound is a bluetick coonhound with a Southern accent, who works through a series of unsuccessful jobs. Be he always maintains his cool and ends up on top. The show, which aired until 1962, was the first animated show to win an Emmy. Huckleberry has made sporadic appearances through the years in other cartoons ranging from The Simpsons to Animaniacs.

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Quick Draw McGraw

Hanna Barbera

This white horse in a red cowboy hat had his own series from 1959 to 1961. He often plays a sheriff in the Old West and is accompanied by his deputy, a burro named Baba Looey.

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Rocky and Bullwinkle

ABC Photo Archives//Getty Images

From 1959 to 1964, Rocky, the flying squirrel, and Bullwinkle, the moose, had to outsmart two Cold War-era spies, Natasha and Boris. The series was one of the first to appeal to both kids and adults for its wry humor and clever cultural satire. A live action movie in 2000 got lukewarm reviews.

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The Flintstones

ABC Photo Archives//Getty Images

From 1960 to 1966, America followed the Flintstones as they navigated the ups and downs of Stone Age life. The show was the first animated series to hold a primetime spot on TV. The series also spun off two lackluster movies, The Flintstones (1994) and The Flintstones in Viva Rock Vegas (2000), that weren’t well-received.

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Yogi Bear

Hanna Barbera

Yogi actually made his debut on Huckleberry Hound in 1958 but earned his own animated series in 1961. From then until 1988, Yogi and his sidekick, Boo-Boo, attempted to steal plenty of “pic-a-nic” baskets, generally making Mr. Ranger’s life difficult. Yogi also starred in his own 2010 feature film.

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Snagglepuss

Hanna Barbera

Although it only ran for two seasons from 1961 to 1962, Snagglepuss is a memorable character. The pink mountain lion is known for his catchy exclamations such as “Heavens to Murgatroyd” and “Exit, stage left.”

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The Jetsons

Warner Bros. //Getty Images

This futuristic family shot to fame during its 1962 to 1963 run. New episodes were created from 1985 to 1987, and the show ran in syndication on Saturday mornings for decades. And what kid didn’t daydream of a robot maid or a spaceship after watching? There was also a 1990 feature film.

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Josie and the Pussycats

Hanna Barbera

Originally a teen-focused comic book series written from 1963 to 1982, the characters got their own animated Saturday morning show from 1970 to 1973. As difficult as it is to believe, there was also a Josie and the Pussycats movie, which was released in 2001 to dismal reviews.

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Underdog

Leonardo/Total Television

From 1964 to 1967, this series aired on Saturday mornings. The cape-wearing, masked superhero dog almost always spoke in rhymes. His most famous saying: “There’s no need to fear. Underdog is here!”

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The Road Runner

ABC/CBS/Chuck Jones/Warner Brothers

In this popular show, a determined coyote tries a number of increasingly complex gadgets (often mail-ordered from the Acme Company) in his attempts to capture the smart and speedy road runner. Before airing from1966 to 1973, the show’s characters actually debuted in a 1949 theatrical cartoon.

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Aquaman

Filmation/National Periodical

Aquaman debuted in comic books in the 1940s, but he didn’t get his own animated series until 1967 to 1970. Able to breathe on both sea and land, he fought evil everywhere. Aquaman also appeared in his own feature film in 2018.

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The Pink Panther

Depatie-Freleng/The Mirisch Corp/NBC

Presented on Saturday mornings from 1969 to 1978, Pink Panther was a rosey-colored cat with aristocratic manners. The series went through a number of changes, but it often included two shorts featuring the Pink Panther, and one featuring the Inspector, modeled after the Peter Seller’s Inspector Clouseau character from the 1963 movie of the same title.

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Greatest Cartoons and Kids Programs

by LydJar
| created — 17 Dec 2011
| updated — 18 Dec 2011
|

Public

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Prime Video (Rent or Buy)
(18)

Comedy
(31)

Family
(28)

Animation
(25)

Adventure
(14)

Fantasy
(6)

Sci-Fi
(6)

Drama
(5)

Action
(3)

Crime
(2)

Mystery
(2)

Romance
(2)

Short
(2)

Thriller
(1)

TV Series
(35)

IMDb user rating (average)

11. 11.21.31.41.51.61.71.81.92.02.12.22.32.42.52.62.72.82.93.03.13.23.33.43.53.63.73.83.94.04.14.24.34.44.54.64.74.84.95.05.15.25.35.45.55.65.75.85.96.06.16.26.36.46.56.66.76.86.97.07.17.27.37.47.57.67.77.87.98.08.18.28.38.48.58.68.78.88.99.09.19.29.39.49.59.69.79.89.910
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109.99.89.79.69.59.49.39.29.19.08.98.88.78.68.58.48.38.28.18.07.97.87.77.67.57.47.37.27.17.06.96.86.76.66.56.46.36.26.16.05.95.85.75.65.55.45.35.25.15.04.94.84.74.64.54.44.34.24.14.03.93.83.73.63.53.43.33.23.13.02.92.82.72.62.52.42.32.22.12.01.91.81.71.61.51.41.31.21.11Number of votes

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Surrealism
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(11)

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1990s
(9)

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(9)

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(9)

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(9)

Parody Comedy
(9)

Anthropomorphic Animal
(8)

Dark Comedy
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Dog
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Timeframe 1990s
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TV-Y7
|
25 min
|

Animation, Comedy, Family

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The misadventures of a futuristic family.

Stars:
George O’Hanlon,
Janet Waldo,
Mel Blanc,
Penny Singleton

Votes:
22,765

TV-Y7-FV
|
30 min
|

Animation, Action, Adventure

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Three super-powered little girls constantly save the world (or at least the city of Townsville) from monsters, would-be conquerers and a few other gross things.

Stars:
Cathy Cavadini,
Elizabeth Daily,
Tara Strong,
Tom Kenny

Votes:
45,495

TV-Y7
|
30 min
|

Animation, Adventure, Comedy

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Ren, a psychotic Chihuahua, and Stimpson J. Cat, a dimwitted Manx cat who goes by the nickname Stimpy, have a host of unusual adventures.

Stars:
John Kricfalusi,
Billy West,
Harris Peet,
Bob Camp

Votes:
23,959

TV-Y7
|
23 min
|

Animation, Comedy, Family

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The misadventures of a talking sea sponge who works at a fast food restaurant, attends a boating school, and lives in an underwater pineapple.

Stars:
Tom Kenny,
Rodger Bumpass,
Bill Fagerbakke,
Clancy Brown

Votes:
105,567

TV-14
|
22 min
|

Animation, Comedy

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The satiric adventures of a working-class family in the misfit city of Springfield.

Stars:
Dan Castellaneta,
Nancy Cartwright,
Harry Shearer,
Julie Kavner

Votes:
421,231

TV-Y
|
30 min
|

Animation, Adventure, Comedy

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Based on the books by Marc Brown, these are the adventures of Arthur, an 8-year-old aardvark, and his family and friends as they grow up and learn how to be good neighbors to one another.

Stars:
J.T. Turner,
Daniel Brochu,
Bruce Dinsmore,
Melissa Altro

Votes:
15,174

TV-Y7
|
30 min
|

Animation, Adventure, Comedy

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The life of an adventurous family from the point of view of an eleven-year-old girl gifted with animal language.

Stars:
Lacey Chabert,
Jodi Carlisle,
Tim Curry,
Danielle Harris

Votes:
15,403

TV-Y
|
30 min
|

Animation, Adventure, Comedy

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The cartoon misadventures of four babies and their snotty older cousin as they face the things in life they don’t understand.

Stars:
Elizabeth Daily,
Christine Cavanaugh,
Nancy Cartwright,
Kath Soucie

Votes:
37,062

TV-Y
|
5 min
|

Animation, Short, Comedy

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«Pingu finds himself in tricky and comical situations, but he always learns a lesson. Pingu spends his days with his parents and baby sister, Pinga. Everyone in his town speaks «»Penguinese.»» Laugh along and find out what happens.

Stars:
Carlo Bonomi,
David Sant,
Marcello Magni,
Sam Michaels

Votes:
7,758

Animation, Family

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The adventures of Johnson the courageous pink elephant, Alfred the leaky hot water bottle, McDuff the cheeky concertina, Diesel the noisy dump truck, Squeaky the shy robot and Victoria the . .. See full summary »

Stars:
Garry Scale,
Katrina Sedgwick,
Doug Scroope,
Paul Bertram

Votes:
272

TV-G
|
23 min
|

Animation, Short, Adventure

Error: please try again.

The misadventures of a boy genius and his annoying sister.

Stars:
Kath Soucie,
Jeff Bennett,
Christine Cavanaugh,
Frank Welker

Votes:
51,579

TV-Y
|
23 min
|

Animation, Adventure, Comedy

Error: please try again.

The comic misadventures of a tidy, refined Cat and a goofy, uncouth Dog joined at the abdomen.

Stars:
Jim Cummings,
Tom Kenny,
Carlos Alazraqui,
Billy West

Votes:
24,234

TV-G
|
22 min
|

Animation, Adventure, Comedy

Error: please try again.

A group of teenage friends and their Great Dane (Scooby-Doo) travel in a bright green van solving strange and hilarious mysteries, while returning from or going to a regular teenage function.

Stars:
Don Messick,
Casey Kasem,
Nicole Jaffe,
Vic Perrin

Votes:
38,848

TV-Y
|
30 min
|

Animation, Comedy, Family

Error: please try again.

The wacky misadventures of an Australian wallaby and his friends as he finishes his transition to American life.

Stars:
Carlos Alazraqui,
Tom Kenny,
Charlie Adler,
Mr. Lawrence

Votes:
21,160

TV-PG
|
30 min
|

Animation, Comedy, Drama

Error: please try again.

A smart and cynical girl goes through teenage life as a proud outsider in a world of mainly idiotic adolescents and condescending adults.

Stars:
Tracy Grandstaff,
Wendy Hoopes,
Julian Rebolledo,
John Lynn

Votes:
26,355

TV-Y7
|
15 min
|

Animation, Comedy, Drama

Error: please try again.

The everyday life of Arnold, a fourth-grader in a nameless city that resembles Brooklyn, New York, who lives in a multi-racial boarding house with his grandparents and a motley assortment of friends and neighbors.

Stars:
Francesca Marie Smith,
Jamil Walker Smith,
Dan Castellaneta,
Justin Shenkarow

Votes:
35,330

TV-Y
|
30 min
|

Comedy, Drama, Family

Error: please try again.

This delightfully quirky show looks at the lives and adventures of two red-headed brothers with the same name.

Stars:
Michael C. Maronna,
Danny Tamberelli,
Judy Grafe,
Alison Fanelli

Votes:
9,760

TV-Y7
|
30 min
|

Comedy, Family

Error: please try again.

A comedy sketch show centered around All That (1994) alum Amanda Bynes.

Stars:
Amanda Bynes,
Drake Bell,
Nancy Sullivan,
John Kassir

Votes:
7,992

TV-PG
|
22 min
|

Comedy, Family

Error: please try again.

A gifted young teen tries to survive life with his dimwitted, dysfunctional family.

Stars:
Frankie Muniz,
Bryan Cranston,
Justin Berfield,
Erik Per Sullivan

Votes:
137,174

TV-14
|
22 min
|

Animation, Adventure, Comedy

Error: please try again.

Philip J. Fry, a pizza delivery boy, is accidentally frozen in 1999 and thawed out on New Year’s Eve 2999.

Stars:
Billy West,
John DiMaggio,
Katey Sagal,
Tress MacNeille

Votes:
249,003

TV-Y7
|
30 min
|

Action, Adventure, Family

Error: please try again.

A team of teenagers with attitude are recruited to save Angel Grove from the evil witch, Rita Repulsa, and later, Lord Zedd, Emperor of all he sees, and their horde of monsters.

Stars:
Richard Steven Horvitz,
David Yost,
Ed Neil,
Paul Schrier

Votes:
23,994

TV-Y7
|
23 min
|

Animation, Action, Adventure

Error: please try again.

Mutant heroes live in New York sewers and train in martial arts to protect the city from crime.

Stars:
Cam Clarke,
Barry Gordon,
Rob Paulsen,
Townsend Coleman

Votes:
35,907

TV-PG
|
22 min
|

Comedy

Error: please try again.

A streetwise, poor young man from Philadelphia is sent by his mother to live with his aunt, uncle and cousins in their Bel-Air mansion.

Stars:
Will Smith,
James Avery,
Alfonso Ribeiro,
Tatyana Ali

Votes:
140,251

TV-G
|
26 min
|

Animation, Adventure, Comedy

Error: please try again.

The misadventures of two modern-day Stone Age families, the Flintstones and the Rubbles.

Stars:
Alan Reed,
Mel Blanc,
Jean Vander Pyl,
Bea Benaderet

Votes:
39,243

TV-G
|
30 min
|

Animation, Comedy

Error: please try again.

TV series featuring the classic Looney Tunes animated shorts.

Stars:
Mel Blanc,
June Foray,
Daws Butler,
Jim Backus

Votes:
34,858

45 min
|

Animation, Family, Comedy

Error: please try again.

A Saturday morning series, collecting of some of the most popular classic cartoons from the Looney Tunes catalogue.

Stars:
Mel Blanc,
Roberto Zenca,
June Foray

Votes:
17,166

6
|
25 min
|

Comedy, Family, Fantasy

Error: please try again.

Tony Twist and his three children—14-year-old twins Pete and Linda and 7-year-old Bronson—move to an old lighthouse on the rugged Australian coast.

Stars:
Mark Mitchell,
Esben Storm,
Rian McLean,
Mathew Waters

Votes:
2,744

Animation, Family

Error: please try again.

Noddy is a young and eager boy living in Toyland. Each episode of revolves around Noddy having a nice party with all of his close friends. Even though Noddy is little, he has a BIG heart … See full summary »

Stars:
Susan Sheridan,
Jimmy Hibbert

Votes:
219

TV-Y
|

Animation, Comedy, Family

Error: please try again.

Brum is a car who loves to go around the city each day. Follow him as he helps save the day by identifying criminals, dances with people, and sometimes even gets up to no good, only to be helpful later.

Stars:
Retep Miserydad,
Toyah Willcox,
Mike Cavanagh,
Shirley Anne Böhm

Votes:
1,744

TV-Y7
|
30 min
|

Animation, Adventure, Comedy

Error: please try again.

The misadventures of a dumb blond egomaniac who is deluded about his own manliness.

Stars:
Jeff Bennett,
Brenda Vaccaro,
Mae Whitman,
Tom Kenny

Votes:
37,976

TV-PG
|
30 min
|

Comedy, Family, Romance

Error: please try again.

A close-knit group of six friends get through their teens together while attending Bayside High School in Palisades, California.

Stars:
Mark-Paul Gosselaar,
Mario Lopez,
Dustin Diamond,
Lark Voorhies

Votes:
36,418

TV-PG
|
30 min
|

Comedy, Family

Error: please try again.

Michael Kyle longs for a traditional life, but his day-trader wife Janet, gangsta rap-worshipping son Michael Jr. , and brooding daughters Claire and Kady make his dream just that … a dream.

Stars:
Damon Wayans,
Tisha Campbell,
George Gore II,
Parker McKenna Posey

Votes:
28,690

TV-PG
|
30 min
|

Comedy, Drama

Error: please try again.

Reba McEntire stars as the titular character in this smash sitcom about a single mom of three, navigating life in a Houston suburb.

Stars:
Reba McEntire,
JoAnna Garcia Swisher,
Steve Howey,
Christopher Rich

Votes:
16,450

TV-Y
|
23 min
|

Animation, Adventure, Comedy

Error: please try again.

Comic tales of a group of good friends, four boys and two girls, during breaks in primary school, as they grow up, relate to each other, and have brushes with authority.

Stars:
Andrew Lawrence,
Ashley Johnson,
Jason Davis,
Rickey D’Shon Collins

Votes:
26,994

Family

Error: please try again.

An educational series presenting various art project suggestions and creations.

Stars:
Neil Buchanan,
Jim Sweeney,
Peter Corey,
Mitchell Knight

Votes:
2,948

The 40 Greatest Feature Films of All Time

Likbez

Movie

June 11, 2022

The Lion King, Spirited Away, Toy Story and many other amazing works.

The selection includes cartoons that have received high ratings on the largest aggregator site IMDb. Only those works for which at least 25 thousand users voted were taken into account.

40. Shrek

Shrek

USA, 2001.
Fantasy, adventure, comedy.
Duration: 90 minutes.
IMDb: 7.9.

This cartoon was the first Oscar winner in the new Best Animated Feature Film category.

A huge ogre named Shrek lived alone in the swamp for many years. But the evil Lord Farquaad brought fairy-tale characters to his forest. The ruler promised to return Shrek’s possessions if he brought Princess Fiona to him, who was guarded by a dragon.

Watch on iTunes →

39. Fantastic Mr. Fox

Fantastic Mr. Fox

USA, UK, 2009.
Animation, comedy, adventure.
Duration: 87 minutes.
IMDb: 7.9.

Still from Fantastic Mr. Fox

Wes Anderson’s animated film is made with meticulous attention to detail. This is a story about foxes, in which the restless head of the family, despite the promise he made to his wife, is forced to return to his criminal affairs. And the amazing voices of George Clooney and Meryl Streep turn the cartoon into a sincere, adult representation of the hardships of life.

Watch on iTunes →

38. Nausicaa from the Valley of the Wind

Kaze no tani no Naushika

Japan, 1984.
Science fiction, fantasy, drama.
Duration: 112 minutes.
IMDb: 8.0.

Still from Nausicaa from the Valley of the Wind

One of Hayao Miyazaki’s first directorial works tells about the post-apocalyptic world. Humanity has led the planet to an ecological disaster, and the Earth is filled with poisonous forests and huge insects. Only Nausicaa, the heiress of the Valley of the Wind, can communicate with the latter.

37. Laputa Castle in the Sky

Tenkû no shiro Rapyuta

Japan, 1986.
Fantasy, adventure.
Duration: 125 minutes.
IMDb: 8.0.

Hayao Miyazaki turned part of Jonathan Swift’s Gulliver’s Travels into a steampunk tale. Young Sita finds herself in the middle of a spy game, being hunted by government agents and pirates because she has the Flying Stone. With the help of this artifact, you can find the legendary island of Laputa.

36. Akira

Akira

Japan, 1988.
Fantasy, action.
Duration: 124 minutes.
IMDb: 8.0.

Still from Akira cartoon

Adult cyberpunk anime about post-apocalyptic Tokyo, where crazy gangs operate. And although the gloomy future has not yet arrived, Katsuhiro Otomo’s cartoon reminds us of what can happen if humanity does not come to its senses in time.

35. Beauty and the Beast

Beauty and the Beast

USA, 1991.
Fairy tale, fantasy.
Duration: 84 minutes.
IMDb: 8.0.

Frame from the cartoon «Beauty and the Beast»

Smart and beautiful Belle lives in a small village and dreams of adventure. After her father’s horse returns without a rider, the girl goes in search. This leads her to the castle of the monster, who turns out to be an enchanted prince.

Watch on iTunes →

34. Aladdin

Aladdin

USA, 1992.
Fairy tale, adventure.
Duration: 90 minutes.
IMDb: 8.0.

Disney retells ancient Arabian tales freely. In the medieval city of Agrabah, street bum Aladdin, along with the monkey Abu, steals food. He accidentally meets Princess Jasmine, and mutual affection arises between the characters. And then Aladdin is hired by the evil Jafar: the young man must get a magic lamp for him. It is this item that will change the life of the tramp himself.

Watch on iTunes →

33. True Sadness

Pafekuto buru

Japan
Drama, thriller.
Duration: 81 minutes.
IMDb: 8.0.

Still from the cartoon «True Sadness»

Dark anime, references to which can be found in the films of Darren Aronofsky. The plot is dedicated to the singer, who is trying to become an actress of the series. She discovers her diary on the Internet, but does not remember keeping it. Meanwhile, according to the scenario, her heroine has a split personality. Or is it the actress herself going crazy.

32. End of Evangelion

Shinseiki Evangelion Gekijoban: Air/Magokoro wo, kimi ni

Japan, 1997.
Fantasy, drama, action.
Duration: 87 minutes.
IMDb: 8.0.

Evangelion is an anime series about a world in which humanity is attacked by huge monsters. Evangelion robots are created to fight them. The feature-length cartoon, which appeared against the backdrop of the popularity of the original project, offers another ending to the story.

31. The Incredibles

The Incredibles

USA, 2004.
Action, adventure.
Duration: 115 minutes.
IMDb: 8.0.

Still from The Incredibles cartoon

Pixar released The Incredibles before the Nolan era, so the superheroes in the cartoon turned out to be fun and funny. Director Brad Bird portrayed them as simple middle-class hard workers, emphasizing the feelings of a person who has to pretend to be someone else all his life.

Watch on iTunes →

30. Persepolis

Persepolis

France, USA, 2007.
Drama, biography.
Duration: 95 minutes.
IMDb: 8.0.

Still from the cartoon «Persipolis»

This film is based on a graphic novel by Iranian writer Marzhan Satrapi. Persipolis is a story about Iran during the Islamic Revolution, told by a little girl. Like any child, she rebels against the system in a country where lipstick can go to jail. The cartoon turned out to be as emotional and exciting as the autobiographical novel of the same name.

Watch on iTunes →

29. Song of the Sea

Song of the Sea

Ireland, Denmark, Belgium, France, 2014.
Fantasy, drama.
Duration: 93 minutes.
IMDb: 8.0.

The incredibly beautiful work of the Irishman Tomm Moore is based on the mythology of his country. Ben and Saoirse are the children of the lighthouse keeper and the magical creature Silky. It is the young heroes who have to go on an unusual journey to save the world from a sorceress who turns everyone into stones.

Watch on iTunes →

28. The Tale of Princess Kaguya

Kaguyahime no monogatari

Japan, 2013.
Fantasy, drama.
Duration: 137 minutes.
IMDb: 8.0.

Still from the cartoon «The Tale of Princess Kaguya»

The last work of the legendary Isao Takahata retells the oldest Japanese legend «The Tale of Old Man Taketori». According to the story, an elderly man finds a girl in the forest, only the size of a finger. She turns out to be a moon princess.

In an amazing way, the director turned a fairy tale familiar to everyone into a tragic philosophical story.

27. Zootopia

Zootopia

USA
Detective, adventure.
Duration: 108 minutes.
IMDb: 8.0.

Still from the cartoon «Zootopia»

Rabbit Judy Hopps after studying at the academy goes to work in the police of the city of Zootopia. At first, she faces ridicule from colleagues. But then it is Judy, along with the cunning fox Nick, who will unravel the most difficult case.

Watch on iTunes →

26. Soul

Soul

USA
Fantasy, musical, drama.
Duration: 106 minutes.
IMDb: 8.0.

Still from the cartoon «Soul»

The director of the cartoons «Up» and «Inside Out» Peter Docter filmed a touching story about dreams and gray everyday life. Music teacher Joe Gardner wanted to perform on stage for many years. And exactly at the moment when the hero gets such a chance, he dies. But even separated from the body, Joe’s soul dreams of returning and fulfilling the idea.

Watch on iTunes →

25. Legend of the Wolves

WolfWalkers

Ireland, Luxembourg, France, USA, UK, 2020.
Fantasy, adventure.
Duration: 103 minutes.
IMDb: 8.0.

Still from the cartoon «The Legend of the Wolves»

Another work by the author of «Song of the Sea» Tomm Moore. And again according to Irish legend. Hunter Bill Goodfellow and his daughter Robin move to the Irish city of Kilkenny. A man is hired to destroy a pack of wolves living in a nearby forest. But it turns out that in fact, predators are magical creatures that do not need to be fought.

24. The Iron Giant

The Iron Giant

USA, 1999.
Fantasy, adventure.
Duration: 86 minutes.
IMDb: 8.1.

A still from the cartoon «The Steel Giant»

A thrilling adaptation of a children’s book by Ted Hughes about a boy who befriends a giant robot. The cartoon failed at the box office, but subsequently became a cult classic because it was able to turn a simple sci-fi story into a sincere statement of heroism and friendship. Giant of Steel pays homage to the old Superman cartoons, in which the Man of Steel uses his power for good, not harm.

Watch on iTunes →

23. My Neighbor Totoro

Tonari no Totoro

Japan, 1988.
Fantasy, adventure.
Duration: 86 minutes.
IMDb: 8.1.

A still from the cartoon «My Neighbor Totoro»

Hayao Miyazaki created a world of magical creatures and supernatural phenomena, saturated with childish longing for his mother. Many consider this cartoon to be the quintessence of Studio Ghibli. It is ideal for both adults and children. Beautiful landscapes, bright characters and extraordinary adventures of two sisters will resonate in every heart.

22. Monsters, Inc.

Monsters, Inc.

USA, 2001.
Fantasy, adventure, comedy.
Duration: 92 minutes.
IMDb: 8.1.

Released in the same year as Shrek, Pixar’s cartoon tells about the inhabitants of the city of Monstropolis. Employees of a local corporation scare children at night to get electricity for their world. But one day, because of Sally and his assistant Mike Wazowski, a little girl gets into the monsters.

Watch on iTunes →

21. Ratatouille

Ratatouille

USA, 2007
Adventure, comedy.
Duration: 111 minutes.
IMDb: 8.1.

A frame from the cartoon «Ratatouille»

Never before have restaurant cuisine been shown so realistically and at the same time so unusually. After all, the main cook in this story is Remy the rat. He loves to cook and therefore undertakes to help the young man Linguini. He works in catering, but knows absolutely nothing about food.

Watch on iTunes →

20. How to Train Your Dragon

How to Train Your Dragon

USA, 2010.
Fantasy, comedy, adventure.
Duration: 98 minutes.
IMDb: 8.1.

A still from the cartoon «How to Train Your Dragon»

The Vikings from Berk Island are constantly fighting off dragon attacks. The young son of the leader Hiccup has not yet become an experienced warrior, but he manages to tame a rare Night Fury. It turns out that these creatures are not evil at all, and you can make friends with them.

Watch on iTunes →

Drama, comedy.

Duration: 92 minutes.

IMDb: 8.1.

Australian animator Adam Elliot has been in touch with a pen pal for 20 years. And then he made a plasticine cartoon about eight-year-old Mary from a suburb of Melbourne. Out of boredom, she begins to correspond with 44-year-old Max Horowitz from New York.

18. Wolf children Ame and Yuki

Okami kodomo no Ame to Yuki

Japan, 2012.
Fantasy, drama.
Duration: 117 minutes.
IMDb: 8.1.

Still from the cartoon «Wolf Children Ame and Yuki»

The anime of the future creator of «The Beast’s Apprentice» and «Beauty and the Dragon» Mamoru Hosoda is dedicated to a family tragedy. After the death of their father, Yuki and Ame move to the village with their mother. The thing is that children are descendants of the werewolf family. Mother tries to hide them from prying eyes, but Yuki and Ame grow up and show completely different character traits.

17. Klaus

Klaus

Spain, UK, 2019.
Adventure, comedy, drama.
Duration: 96 minutes.
IMDb: 8.1.

A still from the Klaus cartoon

The cartoon from the Netflix streaming service can claim the title of the most touching Christmas story of recent years. It is dedicated to the son of a rich man, Jasper, who is sent to the northern city of Smirensburg as a punishment. The hero must organize a post office there. But the ever-warring families interfere with his plans.

16. Voice form

Koe no katachi

Japan, 2016
Drama, melodrama.
Duration: 130 minutes.
IMDb: 8.1.

A touching anime that it’s never too late to realize your mistakes. The protagonist Shoya Ishida realizes that during his school years he ruined the life of his classmate due to the fact that she was deaf. He decides that he needs to improve.

Watch on iTunes →

15 Finding Nemo

Finding Nemo

USA, 2003.
Fantasy, adventure, comedy.
Duration: 101 minutes.
IMDb: 8.2.

Still from Finding Nemo cartoon

Marlin the clownfish lives near the Great Barrier Reef with his son Nemo. The father takes care of the child too much, but one day he still comes across a scuba diver. Then Marlin goes in search, taking Dory the surgeonfish with him.

Watch on iTunes →

Science fiction, fantasy.

Duration: 119 minutes.

IMDb: 8.2.

Still from Howl’s Moving Castle

Japanese master Hayao Miyazaki brilliantly combines Eastern and Western aesthetics in this anti-war tale. In Howl’s Moving Castle, a steampunk-style mobile home travels around the world, powered by the energy of a fire demon. And it is controlled by a militant wizard. This beautiful love story also shows the terrible effects of war on people and the environment.

13. Demon Slayer: Endless Train

Kimetsu no Yaiba Movie: Mugen Ressha-hen

Fantasy, Action.
Duration: 117 minutes.
IMDb: 8.2.

The highest grossing animated film of 2020 is dedicated to Tanjiro and his friends. After the training, the heroes investigate the disappearance of 40 people on the Endless train. It turns out that a powerful demon is involved in the case.

12. Puzzle

Inside Out

USA, 2015.
Animation, family, comedy.
Duration: 95 minutes.
IMDb: 8.2.

Still from Inside Out

This cartoon is direct proof that Pixar is the most powerful brand in Hollywood. After all, the studio was able to convince Disney to allocate money for a tape about the value of sadness. The plot focuses on five emotions that live in the head of a little girl and control her life with the help of a special remote control. The studio came up with a kind of animated response to the TV series Herman’s Head, in which the hero found himself in a similar situation.

Watch on iTunes →

11. Toy Story

Toy Story

USA, 1995.
Cartoon, fantasy, comedy.
Duration: 81 minutes.
IMDb: 8.3.

Still from Toy Story

Pixar entered the world of animation with its debut film, which has become a benchmark for all animators in the digital age. Warm and instructive «Toy Story» will imbue both an adult and a child. And the star couple of Woody and Buzz Lightyear is an example of true friendship.

Watch on iTunes →

10 Toy Story: The Great Escape

Toy Story 3

USA, 2010.
Adventure, comedy, fantasy.
Duration: 103 minutes.
IMDb: 8.3.

Still from the cartoon «Toy Story: The Great Escape»

The third part of the franchise came out 10 years after the second. During this time, both the authors and the audience have matured. Therefore, in the new film they talk about more serious problems. Andy is going to college, so all his toy friends are going to Sunshine Kindergarten.

Watch on iTunes →

9. Up

USA, 2009
Drama, comedy, adventure.
Duration: 96 minutes.
IMDb: 8.3.

Still from the cartoon «Up»

This is a story about the friendship of a little boy and an old man, which proves that it’s never too late to go in search of adventure. Up won the Oscar for Best Animated Feature and became the first cartoon to open the Cannes Film Festival. With its amazing animation and deep emotional story, this is not surprising.

Watch on iTunes →

8. Princess Mononoke

Mononoke-hime

Japan, 1997.
Fantasy, adventure, drama.
Duration: 134 minutes.
IMDb: 8.4.

Still from the cartoon «Princess Mononoke»

Prince Ashitaka killed a possessed boar and became cursed himself. Then he goes on a dangerous journey and becomes a participant in the confrontation between Mrs. Eboshi, who is cutting down the ancient forest, and the animals that are trying to stop her.

7. WALL E

WALL E

USA, 2008.
Fantasy, adventure.
Duration: 98 minutes.
IMDb: 8.4.

This is a story about a sad little robot left to clean up on Earth while people surf space in an interstellar ship with all the amenities. He meets another robot named EVE and takes her into space. And the viewer will find out what a generation of people has become who have become too dependent on technology and consumption.

Watch on iTunes →

6. The Secret of Coco

Coco

USA, 2017.
Comedy, adventure.
Duration: 105 minutes.
IMDb: 8.4.

Still from the cartoon «The Secret of Coco»

Another masterpiece in Pixar’s piggy bank, which deserved extremely positive reviews. The story of a Mexican boy who fell into the world of the dead turned into a touching and deep parable about family values. The leitmotif of «Secrets of Coco» is built on the conflict of generations, so the cartoon will be useful for both adults and children.

Watch on iTunes →

5. Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse

Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse

USA, 2018.
Science fiction, action, adventure.
Duration: 117 minutes.
IMDb: 8.4.

A still from the cartoon «Spider-Man: Through the Universes»

Several unusual versions of Spider-Man from different worlds have united in the animated crossover. The main one is the teenager Miles Morales, who witnessed the death of his idol, and then received superpowers.

Watch on iTunes →

4. Your name

Kimi no na wa

Japan
Anime, fantasy, drama, melodrama.
Duration: 110 minutes.
IMDb: 8.4.

Makoto Shinkai, the main anime star of recent years, tells the love story of two people who have never met. Mitsuha is the daughter of the mayor of a small town. Taki is a high school student from Tokyo who dreams of becoming an artist. In a dream, each of them enters the body of the other.

3. Grave of the Fireflies

Hotaru no haka

Anime, cartoon, drama.
Japan, 1988.
Duration: 89 minutes.
IMDb: 8.5.

Grave of the Fireflies

Isao Takahata directed a heartbreaking World War II drama in which two children must learn to survive after their city is destroyed. The plot focuses on young heroes, but in fact it displays a deep, full of loss and deprivation of an adult story.

2. The Lion King

The Lion King

USA, 1994.
Drama, adventure, musical.
Duration: 88 minutes.
IMDb: 8.5.

Still from the cartoon «The Lion King»

One of the greatest cartoons of all time was made by the Disney studio. The classic Hamlet-inspired story is about King Mufasa’s son, Simba. After the ruler’s brother Scar treacherously kills the king, the little heir escapes. But years later, he will return to restore justice.

Watch on iTunes →

1. Spirited Away

Sen to Chihiro no kamikakushi

Japan, 2001.
Fantasy, adventure.
Duration: 125 minutes.
IMDb: 8.6.

Almost all Studio Ghibli cartoons have become cult films, but Spirited Away is a true classic. This is a fairy tale, an adventure, and a metaphor, combined in Hayao Miyazaki’s animated masterpiece.

A little girl is forced to work in a bath for ghosts and demons after her parents are turned into pigs. Miyazaki’s most insane landscapes and characters are carefully woven into a deep story of growing up and an ever-changing world.

What cartoons do you like? Share with us in the comments.

This article was first published in April 2018. In June 2022, we updated the text.

What to watch for children: the best cartoons that will teach them something important

Top best cartoons for children — adults will also enjoy watching them!

Contents of the article

Laika Entertainment

This puppet studio manages to show the world through the eyes of children, without compromise and false notes. You won’t find such honesty anywhere. They have impeccably twisted, dashing and funny plots, behind which a deep, sometimes directly philosophical, meaning emerges. Therefore, these cartoons are great for family viewing with children.

Coraline

This is one of the best full-length cartoons. It tells about an abandoned girl who reconciles with her unlucky parents. Scary! Shows and works through a bunch of children’s fears about the «fake mother», «fake reality» and so on. See for yourself first, and then decide whether to show the children. There is a confrontation between «ideal» and «stupid» parents, from which, as a parent, I understood a lot about myself and revised some settings.

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ParaNorman

Terribly funny parody of a film about the supernatural, which tells about childhood loneliness and incomprehensibility, indifference and blinkeredness of adults. Although there is a ghost on a ghost, the cartoon is not particularly scary and is also on the list of the best for family viewing with children. But there is a very sad twist at the end, be ready to support the kids and talk to them about it.

A family of monsters (or Monsters from a box; originally The Boxtrolls)

A cool cartoon fairy tale for children about the confrontation between the «civilized» and «wild» world; the donut is clear, it turns out that the «wild» world is actually much more humane (and the viewer sometimes recognizes himself in «civilized» characters). Although the main thread of the plot is rather hackneyed, the story is so well told that you can’t put it down.

Kubo (Kubo and the Two Strings)

One of the best children’s cartoons about parental love, misunderstanding, understanding and forgiveness. At the same time, no tediousness, usual for parables!

Tomm Moore

His cartoons for kids are second to none. Moore knows how to weave ancient fairy tales into the modern world, to show how the present grows from the past, the present becomes the past, and everything overgrows with the future. Cartoons are ornamented like ancient books, they sound magical, ancient and modern music at the same time.

The Secret of Kells

Great cartoon fairy tale for children. The story of the writing of the Book of Kells, shown through the eyes of a boy from a monastery and his wild girlfriend from the forest.

Song of the Sea

Formally, something like a film adaptation of Irish mythology for modern children, but in reality it turned out to be one of the best children’s cartoons, from which it intercepts the throat, constricts the heart and then walks under the impression for several more days.

Stéphane Aubier, Vincent Patard and Benjamin Renne and their cartoon a real and pure fairy tale about the friendship of two outsiders — a bear and a mouse — in the world where bears and mice live in different worlds, fear and hate each other. The cartoon is delightfully drawn: each character is shown with almost a couple of lines, but the character is visible at the same time. And the Russian version of this cartoon for children is beautifully voiced.

Obie and Patar a few years before EiS filmed the cartoon «Panic in the Village» — an hour or more of uncomplicated fooling around. Although I really like Panic, I don’t dare to recommend it to everyone, because I’m afraid that they will curse me.

Aardman

The English plasticine studio, smart and cynical guys, in children’s cartoons gently laugh at the world around them, and in older ones they mock it harshly. Not all of their cartoons are good, I only write worthwhile ones (well, in my opinion!).

Shaun the sheep

A 150-episode series and a full-length cartoon for children of the same name (there is also another full-length film, Farmageddon). Light, funny and kind without idiocy stories from the life of a herd of sheep on a farm, their owner, his dog and other animals. The relationship of the sheep and the owner with the dog repeats the hierarchy of children and parents, and the lambs are cunning, hiding and trying to figure out the world around them, like children, and the owner grabs his head, fixes the sheep’s shoals, or remains in blissful ignorance, like a parent. The children and I still “watch” some films we didn’t like with Sean or simply cheer up with his help.

Wallace and Gromit

Several short and full-length cartoons for children about a naive inventor and his smart dog. It is laced with slight cynicism and snobbery, but sweet and funny.

Escape from the chicken coop

An epic drama about the life of chickens on a chicken farm, their cruel mistress and her henpecked husband. This cartoon for watching with children impresses with the scope of the plot, not always good humor and an idyllic (and impossible) ending. In this cartoon, one of the minor chickens is killed and a pie is baked from it! This can unsettle especially impressionable children and make them vegetarians for a while, so think about whether to show them.

Mark Osborne

This American director manages to give new life to hackneyed plots and shoot them as if for the first time: with real characters and real situations. As a director, he directed only two full-length cartoons for children.

Kung Fu Panda

Another great cartoon for kids, included in the list of the best. A clumsy panda becomes a Kung Fu master and defeats the great villain, his teacher’s former best student. This is a Cinderella story; about the teacher and student; about working on oneself; about growing up and choosing a path. And everything is set against the backdrop of Chinese landscapes and twisted into the genre of a satirical action comedy. And a very bright character of this same villain — a brilliant student who bowed to the teacher too much so as not to hate him later.

The Little Prince (Le Petit Prince)

The story of friendship between an overgrown child and an overly infantile old man is touching and deep. In Saint-Exupéry’s book, growing up is something like the inevitable death of the soul, while in the children’s cartoon the difficult path of another, «non-lethal» growing up is shown. And yet, I was struck by how subtly the director understood the future of the Little Prince and his clumsy attempts to fit into the human world.

Tom McGrath

He made two great cartoons for kids, a few run-of-the-mill cartoons and some bullshit. I’ll tell you about the cool ones!

Madagascar

Four animals from the New York Zoo are unexpectedly released into their natural habitat and have to learn to live on their own. This is one of the best full-length cartoons for children about growing up, about how you stop relying on adults and find your own way. There are two sequels, but they are more to monetize the story than to say something new.

The Boss Baby

An excellent cartoon for family viewing with children. A boy has a younger brother, his whole life goes awry, and the boy invents a gigantic spy drama to explain what is happening to himself. Very fun, touching and smart, it is worth showing the children when a new child appears in the family.

Rob Minkoff and his cartoon

The Adventures of Mr. Peabody & Sherman

Well, what can we say, if we named a dog after one of the characters in this cartoon! This is a children’s cartoon about a genius dog who took on a child. A story about parenthood, about how parents try to make their children special, and children want to be ordinary; it is also a metaphor for special parents — gays, singles, adoptive parents.

Illumination

They make great deep cartoons and commercial failures. I’ll tell you about the good!

Despicable Me 1 and 2 (Despicable Me 1, 2)

Villain Gru wants to become the best villain in the world so that he can finally be praised by his indifferent, devaluing mother. To pull off one adventure, he adopts three orphan sisters, and as a result, his heart melts, and he learns to love and be a parent. It would seem a banal plot, but it is so funny and honestly told that it is worth watching. There is also a third series and a full-length cartoon for children «Minions», but they are much worse and simpler.

Sing

The story of a whole crowd of Cinderellas who enter a singing competition and end up on top of fame. This is also a banal canvas, but all the characters are so charming, real musicians are so readable behind them, and the music balances so delicately between the vulgar mainstream and catchy depth that the picture still got into my list of the best cartoons for children.

DreamWorks

Some of the best children’s cartoons from this studio were already in the selection, but they were assigned to their directors. And one cartoon did not get anywhere, and now it represents this studio.

How to Train Your Dragon

The fearsome Viking leader has a puny son who is good for nothing. And the tribe has a hard time, because it is constantly pestered by dragons. Well, then, of course, it turns out that dragons must be dealt with not by force, but by intelligence and humanity, and this same son turns out to be on top. A cool movie for teenagers who like to make fun of themselves, but younger children will get it too. This is a film adaptation of a book (more precisely, a series of books), but books are worse! And the following cartoons for children in this series are also worse and did not make it into the selection.

Jean-Francois Poulet, François Brisson and their cartoon build a castle and start fighting for it. One of the best New Year’s cartoons for children about how a game is made literally from nothing, how children’s relationships develop and do not develop, in general, this is the most difficult genre of children’s cinema — children’s realism.

Artist Jacques Tardy and a cartoon based on his comics

Avril and the fake world (Avril et le Monde truqué)

This is an ironic steampunk for teenagers — a rather outstanding full-metal animated cartoon about the daughter of scientists in a world where no great things have been done discoveries.

The artist Paco Roca and his comic book cartoon

Arrugas

An amazing full-length cartoon that shows old people in a nursing home as children in kindergarten. It talks about Alzheimer’s disease, so the cartoon is not very funny. But it is all permeated with sad humor and tenderness for the fading human life. I would say he is 12+.

Artist Marzhan Satrapi and cartoon based on her comic book

Persepolis

revolutions in Iran, then in Europe, then again in Iran, and then again in Europe. Witty and scary, very interestingly rendered and one feels that this is an autobiography — all the characters are alive. There is sex and death in the cartoon, maybe he is 12+ or even 16+.

Studio Petersburg and its cartoon

Smeshariki. Start

This is the only Russian cartoon for children from the entire collection. In fact, this is a cartoon about our naive parents and grandparents, who in the 90s believed everything they say on TV. So to say, a cartoon of understanding and dedication. And it has very interesting music in its own way.

Pixar

The great studio founded by George Lucas, bought out of him by Steve Jobs, and then bought by Disney. In his best children’s cartoons, Pixar manages, not far from the American mainstream, to talk about the most important things and show the modern Western world in a satirical way.

Toy Story 1, 2, 3, 4

Every child knows that when he turns away, his toys come to life. Well, Pixar just made a cartoon for children about what happens to these toys. Terribly charming, funny, deep and exciting.

Finding Nemo

The story of a clownfish who is so obsessed with his son that he won’t let him live. As a result, the son rebels, gets into trouble, the father has to save him, they both change and, so to speak, «understand a lot about their mistakes. » A very charmingly told story, and there are cool marine characters. Although the biological reliability let us down: for example, real clown fish change gender, but in the cartoon this issue was delicately avoided. There is a sequel, Finding Dory, a full-length cartoon for children, but it is much more conformist and boring.

The Incredibles

An epic story about two superheroes who get married, have children, try to live a boring ordinary life — and then, as usual, a sharp turn in life, and they have to superhero again, this time in front of children . This cartoon to watch with children is, firstly, a metaphor for family life (we were all superheroes before we put wedding rings on our fingers and began to hang laundry more often than we read books), and secondly, a story about gifted children — outsiders who are forced to hide their talent, and then they learn to use this talent and fit into this world. Mind I Elastica! There are sequels, but they are worse.

Cars

The best cartoon for kids about cars. The story of one star-studded car, which, due to its own stupidity, ended up in a remote town, and it turned out that the main thing in life is not victory, but human (well, that is, machine) relationships. There are sequels, but I like them less, some less original.

Monsters University

«University» is the story of a fearless, but not at all scary, little monster in a world where only fear is quoted. In fact, this is a story about the fact that talent is different, that motivation is a great power, and that a brilliant manager is sometimes more important than a brilliant creator. This is a prequel to the children’s cartoon «Monsters, Inc», which I like much less, very banal.

Puzzle (Inside Out)

Brilliant understanding of adolescence, the psychological rationale for many teenage and adult jumps and one might say a friendly elbow for teenagers who seem to have been suddenly thrown to the sidelines of life. In this full-length cartoon for children, the emotions inside the girl’s head seem to take care of her and help her survive.

Disney

Throughout the twentieth century, this animation studio made cartoons for children about eternal values such as love to the grave, dissolution in a loved one and patient enduring troubles. These ideas left deep dents in the heads of poor girls and largely determined their fate. Now the public perception of such ideas has changed, and throughout the 21st century, Disney is apologizing for the past and making cartoons of a different kind: about self-sufficiency, the ability to change one’s destiny, and love as a partnership. And here, too, it seems to me, he goes too far.

Rapunzel (Tangled)

A twisted story about a long-haired girl who was brought up in strict obedience and isolation, and then she discovered the world around her, began to beat men with frying pans and had her hair cut. I don’t really like this children’s cartoon, but it is iconic, so I included it here.

Frozen

A beautiful story about talent and the ability to handle it, and about the fact that the role of parents is to teach a child to understand and not be afraid of himself. And also about the fact that a sister’s love can be more important and more honest than a man’s love. But it’s a Disney cartoon for kids through and through — with Disney smiles, Disney jokes and Disney music, so I can imagine those who would be sick of it.

I was sure that the next Disney cartoon would be Eaten (about Little Red Riding Hood), but for some reason it worked out!

City of Heroes (Big Hero 6)

Formally a children’s cartoon for boys, but I think it’s unisex! A famously twisted spy story about robotics, science, teenage maximalism and self-realization. The only thing I don’t like (spoiler!) is that the main villain is a scientist.

Zootopia

But this is the best Disney cartoon for children — understanding the ideas of tolerance and universal equality, honestly and without discounts, and everything is wrapped in the wrapper of such a carrot thriller.

Studio Ghibli

This is the iconic Japanese animation studio founded by the famous director and screenwriter Hayao Miyazaki together with his colleague Isao Takahata. They manage to tell stories in some special language; one of the main topics for them is the harmony of man and nature, work on oneself and inner purity. For some reason, the descriptions of the best films for children from this studio turned out to be kind of mean, but, probably, this is because they are very difficult to retell, you need to watch! You can watch almost everything from them, and I chose my favorite.

Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind

A story about a girl who saves the world with her purity and love. It sounds cliched as hell, but this is one of the best cartoons for families to watch with kids.

My Neighbor Totoro

Full-length cartoon for children about two sisters and their life in a country house and harmony with nature.

Cartoon