11 Best Netflix Animated Movies to Watch Right Now (April 2026): ‘Madagascar’ and More

Alex the lion (Ben Stiller) isn’t the king of the jungle, but he is the king of the Central Park Zoo. While he’s enjoyed his cushy existence and millions of adoring fans, Alex grows weary of his comfortable life and yearns for the excitement of the wild. Joining some eccentric penguins, Alex makes a daring escape alongside his friends Marty the zebra (Chris Rock), Gloria the hippo (Jada Pinkett Smith) and Melman the giraffe (David Schwimmer). Eventually, the group makes its way to the lush forests of Madagascar, inhabited by some musically inclined lemurs.

If you were a little kid when Madagascar was released in 2005, it’s more likely than not that you were eternally charmed by its colorful, kinetic animation, entertaining plot, goofy jokes and, of course, the earworm “I Like to Move It.” And maybe your parents weren’t as wooed by the brainless charms of the movie, but that’s ok. When it comes to high-energy, overstimulating children’s fare, you could do a lot worse than Madagascar. It’s got enough infectiously zany energy and memorable characters to allow it to endure as a family-friendly classic.

Ordinary Brooklyn teenager Miles Morales (Shameik Moore) is bitten by a radioactive spider while riding the subway, and he finds himself developing strange powers that mirror those of the famous Spider-Man. But when Spider-Man is murdered at the hands of the nefarious Wilson Fisk, AKA Kingpin (Liev Schreiber), a void is left that Miles tries to fill himself. But when he meets a Peter Parker (Jake Johnson) from another dimension, he discovers many other Spider-Men exist across the multiverse. With his new powers and new friends, Miles must fight to stop Kingin from destroying his universe.

Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse is already a modern classic, and it’s always worth giving it a shout-out if you haven’t yet given in to its bounty of pleasures. The gorgeous animation and aesthetic style, paired with exciting action, terrific voice performances, a great sense of humor and a genuinely textured emotional core, help to make this Spider-Man movie one of the very best across animation and live-action genres.

Beloved cop Officer Knight (Peter Hastings) and his faithful sidekick dog Greg chase down a notoriously villainous cat, but both Knight and Greg are gravely injured in the line of duty. To save both their lives, Knight’s head is transplanted onto Greg’s body, and together they become the crime-fighting Dog Man (also Hastings). While adjusting to his new identity and missing his former life, Dog Man must contend with nemesis Petey the Cat (Pete Davidson) and his plot to clone himself.

Dog Man is an easy delight for kids from start to finish, but it doesn’t leave parents in the lurch — there’s plenty of gags and humor that will tickle a more mature funnybone, too. The relentless, frenzied pacing keeps you entertained at all times, and the lighthearted, silly tone is deliriously infectious. Overall, Dog Man is the pick of the litter.

In 1993’s short film The Wrong Trousers, Wallace (Peter Sallis) and his trusty dog Gromit were plagued by a homicidal penguin named Feathers McGraw. More than two decades later, Feathers has escaped from prison and bears a deadly grudge against his captors. When Wallace (now voiced by Ben Whitehead) invents a helpful robot Gnome, Feathers finds a way to get inside its head to devious ends.

The classic stop-motion animated duo return to the big screen in Wallace and Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl, which is helmed by their creator and long-time director Nick Park. The delightful movie bears much of the same humor and inventiveness as previous Wallace and Gromit films, and is a warm, charming visual feast for viewers of all ages.

Why would acclaimed music producer Pharrell Williams choose to tell the story of his life through a Lego-animated documentary? Well — why not? At the beginning of the film, the artist tells documentarian Morgan Neville that he views the world like a Lego set — something that’s constantly being built and rebuilt out of existing materials.

This stunningly creative film allows the singer, rapper, producer and songwriter to tell his story as he remembers it with imagery that’s completely unique. It features the voices of other stars Pharrell has worked with, like Gwen Stefani, Timbaland, Jay-Z and more.

KPop Demon Hunters has become a global phenomenon, with sing-along movie screenings and chart-topping hits. We’re not surprised it’s become so huge — the story of Rumi (Arden Cho), Mira (May Hong) and Zoey (Ji-young Yoo), KPop singing stars by day who protect the world from demons by night, is wonderfully original. It’s also funny and moving, with beautiful animation that pays homage to Korean culture and universal themes of identity, morality and family.

If you can’t get enough KPop Demon Hunters, you can now watch the Sing-Along version on Netflix as well.

Nimona (Chloë Grace Moretz) looks like an ordinary girl, but she has an incredible power — she’s a shapeshifter who can turn into any animal. Rebellious and energetic, Nimona uses her power to cause chaos throughout the medieval-futuristic world in which she lives. When Ballister Boldheart (Riz Ahmed) is framed for killing the Queen, Nimona decides he’s an evil genius and demands to become his villainous sidekick. (Ballister, for his part, has no interest in villainy and just wants to prove his innocence.)

As Ballister and Nimona grow closer, more of her dark past is revealed, and with them are secrets about the kingdom and the very nature of their society. You’ll love the character Nimona for her humor, her bravery and her steadfast commitment to being herself. You’ll love the movie Nimona for its unique art style, its fun soundtrack and its profound message about prejudice and acceptance.

This animated fantasy film takes place in feudal Japan and comes from Coraline’s production company, Laika Studios. Kubo (Art Parkinson) is a young boy who lives with his mother in a small village and is able to create magic through music. When he is attacked by his mother’s evil sisters, he learns that he is the child of a goddess and a human warrior. With the help of a Monkey (Charlize Theron) and a humanoid stag Beetle (Matthew McConaughey), he must defeat his evil grandfather, the Moon King (Ralph Fiennes).

The animation in this film is stunningly beautiful, and it’s a moving story of family, love and bravery. Like all Laika films, it’s funny and occasionally spooky, and it takes its story seriously, never talking down to its audience. Kubo intricately weaves traditional Japanese folklore with modern cinematic techniques, creating a captivating story for audiences of all ages.

When PAL, a Siri-esque operating system voiced by Olivia Colman, rebels against her creators and turns every machine on earth into an evil robot, the world’s only hope is the Mitchell family. That’s unfortunate, because the Mitchells are weird, chaotic, and currently not getting along very well. Aspiring filmmaker Katie (Broad City’s Abbi Jacobson) is asserting her independence from her dad Rick (Danny McBride), while Rick’s eagerness to hold on tighter to his little girl is keeping him from understanding the woman she’s becoming. 

But due to a tech-free enforced family road trip, the Mitchells end up being the only humans who aren’t captured, and it’s up to them to stop PAL before every human is launched into space. This hilarious, heartwarming family film has profound themes of communication and understanding, as well as visual gags that will make you do a spit-take. 

The Sea Beast takes an intriguing concept — the sea monsters that were once depicted on maps in the unknown reaches of the ocean — and builds a whole world out of it, full of swashbuckling fun and poignant relationships. The story follows a young girl named Maisie Brumble (Zaris-Angel Hator), who stows away on the ship of the legendary monster hunter Jacob Holland (Karl Urban). Together, they embark on a thrilling adventure that makes them look at the sea “monsters” in a whole new way. The breathtaking animation and the inspirational narrative invite the audience to take a look at their own biases and examine what they think they know about “heroes” and “villains.” 

Maisie is a lovable protagonist and a great role model for kids. She’s smart, brave and thoughtful, and her determination and commitment to doing what’s right make her a heroine worth imitating. The Sea Beast is an entertaining and heartwarming story that captures the grandeur and excitement of pirate stories and blends that with thoughtful allegories for a modern audience. 

This stop-motion epic is a retelling of the story of the puppet who can’t lie as you’ve never heard it before. It’s de-sanitized, darker and more dramatic than the Disney version (although that version was pretty scary too!), set in fascist Italy during World War II. But the magnetically charming performance of Gregory Mann as the titular puppet gives it a sense of whimsy and fun, and the animation is a stunning sight to behold. The rest of the voice cast is full of well-known actors, including Ewan McGregor as Sebastian J. Cricket, Pinocchio’s conscience.

This version of Pinocchio has more in common with Guillermo Del Toro’s Pan’s Labyrinth than with any Disney film, but kids will still enjoy its clever storytelling. In the end, it’s probably the adults who will get the most out of the film. (There’s also a 20-minute documentary film about the making of Pinocchio, and if you’re interested in the animation process, it’s a fascinating watch.)