20 animated films meant for kids but appeal to adults

If you don’t like Shrek, it’s because you haven’t seen it. Though it’s technically an animated film for children, there is an argument to be made that it’s more suited for adults. The humor is more sophisticated than many other animated films, and the music is definitely more adult-centric. This is the perfect movie to watch as a family.

If a cast features mostly incredible actors that we would love to see in a live-action film, it should be marketed to adults, too. Centered around a singing competition similar to American Idol, this show has heart, music, and a great message of not letting others hold you back, which is suitable for all ages.

If a children’s movie features good music, it’s going to draw an adult crowd. Such is the case with Trolls. And Trolls is another case of a film with an epic cast of celebrities who perform good voiceover work. If you put Justin Timberlake in a role with music, it’s going to appeal to adults.

Some might say that Coraline is actually more appropriate for adults than children because it is a legitimately spooky movie. Some children are too afraid to watch it — and for good reason. It honestly might be best to wait until you’re a full-fledged adult to watch this Tim Burton-esque film.

Dr. Seuss will always be popular with every age group, and The Lorax is just another example of that. Its animation is spectacular, and the storyline is genuinely intriguing. It’s thought-provoking for all people, and even just thinking about the music will have you singing “How ba-a-a-ad can I be?” for the next several days. 

Whenever films are animated, it’s assumed they’re meant for children, but this is one that adults are probably going to like more than kids. Fantastic Mr. Fox is a great argument for why Wes Anderson should give the animation space more of his attention. It’s also a great film to watch with your children if you want to teach them about film visuals.

There’s a reason Frozen made so much money at the box office. Adults were heading to see it without children because it looked so beautiful, the reviews were incredible, and the music was stunning. Lots of good animated movies come out regularly, but rarely do such phenomena come out.

If you’re a fan of Spider-Man, you’re going to enjoy Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse just as much as you enjoyed Toby Maguire’s, Andrew Garfield’s, or Tom Holland’s version of the character. Animated films are a great way to introduce children to one of your favorite characters, but in this case, it could do the reverse and get a parent interested in one of their child’s favorite characters.

Voiced by the incredible Patton Oswalt, Ratatouille is entertaining for children because of its storyline, but it’s just as entertaining for adults because of its beautiful imagery and humor. And the TikTok phenomenon of Ratatouille the musical is further proof that this film still holds a special place in the hearts of many young adults.

If you ask Phil Collins to write the score of a movie, parents are going to immediately be more intrigued in watching a film. There are lots of other reasons that adults love Tarzan just as much as kids, but the score is arguably the most memorable aspect of the film.

Like asking Phil Collins to write the score, if you ask Elton John to be involved in the music, you know it’s going to be a home run. He didn’t earn one of his Oscars for nothing. The Lion King also features a beautiful story with a message that resonates with all audiences.

Finding Nemo is universally loved for several reasons, and proof of that was the crowd at Finding Dory. It wasn’t the kids who wanted to know what was next for that lovable family of fish; it was the adults who had seen it when they were kids. 

If we’re talking about animated movies with successful music, it’s impossible not to mention Encanto in the conversation. Also beautiful to look at and led by an endearing character, Encanto’s music had the entire world bopping its head along when the film was released, particularly “We Don’t Talk about Bruno,” as that reads more like a pop song than a show tune. 

It’s an age-old debate: is The Nightmare Before Christmas a Halloween movie or a Christmas movie? Both children and adults can partake in this argument because the Tim Burton classic is popular among both age groups. From the claymation to the songs to the melange of holidays, it’s a movie that households won’t get sick of no matter how many times it’s from October through December.

The concept of Inside Out had loads of people intrigued when the film was released, drawing crowds who have children and those who don’t. And although it’s aimed at children, the message of working to understand yourself just a little bit better is pertinent to everyone as it’s a continual process. And the voice actors of the emotions do such a fabulous job it’s impossible not to love.

Coco is a beautiful movie, both visually and emotionally. It’ll pull at your heartstrings and have you mad that you’re tearing up because you don’t want to miss a moment of its stunning animation.

But when it comes to emotional animated movies, perhaps nothing is more of a tearjerker than Up. The first 10 minutes will have you bawling like a baby, and it’s likely to hit home even harder the older you are. It’s a good lesson for kids, but it’s more meaningful to adults.

Little eerie and mysterious, Anastasia is responsible for a whole new generation of people fascinated with the Romanov family. It’s a fun story for children, but when you know the backstory, it makes the film all the more interesting. And let’s face it: most kids aren’t going to grab their device after watching it for a deep dive into Russian royalty, but almost every adult will. 

With funny little characters and humor that adults will appreciate, Ice Age is an animated film that parents don’t mind when kids ask to watch. Unfortunately, the original is a little older now, so it isn’t a favorite among kids like it used to be. But hopefully, we’ll soon enter into the territory of kids watching it because it was their parent’s favorite as a child. 

There are legitimate adults who cite Zootopia as their favorite movie. And if you’ve seen the film, you understand why. It’s an Oscar-winning film for a reason. It even beat Moana the year it was nominated.