Though it seems like it should be easy to make an animated sequel that betters its predecessor, it's actually extremely difficult for studios to find the perfect balance of what fans love without retreading too much of the original. However, occasionally, animated studios pull it off, and between the dazzling animation and the iconic characters, they can be almost as good as their predecessors.
Suffice to say, the best animated sequels include a lot of Pixar movies, but surprisingly, there are just as many great Dreamworks Animations sequels too. From the close to perfect series that is Toy Story to the Shrek sequel that is better than the original, there's a lot of artistry that goes into these animated sequels, and they aren't only made to capitalize on the first movie's success.
Shrek 2 (2004) - 7.2
The first Shrek movie was a huge success and it was unprecedented in so many different ways. Not only was it the first-ever movie to win the Academy Award for Best Animated Picture, but it was an all-out parody movie that was just as much for adults as it was for kids. It came off almost as if the Monty Python troupe made a movie about fairytales.
The sequel doubled down on all of that, but it also came with a more compelling narrative too, as there's a surprisingly relatable arc between Shrek and his in-laws that isn't just played for laughs. It also expands the lore of the world and actually gives Prince Charming dialogue this time, and for those reasons, Shrek 2 is the best Shrek movie.
Kung Fu Panda 2 (2011) - 7.3
It's hard to believe that Kung Fu Panda 2 is turning 10 this year, but regardless of how old it is, the 2011 movie is timeless. To say the movie is about a panda with a somewhat simplistic design, the animation is actually dazzling. And what makes it even better is the way the camera moves in such a sleek way, something that Dreamworks hadn't achieved since Shrek.
But more than anything, Kung Fu Panda 2 is great because of its life lessons about family as well as its Chinese cultural influences. The film can also entertain without using pop culture references, which is something that Dreamworks Animations often relies on.
Finding Dory (2016) - 7.3
A lot of sequels have an almost identical premise to their predecessors, whether it's Die Hard 2 or Home Alone 2: Lost in New York. However, though Finding Dory repeats the winning formula of the original - where one of the main characters is lost and the other characters have to find them - it still comes off so original.
The 2016 sequel is more emotional than Finding Nemo and there are more laughs to be had too. Not to mention that the animation had obviously come a long way in the twelve years between the two movies, and there are moments when California looks almost photorealistic.
Despicable Me 2 (2013) - 7.3
The Despicable Me series went on to attempt to appeal too much to younger audiences with the Minions spin-off and Despicable Me 3. But before that, Despicable Me 2 struck a perfect tonal balance that the whole family could enjoy.
Gru (Steve Carell) is everyone's favorite animated anti-hero, and the second movie in the series saw him go up against an equally entertaining nemesis, Lucy (Kristen Wiig). Carell and Wiig are such great comedy actors that they play off each other so well, even when audiences can't physically see them.
How To Train Your Dragon 3 (2019) - 7.5
Ever since Dreamworks Animations opened its doors with Antz back in 1998, the studio had always been trying to compete with Pixar. The movies might have made huge sums of money at the box office, but they didn't look as sharp or have the emotional core of Pixar's best work.
However, that all changed with 2010's How To Train Your Dragon, and its sequels. The second sequel delivered an equally compelling story as the first film. That's unprecedented for Dreamworks, as its sequels are usually a case of diminishing returns, and by the third film, whether it's Madagascar 3 or Shrek 3, adults have checked out.
Incredibles 2 (2018) - 7.6
Incredibles 2 is just as much of an action movie as it is a comic book movie. It's the perfect film, and it's no wonder it got the coveted A+ CinemaScore, as it blends action, comedy, and drama together as well as any live-action movie.
The sequel plays out almost like a Mission: Impossible movie, which isn't surprising given how director Brad Bird also helmed Ghost Protocol. On top of that, it flips the original on its head, as Bob is now a stay-at-home dad while Helen is the superhero stopping crimes on a day-to-day basis, which is just one of the reasons it's just as good as the original movie.
Sing 2 (2021) - 7.6
Sing 2 achieved something incredible, as it beat out The Matrix Resurrections at the worldwide box office when they opened in the same week. That could either be because of the bad word of mouth surrounding the Matrix sequel or because Sing 2 turned out to be surprisingly great. It's most likely a mix of both.
Unlike many animated movie sequels, Sing 2 actually has the same average score on the movie database as the original. That's thanks to the sequel having some of the Sing series' best songs and introducing a bunch of fascinating new characters.
Toy Story 4 (2019) - 7.7
A lot of people believed that a Toy Story 4 wasn't necessarily. Despite the series being a huge success, audiences didn't necessarily want to see more of what they loved because Toy Story 3 wrapped up the series so perfectly and made the franchise a strong contender when debating the greatest trilogies of all time.
However, despite fans' worries that it could tarnish the series' legacy, Toy Story 4 was just as strong as the other sequels. The animation again set Pixar apart from its peers, and despite Buzz taking a backseat in this adventure, the focus on Bo Peep and her new makeover kept the series fresh 24 years into the franchise's life.
How To Train Yor Dragon 2 (2014) - 7.8
Ever since the animation studio dropped cutesy furry animals for How To Train Your Dragon in 2010, Vikings and dragons have been a winning formula for Dreamworks Animations. But as appealing as the aesthetic is, especially being released at the height of Game of Thrones' popularity, it's the soul of the series that audiences love.
That's no different when it comes to How To Train Your Dragon 2, which has an even more heartfelt story than the original. It's more action-packed too, as it sees two dragon armies battle it out. Even the sequel is better than Pixar's own attempt on a medieval tale, Brave.
Toy Story 2 (1999) / Toy Story 3 - 7.9 / 8.2
Both Toy Story 2 and Toy Story 3 have the highest scores of any animated sequel, and there's no wonder why. Toy Story 2 sees the toys go on an adventure outside of just the street they live on, it introduces Jesse and Bullseye, and Zurg's story arc is both heartfelt and hilarious, precisely what Pixar has become expert at.
And there's no denying that Toy Story 3 is as close to a perfect movie as makers can get. The 2010 film tackles more mature themes than any other Pixar movie, as it forces children to think about mortality in the movie's climax. The film will leave every audience member an emotional wreck, regardless of what their relationship is with the series.