Since the studio began, the best Disney Animation movies have combined stunning visual work with storybook characters and the perfect blend of humor and heart. Disney Animation has had ebbs and flows throughout the years, with the highs of its golden age followed by some lesser efforts in the 1970s and '80s, and movies that have been all but forgotten. After its renaissance in the '90s, it seemed Disney Animation hit its stride again in the new century, at times matching the output of its sister studio at Pixar.
Through the last 20+ years, Disney Animation has released some of its best movies, taking the great stories of the golden era and infusing them with the same brilliant design of its '90s renaissance. Along the way, Disney introduced new Disney Princesses and jumped into the realm of video games and comic books, all while maintaining the heart the studio has always been known for. All the best Disney Animation movies of the 21st century can be streamed on Disney+, and showcase why the House of Mouse still hasn't lost its magic nearly a century after they began.
10 Lilo & Stitch (2002)
In 2002, Disney Animation released a movie that was a departure from what most fans were used to. However, at the heart of things, it was still pure Disney, and was instrumental in selling lots of toys and spawning its own television cartoon spin-off, and a sequel series, as well as earning a Best Animated Feature nomination from the Academy Awards. This was Lilo & Stitch.
The movie told the story of a little awkward girl named Lilo meeting an alien from outer space named Stitch and the two helping each other find their purpose in life. While Lilo & Stitch is undoubtedly aimed at kids, the humor and sweetness on display helped it stand out in the early 2000s, when other releases were not quite up to par for Disney. The movie is incredibly beloved because of the relationship between the title characters, but also the one between Lilo and her big sister Nani — with many hoping the live-action adaptation of Lilo & Stitch can capture the same magic.
9 The Emperor's New Groove (2000)
One of the first Disney Animated movies of the new century was The Emperor's New Groove, which hit theaters in 2000. The movie saw an Emperor named Kuzco turned into a llama by his former administrator. He then has to find a way to regain his throne despite the change in appearance. One of the most underrated Disney movies in the eyes of many, the internet helped The Emperors New Groove find a fresh following thanks to its incredible quotability (and the memes this has generated).
While this movie came out after the Disney Animation renaissance, and in a period where the studio was in a slight slump, it remains beloved by many fans. Its originality and humor make it a feel-good animated comedy instead of the romances Disney was known for at the time. It's also notable for being one of the hand-drawn animated Disney movies without emphasis on songs and musical numbers.
8 Wreck-It Ralph (2012)
Wreck-It Ralph is one of the best video game movies that is not actually about a video game. In the movie, a fictional video game bad guy named Ralph is having an existential crisis and sets out to prove he is a good guy, but when he meets a girl from another game named Vanellope, he gets a chance to prove it for real.
The movie was nothing like most Disney Animated movies and that helped it stand out from the crowd. In fact, that's the upside for many of Disney Animation's movies of the 21st century. The fun retro jokes, the heart, and the computer-animated animation made it almost feel more Pixar than Disney.
7 Zootopia (2016)
One of the best Disney Animation movies this century so far is the 2016 release, Zootopia. This movie seemed to be the right movie at the right time, as everyone wanted to see it. The entire story focused on a world where animals live in various cities, but their lives are thrown into turmoil when predators begin to go savage.
Critics and fans alike have praised the movie's message of acceptance of diversity, calling it a funny and smart story. Not only did it win Best Animated Feature at the Academy Awards, but it also won several Annie Awards, given out for outstanding animated projects, including Outstanding Character Design and Writing. So successful was Zootopia that a sequel, Zootopia 2, was finally confirmed after over five years of fan demands.
6 Raya And The Last Dragon (2021)
Raya and the Last Dragon was a 2021 Disney Animated movie release, this one a pure adventure story that played with the idea of ancient history and mythology. In this, a girl named Raya was trying to find the mythical last dragon to help put her world back together.
The movie was unique by Disney standards because the princess at the center didn't have a love interest, but instead, built herself a network of allies while on her quest. She also reconciles with someone viewed as the main antagonist through much of the movie. It didn't get the same level of Oscars' love that another Disney Animation movie did the same year though.
5 Encanto (2021)
The newest Disney Animation movie to become a hit this century was Encanto, which hit theaters in 2021. The movie took Disney Animation to South America, where a magical family in Colombia found something tearing their home apart, and it was up to the one non-magical family member to attempt to stop the destruction and put her family back together again.
The movie was a success, picking up three Oscar nominations. It's a magical story for the entire family, which is fitting since magical realism is prevalent in South American fiction. The movie has been praised for its attention to detail, its large cast of characters, and of course, its catchy music.
4 Frozen (2013)
Frozen was one of the most successful Disney Animated movies at the box office and helped bring the studio back to life, kicking off a new era that is still roaring to this day. The movie about a princess who could turn things into ice and the sister who fought to keep her from turning evil became the highest-grossing animated movie of all time at the time of its release. It also earned two Oscar wins and a slew of Annie nominations.
The movie picked up a sequel, which fans didn't quite like as much, but that doesn't mean the love for the characters has died down. Fans still hope for more stories centering around the sisters, so they can understand all the magic that is part of the Frozen world.
3 Moana (2016)
In 2016, Moana brought a new Disney Princess to theaters and once again made her strong and independent. Not only was this Princess able to stand up to her elders and save the day, but she was able to stand up to a demigod, voiced by Dwayne Johnson, and never lose her own story.
Not only did Moana have some amazing songs that remain memorable years later, but the story was uplifting and a true feel-good story. It received two Oscar nominations, six Annie Award nominations (and two wins), two Golden Globe nominations, and a Grammy. Like so many of the best Disney Animation movies, it's got both a streaming series and a live-action movie in development.
2 Tangled (2010)
Before Frozen broke the box office records for an animated movie, Tangled set the new template for the new era Disney Princess movies. Much like Frozen and Moana, this presented a free-spirit Disney Princess, who was willing to go her own way and never needed any prince to save her.
The re-telling of Rapunzel also used the animation look that Frozen capitalized on a few years later. It still featured a more traditional romantic storyline for the princess, but Tangled didn't sacrifice the personality of Rapunzel to do it, making her a standout character of the era as well.
1 Big Hero 6 (2014)
A lot of people point to Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse as the movie that proved Marvel could succeed in the animated world as well as it could in live-action movies. However, that wasn't the first Marvel animated movie to hit theaters in the last decade. That would be Disney Animation's Big Hero 6. It's easily the best Disney Animation movie of its era. While not as famous as Spider-Man, Big Hero 6 brought some great new characters to the big screen and walked home with an Oscar for its efforts as well as seven Annie Award nominations and a Golden Globe.
It also launched an animated television series with the voice cast returning for the roles. Big Hero 6 wasn't just the story of a young man becoming a superhero either, but of a young man who has to pull himself out of a horrible tragedy, and finding a support system in the people around him. The movie told a story of grief while still entertaining its audience and giving gorgeous visuals to boot. While it might not be as famous as Tangled, Moana, or Frozen, Big Hero 6 stands head and shoulders above its competitors for the title of best Disney Animation movie released in the 21st century.