5 Best Family Animation Movies to Watch

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1. Kizazi Moto: Generation Fire, 2023

Undeniably breathtaking animation meets uncomplicated narratives and breathes life into this 10-episode speculative anthology. These rich stories take the sci-fi genre and unfurl a multitude of possibilities for a futuristic Africa. Although the episodes are short, there are more hits than misses as the focus on succinct stories creates a net positive viewing experience. Kizazi Moto: Generation Fire boasts an explosive variety of animation styles that make simple yet heartfelt stories shine. The transition from high-action vibrant stories like Mkhuzi: The Spirit Racer to the dark, terrifying visuals of Surf Sangoma in the first half displays the amazing talent of Africa's filmmakers.

Genre: Action & Adventure, Animation, Sci-Fi & Fantasy

Actor: Florence Kasumba, Hakeem Kae-Kazim, Kehinde Bankole, Pearl Thusi

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2. The Secret of Kells, 2009

A Franco-Gaelic animated film nominated for an Academy Award, the Secret of Kells certainly isn't your average Disney fare. Set in 8th century Ireland, it is beautifully animated, taking cues from ancient illuminated manuscripts and Gaelic folk art. Featuring a plot heavily inspired by Irish mythology, it tells the story of the Viking invasion of Ireland and the creation of the Book of Kells, an Irish national treasure. The world of the film pulses with the lush greenery of the island, populated by fairies, giants, magic and mystery.

Genre: Animation, Family, Fantasy

Actor: Brendan Gleeson, Christen Mooney, Evan McGuire, Fabian Erlinghäuser, James William O'Halloran, Kairen Waloch, Liam Hourican, Michael McGrath, Mick Lally, Nora Twomey, Paul Tylack, Paul Tylak, Paul Young, Sean Lennon, Sean Ono Lennon

Director: Nora Twomey, Tomm Moore

Rating: Not Rated

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3. The Velveteen Rabbit, 2023

A beloved children’s story gets its umpteenth adaptation here, this time from the screenwriter of 2018’s Watership Down — who proves that it’s a story worth retelling. This version of The Velveteen Rabbit is mostly faithful to Margery Williams’ original 1920s-set tale, but it does pad the plot out with a backstory of sorts about the shy little boy at its center. We’re introduced to William on the last day he spends at his school before moving to another town; the filmmaking gently plays on memories of the scariness of that first-ever goodbye, starting us off on a tender melancholy note that sets the tone for the rest of the 45-minute-long seasonal special.

For his first Christmas in the family’s new house, William is given a cuddly toy bunny in which he finds the comfort and company he misses so acutely. If you had a beloved plaything as a child, chances are you wished they’d come alive with all the might that little you could conjure up — nostalgia that this adaptation taps right into when the rabbit comes to life via mixed animated styles. The sincere emotion of the duo’s commitment to each other — involving sickness and self-sacrifice — is thus difficult to resist, no matter how grown up you are.

Genre: Animation, Family, Fantasy

Actor: Alex Lawther, Bethany Antonia, Clive Rowe, Edward Baker-Duly, Helena Bonham Carter, Leonard Buckley, Lois Chimimba, Nathaniel Parker, Nicola Coughlan, Paterson Joseph, Phoenix Laroche, Samantha Colley, Sean Duggan, Tilly Vosburgh, Саманта Колли

Director: Jennifer Perrott, Rick Thiele

Rating: G

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4. Supa Team 4, 2023

Vibrantly and energetically led by a lively quartet, Supa Team 4, though not wholly original, is still a refreshing children's animated show. There is a slightly new take on the dynamics: a leader with a sense of justice, an intelligent yet shy caregiver, a level-headed athlete, and a hot-headed food lover. It keeps the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle quartet formula interesting.

With episodic villains (leading to the big bad in the shadows), the show reveals the double lives of our teenage protagonists while exploring the neo-futuristic rendition of Zambia's capital and a surprising focus on socio-political and environmental issues. It's a series that takes intelligent, talented Black girls and empowers them to be themselves, even as they save and protect.

Genre: Action & Adventure, Animation, Kids

Actor: Abubakar Salim, John Macmillan, Kimani Arthur, Namisa Mdlalose, Nancy Sekhokoane, Pamela Nomvete, Zora Ngwaba

Rating: TV-Y7

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5. Mech Cadets, 2023

With the ingredients of a standard sci-fi animated series, Mech Cadets almost shines with its thoughtful approach to grief, parental expectations, and self-discovery for its child-to-teen audience. From Stanford losing his father and his dream of being a pilot to Frank becoming a Robo pilot despite his prosthetic leg, the series tries to build something substantial beneath the generic giant mechas and alien antagonists. But with so many mecha/robot franchises coming to mind, the show has no distinctive qualities to stand apart. It's an overall straightforward animation that carries expected lessons on responsibility and teamwork, which kids will surely enjoy, that is, until the next Transformers-esque show is released.

Genre: Action & Adventure, Animation, Family

Actor: Anairis Quinones, Aparna Brielle, Brandon Soo Hoo, Josh Sundquist, Victoria Grace

Rating: TV-Y7

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