If you grew up in the 90s, a new animated movie was an event: a trip to the theater, a soundtrack on cassette, the VHS in a clamshell case and a fast-food toy collection. The decade gave us the heart of the Disney Renaissance, the first Pixar film and some of the most beloved hand-drawn movies from other studios. Here are the 25 best 90s animated movies, ranked.
Quick answer
The best 90s animated movies are The Lion King (1994), Toy Story (1995), Beauty and the Beast (1991), Aladdin (1992), The Iron Giant (1999), Toy Story 2 (1999), Mulan (1998), The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993), Princess Mononoke (1997) and Tarzan (1999).
Key takeaways
- The Disney Renaissance ran from 1989 to 1999.
- Toy Story (1995) was the first fully computer-animated feature.
- Beauty and the Beast was the first animated Best Picture nominee.
The 25 best 90s animated movies, ranked
| # | Movie | Year | Studio | Why it's great |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Lion King | 1994 | Disney | An epic score and a story every kid knew |
| 2 | Toy Story | 1995 | Pixar / Disney | The first fully computer-animated feature |
| 3 | Beauty and the Beast | 1991 | Disney | The first animated Best Picture nominee |
| 4 | Aladdin | 1992 | Disney | A genie performance for the ages |
| 5 | The Iron Giant | 1999 | Warner Bros. | A box-office miss that became a cult classic |
| 6 | Toy Story 2 | 1999 | Pixar / Disney | A sequel some fans like even more |
| 7 | Mulan | 1998 | Disney | Action, comedy and a great dragon sidekick |
| 8 | The Nightmare Before Christmas | 1993 | Touchstone | Stop-motion for Halloween and Christmas |
| 9 | Princess Mononoke | 1997 | Studio Ghibli | A US release in 1999 introduced many fans to Ghibli |
| 10 | Tarzan | 1999 | Disney | Swooping animation that closed the Renaissance |
| 11 | The Prince of Egypt | 1998 | DreamWorks | Ambitious, dramatic and beautifully drawn |
| 12 | Hercules | 1997 | Disney | Gospel-style muses and a hilarious villain |
| 13 | A Bug's Life | 1998 | Pixar / Disney | Pixar's second feature |
| 14 | Anastasia | 1997 | 20th Century Fox | A lush non-Disney musical |
| 15 | The Hunchback of Notre Dame | 1996 | Disney | Disney's darkest Renaissance film |
| 16 | Pocahontas | 1995 | Disney | Sweeping songs and visuals |
| 17 | A Goofy Movie | 1995 | Disney | A father-son road trip and a pop concert |
| 18 | James and the Giant Peach | 1996 | Disney | Stop-motion meets live action |
| 19 | The Rugrats Movie | 1998 | Nickelodeon / Paramount | The babies go big screen |
| 20 | FernGully: The Last Rainforest | 1992 | 20th Century Fox | An early environmental fable |
| 21 | Antz | 1998 | DreamWorks | DreamWorks' first computer-animated film |
| 22 | The Swan Princess | 1994 | Nest / Columbia | A sleepover classic |
| 23 | Cats Don't Dance | 1997 | Warner Bros. | An underrated Hollywood musical |
| 24 | Pokémon: The First Movie | 1999 | OLM / Warner Bros. | A must for 90s Pokémon fans |
| 25 | Doug's 1st Movie | 1999 | Disney | Doug Funnie's big-screen adventure |
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The Disney Renaissance
After a quieter period in the 80s, Disney Animation came roaring back with The Little Mermaid in 1989 and kept the hits coming for a decade: Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin, The Lion King, Pocahontas, Hercules, Mulan and Tarzan. These films shared Broadway-style songs, big emotional stories and memorable sidekicks. Find the TV side of the Disney story in 90s Disney cartoons.
Pixar and the computer-animation revolution
In November 1995, Toy Story became the first fully computer-animated feature film. It was a massive hit and changed animation forever. Pixar followed with A Bug's Life (1998) and Toy Story 2 (1999), and DreamWorks entered the field with Antz (1998). By the end of the decade, the hand-drawn era was beginning to give way to computer animation.
Fun fact: The Iron Giant made little money in theaters in 1999 but became a beloved classic on home video and TV, and is now regularly listed among the best animated films ever made.
Plan a 90s animated movie night
Movie night plan
- Pick a double feature: one Disney Renaissance film plus one Pixar film
- Serve popcorn, fruit snacks and 90s candy
- Set up blankets and pillows like a living room fort
- Play a "guess the sidekick" quiz between films
Conclusion
The 90s were the decade animation grew up without losing its sense of fun. For the Saturday morning side of things, see our guide to 90s cartoons and the most iconic 90s cartoon characters.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best animated movie of the 90s?
The Lion King (1994) and Toy Story (1995) are the most common picks. The Lion King was a record-breaking hit, and Toy Story was the first fully computer-animated feature film.
What was the Disney Renaissance?
The Disney Renaissance was a run of hit animated films from The Little Mermaid (1989) to Tarzan (1999), including Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin, The Lion King and Mulan.
What was the first Pixar movie?
Toy Story, released in November 1995, was Pixar's first feature and the first fully computer-animated feature film.
Which 90s animated movie was nominated for Best Picture?
Beauty and the Beast (1991) was the first animated film nominated for the Academy Award for Best Picture.
What are good non-Disney 90s animated movies?
The Iron Giant, Anastasia, The Prince of Egypt, Princess Mononoke, FernGully, The Swan Princess and The Rugrats Movie are all great non-Disney picks.