The Best Animated Movies to Stream Before Seeing Migration

As Migration flies into theaters on December 22, we’ve gathered some animation classics that embody the same winning blend of memorable characters, snappy humor, and limitless possibilities.

The new animated feature film from Illumination follows the Mallards, a sweet duck family, as they set out to explore the world beyond their small New England pond. What starts as a fun trip to Jamaica quickly turns into an epic adventure that touches on themes of courage, friendship, and the importance of family.

The best animation is always more than it seems, giving viewers — both kids and adults — a new view of the world around us. Whether they’re pulling on your heartstrings through stellar storytelling or dazzling with non-stop action and catchy songs, these movies promise to entertain.

Despicable Me (2010)

Minion Madness started here with this family-friendly film full of infectious humor and babbling underlings. The franchise's original movie introduces us to the supervillain Gru (voiced by Steve Carell) and his charming Twinkie-shaped minions, whose sole purpose is to cheer on Gru’s evil plan of stealing the moon. The story takes a heartwarming turn, though, as Gru adopts three children and gets in touch with his softer side.

The Super Mario Bros. Movie (2023)

Forty years after the video game was introduced, the adventures of Mario and his brother Luigi in the Mushroom Kingdom still excite fans. When it was released in April, it had the biggest opening weekend of any animated film ever. Packing a lot of action into 92 minutes, the film marks the first time the Mario Universe has been adapted to big-screen animation. Nintendo fans of all ages will delight in the callbacks to the game, such as a mushroom that makes Bowser tiny and Super Smash Bros.-style fight scenes.

The Tale of Despereaux (2008)

Like Puss in Boots, The Tale of Despereaux revolves around a beloved children’s literature character. Modeled after the Newbery-winning book, a brave mouse named Despereaux Tilling embarks on a quest to save a beautiful human princess from a horde of rats. Slower-paced than most animated films, it tugs on the heartstrings in a way that seems more sophisticated than its G rating, and the animation is so precise you feel the characters could easily come to life.

The Prince of Egypt (1998)

Easily a contender for the best-animated movie of all time, The Prince of Egypt is a fantastical epic about the journey of Moses, who delivered his people from Egypt. Released by Dreamworks in 1998, the 2D-animated film was more than four years in the making and expertly softens the retelling of the Book of Exodus. As it is, The Prince of Egypt is still quite intense, not to mention breathtaking and touching. Also noteworthy is the operatic score by Hans Zimmer and Stephen Schwartz.

Trolls World Tour (2020)

The Trolls franchise delivers such vibrant technicolor visuals and peppy pop music that choosing which to watch is totally daunting. The whimsical world always pulls us in, but it's the second film where Trolls hits its stride. Perpetually upbeat Poppy (Anna Kendrick) and disgruntled Branch (Justin Timberlake) work together to save six different tribes and genres of music, covering a lot of ground from country to funk. Trolls Band Together, in theaters nationwide on November 17, ups the ante with a boyband at the story's center, which means more dancing and over-the-top awesomeness.

Migration hits theaters nationwide on December 22. Directed by Academy Award nominee Benjamin Renner (Ernest & Celestine), the feathered flock is voiced by an all-star cast, including Kumail Nanjiani, Elizabeth Banks, and Danny DeVito.