The 10 Best Animated Family Movies of 2018
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As the end of 2018 approaches, we take a look back at the best of this year's animated films for all the family. There were some fantastic animations this year with great movies from Disney Pixar, some good old fashioned stop-animations and two fabulous Japanese anime films.
By the way, we are going by the UK release dates for these popular movies - which is why I've been able to include the very entertaining Coco in my round up. This is just my choice of my and my family's favourites for the year - is your favourite here?
The Incredibles 2
The much-anticipated and very long awaited Incredibles 2, was released in the summer of 2018 and was an instant smash hit. Following on from the first Incredibles movie, supermum Helen Parr was called on to lead a campaign to bring Supers back, leaving dad Bob to handle the day-to-day heroics of 'normal' life at home with Violet, Dash and baby Jack-Jack.
Incredibles 2 certainly was a worthy successor to the the original film from Disney's Pixar studios.
Coco
Released in 2017 in the US we had to wait until early this year to see, Disney Pixar’s Coco here in the UK.
The widely applauded movie follows the adventures of a 12-year-old boy named Miguel, who finds himself in the Land of the Dead while on a quest to prove his talent as a musician.
His family has banned music for generations, but Miguel defies them tofollow in the footsteps of his idol, Ernesto de la Cruz. But when he’s magically transported to the vibrant and colourful Land of the Dead, he sets out to discover the true story of his family’s history.
The movie manages to make the topic of death family-friendly and Coco was a big hit when it finally reached these shores.
Mary And The Witch's Flower
Released in April in the UK, the Japanese animation Mary And The Witch's Flower (PG) was based on the best-selling British children's book The Little Broomstick by Mary Stewart.
An all-ages fantasy adventure, it is a gentle and beautiful story of a young girl trying to figure her place in the world.
While spending the last weeks of summer with her Great-Aunt Charlotte in the countryside, Mary follows a mysterious cat into the nearby woods. There she stumbles upon a flower that has magical powers and transforms a little broomstick into one that flies.
The first film from Studio Ponoc, formed after the demise of the respected Studio Ghibli, Mary and the Witch's Flower is a treat for fans of anime and anyone who appreciates beautiful animation.
Ralph Breaks The Internet - Wreck-It Ralph 2
Christmas 2018 saw the release of Ralph Breaks The Internet - Wreck-It Ralph 2 (PG), the long-awaited sequel to Wreck-It Ralph. The well-meaning but clumsy computer generated hero, with friend Vanellope von Schweetz go on a new adventure when their arcade gets connected to the World Wide Web.
It’s every bit as good, funny and packed with references to popular computer games as the original film. Ralph Breaks The Internet - Wreck-It Ralph 2 is one of the best movies for the Christmas holidays.
Isle Of Dogs
Isle of Dogs is a stop motion film set 20 years in the future from Wes Anderson, director of cultish classics including The Royal Tenenbaums and The Grand Budapest Hotel .
An outbreak of dog flu in Japan causes Mayor Kobayashi to banish all dogs to a rubbish dump called Trash Island - the ‘Isle Of Dogs’.
Desperate to bring his missing pet back home, Atari hijacks a plane and ventures forth on a perilous mission to the island.
The theme of Isle of Dogs means that it is more suitable for older children, but the winsome and charming story will appeal to young and old alike,
Early Man (PG)
Early 2018 saw the release of Early Man, another stop-motion animation from Wallace and Grommit creator Nick Park.
Set at the dawn of time, when prehistoric creatures roamed the earth, EARLY MAN tells the story of courageous caveman hero Dug and his best friend Hognob as they unite his tribe against a mighty enemy Lord Nooth as they invite the invaders to kick a ball around.....
With lots of laughs along the way and featuring the voices of Eddie Redmayne, Tom Hiddleston and Maisie Williams, Early Man was a popular return to cinemas for Aardman Animation.
Mirai in the Future
Another treat for fans of Japanese anime was the release of Mirai in the Future. It tells the story of Kun, who is a 4-year old boy who is coping with the arrival of a little sister, Mirai, in the family.
Things turn magical when the backyard of the boy's home becomes a gateway allowing the child to travel in time and meet his new sister from the future as well as his mother as a little girl and his great-grandfather as a young man.
Typically quirky and Japanese, Mirai in the Future is a delightful and enchanting tale.
Teen Titans Go! To The Movies
Teen Titans Go! To the Movies was a spoof superhero movie, peppered with childish jokes, more sophisticated humour for the grown-ups with deeper pop cultural references for the geeks among us.
When it seems to the Teens that all the major superheroes out there are starring in their own movies the Teen Titans decide that it is their turn for movie stardom. With a few madcap ideas and a song in their heart, the Teen Titans head to Tinsel Town, certain to pull off their dream.
A fun and frothy spin-off from the popular TV series, Teen Titans Go! To the Movies was good summer entertainment for superhero fans.
Maya the Bee: The Honey Games
Maya the Bee: The Honey Games was the follow up to the first Maya the Bee movie, itself a movie spin off of the popular German animated TV series.
An over-enthusiastic Maya accidentally embarrasses the Empress of Buzztropolis, and so she is forced to unite with a team of misfit bugs and compete in the iconic Honey Games. The stakes couldn't be higher; if Maya loses, her hive on Poppy Meadow will be depleted of all its honey.
A gentle movie aimed at younger children with some funny references to the Hunger Games to entertain watching parents, Maya the Bee: The Honey Games delights and charms.
The Grinch
Based on the much loved book How The Grinch Stole Christmas by Dr. Seuss, The Grinch is one of the big Christmas movies of 2018, is an animated version of the Dr. Seuss’ much loved holiday classic.
The Grinch tells the story of a cynical grump who goes on a mission to steal Christmas, only to have his heart changed by a young girl’s generous holiday spirit.
With a big-name voice cast including man-of-the-moment Benedict Cumberbatch along with the legendary Angela Lansbury and with narration by Pharrell Williams the movie has charm and is a great bit of Christmas entertainment.
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