Top 10 Best Animated Movies – Part 2

Once in a while, there comes a story that can’t be told in just one sitting. We end up wanting to know more – what happens next, what further adventures await the characters, and so on. The same happens for animated movies. Despite seeing a bold The End float clearly on the screen when the film finishes, we’re sometimes just not satisfied with the ending. We crave more of the story. This is where animated movie sequels come into play! These movie sequels take the story forward into the future, thereby giving the audience the chance to spend more time with their favourite movie characters, and to be a part of their adventures once again!

The Best Animated Movie Sequels Of All Time

Who doesn’t love animated movies? These films are in a class of their own, as they take creativity and imagination to new heights, allowing the storyline and the characters to embark on fantastic adventures.

So, without further ado, let’s take a look at the Top 10 Animated Movies With A Single Sequel.

1. Frozen – 1 & 2

‘Let it go’ became the anthem of free-spirited people everywhere when Frozen 1 swept up a blizzard in movie theatres in 2013. Even though it won both the Academy and the Golden Globe Awards for Best Animated Film, it still took six long years for the release of its sequel. The wait was well worth it- Frozen 2 was a phenomenal success! Raking in $1.45 billion worldwide, this movie holds the honour of being the 2nd highest-ranking animated film of all time – and, that’s no mean feat! 

Starring Idina Menzel as the mysteriously powerful Queen Elsa of Arendelle and Kristen Bell as her naive sister Princess Elsa, the Frozen franchise boasts an engaging screenplay, stunning visuals, and an incredible soundtrack. While Frozen 1 was the literal ice-breaker between the two estranged sisters, Frozen 2 is more of a journey of self-discovery, allowing both sisters the chance to follow their own destinies.  You can watch both of these animation movies on Disney+ Hotstar.

2. Finding Nemo – Finding Dory

In 2003, audiences worldwide were plunged into the depths of the oceans as they accompanied a dad on a quest to find his lost son. It didn’t matter that the dad-son duo was a couple of clownfishes, or that they were aided by an amnesiac regal blue tang. By the end of Finding Nemo, everyone was glad that Marlin found Nemo, and, as a bonus, Dory found friends whom she could never forget. In 2016, Finding Dory had audiences get back in their seats for yet another deep-sea adventure. This time, the quest is more complicated- Marlin and Nemo have to find Dory while she finds her long-lost family. Without a doubt, these were one of the best Disney animated movies with sequels.

Both movies were box-office hits, with Finding Nemo winning the Academy Award for Best Animated Film. Actor Ellen DeGeneres won special acclaim for portraying the role of Dory in both films. 

3. The Angry Birds Movie – 1 & 2

Who would have thought that a simple video game designed to shoot birds from slingshots would be the inspiration behind this awesome movie franchise! The Angry Birds movies are a spin-off of the mobile-app game of the same name, developed by the Finnish video game company Rovio Entertainment. Its immense success and popularity led Columbia Pictures and Rovio Animation to produce The Angry Birds Movie – 1 & 2, in 2016 & 2019, respectively.  

Both movies did well at the box office and featured many well-known artists from the industry- Jason Sudeikis, Awkwafina, Sean Penn, Josh Gad, Nicki Minaj, Colleen Ballinger, Maya Rudolph, Bill Hader, Danny McBride, Peter Dinklage, etc. You can find both of these good animated movies on Netflix.

4: Sing – 1 & 2

If you are a fan of musicals, then do not miss this amazing animated musical film set in an anthropomorphic animal world! We are introduced to a myriad number of characters, like theatre owner Buster Moon and aspiring performers Rosita, Ash, Johnny, Meena, etc. 

Sing-1 was released in 2016 with an ensemble cast, that included actors Matthew McConaughey, Scarlett Johansson, Reese Witherspoon, etc. The soundtrack had an impressive number of hit songs, including an original number by Ariadne Grande and Stevie Wonder. The sequel, Sing-2, was one of the best animation movies in 2021. In case you missed watching it in theatres, you can find it under animation movies on Amazon Prime.

5. Rio – 1 & 2

Don’t be surprised if you start feeling like catching a plane to sunny Brazil to experience The Carnival while watching Rio. Blame that wanderlust on the stunning visuals and the rhythmic beats of Samba music that reverberate throughout this colourful animated movie! 

Directed by Carlos Saldanha and produced by Blue Sky Studios, Rio centres around a domesticated Spix’s macaw named Blu (voiced by Jesse Eisenberg) and how he finds love, family, and friends after returning to his home in the Amazon rainforest. While Rio-1 (released in 2011) saw Blu fall in love with a wild Spix’s macaw named Jewel (voiced by actor Anne Hathaway) who initially spurns his romantic advances, Rio-2 (released in 2014) shows the struggles Blu faces while settling in with his family. 

Both movies were box-office hits and have received plaudits, especially for the awesome music, animation, and voice-acting.

6: Cloudy With A Chance Of Meatballs – 1 & 2

What happens when a bunch of quirky people come together to save the world from enormous morsels of food? We get an epic movie sequel with the same lovable characters risking their lives to save gigantic sentient food! 
This 2-part deliciously wholesome animated movie combines humour and sci-fi to deliver a perfect sizzler of a hit! The first film was released in 2009 and earned $243 million, while its sequel earned $274 million in 2013. Both films boast an ensemble cast consisting of the voice-acting talents of actors Bill Hader (Flint Lockwood), Neil Patrick Harris (Steve the monkey), Anna Faris (Sam Sparks), Andy Samberg (“Baby” Brent McHale), Benjamin Bratt (Manny) and James Caan (Tim Lockwood).

7. The Incredibles -1 & 2

Looking for an awesome action animation movie? Your search ends here! One of Pixar Animation Studios’ finest creations, The Incredibles movies breathes new life into the superhero genre. Despite an incredible gap of 14 years that separates the first and second movies, the sequel stays true to the styles and themes set in the first movie and pretty much picks up from where the original film had ended. 

Both movies were written and directed by Brad Bird (who also lends his voice to the ultra chic character Edna Mode in the film), and released in 2004 and 2018 by Walt Disney Pictures. Globally, the films have grossed $633 million and 1.2 billion for the first and second parts, respectively. 

8. The Secret Life Of Pets – 1 & 2

Have you ever wondered what goes on in your pets’ minds when they give you that long, soul-penetrating stare, just minutes before you discover the gargantuan mess they made in your room while you were out? That and more mysteries are explored in this fast-paced animated movie series!

Produced by Illumination Entertainment and directed by Chris Renaud, these animated movies about animals won movie-goers hearts when they hit the theatres in 2016 and 2019. While the first film was the 6th highest-grossing film of 2016 with an overall collection of $875 million, the sequel made only approximately $434.4 million across the globe.

Both movies focus on the exploits of pet dogs Max (voiced by Louis C.K. in part 1 and Patton Oswalt in part 2) and Duke (voiced by Eric Stonestreet). For his extraordinary portrayal of the villainous bunny Snowball in The Secret Life Of Pets-1, actor Kevin Hart received the 2017 Kids’ Choice Award for the Favorite Villian category. The Secret Life Of Pets-2 saw the voice-acting debut of thespian Harrison Ford, who played the role of Rooster, a Welsh Sheepdog. 

9: Wreck-It Ralph – Ralph Breaks the Internet

The Wreck-It Ralph movie series is proof that sometimes you have to break things to fix them! The original animated film saw the character Wreck-It Ralph (voiced by John C. Reilly) break out of the stereotype of the evil villain of a video game to become the endearing hero of the story! In the sequel, Ralph Breaks the Internet, the story breaks out from the confines of the arcade and enters the wide world of the Internet.

Both of these animation movies by Disney are extremely family-friendly and filled with lovable characters like Vanellope von Schweetz (voiced by Sarah Silverman), Fix-It Felix Jr (voiced by Jack McBrayer), etc. Also, both movies feature familiar characters from other animated films. One of the most notable cameos in Ralph Breaks the Internet is that of Stan Lee.

Wreck-It Ralph won the Annie Award in 2013 for Best Animated Feature Film.

10. Planes – Planes: Fire & Rescue

Released in 2013 and 2014, Planes and its sequel Planes: Fire & Rescue, are family-friendly, fast-paced airborne adventures! A spin-off of Pixar’s Cars franchise, the Planes film series contains the right dose of humour for everyone, regardless of their age. And, there are plenty of life lessons that can be learned from these two animated films – Be it facing your fears or, sticking with your friends through tough times.

Both films have an impressive star cast that consists of names like Dane Cook, Stacy Keach, Teri Hatcher, Julie Bowen, Val Kilmer, John Cleese, Cedric the Entertainer, etc. Planes-1 also marks the debut of Indian actor Priyanka Chopra, who lends her voice to the role of Ishani. 

Well, these were our choices for the most memorable Top 10 Animated Movies With One Sequel.  Don’t forget to check out our earlier article that highlights ten awesome animated movies if you’re looking for more animated movies to watch over the weekend. Let us know in the comments if there were any movies that we may have missed!