Recommended Childhood Animation Worth Watching Again
TL;DR
Childhood animations are emotional time capsules that shape how we understand storytelling, creativity, and comfort.
The emotional memory: The storytelling, music, and visuals created strong impressions.
Admired across generations: From hand-drawn classics to modern CGI and stop-motion, they carry a shared sense of imagination.
They still influence creators today: The way these stories use emotion, timing, and character design continues to shape how new animations are crafted and appreciated.
Many people have something that brings them back to their childhood, from places, music, or food. For others, that nostalgic spark is animation movies. Growing up, what once felt like simple entertainment unconsciously shaped how we first learned to see stories, emotions, and meaning in the world.
What makes these animation movies worth revisiting goes beyond nostalgia. The distinct art styles, characters that felt real enough to grow up alongside, and stories that tackled loss, friendship, and belonging — all in ways that still stick.
Let us take you back on this journey through this article.
Table of Contents
Top 5 Animated Shows that Shaped Childhoods
From the late 1990s to the 2010s, here are 8 childhood cartoons and classic animated movies for you to revisit. Whether it is the subtle references you missed as a child or simply the care in the production itself, there is plenty to love here.
1. The Iron Giant
Release date: August 6th, 1999
Genre: Science Fiction
Animation method: Traditional, CGI
Country of Origin: US
Director: Brad Bird
Rated: PG
The Iron Giant features skilful storytelling and the charm of traditional animation. Loosely based on Ted Hughes's 1968 novel The Iron Man, the film was initially conceived as a musical, inspired by Pete Townshend's 1989 rock opera adaptation of the same story. The story follows Hogarth Hughes, a young boy who stumbles across a giant robotic alien and befriends it. Set against the backdrop of the Cold War, he and beatnik artist Dean McCoppin work together to keep the Iron Giant safe from the U.S. government.
While it failed to recoup its reported budget at the box office, it went on to become a staple in the animation industry. The film took nine Annie Awards, including Best Picture, and earned recognition from the Los Angeles Film Critics Association for the 1999 Best Animation Award. The sleeper hit has been crowned the best animated movie by many, living in other pieces of media beyond its early days of release.
2. Spirited Away
Release date: July 20th, 2001 (Japan | September 20th, 2002 (US)
Genre: Fantasy
Animation method: Traditional Animation
Country of Origin: Japan
Director: Hayao Miyazaki
Rated: PG
Studio Ghibli is the home to many critically acclaimed animated movies, including Spirited Away. It follows Chihiro and her parents, who find themselves in a world governed by gods and spirits. When her parents devour the food from an abandoned stall, they are transformed into pigs as punishment. Chihiro spends her days in a bathhouse for the dead and the divine, determined to work off her parents’ debt and find a way home.
The Oscar award-winning film played a significant part in the childhoods of many, from its breathtaking soundtrack by Joe Hisaishi to its careful, hand-drawn artistry. Its success transcended language and the assumption that animation is a medium for children alone. Rewatch, or watch, Spirited Away if you are looking to rekindle your sense of childlike wonder.
3. Natsume's Book of Friends
Release date: July 8th, 2008
Genre: Fantasy, Slice of Life
Animation method: 2D Animation
Country of Origin: Japan
Director: Takahiro Omori
Rated: PG-13
Natsume's Book of Friends is a show where questions of belonging and compassion are explored with both humour and heart. It centres around Takashi Natsume, a psychic who inherits a book containing the names of spirits. He works to free those spirits and ward off malicious ones, all while navigating a life that has never quite felt like his own.
Rendered in a soft, watercolour-like art style, the series uses pastel tones, gentle lighting, and delicate textures to create a serene and quietly nostalgic mood. The influence of Japanese folklore and traditional culture is visible in every frame, from the clothing to the yokai themselves. Regarded as a comfort show by many, its consistent popularity has earned it six seasons, so there is plenty to revisit.
4. Coraline
Coraline (2009) Official Trailer - Dakota Fanning, Teri Hatcher Movie HD
Release date: February 6th, 2009
Genre: Horror, Fantasy, Drama
Animation method: Stop-motion
Country of Origin: US
Director: Henry Selick
Rated: PG
In the unsettling world of Coraline, the titular character journeys between two realities. The one she has always known and the one tucked behind a small door called 'The Other World'. The latter resembles her own closely, except that everyone there has buttons for eyes.
This 2009 stop-motion dark fantasy served as the introductory horror experience for countless children around the world. It took over four years to complete due to the painstaking nature of miniature-making and stop-motion filmmaking — and the effort shows. It has been deemed a fantasy drama by many, but if you have not watched Coraline yet, watch it and come to your own conclusion.
5. Adventure Time
Release date: April 5th, 2010
Genre: Science Fiction, Fantasy, Adventure, Comedy, Surreal
Animation method: Traditional Animation
Country of Origin: US
Director: Larry Leichliter
Rated: PG
Though the most recent animation on this list, Adventure Time is a series that teens and adults hold just as dearly as anything that came before it. Set in the post-apocalyptic land of Ooo, it follows Finn the Human and Jake the Dog through a surreal blend of science fiction, fantasy, and comedy that aired from 2010 to 2018.
The hand-drawn series earned widespread praise for its worldbuilding, storytelling, and original music. Its success spawned merchandise, video games, and spin-offs, but nothing quite matches the nostalgia of the original series. Adventure Time is widely regarded as one that has yet to be matched. Whatever draws you to it, either the comedy, the characters, or the world itself, there is something here for everyone.
Bonus: 3 Animated Shows that Shaped Childhoods
Chicken Run
Release date: 23 June 2000
Genre: Adventure, Comedy, Family
Animation method: Plasticine Stop-Motion (specifically Claymation)
Country of Origin: British-American (co-produced with Dreamworks Animation)
Director: Peter Lord and Nick Park
Rated: G
This fun-filled claymation movie follows a group of chickens determined to escape their coop, despite being unable to fly. When Rocky arrives, he claims he can teach them to do just that, giving Ginger and the other hens a chance of freedom before the farmers turn them into chicken pies.
Made by the creators of Wallace & Gromit, Chicken Run remains a blockbuster stop-motion animation film that has garnered $225 million to $228 million, making it the highest-grossing stop-motion animated film in history. Its exclusion from the Best Picture race at the Oscars paved the way for the Best Animated Feature category, and it went on to win the award at the Annie Awards, the BAFTA Awards, and several other ceremonies. Cherished for its charm, humour, and stop-motion artistry, it remains one of the beloved animated films ever made.
Ratatouille
Release date: June 29, 2007
Genre: Comedy, Family, Adventure
Animation method: Computer-generated imagery (CGI)
Country of Origin: United States
Director: Brad Bird
Rated: G
Ratatouille is a film that has stood the test of time. With every element from its characters to its storyline executed with remarkable care. At its heart, the film follows Remy, a rat who dreams of becoming a chef. Through Linguini, Colette, and the formidable Anton Ego, the story weaves in themes of ambition, belonging, and what it means to be seen.
Visually impressive for its era, Ratatouille pushed what CGI could achieve. Pixar's animators took cooking classes and prepared dishes themselves, learning to translate the movement of cooking into lifelike visuals from bubbling sauces to the way vegetables settle onto a plate. A film that rewards every rewatch, it is the kind of story that stays with you long after the credits roll.
Brother Bear
Release date: November 1, 2003
Genre: Adventure, Comedy, Family
Animation method: Traditional (hand-drawn) animation
Country of Origin: United States
Director: Aaron Blaise and Robert Walker
Rated: G
One of the most underrated Disney films of all time, Brother Bear carries sentimental and emotional weight. This film brings about themes of brotherhood, belonging and empathy in a way that stays with you. The film follows Kenai, a young man who kills a bear out of anger and vengeance. As a consequence, Sitka's spirit, acting through the Great Spirits, transforms him into a bear.
Backed by a Phil Collins soundtrack and a visual shift to a wider frame once Kenai becomes a bear, the film has more going on beneath the surface than it gets credit for. While trying to reverse the transformation, he bonds with Koda, a talkative bear cub searching for his mother. If you have watched it, chances are you have teared up at least once. If you haven't, it's time.
What Animators Can Learn from These Timeless Films
Great animation is about making the audience feel something. The most enduring animated films succeed because they root every technical decision in emotion, and that is perhaps the most valuable lesson any aspiring animator can take away.
Lead with Emotion, Not Action. The greatest animated performances are built on internalised feeling first. Before a character moves, the audience should already sense what they are about to do. This is achieved through subtle changes in posture, weight, and stillness; a drooping silhouette can communicate defeat far more powerfully than dialogue ever could.
The Power of Silhouette and Timing. Animators are trained to ensure that a character’s intent reads clearly in silhouette alone. If the pose is ambiguous in black and white, it will be lost on screen. Timing, too, is everything — a beat held just a moment longer than expected can carry a scene from amusing to moving.
Empathy Through Vulnerability. The most memorable animated characters are not the strongest or the most capable. They are the ones that are honestly flawed. It allows characters to be visibly uncertain, afraid, or overwhelmed and invites the audience to see themselves on screen. That connection is what transforms a good film into an unforgettable one.
Exaggeration as a Tool. Animation has the unique ability to stretch reality just enough to make emotions bigger and clearer. A jaw that drops a beat too long or eyes that widen just past what is natural signals feelings to the audience instantly.
These are not just filmmaking techniques. They are tools for honest human expression, and mastering them is what separates competent animation from great storytelling.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What are the streaming platforms for classic childhood animation shows?
There are several streaming platforms to watch nostalgic animations from different eras and genres. You can watch on:
Netflix: classic, modern reboot, original production
Disney+: extensive collection of Disney classics, Pixar movies, Disney Channel animated series
Crunchyroll: library of timeless family-friendly titles and popular anime
HBO Max: diverse catalogue of Cartoon Network shows and other well-known series.
It’s worth checking that the titles’ availability may vary by country.
Why do we feel so attached to animated films we watched as children?
Animated films experienced during childhood are tied to some of our earliest emotional memories. The combination of vivid visuals, music, and storytelling creates strong impressions that stay with us into adulthood.
What is the difference between old and new animation films?
Old animated films were built on hand-drawn artistry and practical creativity, where the constraints of the technology often led to inventive storytelling and distinctive visual styles. In contrast, modern animated films leverage advances in CGI to present more detailed environments and expansive world-building. While classic films carried a certain handcrafted warmth, today’s animation pushes boundaries by delivering breathtaking visuals and stories that resonate with today’s generations.
Author Bio
The TESSR Editorial Team is a collective of creatives and project management practitioners who enjoy sharing real-life experience on project management, creative workflows, and well-being in the creative industries. The team wants to help creative leaders, project managers, and individuals in animation, design, and creative studios understand the benefits of project management. So, creatives can all create with more freedom and, together, build a more sustainable creative culture.
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