There’s a certain stigma about it cartoonsand it’s the idea that they are intended for children only. Because the movie is animated, brightly colored, and often features children as the main characters, some adults decide that these movies aren’t for them. That is where they are seriously mistaken. An animated movie can have just as much power as a drama blockbuster with some A-list actors. It’s true that sometimes studios release animated movies with big movie stars voicing the cartoon characters to make easy money, but luckily that’s not always the case.
There are some absolutely amazing animated movies that could potentially change your life. That may sound dramatic or far-fetched, but going through something and having your situation portrayed in a different medium can really impact you. Primarily a coming-of-age animated film. It’s always fun to watch people make big life-changing decisions in real life, but there’s something very pure about animated movies. Let’s take a look at 10 coming-of-age animated films, ranked, of course.
10 Toy Story 3 (2010)
For a long time it was thought that the Toy Story franchise was over when the third installment was released. It was the perfect ending, with Andy giving up his beloved toy to Bonnie instead of going to college with it. Toy Story 3 is the perfect movie that reassures young viewers and even older ones that it’s okay to grow up and let go. It’s comforting to know that your childhood will be preserved with special memories, and that you’ll be fine when you take that next big step.
9 Mentally Gone (2003)
10-year-old Chihiro is adjusting to a new home and town when things take a bad turn. The family eventually discovers an abandoned amusement park and when her parents turn into pigs, it’s up to Chihiro to save them. Chihiro befriends No-Face, aka Kaonashi, and together they try to free her parents. Spiritually gone is essential when depicting animated films with coming-of-age aspects.
8 Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse (2018)
Miles Morales is such a great Spider-Man precisely because of how he became the web-slinging superhero. He’s just an ordinary young kid who goes to a school he’s not very fond of and has trouble connecting with his father. After becoming Spider-Man, Miles deals with some things that are traumatizing, such as witnessing his uncle’s death in front of him. Miles is in the Spider-Man persona and, with the help of his friends and the people who love him, is able to defeat the Kingpin.
7 Vaiana (2016)
Vaiana is a perfect take on a buddy comedy as she and Maui sail the seas in search of the heart of Te Fiti. Moana has everything you need or want in an animated movie. Singing, action, a good cry scene and of course Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson. After Moana’s grandmother dies, Moana makes it her mission to find herself and leave home for the first time. Grab tissues and get your imaginary microphone ready for this special film.
6 Lucas (2021)
Luke is one of those movies that instantly reminds you of summer. The beautiful images of Italy, the light colors, the food, the friendship; it just screams summer. When his parents forbid him to go ashore and explore the outside world, Luca does the reasonable thing and goes ashore anyway. From there, the friendship of a lifetime blossoms, not only with Luca and Alberto, but also with Guilia. It’s a great movie about growing up and becoming less afraid of new and exciting opportunities.
5 An Extremely Crazy Movie (2000)
After the first movie An extremely crazy movie is a perfect sequel to the original. It’s a coming-of-age story for both Max and Goofy, as the former goes off to college and the latter decides he wants to finish his studies at the same school. Max is worried because his father is known for being embarrassing, but he soon learns that his father has more to offer than meets the eye.
4 Turning Red (2022)
To blush got a lot backlash for talking about periods in a film “aimed” at children. But Mei-Mei is literally thirteen, and at that stage of her life where things are awkward and hormones are raging, and frankly, it was a very accurate description of what girls go through. To blush is a great coming-of-age story about a mother-daughter couple who finally take the time to get to know each other by the time the credits roll.
3 Big Hero 6 (2014)
Big hero 6 is a very special film when it comes to grieving and accepting a monumental loss. Young teen Hiro is a super smart boy with a passion for technology, something his brother Tadashi notices. Tadashi constantly pressures Hiro to be his best self, encouraging him to enroll in college early and make friends with people his level, but it only happens when a tragic event happens. As Hiro struggles with loss and grief, Tadashi’s creation, Baymax, helps him heal and grow as a person.
2 Kubo and the Two Strings (2016)
Kubo and the two strings is an extremely underrated animated film and also a great coming-of-age story. It’s action packed, the storytelling is beautiful and the animation is mesmerizing. Kubo is also a likeable and reliable main character as he takes us on this life-changing journey. Eventually, he finds himself and gets closure on what happened to his parents, making it a well-rounded movie.
1 Kiki’s Delivery Service (1989)
Kiki’s delivery service is such a comfort film when you need a pick-me-up and a cozy watch. Kiki is a 13-year-old who is also a witch in training and has to leave her family to become a real witch. She’s not all alone, because she has Jill, her talking cat. This movie is all about finding out who you really are and having faith in yourself while also being very mundane, which is great.