If you loved the colorful, musical adventure of DreamWorks’ hit movie Trolls, you’re in luck – there are plenty of other fantastic animated films out there with a similar vibe that will leave you grinning from ear to ear. These movies deliver heartwarming stories, lovable characters, catchy songs, and stunning animation that captivate kids and adults alike.
Get ready to go on uplifting journeys full of laughs, friendship, and important life lessons with this list of the 15 best feel-good animated movies like Trolls. Pop some popcorn, grab a cozy blanket, and prepare for your spirits to be lifted by these delightful films the whole family can enjoy together.
1. Sing (2016)
Sing is an energetic animated musical comedy that will have you dancing in your seat. In a world of anthropomorphic animals, an optimistic koala named Buster Moon hosts a singing competition to save his struggling theater. An incredible cast of voice talent including Matthew McConaughey, Reese Witherspoon, Seth MacFarlane, and Scarlett Johansson bring the colorful animal characters to life as they chase their dreams.
Much like Trolls, the soundtrack is full of popular hit songs that will get stuck in your head. The movie promotes positive themes like never giving up on your goals, accepting yourself, and the power of friendship and community. With adorable characters, silly humor, and some truly moving moments, Sing delivers an entertaining pick-me-up of a movie.
2. Moana (2016)
Take a tropical animated adventure with Disney’s Moana. On a Polynesian island, a teenage girl named Moana answers the call of the ocean to set sail and save her people. She teams up with arrogant demigod Maui to navigate monster-filled seas and return a mystical relic to the island goddess Te Fiti.
Moana is a fierce, intelligent, and compassionate heroine who learns to embrace her true self. The movie’s messages about bravery, kindness, responsibility and respect for nature will resonate with viewers of all ages. With a stellar soundtrack by Lin-Manuel Miranda and lush, beautifully-rendered animation capturing the wonder of the Pacific Islands, Moana is a joy to watch.
3. The Lorax (2012)
The Lorax is a whimsical cautionary tale based on the beloved Dr. Seuss book. In the walled city of Thneedville, a 12-year-old boy searches for a real tree to impress his crush. His quest leads him to the reclusive Once-ler, who tells the story of his encounter with the Lorax, the grumpy but charming guardian of the forest.
The movie features the voice talents of Danny DeVito, Zac Efron, and Taylor Swift. Much like Trolls, it has a colorful, quirky animation style and some seriously catchy musical numbers. But it also has an important environmental message about the dangers of greed and consumerism. The Lorax encourages young viewers to appreciate and protect nature. It’s a fun, meaningful film for the whole family.
4. Trolls World Tour (2020)
If you can’t get enough of the adorable trolls, check out the sequel Trolls World Tour. Poppy and Branch discover there are six different troll tribes scattered over six lands, each devoted to a specific kind of music: Funk, Country, Techno, Classical, Pop and Rock. When the Queen of the Hard Rock Trolls tries to take over all the music, Poppy and Branch set out to unite the trolls in harmony against her.
The movie expands the vibrant, glittery world of the trolls with creative new characters and settings. Like the first film, it has an all-star voice cast and an upbeat soundtrack with original songs in various genres. Trolls World Tour promotes diversity and togetherness with its “let your true colors shine” message. It’s a worthy, entertaining sequel that will make fans of the first movie very happy.
5. Horton Hears a Who! (2008)
Blue Sky Studios brings Dr. Seuss’ classic book to life in Horton Hears a Who!. Horton the kindhearted elephant hears a cry for help coming from a tiny speck of dust and discovers the microscopic city of Whoville. He pledges to protect the Whos, despite being mocked by the other jungle animals who refuse to believe an entire city could exist on a speck.
Jim Carrey and Steve Carell lead the voice cast, bringing plenty of humor to their roles. The movie’s themes of staying true to your convictions and the importance of every voice, no matter how small, are inspiring for all ages. With imaginative animation that captures the iconic Seuss style and a sweet friendship at its center, Horton Hears a Who! is guaranteed to make you smile.
6. Frozen (2013) & Frozen II (2019)
The phenomenon of Disney’s Frozen can’t be overstated. This musical fantasy adventure focuses on the bond between two princess sisters, Elsa and Anna. When Elsa’s icy magical powers put the kingdom in eternal winter, Anna must help her sister reverse the spell. The sequel Frozen II expands the mythology as Elsa journeys to an enchanted forest to uncover the source of her powers.
Both movies feature Broadway-worthy musical numbers like the inescapable “Let It Go,” silly sidekicks like Olaf the snowman, and stunning snowy animation. But the heart of the story is about sisterhood, empowerment, and being true to yourself. Frozen proves that “true love” comes in many forms. These movies are the definition of heartwarming family fun.
7. The Secret Life of Pets (2016)
The Secret Life of Pets answers the question: what do our pets do when we leave for the day? Terrier Max is enjoying life with his owner Katie until she brings home a huge, sloppy mongrel named Duke. When they get lost in New York City, they must put their quarrels aside and work together to find their way home. Meanwhile, Max’s friends from the building embark on a mission to rescue them.
With a voice cast including Louis C.K., Kevin Hart, and Jenny Slate, the movie is consistently hilarious as it explores the world from a pet’s eye view. The animation beautifully brings to life a stylized NYC. Though it’s mostly an entertaining animal adventure, it does have some sweet things to say about friendship and family. Pet lovers of all ages will get a kick out of this funny, fast-paced film.
8. Storks (2016)
Storks puts a silly spin on the age-old question of where babies come from. In this world, storks used to deliver babies, but now they deliver packages for an Amazon-like company. When workaholic stork Junior accidentally creates a new baby, he teams up with the company’s only human employee to rush and deliver it before the big boss finds out.
This wacky premise allows for plenty of slapstick humor and goofy characters, while also telling a heartfelt story about family and belonging. The voice cast is full of comedic talent like Andy Samberg, Kelsey Grammer, Keegan-Michael Key and Jordan Peele. With its fast pace, clever jokes and ultimately touching message, Storks is a bundle of joy.
9. Despicable Me (2010)
Despicable Me proves that even a supervillain can have a soft side. Gru is an evil mastermind who wants to steal the moon. To enact his plan, he adopts three orphan girls as pawns. But the girls see a potential father figure in Gru, and their love begins to chip away at his wicked exterior.
Steve Carell voices the hilariously grumpy Gru and the movie’s real scene-stealers are his Minions, the gibberish-speaking yellow henchmen. Despicable Me is silly and action-packed, but also surprisingly heartwarming in its story of an unlikely found family. With two equally delightful sequels, these movies are full of laughs and “aww” moments.
10. The Angry Birds Movie (2016)
Based on the popular mobile game, The Angry Birds Movie tells the origin story of how the birds and pigs became enemies. On an island of flightless birds, short-tempered outcast Red is sentenced to anger management therapy. When mysterious green pigs arrive on the island, Red must rally his fellow angry birds to investigate the swines’ suspicious motives.
The movie has fun translating the game’s mechanics into the plot, and features the voice talents of Jason Sudeikis, Josh Gad, Maya Rudolph and Peter Dinklage. With vibrant animation, goofy slapstick, and rapid-fire jokes, it’s a good time for both fans of the game and newcomers. It also sneaks in some nice messages about accepting your flaws and the importance of community.
11. Zootopia (2016)
Zootopia is a witty buddy cop comedy set in an anthropomorphic animal city. Judy Hopps is the first bunny on the police force, determined to prove herself. She gets her chance when she teams up with sly fox Nick Wilde to crack a missing mammals case. Their investigation leads them to uncover a conspiracy that threatens the whole city.
The movie creates an incredibly detailed and clever world, with animal-specific neighborhoods like Tundratown and Little Rodentia. But it’s also a thoughtful allegory for prejudice and stereotyping. Judy and Nick’s friendship develops in sweet and funny ways as they learn to look past each other’s species. With exciting action, mystery, and timely themes, Zootopia is a smart, entertaining adventure.
12. The Lego Movie (2014)
The Lego Movie is a wildly creative and hilarious adventure set in a world made entirely of Lego bricks. Everyman minifigure Emmet is mistaken for the prophesied “Special” and recruited to stop the evil Lord Business from gluing the universe together. He teams up with a colorful cast of characters, including Wyldstyle, Batman, and Princess Unikitty on a quest to save the world.
The movie is endlessly inventive in its use of Legos, with rapid-fire jokes and pop culture references for both kids and adults. An all-star voice cast including Chris Pratt, Will Ferrell, Elizabeth Banks, and Morgan Freeman bring the characters to life. But it’s also a surprisingly profound story about creativity and staying true to yourself. The Lego Movie celebrates imagination in a way that will inspire the whole family.
13. Turning Red (2022)
Pixar’s Turning Red is a unique coming-of-age story that uses the red panda as a metaphor for puberty. 13-year-old Mei Lee is torn between being her mother’s obedient daughter and the chaos of adolescence. When she gets too excited or stressed, she “poofs” into a giant red panda. She must learn to control her transformations while navigating friends, crushes, and her relationship with her protective mother.
The movie is set in 2002 Toronto and features Pixar’s first Asian lead character. It’s a culturally specific and honest look at the messiness of growing up, with plenty of humor and heart. The animation beautifully captures Mei’s inner emotional life. Turning Red is a funny, moving, and refreshingly bold film about embracing change and all the sides of yourself.
14. Inside Out (2015)
Speaking of Pixar, Inside Out is one of their most conceptually ambitious and emotionally resonant films. It takes place mostly inside the mind of 11-year-old Riley, where her personified emotions – Joy, Sadness, Anger, Fear, and Disgust – guide her through life. When Riley’s family moves to a new city, her emotions get thrown into chaos as she struggles to adjust.
The movie’s depiction of the inner workings of the mind is endlessly clever and imaginative. Each emotion is perfectly cast, with Amy Poehler’s Joy and Phyllis Smith’s Sadness as the standouts. Inside Out movingly shows the importance of embracing all your feelings, even the difficult ones. It’s a remarkably insightful, creative, and poignant film that will hit home for viewers of all ages.
15. Coco (2017)
Pixar does it again with Coco, a gorgeous, heartstring-tugging musical adventure. Miguel is a 12-year-old boy in Mexico who dreams of being a musician, despite his family’s generations-old ban on music. On Día de los Muertos, he accidentally enters the Land of the Dead, where he must get his great-great-grandfather’s blessing to return to the living world and reverse the music ban.
The animation is stunning, bringing the Land of the Dead to glorious, colorful life. The story is full of humor, exciting twists and turns, and tear-jerking moments. But it’s also a meaningful celebration of family, culture, music, and remembering loved ones. Coco is a beautiful, emotional masterpiece that will resonate deeply with audiences.
These 15 movies all share the spirit of joy, friendship, and following your heart that made Trolls such a delight. Whether you’re looking for more musical numbers, lovable characters, or meaningful messages, you’re sure to find a new favorite on this list.
So next time you need a burst of happiness, warmth, and color in your life, queue up one of these wonderful animated films and let them lift your spirits. These movies prove that animation has the power to tell stories that make us laugh, cry, and feel inspired – no matter how old we are. Get ready to smile, sing, and feel all the feels with these gems.
