Netflix has been producing its own original animated films for the last couple of years, and several of them have become huge successes.
The latest original animation film from Netflix, The Sea Beast, has just recently released, and it is receiving rave reviews from fans and critics alike. The studio Netflix Animation might not have been around for very long, but it’s already produced some truly spectacular stories in its brief existence, many of which have received wide acclaim from the streaming public.
While each film has its own fans, some entries from the Netflix Animation catalog are certainly more widely beloved than others, as evidenced by their scores on Letterboxd.
The bluntly named America: The Motion Picture, directed by Matt Thompson and produced by Phil Lord and Christopher Miller, retells the story of the American Revolution, specifically George Washington and other Founding Fathers leading the young United States in the battle against the British, with a violent, beer-fueled overhaul.
The film’s crude and profane nature turned away some of its audience, and many found the film to be ultimately too lazy and offensive to achieve the satire it was going for, but there’s certainly a novelty in seeing the Revolution portrayed in this way.
Back to the Outback follows a group of Australia’s deadliest creatures, led by an inland taipan, who attempt to escape the confines of their zoo and return to the Australian Outback, where they believe they will not be judged for their “monstrous” qualities.
The film ultimately received mixed reviews from audiences, and the film’s animation style and cliché premise proved to be a bit of a let-down for some viewers. However, others enjoyed its positive and heartwarming message and the cast of bright characters.
Fans of Netflix’s The Willoughbys may be surprised to learn the movie is an adaptation of a children’s book. The film adapts Lois Lowry’s light novel of the same name, detailing the story of four children who attempt to replace their neglectful parents with gusto.
It features a terrific voice cast, among them Will Forte and Maya Rudolph, as well as Ricky Gervais, notably voicing the family’s talking cat who narrates the film. Viewers were dazzled by the film’s blend of ridiculous humor and sincere heart.
Over The Moon, an animated movie musical with gorgeous character designs, tells the story of a young girl who builds a rocket ship to reach the moon and meet its mythical goddess.
The film starred the voices of some of Hollywood’s most popular and talented stars, such as Philippa Soo and Sandra Oh, and was directed by Disney veteran Glen Keane. It was also the final film Hollywood screenwriter Audrey Wells worked on before her death, and the much-nominated film was dedicated in her memory.
Netflix would again try to enter the halls of the best-animated musicals with Arlo the Alligator Boy, a story about a young half-human and half-alligator boy leaving the swamp to find his father in New York City, being joined by unique and endearing characters along the way.
The film received acclaim for its animation and its positive messages and would even receive a sequel a few months later in the form of a television series, once again a musical, entitled I Heart Arlo. The movie is a must-watch for any kids or families that like to sing along with their TV.
The House weaves together three separate stop motion animation films set within the same mysterious house, each part told by a different talented director. Emma de Swaef, Marc James Roels, Niki Lindroth von Bahr, and Paloma Baeza unite to bring the darkly comedic tale to life.
The film’s unsettling atmosphere and mesmerizing animation are sure to leave viewers both dazzled and unnerved, and it very well could be the scariest stop motion animation movie to come out in years.
The most recent release from Netflix Animation, The Sea Beast marks the solo directorial debut of Chris Willaims, one of Disney’s most prolific animation filmmakers who has contributed to some of the company’s most acclaimed films since the 90s.
The Sea Beast features beautiful animation that wouldn’t be out of place in a Pixar film and tells of the adventure a young girl and a legendary sea monster hunter embark on when she stows away on his ship. The film is already receiving droves of positive reviews from Netflix users.
Celebrated director Richard Linklater’s return to the medium of animation after his films Waking Life and A Scanner Darkly, Apollo 10 1⁄2: A Space Age Childhood captures the magic of childhood through a fantastical journey involving a young boy voyaging to the moon on a space ship.
Much of the film was edited by Linklater himself during the COVID-19 pandemic, and rotoscoping-type techniques were used to animate over live-action scenes, giving the film its beautifully unique look.
Netflix Animation’s first-ever original film is still its most popular feature. Klaus acts as an original origin story for Santa, showcasing how a selfish postman and an intimating toymaker’s chance meeting would spawn the legend of Santa Claus and the holiday as we know it today.
Audiences and critics fawned over the film, and it would become the first ever animated film from a streaming service to be nominated for a Best Animated Feature Oscar. The film’s blend of humorous and heartfelt scenes, as well as stunning animation, has made it a seasonal favorite.
Although technically a miniseries, Maya and the Three still appears on Letterboxd due to being considered a story told in one installment like most movies (albeit a longer one that can be divided into episodes).
Regardless, the miniseries ranks higher in average rating than any feature film from Netflix Animation, and it’s easy to see why. Directed by Jorge R. Gutierrez, the man behind The Book of Life, Maya is a gorgeous and exciting adventure about a young girl on an epic quest to save humanity.
Jack Brink is a list writer for Screen Rant, specializing in films and television. Having developed a love for storytelling from a young age, he has spent countless hours of his life appreciating the craft wherever he can find it, knowing the layout of his local movie theater better than his own house. Though, his love of storytelling most definitely extends beyond the traditional confines of the screen. He is also an avid admirer of comic books, video games, and especially the world of professional wrestling. He pursued his passions of both film and creative writing at Towson University, and now looks to share his love of stories with the world at Screen Rant. He is currently writing his own screenplays and hopes for nothing more than to see one of his own stories on the big screen one day. To truly understand him, one must know that he believes Rocky II to be the single greatest love story in the history of American cinema.
