10 Best Animated Movies Like Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse

If Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse left you wanting more animation that takes visual risks and gives its heroes a personal story, there are excellent films to try next. The movie’s impact comes from more than its multiverse premise. It shifts comic-book styles across the screen, builds an emotional arc around Miles Morales and treats a familiar superhero identity as something a new generation can make its own. The best animated movies like Spider-Verse share some of those pleasures: vivid art, energetic action, humour and characters who are still working out who they want to be.

Your ranking is preserved, with The Sea Beast at number ten and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem at number one. We compare each title by its visual style, story momentum, character growth, ensemble chemistry and the way animation helps express the movie’s ideas. Some are superhero comedies, others are fantasy adventures or family stories. “Like Spider-Verse” here does not mean they look exactly alike. It means there is a useful connection in their visual invention, emotional focus or willingness to play with genre.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem brings sketchbook energy to a family of young heroes who want to be accepted. Puss in Boots: The Last Wish uses a more painterly look to tell a story about fear, risk and a hero running out of chances. The Mitchells vs. the Machines fills a family road trip with doodles, internet jokes and robot action, while Nimona uses an expressive fantasy world to explore labels and loyalty. Other picks make familiar forms feel fresh: Kubo and the Two Strings combines myth with stop-motion craft, and Raya and the Last Dragon builds an action quest around trust.

This list is aimed at viewers who enjoyed the first Spider-Verse film’s blend of spectacle and character. If you mainly want comic-book action, start near the top; if you are after unusual animation or a big-hearted family story, the lower picks still have plenty to offer. Each entry begins with the actual premise so you can tell what you would be watching before we get into the recommendation. Then we explain why it sits at its place in the countdown, including where its strengths and limits compare with titles above and below.

Viewing availability changes by country and date. Each JustWatch UK link is a current starting point for checking subscription, rental and digital purchase options, but catalogues can move. The ranking also avoids treating any one animation style as the only valid one: Spider-Verse’s comic-book textures, Mutant Mayhem’s loose drawing and Kubo’s stop-motion images are different choices serving different stories. If that sounds like the kind of watchlist you need, these ten films are ready for your next animated movie night. Let’s get into it 👇

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10. The Sea Beast

In a world where sailors hunt sea monsters, young Maisie Brumble stows away aboard the ship of legendary hunter Jacob Holland. She wants to join the dangerous work and is fascinated by the stories people tell about the creatures. Jacob has built his identity around the hunt, but their voyage forces both of them to question what they have been taught about monsters and the kingdom that sends the ships. Their journey across the ocean becomes a test of courage, trust and whether an old story should be accepted without question.

The film gives its ocean a sense of scale that makes every creature encounter feel different. Karl Urban voices Jacob with a gruff confidence that slowly gives way to doubt, while Zaris-Angel Hator makes Maisie’s curiosity feel active and determined. The story shares Spider-Verse’s interest in looking beyond an accepted version of heroism, though its animation is smoother and its tone more traditional. Some of the plot follows familiar adventure beats, but the human and monster designs bring warmth and variety to the voyage. Its questions about myth give the creature chase substance.

At #10, it is a handsome fantasy adventure with a thoughtful idea about inherited stories. It begins the countdown because its visual approach is less formally daring than the films above, but Maisie and Jacob’s shifting relationship makes it a strong family recommendation.

Who should watch: For families who enjoy sea adventures, unusual creatures and a story about questioning old beliefs.

Where to watch: Check JustWatch UK for current options.

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9. Kubo and the Two Strings

Kubo is a young storyteller who lives in a coastal village with his sick mother. He uses a magical shamisen to animate origami figures and tell stories to the people who gather in the town square. His routine changes when a spirit from his family’s past threatens him, forcing Kubo to travel in search of a legendary suit of armour. Monkey and Beetle accompany him, and the quest becomes a search for protection, family history and a way to understand the stories he has inherited.

Laika’s stop-motion animation gives the paper characters, fabric and landscapes a tactile presence that distinguishes the film from computer-animated action comedies. Art Parkinson brings Kubo a thoughtful curiosity, while Charlize Theron and Matthew McConaughey give his companions sharply different personalities. The story explores memory and loss with more mythic seriousness than Spider-Verse, and some of its frightening images may be intense for younger viewers. Its hand-crafted world is its greatest strength; a few story elements are left more symbolic than explained. The visuals and the way storytelling shapes Kubo’s identity make it a rewarding watch.

At #9, it is the most handcrafted film on the list, with impressive visual detail and an affecting family theme. It sits below Raya because its more solemn tone and symbolic plot are less immediately accessible, while its emotional and artistic ambition keeps it above the final entry.

Who should watch: For viewers who like stop-motion fantasy, folktale quests and stories about memory and family.

Where to watch: Check JustWatch UK for current options.

8. Raya and the Last Dragon

Raya is a young warrior in Kumandra, a land divided into regions after a force called the Druun turned people to stone. She travels to find Sisu, the last dragon, hoping the dragon’s magic can help bring the divided lands together again. Namaari, a warrior from another region, has a complicated history with Raya and may either help or obstruct her. Raya gathers companions on the journey, but the larger challenge is whether she can trust people after betrayal has taught her to be cautious.

Kelly Marie Tran gives Raya a determined voice that carries both courage and suspicion. The film’s action moves through distinct landscapes, while Awkwafina’s Sisu brings a comic looseness that contrasts with Raya’s guarded approach. Its theme about trust is clear and closely tied to the quest, though the pace can make the large cast and world geography move quickly. The animation offers expressive action and detailed locations, making the fantasy setting easy to distinguish. It shares Spider-Verse’s interest in a young hero defining how to use inherited power, even though it has a more classical adventure structure.

At #8, it is a lively fantasy quest whose central relationship between trust and fear gives the action a meaningful through-line. It ranks below The Lego Movie because the next film is more structurally playful, but Raya’s heroine and world-building make it a strong animated pick.

Who should watch: For viewers who want martial-arts-inspired action, dragons and a heroine learning to trust again.

Where to watch: Check JustWatch UK for current options.

7. The Lego Movie

Emmet Brickowski is a construction worker who follows the instructions in his Lego city and believes he is simply one person among many. When he is mistaken for the Special, he joins Wyldstyle, Vitruvius and Batman on a quest to stop Lord Business from freezing the world in place. Emmet has no obvious master-building skill, but the team needs him to help them move through different Lego worlds and challenge a plan that threatens imagination itself. It discovers his own way to help.

The film makes its toy bricks central to its story grammar: settings can be rebuilt, visual jokes appear in the background, and the heroes’ improvisation matters as much as their strength. Chris Pratt voices Emmet with earnest optimism, while Elizabeth Banks, Will Arnett and Morgan Freeman give the ensemble clear comic roles. The movie has the meta humour and colourful energy that Spider-Verse fans may enjoy, but its visual style is intentionally built around plastic toys rather than changing comic-book techniques. Some jokes move at full speed; the character arc keeps the story coherent.

At #7, it is the closest match in self-aware humour and inventive world-building. It ranks below Big Hero 6 because the team’s emotional relationships in that film carry more dramatic weight, while The Lego Movie remains one of animation’s smartest comedies.

Who should watch: For viewers who like visual gags, toy-based worlds and stories about discovering what an ordinary hero can do.

Where to watch: Check JustWatch UK for current options.

6. Big Hero 6

Hiro Hamada is a teenage robotics prodigy living in the futuristic city of San Fransokyo with his older brother, Tadashi. Tadashi introduces Hiro to the robotics programme at his university and to Baymax, a gentle healthcare robot he has built. When a crisis disrupts Hiro’s plans, he works with Baymax and Tadashi’s friends to investigate a masked figure and protect the city. Hiro must use his engineering skills while learning how to accept help from a team. They learn to work together under pressure.

The movie combines superhero action with the gentleness of Baymax, whose medical programming creates many of its best comic scenes. Ryan Potter voices Hiro with a convincing mix of brilliance and teenage uncertainty, and Scott Adsit gives Baymax a soft, patient rhythm. San Fransokyo’s fusion of visual influences gives the film a strong setting, while the team’s different skills make group action easy to follow. The story’s emotional starting point is powerful, though its villain reveal is more conventional than its early character work. Spider-Verse fans may appreciate another young hero whose identity grows through family, friendship and creative problem-solving.

At #6, it is a warm and exciting team adventure with a memorable central relationship. It ranks below The Bad Guys because the next film’s ensemble comedy is more consistently playful, but Big Hero 6 has stronger emotional stakes and a more appealing hero journey.

Who should watch: For families who enjoy superhero teams, robotics and a funny, compassionate sidekick.

Where to watch: Check JustWatch UK for current options.

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5. The Bad Guys

Mr Wolf leads a crew of animal thieves who pull off high-profile robberies while the public assumes they cannot be trusted. His team includes Mr Snake, Mr Shark, Ms Tarantula and Mr Piranha, each with a specialist role in their capers. When they are caught, Professor Marmalade proposes an experiment in reform, giving Wolf a chance to appear to change in public. He begins to discover that doing something generous may feel different from playing the villain, while the group faces pressure to stick to its old reputation.

The film’s animation uses smooth movement and comic-book framing to give its heist scenes a stylish bounce. Sam Rockwell voices Wolf with a slick charm that makes his change of heart plausible, while Marc Maron’s Snake adds dry humour and skepticism. The crew dynamic is the main pleasure, and the question of whether people can move past a label gives its action a simple emotional spine. The performances and visual rhythm keep the movie light on its feet. It shares Spider-Verse’s willingness to experiment with graphic styles and character movement, though its central idea is more conventional.

At #5, it is an enjoyable, kinetic team comedy with a strong visual personality. It sits below Nimona because the latter takes bigger risks with identity and genre, but beats Big Hero 6 for its tighter comic pacing and ensemble caper energy.

Who should watch: For viewers who like animated heists, stylish action and funny crews trying to change.

Where to watch: Check JustWatch UK for current options.

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4. Nimona

Ballister Boldheart is a knight in a futuristic kingdom who is framed for a crime he did not commit. While he tries to prove his innocence, Nimona, a shape-shifting teenager, offers to help him. She can change into different animals and has little patience for the kingdom’s rules. Ballister is wary of her chaotic methods, and Nimona is suspicious of the institution that has labelled her a monster. Their partnership turns the story into a fight over who gets to define a hero, a villain and a person’s identity.

Chloë Grace Moretz gives Nimona an irreverent energy that makes her humour feel like a defence as well as a personality trait. Riz Ahmed plays Ballister with enough restraint to make their mismatched friendship believable. The animation combines sharp shapes, neon colour and medieval imagery with a technology-driven city, giving the film a look that resists a single genre label. Its story directly explores prejudice and chosen connection, and the emotional idea is stronger than some of the plot mechanics. Design and movement reveal character before dialogue.

At #4, it is the most thematically daring pick in the middle of the list, with a distinctive visual identity and a rewarding central friendship. It ranks below The Mitchells because the family comedy is more consistently funny, but its ideas and character work put it ahead of the lower entries.

Who should watch: For viewers who want expressive animation, fantasy action and a story about labels and belonging.

Where to watch: Check JustWatch UK for current options.

3. The Mitchells vs. the Machines

Katie Mitchell is an aspiring filmmaker about to leave home for college, while her father Rick worries that they no longer understand each other. Their road trip to drop Katie at school is interrupted when robots connected to a technology company revolt against human control. Katie, Rick, Linda, Aaron and their dog Monchi have to work together to cross the country and stop the machines. The crisis pushes Katie and Rick to face the distance between them instead of staying inside their familiar arguments.

The film’s animated language is busy, handmade and full of digital doodles that make Katie’s point of view visible. Its robot gags and family jokes move quickly, but the relationship between Katie and Rick gives the action an emotional centre. Abbi Jacobson and Danny McBride play their conflict with warmth, while Maya Rudolph and the rest of the family keep the ensemble lively. The fast visual energy reflects a family learning to accept how each person sees the world. Spider-Verse fans may enjoy another movie where style is not just decoration but a storytelling tool.

At #3, it is an excellent recommendation for the combination of unusual animation, comedy and a heartfelt character arc. It ranks below Puss in Boots because the next film takes a bolder formal leap, while The Mitchells remains a close match for Spider-Verse’s energy and emotional accessibility.

Who should watch: For viewers who like stylised animation, family comedy, road trips and heartfelt action.

Where to watch: Check JustWatch UK for current options.

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2. Puss in Boots: The Last Wish

Puss in Boots discovers that his fearless adventures have used eight of his nine lives, leaving him with one remaining. He travels to the Black Forest in search of the Wishing Star, which may grant his wish to get those lives back. Kitty Softpaws joins him, and the anxious dog Perrito becomes an unexpected companion. Other seekers, including Goldilocks and the Three Bears, want the Star too, while a menacing wolf follows Puss. The journey forces the daring cat to consider whether every risk is worth taking.

The film’s painterly animation breaks from the polished look of many studio sequels and makes the action feel drawn by hand. Antonio Banderas keeps Puss charming while letting fear interrupt his bravado, and the supporting characters have distinct comic rhythms. Its story takes mortality seriously without becoming gloomy, giving the adventure an emotional idea that builds naturally from the hero’s past. Some scenes are intense for younger viewers, and the tone can shift from slapstick to real menace. Spider-Verse viewers may respond to the animation’s willingness to change styles to fit the feeling of a scene.

At #2, it is the boldest visual achievement on this list and the film with the strongest sense of personal stakes. It narrowly loses to Mutant Mayhem because that film’s teen ensemble and coming-of-age energy are a closer match for Miles’s story.

Who should watch: For viewers who want expressive action animation, fairy-tale characters and a more reflective hero’s journey.

Where to watch: Check JustWatch UK for current options.

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1. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem

The turtle brothers Michelangelo, Donatello, Leonardo and Raphael have grown up hidden from humans by their father, Splinter. They want to attend school and be accepted as teenagers, but Splinter fears that people will hurt them. The brothers meet reporter April O’Neil and become involved in a plan led by the mutant Superfly. Their effort to help New York gives them a chance to be seen as heroes, but they also have to decide what it means to belong in a city that may not welcome them.

The movie’s sketchbook-inspired animation makes New York feel scrawled, loud and full of personality. The young voice cast gives the turtle brothers the sound of actual friends: their jokes overlap, their interests differ and their sibling bonds are affectionate without being perfect. April brings a grounded presence, while Splinter’s protectiveness creates family conflict. The style and teen point of view make the action feel fresh, and the story’s wish for acceptance connects directly with the coming-of-age energy that powers Into the Spider-Verse. Its visual identity remains strong.

At #1, it is the best Spider-Verse follow-up because it combines a striking animated style with young heroes shaping their own identity. Puss in Boots is more formally polished, but Mutant Mayhem’s sibling chemistry, teen perspective and graphic energy make it the closest full-package match for Miles’s story.

Who should watch: For viewers who want comic-book action, teen humour, family dynamics and loose, energetic animation.

Where to watch: Check JustWatch UK for current options.

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Conclusion

The films here connect through movement, invention and young characters facing a world that seems to have decided who they are. Raya questions old divisions, Kubo learns how to carry family stories, Nimona pushes back against the labels imposed on her, and Katie Mitchell tries to be understood by the people she loves. The superhero and fantasy settings make those struggles visible, but the characters keep the action personal.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem takes the top position because its expressive animation, teen humour and sibling relationships align most closely with what makes Into the Spider-Verse feel alive. Puss in Boots: The Last Wish is the best choice for viewers seeking a visually daring adventure with a serious emotional idea. The Mitchells vs. the Machines is the warm family pick, while Nimona offers a more direct story about identity and belonging. Each film approaches the connection from a different angle.

You can build a double feature around the kind of animation you want to see: comic-book energy with Mutant Mayhem, painterly action with Puss in Boots, stop-motion craft with Kubo or doodle-filled chaos with The Mitchells. Spider-Verse has its own unmistakable style, but these recommendations show how many animated films can make their visuals part of the storytelling. Tell us which one you would watch next, and what animated movie you think belongs on the list.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What animated movie is most like Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse?

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem is the closest match on this list for its young heroes, comic-book energy and expressive animation. Puss in Boots: The Last Wish is another strong option if you are looking for visual experimentation and an emotional hero’s journey.

Is Puss in Boots: The Last Wish similar to Spider-Verse?

Yes, especially in its willingness to use a distinctive animated style to express a character’s inner life. It has a more fairy-tale setting and a more reflective tone, but both films pair inventive action with personal stakes.

What is Nimona about?

Nimona follows knight Ballister Boldheart after he is framed for a crime. A shape-shifting teenager offers to help him prove his innocence, and their partnership challenges the kingdom’s ideas about heroes and monsters.

Is The Mitchells vs. the Machines like Spider-Verse?

Both use animated style to bring a character’s point of view into the visuals. The Mitchells is a family road-trip comedy about Katie, her father Rick and a robot uprising, while Spider-Verse follows Miles’s superhero coming-of-age story.

Are these movies suitable for children?

Most are family-oriented, but their content differs. Kubo and the Two Strings includes frightening fantasy imagery, Puss in Boots: The Last Wish has intense scenes, and some films feature peril or conflict. Check your local age rating and a trusted content guide.

Which film on this list has the most unusual animation?

The Mitchells vs. the Machines, Nimona, Puss in Boots: The Last Wish and Mutant Mayhem each have a distinct visual approach. This ranking places Mutant Mayhem first for its sketchbook-like energy and teen point of view.

Where can I stream these animated movies in the UK?

The JustWatch UK link in each entry takes you to a page with current subscription, rental and purchase options. Streaming catalogues can change, so check again when you plan your watch.

What are some animated superhero movies like Spider-Verse?

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem and Big Hero 6 are strong superhero-action picks. The Lego Movie offers self-aware adventure, while The Bad Guys brings a stylish animated crew and caper energy.

Is Raya and the Last Dragon a coming-of-age story?

Raya is a young warrior whose quest to find the last dragon is tied to her ideas about trust, leadership and what can unite a divided land. It is an action fantasy with a character-growth arc.

What should I watch after Into the Spider-Verse?

Across the Spider-Verse is the direct continuation of Miles’s story. If you want another animated movie with energetic style and a young hero, try Mutant Mayhem, Nimona or The Mitchells vs. the Machines.

More Places to Find Great Movies and TV Shows

Sony Pictures Animation profiles the original film, while its Across the Spider-Verse page documents the sequel. IMDb is useful for cast and release details, while Rotten Tomatoes gathers reviews and JustWatch UK checks current viewing options.

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