10 Animated Movies Like Inside Out
When a film turns complicated feelings into colourful characters, it can leave you wanting another animated story with real emotional stakes. Inside Out is funny and imaginative, but its appeal also comes from the way it makes memory, family and growing up understandable. This list brings together ten animated movies that share some of that warmth, inventive storytelling or interest in how people change.
Your order is preserved, with The Boy and the Heron starting at number ten and Soul taking the top spot. These are not all the same kind of film: some lean into family comedy, others into fantasy, grief, friendship or identity. We rank them by how strongly they pair an engaging story with emotional depth, how distinctive their worlds are and how likely they are to satisfy a viewer looking for more than bright visuals.
A quick note on what makes each recommendation relevant: Coco turns family memory into a musical fantasy, Turning Red uses a magical transformation to explore a teenager’s changing relationship with her mother, and Luca follows two sea-monster boys through a life-changing summer. Films such as Up and Onward place grief and family bonds inside bigger adventures. The range matters because what you may want after Inside Out could be a comforting Pixar story, a coming-of-age comedy or an animation that takes you somewhere stranger.
Every entry begins with the premise, then explains what works and why it earns its position. We will keep major spoilers out and focus on the setup, tone and character dynamics so you can choose by mood. If you have already watched the obvious Pixar picks, the list also includes films from other studios, including a Studio Ghibli fantasy and a Netflix family adventure.
The recommendations are arranged to give you several different routes rather than ten copies of the same emotional fantasy. You can choose a coming-of-age story if you want a young protagonist, a family adventure if you want something to watch together, or a more reflective film if you are in the mood for questions that linger. Each one has a distinct setting and conflict, so the best choice depends on what you want from your next movie night.
Several recommendations are also good choices if you want to compare how different studios represent family bonds and adolescence. The list includes both cheerful escapes and stories with a more reflective tone.
The original Inside Out remains our reference point: character-led, visually inventive and emotionally open without treating animation as a genre only for children. Pixar’s feature film guide confirms its broader catalogue, while the JustWatch UK movie guide can help you check current availability across services. Let’s get into it 👇
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10. The Boy and the Heron
After his mother dies during wartime, young Mahito moves with his father to a country home where grief and a new family situation leave him unsettled. A mysterious grey heron draws him toward an abandoned tower and a strange world that touches both the living and the dead. Mahito’s journey begins as an attempt to find someone he cares about, then becomes a surreal encounter with loss, responsibility and the unknown.
Hayao Miyazaki’s film is more dreamlike than Inside Out, inviting viewers to interpret its images rather than spelling out every emotional idea. That makes it a rewarding choice when you want animation that treats a child’s inner life with seriousness and wonder. Mahito’s grief is the grounding force beneath the fantastical creatures and shifting landscapes. Some viewers may find the story deliberately opaque, which is part of its spell and its challenge.
It begins at #10 because its emotional depth and visual imagination are exceptional, but its cryptic structure makes it a less direct follow-up for someone seeking Inside Out’s clear emotional storytelling. It beats a conventional fantasy by taking grief seriously, yet ranks below the warmer, more immediately accessible family adventures above it. This is the boldest detour on the list.
Who should watch: For viewers ready for a patient, symbolic fantasy about grief and a child learning to face a changed world.
Where to watch: Check JustWatch UK for current options.
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9. Onward
In a modern fantasy suburb, elf brothers Ian and Barley Lightfoot receive a spell that could bring their late father back for one day. Ian, a cautious teenager who never knew his dad, and Barley, an enthusiastic fantasy-game expert, set out on a quest to finish the spell before time runs out. Their journey takes them through a world where magic has become ordinary history, and their very different ideas about courage complicate the mission.
The adventure gives grief a playful shape, using a magical deadline to push the brothers into situations that expose their insecurities and affection. Ian’s shyness and Barley’s loud confidence create an entertaining dynamic, while the suburban setting lets the film joke about a fantasy world with modern conveniences. The emotional core is clear and accessible, especially for families who enjoy stories about siblings learning to rely on each other.
Onward ranks ninth because its relationship story is touching and its fantasy premise is fun, though the quest follows a more familiar path than the films above it. It sits above The Boy and the Heron for clarity and comic momentum, but the emotional ideas are less layered than Luca’s friendship or Up’s portrait of grief. It is a strong, easy recommendation for a family night.
Who should watch: A good pick for sibling stories, magical quests and heartfelt family animation.
Where to watch: Check JustWatch UK for current options.
8. Up
Carl Fredricksen is an older widower who has spent years sharing dreams of adventure with his late wife Ellie. When a development threatens the house that holds their memories, Carl ties thousands of balloons to it and sets off toward Paradise Falls in South America. He intends to complete a promise from their shared childhood, but discovers that young Wilderness Explorer Russell has joined the flight. Their accidental partnership turns a private journey into a new friendship.
Up moves from a quiet story of love and loss into broad adventure with a wonderfully odd crew of characters. Carl’s grief is not treated as something that disappears once the plot becomes lively; it shapes the choices he makes and the way he sees the future. The film can be funny, suspenseful and tender within a few scenes, and its visual storytelling makes the central relationship legible to viewers of different ages.
It takes eighth because the opening emotional story is extraordinary and the adventure remains entertaining, though the later action sometimes becomes more conventional. Up ranks above Onward for its more distinctive emotional framing and above the lower picks for its cultural staying power. It sits below the top seven because its family-and-grief theme is strong but less directly about childhood identity.
Who should watch: For viewers who want a moving family adventure about grief, companionship and starting a new chapter.
Where to watch: Check JustWatch UK for current options.
7. The Mitchells vs. the Machines
Creative teenager Katie Mitchell has been accepted into the film school of her dreams and is eager to leave home for a new life. Her nature-loving father insists that the family drive her to campus together, hoping for one last bonding trip. Their awkward road journey is interrupted by a robot uprising that turns the Mitchells into humanity’s unlikely defenders. Katie, her younger brother Aaron, their parents and their pug Monchi must work together despite their very different habits.
The film combines fast visual comedy with a family conflict that is easy to recognise: Katie wants independence, while her dad is afraid their relationship is slipping away. The robots and pop-culture jokes keep the pace lively, but the emotional thread about accepting one another’s differences gives the action its point. Its collage-like animation is energetic and expressive, making it a strong choice if you want a contemporary family story with a very different look from Pixar.
It ranks seventh because its humour, visual style and parent-child arc are all strong, but the robot-apocalypse spectacle sometimes competes with the quieter relationship moments. It beats Up for its more modern coming-of-age focus and lands below Encanto, where the family theme is more tightly built into the fantasy premise. The film is a particularly good bridge for a family with older children.
Who should watch: For families with teens who like jokes, action and a story about parents learning to listen.
Where to watch: Check JustWatch UK for current options.
6. Encanto
Mirabel Madrigal lives in a magical Colombian family where each relative receives a special gift, from super strength to healing. Mirabel is the only one without a visible power, and she tries to find her place during a family celebration that reveals cracks in their enchanted home. As she investigates what is threatening the miracle, she learns more about the pressure carried by her sisters, cousins and grandmother. The central conflict is about protecting a family whose members are struggling to be seen as people, not gifts.
The songs and colourful house make Encanto immediately inviting, but its strongest scenes are about expectations inside a close family. Mirabel is a lively guide because she can notice the stress other relatives conceal. The film gives each family member a distinct personality and burden, turning the magical gifts into a way to discuss roles and pressure. Its ensemble structure is wider than Inside Out’s focus on Riley, which can make the emotional story feel more like a family portrait.
Encanto takes sixth because its family dynamics, music and visual world are rich, and its message about being valued beyond performance is memorable. It ranks above the Mitchells for the way the fantasy premise expresses family pressure, but below Elemental and Luca, whose central relationships are more tightly focused. Its many characters make the world lively, even if a few receive less space.
Who should watch: For viewers who want a musical fantasy about family expectations and finding your own place.
Where to watch: Check JustWatch UK for current options.
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5. Elemental
In Element City, fire people, water people, earth people and air people live in a busy community shaped by elemental differences. Ember Lumen helps run her family’s shop and feels responsible for the sacrifices her parents made. When she meets Wade Ripple, a water element who is emotionally open and observant, their friendship challenges her assumptions about the city and her future. Their bond grows while Ember faces a choice between fulfilling family expectations and deciding what kind of life she wants.
Elemental turns cultural difference and family duty into a vivid city where the physics of each character shapes daily life. Ember’s quick temper contrasts with Wade’s openness, so their scenes have comic chemistry as well as emotional friction. The film has a clear romantic thread, but it is also about the pressure of being a dutiful child and discovering a personal ambition. Its world-building is playful, and the central pair keeps the story grounded.
It earns fifth because the relationship, family theme and visual concept work together with unusual clarity. It ranks above Encanto for its tighter focus on Ember’s decision, but below Turning Red, which gives adolescence and parent-child conflict an even sharper comedic voice. Its slower stretches keep it from the top four, though it is an appealing choice when you want warmth and a gentle romance.
Who should watch: For viewers who like imaginative worlds, family expectations and a sweet opposites-attract story.
Where to watch: Check JustWatch UK for current options.
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4. Luca
Luca Paguro is a curious young sea monster who has been warned to stay beneath the surface, where his family believes humans are dangerous. He meets Alberto, another sea monster who already explores the human world, and discovers that they can pass as boys when dry. On the Italian Riviera, they befriend Giulia and enter a local race hoping to win a Vespa and travel beyond the town. The secret of their identities complicates a summer built on friendship and freedom.
Luca is a gentle coming-of-age story about curiosity, loyalty and the joy of finding a friend who makes a bigger world seem possible. The seaside setting has the feel of a long summer afternoon, and the sea-monster idea provides a clear metaphor for being different without making the film too heavy. Luca, Alberto and Giulia form an engaging trio, while the race gives the story a simple goal that keeps its emotional growth moving.
This ranks fourth because it pairs a vivid setting with a focused friendship story and a strong sense of discovery. It beats Elemental through its more relaxed charm and clearer coming-of-age arc, but sits below Coco for its lighter emotional stakes and smaller family scope. It is one of the easiest films on the list to recommend when you want tenderness without a tearjerker.
Who should watch: For viewers who want friendship, summer adventure and a hopeful story about stepping beyond what feels safe.
Where to watch: Check JustWatch UK for current options.
3. Coco
Miguel Rivera is a twelve-year-old who loves music in a family that has banned it for generations. On Día de los Muertos, he is drawn into the Land of the Dead and meets Héctor, a charming trickster who needs help reaching the living. Miguel hopes to find a way back and learn why music is forbidden, while the journey reveals that family memory and old hurts are tied to the ban. The story follows his effort to honour his musical dream without losing connection to his relatives.
Coco is a bright, musical adventure with an unusually strong sense of place and family tradition. Its Land of the Dead is full of colour and jokes, but the film treats remembrance with tenderness and keeps Miguel’s goal easy to follow. The songs add momentum, while the relationship with Héctor gives the story an emotional mystery. It is a satisfying pick for viewers who like fantasy that connects individual ambition with the stories a family tells about itself.
Coco reaches third because its story, music and family theme reinforce one another from beginning to end. It beats Luca in emotional scale and world-building, while ranking below Turning Red for the immediate relevance of its adolescent mother-daughter conflict to Inside Out’s focus on growing up. It is one of Pixar’s most complete family adventures and a reliable choice for a moving rewatch.
Who should watch: For families who want music, fantasy and a heartfelt story about relatives and remembrance.
Where to watch: Check JustWatch UK for current options.
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2. Turning Red
Mei Lee is a confident thirteen-year-old in Toronto who balances school, close friendships, a love of the boy band 4*Town and her mother Ming’s expectations. When strong excitement causes Mei to transform into a giant red panda, she has to find a way to manage a change she cannot easily hide. The new ability widens the gap between dutiful daughter and independent teenager, while her friends help her decide what she wants from her life and her family.
Domee Shi’s film has a lively, specific comic voice and understands how quickly a teenager’s interests can become part of her identity. The red panda makes puberty and emotional intensity visible through broad physical comedy, but the mother-daughter relationship gives the story its heart. Mei and Ming both love each other, yet their expectations clash. The movie’s Toronto setting and early-2000s details make it feel personal rather than generic, and the best-friend group adds joyful momentum.
Turning Red ranks second because it is the closest match to Inside Out’s coming-of-age energy, combining a fantastical emotion metaphor with a sharply observed family story. It nearly takes first for its humour and specificity, but Soul offers a broader, more ambitious meditation on purpose and everyday life. This is the most direct recommendation if you want another animated film about a young person’s changing inner world.
Who should watch: The ideal follow-up for viewers who want teen feelings, friendship and a complicated but loving parent-child bond.
Where to watch: Check JustWatch UK for current options.
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1. Soul
Joe Gardner is a middle-school music teacher in New York who dreams of becoming a jazz pianist. When he finally gets the chance to play with a renowned musician, an accident sends him into a fantastical afterlife realm before he can reach the stage. There he meets 22, a soul who has resisted going to Earth, and the two search for a way back. Their unlikely partnership forces Joe to rethink what makes a life meaningful beyond one long-held ambition.
Soul is an adventurous, visually inventive film that takes a big philosophical question and anchors it in everyday details: music, food, walking through New York and noticing the people around you. Jamie Foxx and Tina Fey give Joe and 22 a lively comic rhythm, and the contrast between their perspectives keeps the metaphysical setting approachable.
Soul earns number one because it offers the broadest emotional perspective while remaining funny, visually distinctive and character-led. Turning Red is the closest match to Inside Out’s teenage experience, and Coco delivers a powerful family story, but Soul reaches beyond one age or relationship to ask what makes everyday life worth living. Its combination of imaginative world-building, strong voice performances and reflective impact makes it the most rewarding companion film.
Who should watch: For viewers who want an animated adventure that mixes comedy, music and a thoughtful question about purpose.
Where to watch: Check JustWatch UK for current options.
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Conclusion
The films on this list share a willingness to let animation carry real emotional weight. Some do it through a family’s history, others through a friendship, a parent-child conflict or a surreal trip through the afterlife. They are not interchangeable with Inside Out, but each offers a different route into the questions that make that film linger: how do we change, what do we owe the people we love and how do we understand ourselves?
For a close match to Riley’s growing-up story, Turning Red is the clearest next choice. Coco and Encanto put family memory and expectations at the centre, while Luca and The Mitchells vs. the Machines are warm picks for friendship and independence. The Boy and the Heron is the most dreamlike option, and Up and Onward bring grief into a family adventure. Soul wins because it combines a distinctive world with a generous reflection on purpose and the ordinary details that make a life.
If you are choosing for a group, think about the tone as well as the theme: some films invite a big conversation, while others are simply lovely to settle into. Tell us which movie you would watch first, what you would rank at number one and which animated story you think belongs on this list.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What should I watch after Inside Out?
If you want another Pixar story about emotions and identity, try Soul or Turning Red. Coco, Luca and Up are strong choices for family stories with a clear emotional centre. This ranking also includes The Mitchells vs. the Machines and The Boy and the Heron for viewers who want a different animation style.
Which animated movie is most like Inside Out?
Turning Red is the closest match for a coming-of-age story that uses a fantasy transformation to explore emotions and family relationships. Soul shares Pixar’s interest in inner life and big questions, while Coco connects memory and family with a colourful imagined world.
Is Turning Red like Inside Out?
Both films use a fantastical idea to make growing up visible and follow young characters navigating strong feelings and family expectations. Turning Red focuses on Mei Lee, a thirteen-year-old whose excitement triggers a red-panda transformation. Its tone and cultural setting are distinct from Inside Out.
What is Soul about?
Soul follows Joe Gardner, a New York music teacher who dreams of becoming a jazz pianist. A fantastical accident sends him into an afterlife realm, where he meets 22, a soul reluctant to go to Earth. Their journey raises questions about purpose and everyday life.
What is Coco about?
Coco follows Miguel, a boy who loves music despite his family’s generations-old ban on it. On Día de los Muertos he enters the Land of the Dead, meets Héctor and tries to return home while learning about his family’s history.
Are these movies suitable for children?
Most are family-oriented animated films, but age ratings and sensitive themes vary. The Boy and the Heron is more surreal and deals with grief, while some scenes in Up and Coco may prompt questions. Check the official rating and preview a film if you have concerns.
Which movie is best for a family night?
Coco, Luca, Encanto and The Mitchells vs. the Machines all offer clear stories with humour and family themes. Soul is thoughtful and more abstract, while The Boy and the Heron is the most dreamlike. Choose based on the tone your group wants.
Are all the recommendations Pixar films?
No. Soul, Turning Red, Coco, Luca, Elemental, Up and Onward are Pixar films. Encanto is from Walt Disney Animation Studios, The Mitchells vs. the Machines is a Sony Pictures Animation and Netflix film, and The Boy and the Heron is a Studio Ghibli film.
Where can I stream these animated movies in the UK?
Availability changes across subscription, rental and purchase services. Use the JustWatch UK links included with each recommendation to see current listings, and confirm the page for the correct film before choosing a service.
Which movie is the most emotional?
That depends on what connects with you. Coco focuses on family and remembrance, Up begins with grief and companionship, and Soul reflects on purpose. Turning Red is especially personal about adolescence and a mother-daughter relationship. Each takes a different route to its emotional moments.
More Places to Find Great Movies and TV Shows
The official Pixar page and Disney’s film page provide studio information. IMDb is useful for cast and release details, while Rotten Tomatoes gathers reviews and JustWatch UK checks current viewing options.
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