KPop Demon Hunters arrived on Netflix in June 2025 and quickly became a global streaming phenomenon. It attracted hundreds of millions of views, moved from home viewing into cinemas, and inspired companies to pursue merchandise ranging from Lego sets to video games.
Its catchy songs, comedy and energetic action are easy to understand, but Netflix has plenty of other animated films worth your time. Some have endured for years, some reinvent familiar franchises, and others remain underappreciated despite being released directly to the service.
Here are five excellent alternatives for viewers ready to broaden their animated-film watchlist. For readers who enjoy the visual energy of animation and games, RETROCADE also covers the wider world of arcade news and gaming.
5. The Mitchells vs. the Machines
There is a clear connection between The Mitchells vs. the Machines and KPop Demon Hunters: both were made by Sony Pictures Animation and released directly on Netflix. The former passed 50 million views during its first month and became one of the major animated releases of the pandemic era.
Mike Rianda writes and directs this family adventure. Katie Mitchell is heading to college when her road trip with her dysfunctional family is interrupted by a robot uprising. A powerful artificial intelligence abducts people around the world, leaving the Mitchells as the unlikely humans still free to fight back.
The film combines 3D animation with 2D flourishes, but its greatest strength is its emotional honesty. The family relationships feel unusually specific and believable because Rianda based them closely on his own family. It is packed with jokes and visual invention without losing sight of its central story about parents and children trying to understand one another.
4. The Willoughbys
The Willoughbys has the shape of a Roald Dahl-style children’s story, although it is actually adapted from a book by Newbery Medal-winning author Lois Lowry, best known for works including The Giver.
The story follows four unusual children with such neglectful parents that they devise an elaborate plan to send them on an especially dangerous holiday. That premise sounds grim, but director Kris Pearn balances the darker comedy with colourful whimsy and a deliberately silly tone.
Although it is aimed at younger viewers, the film’s visual style and mischievous humour give it broad appeal. This straight-to-Netflix production deserves attention from families and adults looking for an animated comedy with a slightly sharper edge.
3. Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Movie
The 2018 Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles series divided long-time fans. Supporters praised its fluid animation, rapid-fire jokes and writing, while critics objected to its altered origins and major changes to the team. In this version, Raphael leads the group, Leonardo is a wisecracking troublemaker, and Master Splinter is far from an ideal mentor.
The 2022 film won over many viewers who had rejected the series. It begins in a future where the brain-like alien Krang has conquered Earth. Soldier Casey Jones travels back to the early 2020s under Leonardo’s orders, then helps the younger Leo discover the leadership qualities he needs to prevent the invasion.
In effect, the film is an origin story for the Leonardo audiences recognise from other versions of the franchise. It may not satisfy every traditionalist, but it is essential viewing for TMNT fans and a confident showcase for the series’ distinctive animation.
2. Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl
Wallace and Gromit returned in Vengeance Most Fowl, which first premiered on the BBC in December 2024 before arriving on Netflix in January 2025. It was the duo’s first new film in almost two decades and brought back the memorable villain Feathers McGraw.
Aardman delivered another carefully crafted stop-motion mystery, pairing a new story with the visual charm that has defined the characters for decades. Aardman leadership has suggested that another adventure may be possible, but no follow-up has been officially confirmed.
For now, Vengeance Most Fowl is an easy choice for a relaxed evening. Its compact combination of clever invention, gentle comedy and tactile animation makes it enjoyable whether you know the earlier films or are meeting the pair for the first time.
1. Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse
Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse won the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature, as did KPop Demon Hunters later in 2026. However, the earlier film faced particularly strong competition in its awards season and remains one of the most influential animated blockbusters of its era.
Miles Morales becomes Spider-Man after being bitten by a radioactive spider and witnessing the death of Peter Parker. His first major mission quickly expands beyond his own world when Kingpin’s experiment tears open a dimensional rift, drawing several spider-powered heroes into Miles’ universe.
The film’s breakthrough visual language treats comic-book art as a living part of the animation, combining bold movement, printed textures and expressive design. Its excellent cast and emotionally satisfying story launched a celebrated trilogy, while its soundtrack gives the film another advantage over many modern animated releases.
More animated inspiration for game rooms
These films cover family comedy, superhero spectacle, franchise reinvention and stop-motion craft. If their worlds inspire a gaming setup at home, explore RETROCADE’s arcade machines, compact bartop arcades or practical arcade machine buying guide before choosing a cabinet.
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