There’s a moment in Shrek, right after Donkey moves in and starts humming “On the Road Again,” where you realize that this isn’t just another animated movie. It’s messy, meta, and weirdly sincere. And that’s what marked a turning point. Before Shrek, animated movies played it straight with classic fairy tale tropes. After Shrek, they got louder, funnier, and a lot more self-aware.
Animation has always been a medium where storytelling gets to bend the rules and stretch its legs. It can build entire worlds from scratch. But when it leans into comedy, things begin to pop. The best animated comedies toss in jokes, build rhythm, character, and chaos that feels real. They balance slapstick with soul and know how to sneak in something unexpected or unhinged.
Since Shrek, animated comedies have evolved. We’ve seen a panda mastering kung fu and a rat running a kitchen and a villain learning how to parent. It’s wild out there. But the movies are fun, inventive, grounded, and packed with personality.
Here are the 10 best animated comedy movies since Shrek.
‘Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs’ (2009)
Flint Lockwood (voiced by Bill Hader) is a socially awkward inventor whose wild ideas have made him the laughingstock of his sardine-obsessed hometown, Swallow Falls. But everything changes when he creates the FLDSMDFR, a machine that turns water into food and launches it into the sky. Suddenly, cheeseburgers rain from the clouds, the town becomes a tourist attraction, and Flint basks in newfound fame. But when the machine spirals out of control, he must shut it down before the world gets buried under a mountain of food.
Weird and Inventive
Directors Phil Lord and Chris Miller wield their penchant for anarchic humor with such precision in Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs that it becomes an entertaining adventure that doesn’t even need to skimp on the laughs. The cartoonish animation finds meatballs bouncing like wrecking balls and syrup flooding the streets like lava. And the movie also hides a surprisingly tender story about self-worth and father-son connection beneath all the food frenzy. A complete package of sorts.
‘Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit’ (2005)
In this stop-motion delight from Aardman Animations, inventor Wallace and his silent, genius dog Gromit run a humane pest control business called Anti-Pesto. Their mission is to protect the town’s prized vegetables ahead of the annual Giant Vegetable Competition. But when a monstrous rabbit begins ravaging gardens under the full moon, Wallace and Gromit must unravel the mystery of the “Were-Rabbit.”
Technically Impressive and Narratively Satisfying
With a voice cast that includes Peter Sallis, Helena Bonham Carter, Ralph Fiennes, and Peter Kay, the movie is as cozy as a cup of tea and as sharp as a garden trowel. The tactile and detailed animation elevates every twitch of Gromit’s eyebrow and the humor is quintessentially British. The transformation scenes are pure slapstick gold, and the chase sequences rival any action film. Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit won the Oscar for Best Animated Feature and remains one of the best comedies since Shrek.
‘Despicable Me’ (2010)
Despicable Me follows Gru, a villain with a flair for dramatic entrances, who has one goal – to steal the moon. Backed by his army of yellow Minions and a secret lair beneath his gothic suburban home, Gru’s plan involves shrinking the moon and pocketing it. But his plans go south when he adopts three girls as a part of his plot to infiltrate a rival’s fortress.
Redefines The Villain-as-Hero Trope
In a battle of gadgets and giggles, the girls end up thawing Gru’s cold heart and he learns about family. Directed by Pierre Coffin and Chris Renaud, the movie blends slapstick humor and sentiment in a way that feels effortless. Gru’s gadgets are Looney Tunes meets Bond villain, and the Minions’ chaotic energy still feels relevant. Steve Carell, Jason Segel, Kristen Wiig, and Julie Andrews round out the voice cast and the film’s success essentially launched Illumination into the big leagues.
‘The Mitchells vs. The Machines’ (2021)
Katie Mitchell, an aspiring filmmaker, is ready to leave her chaotic home life behind and start college. But her nature-loving, technophobic dad Rick insists on one last family road trip to reconnect. Along for the ride are upbeat mom Linda, dinosaur-obsessed little brother Aaron, and their cross-eyed pug Monchi. Things take a wild turn when a rogue AI named PAL launches a robot uprising and the Mitchells are forced to outwit PAL’s army.
Builds a Language of Its Own
A complete sensory overload, The Mitchells vs. The Machines is a relatively new addition to the bunch, but that’s exactly why it works. The animation feels like it was made by someone who grew up on internet memes and Saturday morning cartoons. It’s loud, colorful, and packed with visual gags that actually serve the story. Katie and Rick’s awkward bond hits home, Mochi the pug is a walking glitch, and PAL’s passive-aggressive villainy is Olivia Colman having the time of her life.
‘Zootopia’ (2016)
In the bustling metropolis of Zootopia, where predator and prey live side by side, Judy Hopps becomes the first rabbit to join the police force. Eager to prove herself, she takes on a missing mammals case and reluctantly teams up with Nick Wilde, a sly fox. Their investigation leads them through the city’s diverse districts, and they end up discovering a sinister plot about a conspiracy that threatens the fragile balance of Zootopia.
Funny But Thoughtful
Directed by Byron Howard and Rich Moore, Zootopia is all about world-building and allegory. Every district in the city has its own vibe, from the icy chill of Thundratown to the humidity of the Rainforest District, and the animation is layered with the contrasts in each of those. Judy and Nick’s dynamic is snappy and warm, and Jason Bateman’s dry delivery gives the latter a charm that plays perfectly against Judy’s relentless optimism. Overall, it feels smarter than your average animated comedy.
‘The Lego Movie’ (2014)
Over a decade ago, The Lego Movie turned a toy line into a successful film. The story follows Emmet Brickowsky, a rule-following construction worker in a Lego city where everything is literally awesome. His life changes when he teams up with Wyldstyle, Batman, Vitruvius, and others, and gets swept up into an epic adventure to save the Lego universe from the tyrannical Lord Business.
Meta Brilliance That Lands
This one could easily have been a commercial, but under Phil Lord and Christopher Miller’s direction, The Lego Movie became a genre-defying comedy. It is a riot of creativity and self-aware humor, what with the pacing and the stop-motion animation. And the comedy is everywhere. Batman’s emo one-liners, the double-decker couch, the “Spaceship!” guy. It’s not just the best animated comedy since Shrek, but also a reminder that even the simplest premise can become something genuinely inspired.
‘Megamind’ (2010)
Voiced by Will Farrell, Megamind is a blue-skinned alien who has spent his life battling Metro Man, the golden superhero of Metro City. But when one of his evil schemes actually works and Metro Man is destroyed, Megamind is left with an existential void. After all, what’s a villain without a hero? So he creates a new adversary in Titan, who just happens to be a power-drunk man-child, forcing Megamind to become the good guy.
Superhero Satire With a Soft Heart
A subversive take on the well-worn superhero trope, Megamind turns the classic narrative on its head with its mischievous sense of humor. Directed by Tom McGrath, the film boasts a talented voice cast that includes Ferrell, Tina Fey, David Cross, Jonah Hill, and Brad Pitt, who bring the larger-than-life characters to life with their insane talents. The comedy is pointy but never mean, emerging mainly from Megamind’s mispronunciations and his over-the-top villain monologues.
‘Kung Fu Panda’ (2008)
DreamWorks Animations’ most accomplished movie ever, Kung Fu Panda follows Po, a clumsy, daydreaming panda who idolizes the Furious Five – Tigress, Monkey, Mantis, Viper, and Crane. They are kung fu masters trained by the stern Master Shifu. When the ancient tortoise Oogway unexpectedly names Po the Dragon Warrior, everyone, including Po, is baffled. Now thrust into training, Po discovers that being the Dragon Warrior is about embracing who you are.
The Kind of Silly That Holds Up
There’s a reason Kung Fu Panda became a global hit and launched a franchise. It’s not the lush, painterly animation or the lovingly choreographed fight scenes. It’s the way it marries Eastern philosophy with Western comedy. Directors Mark Osborne and John Stevenson treat the martial arts with reverence, but they also let Jack Black’s irreverence run wild. Angelina Jolie, Jackie Chan, Seth Rogen, and Dustin Hoffman round out the voice cast, and the film is complete with hilarious scenes.
‘The Incredibles’ (2004)
Once the toast of Metroville, superheroes Bob Parr and Helen Parr, aka Mr. Incredible and Elastigirl, have been forced into retirement after a wave of lawsuits. Now living in suburbia with their three kids, Bob itches for glory days. When a mysterious job offer lures him to a remote island, he jumps at the chance. But it turns out to be a trap orchestrated by Syndrome, a bitter ex-fan turned villain, and pulls the entire family into the fray.
A Superhero Saga Fueled by Humor and Heart
Brad Bird’s The Incredibles is as much about midlife crisis and parenting as it is about superpowers and saving the world. The retro-futuristic design, jazzy Michael Giacchino score, and jaw-dropping action sequences make it timeless, but the family drama gives it heart. Dash’s joy at discovering his speed and Violet’s teenage awkwardness, all feel relevant and real. It’s one of the best animated comedies since Shrek because it reinvents superheroes with humor.
‘Ratatouille’ (2007)
Also written and directed by Brad Bird, Ratatouille centers on Remy, who is no ordinary rat. A culinary prodigy with a nose for flavor and a heart full of ambition, he lives in the sewers of Paris but dreams of becoming a great chef like his idol, the late Auguste Gusteau. When fate drops him into the kitchen of Gusteau’s once-famous restaurant, Remy forms an alliance with Languini, a bumbling garbage boy, and puppeteers his way into helping the restaurant regain its former glory.
A Mouthwatering Masterpiece
A rat race with Michelin stars on the line pretty much sounds like a recipe for success. The movie is a feast for the senses. Its premise is bizarre but the visual celebration of passion and creativity, the sumptuous animation, and Remy’s kitchen ballet is pure artistry. What’s interesting is that Ratatouille is also sneakily funny, and the slapstick of Remy yanking Linguini’s hair to control his limbs never gets old. Also, Anton Ego’s monologue about the power of art is easily one of Pixar’s best moments.
- Release Date
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May 18, 2001
- Runtime
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90 minutes
- Director
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Andrew Adamson, Vicky Jenson
- Writers
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Terry Rossio, Joe Stillman, Roger S.H. Schulman, Ted Elliott, William Steig, J.M. Barrie, Carlo Collodi
- Producers
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Aron Warner, David Lipman, Jeffrey Katzenberg, John H. Williams, Penney Finkelman Cox