By: Natasha Archary
2020 shaped up to be a pretty strong year for feature films, despite halts in production due to COVID-19. A small saving grace we are grateful for, because how would we have survived lockdown otherwise?
The animated movie front saw a number of big-budget franchise movies released this year, with adaptations from TV cartoon spin-offs to video game characters getting headline titles. There were sequels a plenty with much loved characters getting a revitalised look and feel. Here’s our Top 10 animated picks for 2020.
1. Sonic the Hedgehog
Our favourite blue extraterrestrial hedgehog comes to life in this 2020 action-adventure comedy. Based on the video game character from SEGA, Sonic aka “The Blue Blur”, embraces Earth as his new home, after his existence on his home planet is threatened.
He befriends a human family who are his only hope against an evil scientist (Jim Carrey) who plans to use Sonic’s super-speed for his selfish needs.
2. Onward
This February release follows the journey of two elven brothers Ian and Barley, who set out on an epic adventure to resurrect their father for just one day. The tale is set in a magical realm where technology has taken over and disrupted the town’s powers.
3. Scoob!
One of the most loved childhood dogs, Scooby Doo, gets a total animated facelift in this 90 million dollar budget release. Giving fans a sweet origin of Shaggy and Scooby before they meet the rest of the gang, this one is bound to be a firm family favourite.
With the introduction of the villain everyone loves to hate, Dick Dastardly, the story is cleverly worked into modern day. Will Scoob and Shaggy save the day again? Put this on your watchlist before the year ends to find out.
4. Trolls World Tour
The adorable, well-pitched cuties who won hearts the world over are back and on tour, in this melodious jukebox production by DreamWorks. Poppy (Anna Kendrick) and Branch (Justin Timberlake) are back on a daring mission to save the diverse population of trolls from extinction and unite their tribes.
5. The Croods: A New Age
A larger than life sequel that sees the Croods searching for safer habitat in their pre-historic, stone-age world. Tired of being cavemen, the family discovers a true “walled-in” paradise, but everything is not as it seems.
6. The Willoughbys
Convinced they’d be better off raising themselves, four neglected siblings hatch a sneaky plan to get rid of their selfish parents. In a quest to create a loving home, they venture into the modern world for the first time. The movie uses humour to cover some dark themes in this Netflix original.
7. Fearless
Follow the mission of a teenage gaming icon, to protect three super-babies after they miraculously emerge from the game he’d been playing. A Canadian animation that is sci-fi fantastical with a feel-good story full of imagination and awe. This is another Netflix original.
8. Over the moon
Netflix has quietly developed interesting animated projects this year, including the Willoughbys, Klaus and Fearless, with Over the moon being another that caught our attention. This story, about an adventurous little girl who builds a rocket ship to prove the existence of a legendary moon goddess.
9. Mortal Kombat Legends: Scorpion’s Revenge
One for gaming fans from the 90s, who battled it out with their favourite characters for hours on end. The movie centres around protector of Earthrealm, Lord Raiden, as he assembles his realm’s greatest fighters to defend it against the aging Shang Tsung. The champions of Outworld and Earthrealm fight to the death in a brutal tournament that determines the fate of Earth. (Not suitable for children under the age of 13)
10. Deathstroke Knights & Dragons: The Movie
DC Comics’ Slade Wilson, aka Deathstroke, lives two lives. A deadly assassin and a devoted family man. The movie is a solid entry into the DC animated universe library, Deathstroke will have to atone for the sins of his past to fuel the battles of his future.
