8 Greatest Animated Sequels Ever Made

Adam Salandra
Movies Disney
Movies Disney

After a 14-year-long wait, fans will finally get to see Mr. Incredible, Elastigirl, Jack-Jack, and the rest of the superhero family back on the big screen when Incredibles 2 hits theaters on June 15.

Hopes are high that the sequel is as fantastic as the first iteration of the Disney flick. If it succeeds, it can be added to this list of excellent animated sequels. Take a look below at eight times that cartoon continuations got it right.

Toy Story 2

Toy Story 2
'Toy Story 2'

Let’s be honest, we were always going to have to kick things off by discussing Toy Story 2. Not only is the 1999 followup to the Pixar flick about talking toys one of the best animated sequels of all time, it also happens to be one of the best movie sequels in general. The film managed to add new characters and new locations to entrance audiences while keeping all the heart of the original. The adventure that Buzz and the gang go on to rescue Woody and new friend Jessie was brilliantly written, and it was the perfect film to represent the first sequel Pixar ever produced.

The Rescuers Down Under 

The Rescuers Down Under
'The Rescuers Down Under'

The 1990 follow-up to Disney’s Rescuers was able to improve on the animation of the 1977 original, while still keeping the fun. You can’t beat the team-up of Bob Newhart and Eva Gabor as mice Bernard and Miss Bianca, this time on an adventure in Australia to save a boy named Cody from an evil poacher. The cartoon featured wild action scenes, including some pretty incredible flight sequences on a giant eagle that swept young audiences off their feet.

Monsters University 

Monsters University
'Monsters University'

Monsters University is actually a prequel to 2001’s Monsters, Inc., and that’s what helped it earn a spot on this list. Although it’s hard to live up to the original, the 2013 follow-up was made more fun by the fact that we got to witness Mike and Sulley at the start of their friendship at a very different time in their lives. It also happened to earn over $180 million more than the first film, so fans were clearly interested in hanging out more with their favorite monsters.

Despicable Me 2

Despicable Me 2
'Despicable Me 2'

The sequel to 2010’s surprise success Despicable Me brought as many laughs as the original, and it made things even more sentimental with the addition of a romantic storyline, too. The sequel also spent more time with Gru‘s Minions, which became so popular after the sequel that they eventually got their own spin-off film in 2015.
 

Shrek 2

Shrek 2
'Shrek 2'
Shrek was a huge score for DreamWorks Animation when it debuted in 2001, but the 2004 follow-up managed to rake in twice as much money as the original. Like its predecessor, Shrek 2 brought laughs by parodying fairy tales and cracking jokes that were more for the adults than the kids. But it also added Antonio Banderas as Puss in Boots, a character so popular he got his own spinoff in 2011.

 

Finding Dory

Finding Dory
'Finding Dory'
Finding Nemo was such a massive success for Pixar, it’s surprising that they waited 13 years for the follow-up, which centered around Ellen Degeneres’ popular character, Dory. While taking us on adventures in new locations like the giant Marine Life Institute and adding brand new characters to its roster, the 2016 sequel still kept the heart and tone of the original. The plan clearly worked, as the sequel became the fifth-highest-grossing animated film of all time.

1986’s An American Tail, about Russian mice emigrating to the United States to escape evil cats, served as a major allegory for the nightmarish conditions that refugees faced at the turn of the last century. The follow-up, produced by Steven Spielberg, was a little more upbeat, finding Fievel and his family heading to the Wild West. And while critics may not have loved it, young audiences were thrilled to meet up with the Mousekewitzs again.

Toy Story 3

Toy Story 3
'Toy Story 3'

Let’s end this list right where we began, with another amazing installment in the Toy Story franchise. To have each film in a trilogy be better than the last seems next to impossible, but Pixar managed to do it with this outrageously enjoyable and emotional addition to its classic toy tale. The third iteration finds Woody, Buzz, and friends fighting for survival after Andy heads to college. The movie came out 15 years after the original, so most of the kids who grew up with these characters were now watching the third installment as adults. That meant the themes of growing up and outgrowing one’s childhood hit home in a powerful way that left audiences in tears. And while it seemed like that would be the end of the tale, get your tissues ready because Toy Story 4 will hit theaters in 2019.

Adam Salandra
Adam Salandra is an Entertainment Editor for FANDOM. When he's not covering the latest in pop culture, you can find him playing with his French Bulldog pup or hovering over the table of food at any social gathering.