If you’re looking for the perfect weekend watchlist, animations have got you covered. From fresh new anime to timeless classics that critics adore, here are eight animated films that deserve a spot on your watchlist, promising a mix of adventure, heart, and breathtaking visuals. ALSO READ: Stories of courage, hope: Your weekend movie guide Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – Infinity Castle The Demon Slayer saga is reaching its climax, and Infinity Castle delivers some of the most breathtaking battles and emotional stakes in the series. Expect gorgeous animation, heart-pounding fight scenes, and moments that will leave you speechless. Directed by Haruo Sotozaki, Damon Slayeris a 2025 Japanese animated dark fantasy action film adapting the Infinity Castle arc from Koyoharu Gotouge’s 2016–2020 manga Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba.Serving as a direct continuation of the anime’s fourth season, the film follows previous adaptations including Mugen Train(2020), To the Swordsmith Village (2023), and To the Hashira Training (2024). Suzume Suzume is a supernatural road movie that blends coming-of-age drama with mesmerizing visuals. It’s heartfelt, mysterious, and the perfect weekend watch if you want a movie that makes you think and feel. The story centers on 17-year-old Suzume Iwato, a high school girl, and Souta Munakata, a mysterious young man. Together, they travel across Japan closing mystical doors to stop a giant supernatural worm responsible for triggering earthquakes. Released in 2022, the film is a Japanese animated coming-of-age fantasy adventure written and directed by Makoto Shinkai. It serves as the third and concluding entry in Shinkai’s Disaster Trilogy, following Your Name (2016) and Weathering with You(2019). ALSO READ: Weekend lineup: Seven fresh movies to stream The Wild Robot Sitting at over 97% on Rotten Tomatoes, this beautifully animated adventure explores connection, survival, and friendship. It’s heartwarming and a great family-friendly choice. This 2024 American animated sci-fi film, produced by DreamWorks Animation, is adapted from Peter Brown’s 2016 novel. Written and directed by Chris Sanders, it features an all-star voice cast including Lupita Nyong’o, Pedro Pascal, Kit Connor, Bill Nighy, Stephanie Hsu, Matt Berry, Ving Rhames, Mark Hamill, and Catherine O’Hara. The story follows a service robot who becomes stranded on a remote island and learns to survive by forming bonds with the native animals, ultimately taking on the role of adoptive mother to a young orphaned goose. Dan Da Dan: Evil Eye If you love a mix of sci-fi, action, and the bizarre, Dan Da Dan: Evil Eye will keep you hooked. It’s full of wild twists, funny moments, and big battles, making it a fun choice for anime fans who want something fresh and unpredictable. Dan Da Dan: Evil Eye is a 2025 Japanese animated sci-fi action horror film that compiles the first three episodes of the anime’s second season, adapted from Yukinobu Tatsu’s manga Dandadan. It serves as a direct follow-up to the first season and the second film adaptation, Dan Da Dan: First Encounter (2024). The compilation film is directed by Fūga Yamashiro and Abel Góngora, with a screenplay by Hiroshi Seko. ALSO READ: Ever dreamed of becoming an actress? Iradukunda just saw it coming Inside Out One of Pixar’s finest, this film takes you inside the mind of an 11-year-old girl to explore her emotions. Funny, smart, and deeply moving, you might laugh and cry in equal measure. Released in 2015, this American animated coming-of-age film was produced by Pixar Animation Studios and distributed by Walt Disney Pictures. Directed by Pete Docter, the screenplay was co-written by Docter, Meg LeFauve, and Josh Cooley. Featuring the voices of Amy Poehler, Phyllis Smith, Richard Kind, Bill Hader, Lewis Black, Mindy Kaling, Kaitlyn Dias, Diane Lane, and Kyle MacLachlan, Inside Out explores the mind of Riley, a young girl coping with her family’s move. Colorful Stage! The Movie: A Miku Who Can’t Sing For a lighter pick, this music-driven anime is colorful, emotional, and perfect for fans of rhythm games or idol stories. It’s a heartwarming story about finding your voice and rediscovering passion. This 2025 Japanese animated musical drama is inspired by the mobile game Hatsune Miku: Colorful Stage! developed by Colorful Palette and published by Sega. The film marks the first feature-length adaptation of the iconic character Hatsune Miku. It is directed by Hiroyuki Hata, written by Yoko Yonaiyama, produced by P.A. Works, and distributed by Shochiku. ALSO READ: Creative hangouts: Inspiring young creatives to become filmmakers How to Train Your Dragon (2010) This DreamWorks classic has everything: adventure, stunning flight sequences, and one of the most wholesome human-dragon friendships ever put on screen. It’s the perfect feel-good movie for a weekend marathon. Released in 2010, this American animated fantasy film was directed by Chris Sanders and Dean DeBlois, with a screenplay by Sanders, DeBlois, and Will Davies. It is adapted from Cressida Cowell’s 2003 novel. Produced by DreamWorks Animation, the film features the voices of Jay Baruchel, Gerard Butler, Craig Ferguson, America Ferrera, Jonah Hill, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, T.J. Miller, and Kristen Wiig. Set in the mythical Viking village of Berk, the story follows Hiccup, a small and unlikely hero who dreams of becoming a dragon slayer like the other Vikings. When he injures a rare Night Fury dragon, he cannot bring himself to kill it. Instead, Hiccup befriends the creature, uncovering that the rivalry between Vikings and dragons is not as simple as it seems. The Tale of the Princess Kaguya A Studio Ghibli masterpiece by Isao Takahata, this film is a visual poem. Its hand-drawn style and powerful story about life, loss, and freedom will stay with you long after the credits roll. It is a 2013 Japanese animated historical fantasy directed and co-written by Isao Takahata, adapting the 10th-century tale The Tale of the Bamboo Cutter. Produced by Studio Ghibli, it features an ensemble cast including Aki Asakura, Kengo Kora, and Takeo Chii in his final role. Released by Toho, it was Japan’s most expensive film at the time and earned critical acclaim, including an Academy Award nomination for Best Animated Feature.
