Animation is not a genre: It’s an entirely unique medium through which distinct and unbridled stories can be told. Visually limitless, it’s the perfect place for artists to let their imaginations run wild, and over the 21st century, they definitely have. Often, that imagination includes a sequel here and there, andthe last 25 years have seen some truly exceptional animated sequels.
From long-awaited anime films to big franchise blockbusters, and from Hollywood hits to unexpected international gems,the 21st century’s best animated sequels pack quite a punch. They can be fun, suspenseful, funny, or emotionally stirring, but there’s one thing they all have in common: They’re all proof that animation deserves far more respect and appreciation nowadays.
10’Evangelion: 2.0 You Can (Not) Advance' (2009)
Directed by Hideaki Anno
With theNeon Genesis Evangelionmanga and anime series, the belovedEvangelionfranchise was born. They’re both among the best outings in their respective medium, so it’s no coincidence that all of the films that stemmed fromNGEare also among the greatest anime movies in history. This certainly includesEvangelion: 2.0 You Can (Not) Advance, a sequel toEvangelion: 1.0 You Are (Not) Alone, both part of theRebuild of Evangelionproject that retold the original series' story.
It’s only fitting that one ofthe most masterful anime showsof all time has such a masterful sequel.Weird, dense, and intensein all the ways that anyEvangelionfan would expect any film in the franchise to be,you’re able to (Not) Advanceis full of show-stopping action and richly layered writing. Different from the original story in all the most fascinating ways, it’sa must-see for fans of sci-fi.
Evangelion: 2.0 You Can (Not) Advance
9’Batman: The Dark Knight Returns, Part 2' (2013)
Directed by Jay Oliva
For those familiar with Batman and the world of comics as a whole, the work ofFrank Millerneeds no introduction. More particularly, Miller’sThe Dark Knight Returnscomic book miniseries has for many years been praised as one of the best and most influential comic book stories in history. With such strong material as a foundation, it’s no wonder that the 2012 and 2013 direct-to-video two-parter adaptation of the story is so good.
The first part is fantastic, butBatman: The Dark Knight Returns,Part 2is somehow even better. One of the best-ever cinematic renditions of the Caped Crusader,full of unforgettable animation and political nuance,Part 2is a fully adult Batman story that all fans of the character—and, quite frankly, of animation in general—should check out at least once in their lives.
Batman: The Dark Knight Returns, Part 2
8’Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence' (2004)
Directed by Mamoru Oshii
A still fromGhost in the Shell 2: Innocence, directed by Mamoru Oshii.
Image via GKIDS Films
Ghost in the Shellis typically praised as one ofthe best anime movies ever, but its sequel,Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence, is a wildly underrated chapter in the franchise. Although its incredibly complex plot is definitely daunting for all those not keeping track with a notebook, the experience as a whole is highly rewarding.
The animation is out of this world, the many philosophical layers of the narrative arerichly interesting to dissect, and beautifully directed. Many criticized the film upon release due to its highly elevated intellectualism, which might have been perceived as pretentious, but time has been kind to this sequel. Over the years, it seems that more and morefans have been warming up toGhost in the Shell 2, as it should be.
Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence
7’Ne Zha 2' (2025)
Directed by Yang Yu
The firstNe Zhawas quite a hit in its native China, but it went by relatively unnoticed in North America. That’s definitely not the case withNe Zha 2, which refused to be swept under the mainstream rug by becoming not just the highest-grossing animated movie of all time, but the fifth highest-grossing movie in general. Not at all a small achievement for a Chinese IP that few viewers in the West had ever heard about.
Ne Zha 2isn’t just a pop-culture phenomenon, either: It’s a genuinely fantastic animated sequel. Its elevation of the Chinese legend upon which it’s based is stunning, as is its highly inventive animation.Technically commendable and wonderfully magical,Ne Zha 2is an awe-inspiring achievement that very much earned its place among the most legendary animated films in history.
6’Kung Fu Panda 2' (2011)
Directed by Jennifer Yuh Nelson
The originalKung Fu Pandawas one of DreamWorks Animation’s best efforts by the time it was released, but the studio didn’t exactly have a spotless track record. As such, it was hard to know what to expect from the sequel. As it turned out,Kung Fu Panda 2is even better than its predecessor. As emotionally riveting as it is packed with fun action, it’s right up there as one of the most entertaining martial arts movies of the 21st century.
Kung Fu Panda 2is one ofthe greatest animated movie sequelsof all time, thanks to its complex and terrifying villain, Po’s beautifully nuanced arc, the surprisingly mature writing, and the endlessly fun action sequences. It’sprofound, wild, and gorgeously colorful, a surprising gem that never gets old.Jennifer Yuh Nelsonis a great director, and this is undoubtedly her best-ever work.
Kung Fu Panda 2
5’Evangelion: 3.0+1.0 Thrice Upon a Time' (2021)
Everyone likes a movie series that peaks in its final chapter. Thankfully forEvangelionfans, that’s very much the case with theRebuild of Evangelionfranchise. Amazing thoughYou Can (Not) Advancemay be, and disappointing thoughEvangelion: 3.0 You Can (Not) Redomay have been,Evangelion: 3.0+1.0 Thrice Upon a Timeis a true masterpiece of 21st-century animation.
It definitely is a somewhat more accessible finale and the perfect way to end theRebuild of Evangelionstory.
WhetherThrice Upon a Timeis or isn’t a betterEvangelionending thanThe End of Evangelionis definitely up for debate. However, it is a somewhat more accessible finale and the perfect way to end theRebuild of Evangelionstory.Hugely cathartic and tremendous in scale, it’s everything that any fan of the franchise could have hoped for—and more.
4’Puss in Boots: The Last Wish' (2022)
Directed by Joel Crawford
As hugely influential and impactful on pop culture as it was,Shrekspawned a franchise that has definitely had ups and downs.Puss in Bootswasn’t a “down” by any means, but it wasn’t really good or memorable enough to deserve to be called an “up.” As such, people weren’t really expecting much from its sequel, which only made it more delightful thatPuss in Boots: The Last Wishturned out as well as it did.
One of thebest animated movies of the 2020sso far,The Last Wishis a masterpiece—there’s just no way around that. It’s full of color, effective humor, and adrenaline-pumping action for the little ones of the family, but also containsa richly nuanced story full of existentialist themesexplored in a mature tone for older viewers. It’s the kind of animated sequel that absolutely anyone and everyone can enjoy.
Puss in Boots: The Last Wish
3’Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse' (2023)
Directed by Joaquim Dos Santos, Kemp Powers, and Justin K. Thompson
No one saw it coming, but upon release,Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Versetook the world by storm and instantly cemented itself as not just many people’s favoriteSpider-Manadventure yet, but one of themost beloved animated movies of all time. A lot was riding on its sequel, and somehow,Across the Spider-Versemanaged to surpass its predecessor in virtually every way.
Across the Spider-Versehas some of themost jaw-dropping visuals that cinema has ever seen, but that’s not all that it has going for it. A love letter to the character and mythos of the Wall-Crawler, it’s a thrilling superhero story full of irresistible action scenes and anchored by a powerful script. It’s funny, exciting, emotional, and aboutas close to perfection as animated sequels come.
Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse
2’Toy Story 3' (2010)
Directed by Lee Unkrich
Toy Story, the first fully computer-animated feature film in history, revolutionized the industry forever.Toy Story 2, usually agreed to be even better, is one of the best animated sequels of the 20th century. Legacy sequels don’t always work out, but 11 years after the second installment in the series cameToy Story 3, and somehow, it’sthe best of the bunch.
Perhaps it’s the timeless animation, or the emotionally engrossing arc that each character goes through, or the story that expertly balancespoignancy, excitement, humor, and even suspense. Whatever it is,Toy Story 3is one of thebest animated movies of the last 25 years. The directing is flawless, the voice acting is great, and the story feels like both a beautiful swan song and an engaging portrayal of both the pains and magic of growing up.
Toy Story 3
1’Shrek 2' (2004)
Shrek’s impact on pop culture cannot be overstated, and it can’t be denied thatShrek 2is one of those rare sequels that are even better than their great predecessors.Absolutely hilarious, brilliantly satirical, surprisingly emotional, and marvelously written, it’s genuinely one of thebest animated movies of the last three decades, as well as the best animated sequel of the 21st century.
The world-building and rich characterization of the first movie are beautifully continued and expanded here, resulting ina deeply compelling story full of timeless twists and unforgettable moments. With a heart-racing third act, just the right amount of musical numbers, and a number of engaging character arcs,Shrek 2is a masterclass in how to get a sequel to a legendary animated film right.
