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Best Children’s Animated Alien Movies :: The portal of the largest rankings on the Internet!

This is a comprehensive list of the top 10 children’s animated alien movies of the 21st century, based on aggregated opinions of critics, as well as personal preferences.

Top 10 Children’s Animated Alien Movies of the 21st Century

	Title of the Movie	Year / Country / Director / Cast	Movie Description
1	Lilo and Stitch	Release Date: 2002 Country: USA Directors: Dean DeBlois, Chris Sanders Cast (voice): Daveigh Chase, Chris Sanders, Tia Carrere, Kevin McDonald, David Ogden Stiers, Kevin Michael Richardson, Ving Rhames, Zoe Caldwell, Susan Hegarty, Jason Scott Lee, Amy Hill, Steve Alterman	Heartwarming, captivating, and visually stunning; there are plenty of good reasons for Lilo and Stitch to top our list. The fusion of gorgeous Hawaiian scenery with the complex relationship between two sisters would be sufficient to grab our attention for the entirety of the movie; add an intergalactic element into the mix, and you have one of the finest pieces of Disney animation of all time. Lilo is a unique little girl. She loves Elvis, dancing, and creating her own dolls. Unfortunately, her classmates don’t seem to appreciate her quirks, and she has no friends to speak of. Her older sister, Nani, became her guardian after their parents were killed in a car accident. Despite her best efforts, Nani is struggling. She has to balance her responsibilities as a surrogate parent with earning enough money to keep food on the table and maintaining some semblance of a normal life. Nani consistently puts herself last, but there still isn’t enough time to keep the house tidy and Lilo’s energy contained. A visit from the girls’ social worker is an unmitigated disaster, and Nani is advised that if the situation doesn’t improve, Lilo will be taken into foster care. The large and imposing Cobra isn’t messing around, and Nani decides to adopt a dog to give Lilo something to focus her attention upon. Unfortunately for Nani, Lilo doesn’t opt for one of the cute mutts at the pound. Instead, she chooses Stitch, a creature of unknown origin that the supervisor assumed was dead. Stitch is actually an alien, created by Dr Jumba Jookiba, that has escaped from the clutches of the Galactic Federation. Stitch assumes the role of a family pet with limited success, more interested in evading capture than being adorable. The situation at home continues to deteriorate, and Cobra decides to take Lilo into care. However, the terrestrial and intergalactic worlds soon collide, and the sisters are taken on a thrilling adventure. Lilo and Stitch is bold and beautiful, with a central focus on Ohana, or family; nobody gets left behind, or forgotten. A timely lesson for all!
2	Monsters vs Aliens	Release Date: 2009 Country: USA Directors: Rob Letterman, Conrad Vernon Cast (voice): Reese Witherspoon, Seth Rogen, Hugh Laurie, Kiefer Sutherland, Rainn Wilson, Will Arnett, Stephen Colbert, Paul Rudd, Jeffrey Tambor, Amy Poehler, Julie White, Ed Helms, Renée Zellweger	Susan Murphy lives a fairly ordinary life. Sure, she’s engaged to a famous weatherman, but aside from her betrothed, Susan’s life is pretty straightforward. That is, until she is struck by a meteorite. Susan takes on an eerie green glow, before transforming into a giant. She is swiftly squirrelled away into a government research facility, where she is placed alongside other monsters. Susan is given the name Ginormica, and soon strikes a friendship with her fellow inmates. Unbeknownst to Susan, the meteorite that struck her contained an element called quantonium, which is highly desirable across space, thanks to its high-energy properties. An alien commander named Gallaxhar becomes aware of both Earth’s quantonium and Susan as a carrier. He sends a probe to investigate. Alerted to the possibility of alien invasion, it is decided that the captured monsters can help with the effort to neutralise the intergalactic threat. Upon its arrival, the probe attempts to steal the quantonium stored within Susan’s body, which places people around her in grave danger. Working together, the monsters manage to destroy the probe, but Gallaxhar is unpeterbed, and makes his way to Earth to realise his ambition. Susan is unceremoniously dumped by her fiancée, and recommits herself to using the newfound strength for good. With Gallaxhar mere moments away, can the monsters provide a strong challenge against an alien invasion? Monsters vs Aliens is a fantastic movie with plenty of gags that will entertain both kids and grown-ups.
3	Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius	Release Date: 2001 Country: USA Director: John A. Davis Cast (voice): Megan Cavanagh, Mark DeCarlo, Debi Derryberry, Jeffrey Garcia, Andrea Martin, Bob Goen, Carolyn Lawrence, Candi Milo, Rob Paulsen, Crystal Scales, Mary Hart, Martin Short, Patrick Stewart	At the risk of revealing too much, people of a certain age will fondly remember the Jimmy Neutron TV show, which ran on Nickelodeon from 1999 to 2001. This movie was the swansong of the franchise, and certainly didn’t fail to deliver. Jimmy Neutron is a precocious kid; a child genius with boundless ambition. He builds a mock-UFO, in which he goes for a spin with his best friend, Carl, and robot dog, Goddard. Jimmy also sends out a communication beacon, in the hope of contacting aliens. His antics are reprimanded by the Air Force, who investigated the incident, and his parents, who ground him. Moreover, his is given a specific ban from visiting a new attraction in the town, Retroland. Of course, Jimmy sneaks out to enjoy Retroland. Whilst he and the other kids are having fun, a band of aliens called Yolkians sets about abducting the town’s parents. The Yolkians received Jimmy’s communication, and created an elaborate ruse that would allow them to steal a large group of humans and offer them as a sacrifice to the Yolkian deity, Poultra. They leave postcards for the kids, detailing a mass-vacation to Florida. Whilst they are initially ecstatic about their freedom, the youngsters soon find themselves missing their parents. Jimmy becomes suspicious when he listens to a snippet of a conversation between his parents, recorded by Goddard. According to the tape, his parents planned to be at home the morning after they supposedly decided to take a holiday. He soon discovers the Yolkian’s plan, and must use his talents to save the town’s adults. Jimmy Neutron’s cinematic foray is perfectly in keeping with the tone of the show, and remains a fun movie that can be enjoyed by kids of all ages, even if they’re new to the characters.
4	Megamind	Release Date: 2010 Country: USA Director: Tom McGrath Cast (voice): Will Ferrell, Brad Pitt, Tina Fey, Jonah Hill, David Cross, Jessica Schulte, Ben Stiller, Justin Theroux, Tom McGrath, Emily Nordwind, Ella Olivia Stiller, J.K. Simmons, Brian Hopkins, Quinn Dempsey Stiller	An all-star cast takes the helm in this alien escapade, with Will Ferrel, Tina Fey, Brad Pitt, and Jonah Hill providing voices. A classic superhero story with a fair few twists, we are introduced to the superhero Metro Man, and his adversary, Megamind. The two were brought to Earth as infants, and have maintained a rivalry ever since. After discovering that copper saps Metro Man’s strength, Megamind uses the metal to weaken his enemy and kill him with a death ray. Despite initial euphoria, Megamind soon finds himself bored without the challenge of defeating Metro Man. He decides to recreate the superhero, using a serum made from Metro Man’s DNA. The serum is inadvertently injected into a hapless cameraman named Hal, who Megamind must mentor whilst remaining undercover. Whilst disguised, Megamind also develops a relationship with newscaster Roxanne Ritchi. Hal, now transforming into a superhero named Titan, becomes jealous and attempts to thwart the camouflaged Megamind. In the process, Megamind’s disguise fails in the presence of both Roxanne and Hal, scuppering the entire plan. Only one superhero can help. But Metro Man is dead, right? There’s only one way to find out! Some animated movies with big name vocal actors can fail to live up to their hype, but Megamind’s success is justified. A solid storyline collides with stellar performances to create a thrilling experience for kids and big kids alike.
5	Chicken Little	Release Date: 2005 Country: USA Director: Mark Dindal Cast (voice): Zach Braff, Garry Marshall, Don Knotts, Amy Sedaris, Patrick Stewart, Harry Shearer, Steve Zahn, Joan Cusack, Wallace Shawn, Catherine O'Hara, Patrick Warburton, Fred Willard, Mark Walton, Adam West, Mark Dindal	It’s one young chickens’ job to save his small town from aliens in this sweet animated movie staring Zach Braff as the lead. Chicken little appears to be the “chicken who cried wolf” at the start of the movie as he tries to convince friends and family that the sky is falling by being hit by a piece of it. He is hit by another piece a year later as his life has taken a downturn after being ridiculed by the town for his wild claims. He then discovers that it’s not the sky at all, but in fact, part of a UFO that has camouflage and can make itself invisible. Aliens descend and after a brief encounter flee, accidentally leaving behind a little alien which Chicken Little and his friends discover. When the aliens think the town has stolen one of its members they start to attack and it’s up to chicken little to earn their trust and return their little alien back to its parents before the town is completely destroyed. Chicken Little is a heartwarming tale and a Disney fable recreation that has left it a kids’ favourite that has something for the adults too!
6	Home	Release Date: 2015 Country: USA Director: Tim Johnson Cast (voice): Jim Parsons, Rihanna, Steve Martin, Jennifer Lopez, Brian Stepanek, Matt Jones, Stephen Kearin, April Lawrence, Lisa Stewart, April Winchell	Home certainly managed to score some big names. Steve Martin, Rihanna, and Jim Parsons take the leading roles in this intricate alien adventure. The Boov are a nomadic alien race, perpetually on the move, to evade their enemies, the Gorg. The leader of the Boov, Captain Smek, decides that Earth will be their new home. The Boov commandeer the homes of humans and relocate them, creating their own communities. Oh is a Boov with a free spirit, which doesn’t always endear him to his fellow aliens. After the move, he throws a housewarming party for all of the earthly Boov. To his shock and upset, nobody arrives. Desperate to garnish the friendship of his clan, Oh sends another invite to what he believes are all the Boov on Earth. In fact, he inadvertently hurls a message to all users in the universe, including the dreaded Dorg, with details of his new address. This alarms the Boov leadership, who desperately try to intercept Oh’s invitation. Oh goes on the run with a human teenager named Tip, whose home was taken by the invading Boov. They dedicate themselves to tracking down Tip’s mother, Lucy. Unbeknownst to the pair, the Boov authorities are hot on their tails. Home is an enchanting adventure, with plenty of pop culture references to keep grown-ups interested!
7	Escape From Planet Earth	Release Date: 2013 Country: USA, Canada Director: Cal Brunker Cast (voice): Brendan Fraser, Rob Corddry, Jonathan Morgan Heit, Ricky Gervais, Jessica Alba, Sarah Jessica Parker, Sofía Vergara, Paul Scheer, Jason Simpson, Doug Abrahams, Trevor Devall, Brian Dobson, Jason Benson	On Planet Baab, Scorch Supernova is nothing short of a hero. He travels the galaxy and is adored at home, particularly after a recent expedition to rescue a group of babies from their captors, the evil Gnarlachs. He works at Baab’s equivalent of NASA, imaginatively given the acronym BASA. It’s also where his brother Gary works; not as an astronaut, but as a scientist behind the scenes. Gary’s wife is a former BASA test pilot, and their son Kip also holds ambitions to make his way into space. Kip idolises his uncle, and emulates Scorch’s sense of adventure. BASA head of operations, Lena Thackleman, assigns Scorch to a potentially dangerous yet important mission; to visit the ‘Dark Planet’ and answer an SOS call. Gary advises against it, but Scorch presses ahead and begins his journey to Earth. Meanwhile, an apprehensive Kira decides to conduct her own investigation into the true reasoning behind the mission. She uncovers an explosive scandal, and realises that Scorch’s life is in mortal danger. Kip volunteers to help his uncle, but is thwarted at the last second. Gary decides instead that he will follow Scorch to Earth, to help his brother and ensure their mutual safety. As you would expect, not everything goes to plan. Gary and Scorch must reunite and work together, to fight corruption and return to Baab. There are plenty of hurdles along the way, and Escape From Planet Earth provides the twists and turns that maintain an interesting narrative.
8	Planet 51	Release Date: 2009 Country: Spain, UK, USA Directors: Jorge Blanco, Javier Abad (co-director), Marcos Martínez (co-director) Cast (voice): Dwayne Johnson, Jessica Biel, Justin Long, Seann William Scott, Gary Oldman, Alan Marriott, John Cleese, Mathew Horne, James Corden, Freddie Benedict, Lewis Macleod, Emma Tate, Rupert Degas	Many of the great alien movies involve extra-terrestrial visitors to Earth, but what about human adventures in space? This movie flips the genre on its head, and tells the story from the perspective of the titular planet’s residents. Planet 51 is eerily reminiscent of Earth, stalled in the 1950s. Its inhabitants are human-like in stature, but green in hue, with snail antenna and elven ears. They live peacefully on their planet, and hold artefacts from the history of human space exploration. Thanks to possession of a large proportion of Earth treasure from this era, Planet 51 has fully embraced the fashion and lifestyle trends of the 1950s. The citizens’ lives continue without incident until they suddenly become aware of a visitor from outer space. Their armed forces are understandably alarmed, and ready the planet for a full-scale invasion. However, it turns out to be just one man; NASA astronaut Charles Baker, otherwise known as Chuck. Although he expects to plant a flag and quickly depart, Chuck soon finds himself embroiled in something of a showdown with Planet 51’s authorities. With the help of teenager Lem, who holds a keen interest in space, Chuck must navigate his way back to his ship and escape, to avoid meeting an untimely end at the hands of hostile forces. Planet 51 has an interesting concept and plenty of warmth; particularly in the friendship between Chuck and Lem. A fun film with excellent gags.
9	Scooby Doo and the Alien Invaders	Release Date: 2000 Country: USA Director: Jim Stenstrum Cast (voice): Scott Innes, Mary Kay Bergman, Frank Welker, Jennifer Hale, B.J. Ward, Jeff Bennett, Mark Hamill, Neil Ross, Candi Milo, Audrey Wasilewski, Kevin Michael Richardson	The Mystery Machine has found its way to the mysterious Roswell, New Mexico; famous for its UFO incident and continued inspiration for extra-terrestrial conspiracy theorists. The gang soon find themselves in an interstellar adventure of their own! Upon spotting a UFO, most of the crew head off to investigate, while Scooby and Shaggy wait with the bus. However, the action soon comes to them, thanks to a wily jackalope. Scooby and Shaggy follow the mythical creature into a cave, where they are met by real-life aliens! The duo reach a diner, and try to explain their encounter to other patrons, but are largely ignored by a crowd that is probably used to such claims. However, a man named Lester is far more sympathetic, and gives the pair an overview of the research being conducted in Roswell, as well as his own experience of alien abduction. That night, while sleeping on the roof of the Mystery Machine, Scooby and Shaggy are themselves taken aboard a spaceship. They are returned to Earth the following morning, but their experience makes them even more determined to discover who and what is behind the mysterious occurrences in Roswell. As you would expect, this is a hugely entertaining caper, with a classic Scooby Doo twist ending!
10	Mars Needs Moms	Release Date: 2011 Country: USA Director: Simon Wells Cast: Seth Green, Dan Fogler, Joan Cusack, Mindy Sterling, Elisabeth Harnois, Jacquie Barnbrook, Kevin Cahoon, Tom Everett Scott, Matthew Henerson, Stephen Kearin, Adam Jennings, Amber Gainey Meade	Milo is at a difficult age, right on the cusp of his teenage years. He doesn’t always appreciate his mom’s good-natured fussing, and after one particularly heated argument, Milo announces he would be better off without her. When he finally relents and goes to apologise, he finds that his worst fears are realised; his mother is being abducted by aliens! Milo manages to board the ship, and when it arrives on Mars, he is separated from his mom. Underneath the planet’s surface, he meets another human named Gribble, who explains the situation. Martian children aren’t raised by their parents, but by machines called nannybots. The majority of nannybots are not blessed with a maternal instinct, so the Martian authorities, keen to replicate the nurturing qualities found on Earth, sacrifice human mothers and extract their ‘momness’ to transplant into nannybots. Milo discovers that his own mom will become the next victim the following morning. Gribble reluctantly agrees to help Milo secure his mother’s release, but they are discovered by Martian authorities during the attempt to free her. Whilst Milo manages to escape, Gribble is sentenced to death, and Milo’s mom is still held captive. A Martian named Ki, who helps to supervise the nannybots, is sympathetic to Milo and Gribble, and helps them in their adventure. With every second that passes, both Gribble and Milo’s mom are moving closer to their untimely ends; will Milo and Ki be able to save them? Mars Needs Moms is an endearing movie with an interesting premise and genuine heart.

The Intergalactic Playground: Why is Animation a Great Format for Alien Movies?

In our list of animated movies about aliens, we’ve seen an array of divergent stories, all with a central facet. Aliens continue to intrigue us, precisely because they are so elusive. But what is it about animation as a filmmaking format that makes it a perfect fit for an exploration of strange new worlds? Let’s find out!

Suspended reality
Although many of us wish to believe in eventual contact with our extra-terrestrial neighbours, in the absence of evidence to the contrary, any film about aliens is firmly rooted in fiction.

That’s not a criticism. When we watch alien movies, we’re not looking for reality. We’re anticipating the gloriously unreal. Animation can help the filmmaker to deliver that.

Space for full creativity
A related point. The animated movie begins, quite literally, as a blank canvas. Writers, directors, and animators are therefore able to explore their ideas without restriction. If it can be imagined, it can be animated!

Worlds that form on storyboards and rough sketches are developed and finessed thanks to animation. It is a format that permits the most hair-brained ideas to transform into viable movies.

Easier to film than live-action
Consider the movies that made it to our list; how complex would they be to film as live-action? For some of the concepts we looked at, it would likely be outside the realms of possibility; or at least, far beyond the reach of even the most generous budgets.

Animation is superior in this regard. Although extremely labour-intensive and still expensive to create, animated movies are far more straightforward to organise and bring to fruition.

We can’t wait to see what the future holds for animated alien movies!