Best Animated Family Films of 2008: Fun for Kids and Parents

A Muppets Christmas: Letters to Santa

2008 • 43 min • Budget $5M

Family, Comedy, Adventure

Gonzo forgets to mail three letters to Santa Claus, so he enlists Kermit and the gang to help him deliver them to the North Pole. During their journey, they realize that Christmas is about spending time with loved ones, and…

5.9

6.3

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Still Walking

2008 • 114 min • Box office $3M

Drama, Family

A family comes together for a traditional ceremony, the meaning of which is revealed slowly.

7.8

7.9

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The Clique

2008 • 87 min

Comedy, Drama, Family

After moving into the guest house of one of the school's most popular girls, a young girl desperately tries to become accepted by the tight-knit group.

5.9

5.2

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The Cheetah Girls: One World

2008 • 90 min

Family, Comedy, Drama

Chanel, Dorinda, and Aqua travel to India for a Bollywood film. However, they learn they must compete for the lead role. Will this competition cause the group to disband once more?

6.1

4.7

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Ballet Shoes

2008 • 85 min

Drama, Family

In 1930s London, the unconventional explorer Gum and his compassionate niece take in three orphaned girls: Pauline, Petrova, and Posy, raising them as sisters. When Gum disappears on an expedition, the girls must learn to support themselves. This charming television…

6.4

6.6

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The Good Witch

2008 • 89 min

Family, Fantasy, Drama

A mysterious woman arrives in town and takes residence in the old, haunted mansion, sparking rumors that she might be a witch or the legendary "Grey Lady."

7.0

7.1

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The Pirates Who Don't Do Anything: A VeggieTales Movie

2008 • 86 min • Budget $15M • Box office $13M

Adventure, Animation, Comedy

In *The Pirates Who Don't Do Anything - A VeggieTales Movie*, Larry the Cucumber, Mr. Lunt, and Pa Grape are unexpectedly transported back to the golden age of piracy. The familiar VeggieTales characters navigate a hilarious and adventurous journey, sharing…

5.7

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Presto

2008 • 5 min

Animation, Family, Comedy

Presto, a renowned magician of the early 1900s, is known for his elegance and enigmatic performances. However, when Presto forgets to feed his rabbit, he discovers he's not the only one hiding secrets.

7.8

8.3

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Unstable Fables: 3 Pigs and a Baby

2008 • 78 min

Family, Animation, Comedy

Three pigs discover a wolf cub on their doorstep and take him in as one of their own. Unbeknownst to them, they've unknowingly become part of a larger scheme orchestrated by a specialized team of wolves. As Lucky, the adopted…

5.8

5.1

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Beethoven's Big Break

2008 • 101 min

Family, Comedy

Eddie, a struggling animal trainer and single father, unexpectedly becomes the handler for a large, friendly St. Bernard. The dog's impressive performance in a movie audition quickly makes him a star. But a group of dishonest people plots to kidnap…

5.2

4.5

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Trouble at Timpetill

2008 • 133 min

Fantasy, Adventure, Family

After the adults of a remote European mountain village can no longer manage their children's behavior, the children become the village's sole inhabitants.

6.1

5.8

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Oktapodi

2008 • 2 min

Animation, Comedy, Family

Two octopuses struggle to survive, enlisting the help of a determined restaurant cook in a humorous escape across the streets of a quaint Greek village.

6.9

7.2

The Meerkats

2008 • 83 min

Documentary, TV Movie, Family

This coming-of-age story follows Kolo, a young meerkat pup, as he grows up in the Kalahari desert. It's an inspiring look at how one family's bond with each other and their environment demonstrates resilience and strength. Shot with innovative techniques,…

6.7

7.3

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Scooby-Doo! and the Goblin King

2008 • 75 min

Adventure, Animation, Comedy

Scooby-Doo and Shaggy venture into the Goblin King's realm to thwart The Amazing Krudsky. Krudsky, a mortal, seeks power and poses a danger to Scooby-Doo's friends: Fred, Velma, and Daphne.

7.6

6.3

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Spy School

2008 • 86 min • Budget $3M

Adventure, Family, Comedy

Spy School follows a twelve-year-old boy with a talent for exaggeration who accidentally learns about a plot to kidnap the President's daughter. When he tries to warn the authorities, he's dismissed. Determined to save her, he must take action himself.

4.6

4.5

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Bhoothnath

2008 • 151 min

Family, Comedy

Banku, his mother Anjali Sharma, and father move into the Nath villa, unaware that a ghost already lives there. The ghost is unhappy about the new residents. However, he doesn't expect to form an unexpected friendship with Banku. Now, Banku…

6.1

6.5

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Mater the Greater

2008 • 4 min

Animation, Family, Comedy

Mater recounts to Lightning McQueen his past life as a daring stunt driver.

6.1

5.9

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The Missing Lynx

2008 • 97 min • Budget $6M • Box office $1M

Animation, Family, Adventure

A wealthy eccentric becomes determined to build a modern Noah's Ark. He hires a hunter to capture a large number of animals for this purpose. But the animals, working together, manage to escape the hunter and thwart his plans, ultimately…

6.3

5.2

Doraemon: Nobita and the Green Giant Legend

2008 • 112 min • Box office $31M

Adventure, Animation, Family

Once again, Nobita is worried about failing his tests. A sudden gust of wind blows his papers away, and he ends up falling into a garbage dump while trying to retrieve them. There, he discovers a small, struggling tree that…

6.8

6.7

Viva High School Musical: Mexico

2008 • 100 min • Box office $4M

Family, Music, Romance

High school football captain Cristóbal notices his neighbor and classmate, Mariana, is different after the summer. Meanwhile, Luli remains self-absorbed, often eclipsing her brother, Fernando. As the new school year starts at High School Mexico (HSM), a "Battle of the…

6.4

5.5

Impy's Wonderland

2008 • 84 min

Animation, Adventure, Family

A baby dinosaur with wings lives on an island with a group of friendly animals. Their peaceful world is disrupted when a clumsy dinosaur hunter arrives. He tricks the winged dinosaur into returning with him, intending to capture it for…

6.5

4.5

Carlitos and the Chance of a Lifetime

2008 • 107 min • Box office $1M

Comedy, Family

Carlitos is a touching story about a young boy determined to play soccer and stay true to himself.

6.7

5.6

Garfield's Fun Fest

2008 • 79 min • Box office $3M

Family, Comedy, Adventure

Garfield's impressive 29-year run as champion of the annual Fun Fest talent show is challenged by Ramone, a charming newcomer. Worried about his comedic abilities fading, Garfield embarks on a journey to find Freddy Frog's legendary pond. Legend says a…

5.0

4.3

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+12

Unstable Fables: Tortoise vs. Hare

2008 • 80 min

Animation, Family, Comedy

Years after the legendary race between the Hare and the Tortoise, their children are ready for their own competition. The descendants of these famous rivals are about to take their family feud to increasingly absurd extremes.

5.7

5.1

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31 Minutos, la película

2008 • 84 min • Budget $2M • Box office $1M

Family, Comedy, Adventure

When the ruthless billionaire Cachirula kidnaps Juanín Juan Harry for her strange animal collection, the 31 Minutos crew launches a wild rescue attempt, demonstrating that friendship is worth any trouble.

7.2

6.9

The Tale of Despereaux

2008 • 93 min • Budget $60M • Box office $87M

Adventure, Animation, Family

In the distant kingdom of Dor, a courageous and honorable mouse with unusually large ears aspires to be a knight. Exiled for his ambitious dreams, Despereaux embarks on a remarkable journey with his kind rat companion, Roscuro. Roscuro guides him…

6.1

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Kung Fu Panda

2008 • 90 min • Budget $130M • Box office $632M

Animation, Family, Comedy

The peaceful Valley of Peace faces danger, and Po the panda unexpectedly learns he's destined to be a hero. He begins training in kung fu, but changing the clumsy slacker into a brave warrior proves difficult. Master Shifu and the…

7.3

7.6

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WALL·E

2008 • 98 min • Budget $180M • Box office $521M

Animation, Family, Science Fiction

After humanity abandons Earth, a lone robot named WALL•E continues his programmed work for centuries. His life changes when he encounters EVE, a sophisticated search robot. EVE discovers that WALL•E has found something vital for the future of the planet…

8.1

8.4

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Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa

2008 • 89 min • Budget $150M • Box office $603M

Adventure, Animation, Comedy

Alex, Marty, and the other zoo animals manage to escape Madagascar when the penguins fix a wrecked airplane. The barely-airworthy plane makes it to Africa. There, they meet other animals like themselves for the first time. Africa is a wild…

6.5

6.7

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Ponyo

2008 • 100 min • Budget $34M • Box office $202M

Animation, Fantasy, Family

Young Sosuke, who lives by the sea, rescues a goldfish named Ponyo and finds his life changed forever. Ponyo is a lively and curious creature who dreams of becoming human. While she brings playful chaos to Sosuke's home, her father…

7.8

7.6

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Horton Hears a Who!

2008 • 86 min • Budget $85M • Box office $298M

Animation, Comedy, Family

Horton, an imaginative elephant, hears a faint cry for help from a tiny speck of dust. Suspecting life exists on the speck, he's determined to save it. His community dismisses his concerns, but Horton remains resolute in his mission.

6.5

6.8

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The Spiderwick Chronicles

2008 • 95 min • Budget $90M • Box office $164M

Family, Adventure, Fantasy

When the Grace siblings – twins Jared and Simon, and their sister Mallory – move into the dilapidated Spiderwick Estate with their mother, they discover a hidden world populated by faeries and fantastical creatures.

6.7

6.5

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CJ7

2008 • 88 min • Budget $20M • Box office $47M

Comedy, Drama, Family

A struggling construction worker works tirelessly to provide his son with a private education. His life takes an unexpected turn when he discovers an unusual orb in a junkyard. What seems like a simple toy for his son quickly reveals…

7.3

6.4

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High School Musical 3: Senior Year

2008 • 117 min • Budget $11M • Box office $252M

Comedy, Romance, Drama

High school seniors Troy and Gabriella grapple with the prospect of college separating them. To confront their feelings about the future – their hopes and anxieties – they and their fellow Wildcats organize a spring musical.

6.5

5.1

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The Flight Before Christmas

2008 • 80 min • Budget $6M • Box office $21M

Animation, Family, Adventure

Niko, a young reindeer, longs to fly like his father, a man he's never known. He faces ridicule from his peers but secretly seeks flying lessons from Julius, a flying squirrel, venturing out of his home valley to learn.

5.8

6.1

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Open Season 2

2008 • 76 min • Box office $8M

Adventure, Animation, Comedy

Elliot's path to marrying Giselle is complicated when Mr. Weenie, a beloved figure, is kidnapped by a group of spoiled pets who want to bring him back to them.

5.9

5.5

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The Tigger Movie

2000 • 77 min • Budget $30M • Box office $45M

Animation, Family, Comedy

Pooh, Piglet, Owl, Kanga, Roo, and Rabbit are working to create a cozy winter home for Eeyore, who is feeling particularly gloomy. However, Tigger's constant bouncing keeps disrupting their work. Rabbit suggests Tigger find other Tigger friends, but Tigger insists…

6.6

6.4

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Snow Buddies

2008 • 87 min • Budget $4M • Box office $50M

Family, Adventure

Dylan Sprouse, Jim Belushi, and Kris Kristofferson voice this heartwarming story about a spirited group of golden retriever puppies who find themselves on an Alaskan adventure. Stranded in the wilderness, the puppies, descendants of the famous athlete Air Bud, team…

6.1

5.1

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Bedtime Stories

2008 • 99 min • Budget $80M • Box office $212M

Fantasy, Comedy, Family

Skeeter Bronson, a man struggling to make ends meet, entertains his niece and nephew with imaginative bedtime stories. His life changes dramatically when those stories begin to come true. Now, Skeeter must find a way to control the bizarre characters…

6.2

6.0

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Igor

2008 • 87 min • Budget $25M • Box office $30M

Animation, Comedy, Family

A stereotypical hunchbacked villain's assistant dreams of becoming a scientist in his own right, a desire that clashes with the expectations of the nefarious scientific community.

6.0

5.9

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Camp Rock

2008 • 99 min

Music, Comedy, Drama

Mitchie gets the opportunity to go to Camp Rock, which changes her life in unexpected ways, and she discovers the importance of staying true to who she is.

6.4

5.3

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City of Ember

2008 • 90 min • Budget $55M • Box office $17M

Adventure, Family, Fantasy

For generations, the residents of the City of Ember have lived in a world of bright lights. But Ember's main generator is failing, and the lamps that light the city are beginning to dim. Two teenagers must now race against…

6.3

6.4

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Kung Fu Panda: Secrets of the Furious Five

2008 • 25 min

Animation, Family, Action

Assigned to train a group of energetic bunny kittens in martial arts, Po recounts stories from the histories of the Furious Five.

6.8

7.0

Welcome Home Roscoe Jenkins

2008 • 114 min • Budget $35M • Box office $43M

Comedy, Drama, Family

A famous television personality goes back to his Southern hometown, only to find his family makes it clear that a visit isn't going to be easy.

6.0

5.6

13+

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Space Chimps

2008 • 81 min • Budget $37M • Box office $64M

Animation, Family, Adventure

After an unmanned space shuttle crash lands on an unknown planet, NASA sends a team of three astronaut chimpanzees through a wormhole to investigate.

4.9

4.5

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Barbie Mariposa

2008 • 75 min

Animation, Fantasy, Family

Elina, the main character in the Fairytopia movies, recounts to her friend Bibble the tale of Flutterfield, a distant land inhabited by winged fairies. The villainous butterfly fairy Henna has poisoned Flutterfield's queen, plotting to seize control of the kingdom.

6.8

6.2

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College Road Trip

2008 • 83 min • Budget $25M • Box office $51M

Comedy, Family, Action

A driven high school senior plans a cross-country trip to find her ideal college. Her protective police officer father insists on joining her, determined to ensure she stays focused on her academic goals.

5.5

4.4

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Next Avengers: Heroes of Tomorrow

2008 • 78 min • Box office $3M

Animation, Family, Action

The children of the Avengers learn to control their abilities and confront the force that caused their parents' deaths.

7.0

6.2

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+10

Merry Christmas, Drake & Josh

2008 • 94 min

Comedy, Family, TV Movie

Trouble ensues for stepbrothers Drake and Josh when a disastrous Christmas party lands them in a precarious situation: they must ensure their foster family has the best Christmas ever, or risk facing years of jail time.

7.3

6.6

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BURN·E

2008 • 8 min

Animation, Family, Comedy

BURN-E is a dedicated robot who must overcome obstacles to complete his work. When he's locked out of his ship, BURN-E discovers that even simple tasks can present significant challenges.

7.5

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