(Credit: Netflix)
Every week, I browse the thousands of movies on Netflix, checking out what's topping charts on the streaming service and writing up fresh recommendations. I use metrics like popularity, ratings on IMDb and Rotten Tomatoes, and my deep Letterboxd watchlist. Swapped is another big animated hit for Netflix's original movies division; below are some other toons that you may be interested in.
Swapped
It's not surprising that Swapped is doing well, as it's directed by the guy who made Tangled for Disney, supervised by former Pixar head John Lasseter at Skydance. This flick was originally headed to Apple TV before Netflix took over distribution, and that was a smart move. Michael B. Jordan and Juno Temple star as a pair of woodland creatures—an otter-like mammal and a big green bird—who trade bodies and have to work together to mend the rift between their species. It's visually imaginative and quite sweet.
- Director: Nathan Greno
- Cast: Juno Temple, Michael B. Jordan, Tracy Morgan
- Genre: Animation
- Rating: PG
- IMDB Rating: 7.3/10
Klaus
When your first original animated movie gets an Oscar nomination, you know you're on the right track. Klaus was universally praised when it was released in 2019 as the debut of Netflix's animated feature division, and it's a charmer. When layabout postman Jesper gets assigned to the frozen town of Smeerensburg with an ultimatum to process 6,000 letters, a reclusive toymaker might be his only hope. Great voice cast, lovely hand-drawn art, and surprising depth make this one a must-watch.
- Directors: Carlos Martínez López, Sergio Pablos
- Stars: Jason Schwartzman, J.K. Simmons, Rashida Jones
- Genre: Animation
- Rating: PG
- IMDb Rating: 8.2/10
Nimona
Based on the breakout hit graphic novel by ND Stevenson, Nimona went through a convoluted path before becoming a Netflix exclusive, starting at Blue Sky, being canceled, then reopening at Annapurna, and being sold to Netflix. All that time in the oven paid off, because it's a gorgeous film that draws visual inspiration from the geometric naturalism of artist Charley Harper, blended with a compelling, surprisingly deep story and excellent voice performances. Discussion of a sequel is still ongoing.
- Directors: Nick Bruno, Troy Quane
- Stars: Chloë Grace Moretz, Riz Ahmed, Eugene Lee Yang
- Genre: Animation
- Rating: PG
- IMDb Rating: 7.5/10
KPop Demon Hunters
You can't talk about animation on Netflix without mentioning last year's most unexpected cultural phenomenon. When the streamer saved KPop Demon Hunters from Sony, nobody had a clue how it would hit the zeitgeist. The story of girl group Huntrix protecting the world from supernatural entities is a whirlwind of great tunes, killer choreography, and exciting fight scenes, and it's been watched over 500 million times. It won Best Animated Feature and Best Original Song at both the Golden Globes and the Oscars. A sequel is on the way in 2029.
- Directors: Chris Appelhans, Maggie Kang
- Stars: Arden Cho, May Hong, Ji-young Yoo
- Genre: Animation
- Rating: TV-MA
- IMDb Rating: 7.4/10
Want to see everything that's new on Netflix this month? We've got you covered.