Top 10 Animated Movies to Improve Your English Listening and Speaking Skills Effectively

Happy Feet is a 3D animated film directed by George Miller about a penguin named Mumble who can't sing but is an amazing dancer. The movie was produced in Sydney and widely released in the US and across Asia and Europe.

The story centers on Mumble, a penguin living in a frozen land where social status is determined by singing ability. Unfortunately, Mumble's singing is terrible, despite his parents, Memphis and Norma Jean, being great singers. Still, they love him dearly. There's a catch: if Mumble can't perform the song 'Heartsong,' he will never find a mate. Meanwhile, Mumble has a best friend, Gloria, who is an exceptional singer, which causes tension between them.

Because of his poor singing voice, Mumble becomes an outcast, even in the eyes of the kingdom's leader, Penguin Noah. Eventually, Mumble is banished and, after wandering, finds his way to the Adelie Amigos kingdom, a place where singing is not important. There, Mumble experiences true happiness and acceptance.

Happy Feet won the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature (2006) and Best Original Song (Song of the Heart). Watching this film will help you learn English intonation and rhythm through the dynamic voice acting and expressive dialogues of the characters.

Ice Age is a 2002 computer-animated film produced by Blue Sky Studios and 20th Century Fox. Directed by Carlos Saldanha and Chris Wedge, based on a story by Michael J. Wilson, the film stars the voices of Ray Romano, John Leguizamo, and Denis Leary. It was nominated for Best Animated Feature at the 75th Academy Awards.

The film received positive reviews from both critics and audiences, kicking off the Ice Age franchise. By 2016, the franchise had released five films. The sequels include Ice Age 2: The Meltdown, Ice Age 3: Dawn of the Dinosaurs, Ice Age 4: Continental Drift, and Ice Age 5: Collision Course.

A great learning tip is to watch the entire movie and then focus on a short dialogue section (1-2 minutes long) to transcribe what you hear. This is a fun way to practice English as it sparks motivation for language learning, which is essential for better focus and efficiency in studying.

Kung Fu Panda, known as Kung Fu Panda in English, is a 3D animated film produced by DreamWorks and directed by John Stevenson and Mark Osborne, with production by Melissa Cobb.

The story follows a panda named Po, who dreams of mastering Kung Fu but faces opposition from his father, who wants him to take over the family noodle business. However, by chance, Po gets the opportunity to train with a Kung Fu master alongside other skilled martial artists. The film unfolds with humorous and heartwarming adventures of Po, the food-loving yet hopeful panda.

The storyline is simple, and even if you miss a few words, you can still grasp the main plot. The language is accessible, and if you come across any unfamiliar terms, be sure to keep a notebook nearby to jot them down for future reference!

Madagascar is a 2005 animated comedy film produced by DreamWorks Animation and distributed by DreamWorks Pictures. Released on May 27, 2005, it became a box office hit and one of the highest-grossing films of that year. The success led to sequels, including Madagascar 2 (Escape to Africa) and Madagascar 3 (Europe's Most Wanted).

For English learners, spending just 15-30 minutes a day practicing with animated films can greatly improve your communication skills. You can focus on a specific dialogue for 2-3 days. With consistent practice, you'll notice significant improvements in your listening and pronunciation abilities.

Sleeping Beauty, a 1959 animated musical fantasy film by Walt Disney, is based on Charles Perrault's fairy tale of the same name. It was the 16th animated feature from Disney, released on January 29, 1959, by Buena Vista Distribution. Despite an initial mixed reception and underperformance at the box office, it remains a classic. This film marked Disney's final adaptation of a fairy tale for several years, as the company didn't return to this genre until 1989 with The Little Mermaid, after Walt Disney's passing in 1966.

Don't forget to set aside some time for entertainment and use animated films to improve your English. It's a fantastic way to absorb a new language quickly and effectively! Make sure to watch with English subtitles (Engsub) as it helps you assess your listening skills and comprehension. Always note down new words or ones you misheard, so you can learn from them next time.

The Jungle Book (Cậu Bé Rừng Xanh) is a classic animated film by Disney, based on Rudyard Kipling's famous story. It's one of the most iconic animated films from Disney, earning massive success and playing a key role in rescuing Walt Disney Pictures during its early years. The film was re-released 19 times and its sequel, The Jungle Book 2, was released in 2003. This was also Walt Disney's final project before his death in 1966.

Keep in mind that you don’t need to understand every single line of dialogue in the film. You can rewatch it as many times as you want, learning English at your own pace. Take your time—there’s no rush! The most important thing is to enjoy learning through animation and keep your enthusiasm high.

Tangled (2010) is a 3D computer-animated musical adventure film produced by Walt Disney Animation Studios and distributed by Walt Disney Pictures. It is primarily based on the German fairy tale 'Rapunzel' from the Brothers Grimm collection. The story follows a princess with magical long hair, who has been locked away in a tower. Against her mother’s wishes, she teams up with a thief to explore the outside world she's never seen before. Tangled received several awards, including the Oscar for Best Original Song for 'I See the Light'. The film was released on Blu-ray and DVD on March 29, 2011, with a follow-up animated short, Tangled Ever After, released in 2012.

Learning English through animated films is most effective when you practice using both the original English and Vietnamese subtitles together. This method helps you expand your vocabulary, understand the meaning of words, and improve your English listening skills.

Aladdin (1992) is an animated film produced by Walt Disney, based on the classic tale of 'Aladdin and the Magic Lamp'. The story follows a young man named Aladdin, who accidentally acquires a magical lamp. With the help of a funny and mischievous genie, Aladdin, an orphaned street rat, achieves his dreams, gaining riches and winning the heart of a beautiful princess.

The success of Aladdin is largely attributed to Robin Williams’ voice work, which brought the genie character to life in a way that made him even more beloved than the title character. Whenever the genie appeared, his magical antics would steal the show, often overshadowing the other characters.

This film is an excellent choice for learning English due to its engaging storyline, simple language, and the iconic song 'A Whole New World', which was ranked as one of the best songs in Disney animated films. Watching the movie to learn English is both entertaining and educational.

Brave (2012) is a computer-animated fantasy film produced by Pixar Animation Studios and released by Walt Disney Pictures. The story, written by director Brenda Chapman, draws inspiration from her relationship with her daughter. Set in the Scottish Highlands, the film follows Merida, a princess who unintentionally causes chaos in her kingdom by defying an ancient custom of arranged marriage between clans. After seeking help from a witch, Merida accidentally transforms her mother into a bear, and she must break the curse before it’s too late.

Brave won the Oscar for Best Animated Feature, the Golden Globe for Best Animated Feature, and the BAFTA Award for Best Animated Film, among other accolades. It’s an ideal film for learning English while also gaining inspiration from the strong, talented, and intelligent princess Merida.

Cinderella (1950) is the 12th animated feature by Walt Disney Pictures, based on the 1822 fairy tale by the Brothers Grimm. This iconic film marks a major success for Disney and ushered in the company's Golden Age of animation, with an era of creative expansion that began in the 1940s. Cinderella is considered one of the most iconic works in Disney's history.

The story’s familiarity makes it easy to follow and memorize lines, as it’s a tale cherished by many since childhood. Try reading along, and after watching, try dubbing the characters yourself—it’s an effective learning tool!