Top 20 Movies That Mix Live-Action with Animation

About this gallery:

For this list, we’re focusing on live-action movies with animated segments, animated movies with live-action moments, or those that blend both formats seamlessly like a cinematic smoothie. To keep things nice and organized (because chaos is for cartoons), we’ve arranged them in chronological order.

Think we missed an awesome movie that mixes live-action and animation? Drop it in the comments and let us know – we promise we won’t toon you out!

Fantasia (1940)

Before Pixar, before CGI, before your favorite animated mouse even had a voice, there was Fantasia. This Disney classic was way ahead of its time, blending orchestral masterpieces with jaw-dropping animation in a way that made you feel like you were on a fever dream at a symphony. And let’s talk about the most famous scene – Mickey Mouse as the Sorcerer’s Apprentice, playing fast and loose with magical brooms that end up flooding the place. Who knew a simple cleaning spell could turn into a plumbing disaster? With stunning animation synchronized to Tchaikovsky, Beethoven, and Stravinsky, Fantasia remains a mesmerizing work of art that still enchants (and slightly confuses) audiences today. It’s classical music appreciation – Disney-style! | © Walt Disney Productions

Mary Poppins (1964)

Ah, Mary Poppins – the movie that made every kid wish their babysitter could fly and turn cleaning into a musical number. This Disney classic features the iconic Julie Andrews as the practically perfect nanny who takes the Banks children on whimsical adventures, including one that lands them in an animated wonderland. Cue the dancing penguins, talking carousel horses, and a cheerful chimney sweep who defies all known laws of soot and physics. The mix of live-action and animation in the “Jolly Holiday” sequence was groundbreaking at the time, and let’s be honest, it’s still ridiculously charming. You may not be able to jump into a sidewalk chalk drawing in real life, but this film sure makes you want to try. | © Walt Disney Productions

Monty Python and the Holy Grail (1975)

Nobody does absurdity quite like Monty Python, and their take on the King Arthur legend is pure, ridiculous brilliance. Sure, this movie is mostly live-action, but let’s not forget the hilarious animated sequences from Terry Gilliam, whose bizarre cut-out style brings an extra level of insanity to the quest for the Holy Grail. Giant foot squashing someone? Check. Animated monsters chasing the knights before being erased by the animator’s "sudden heart attack"? Absolutely. It’s a medieval epic where coconuts replace horses, the Black Knight refuses to admit defeat (despite missing all his limbs), and an animated deity gets exasperated with his own chosen ones. Honestly, it’s legendary nonsense at its finest. | © EMI Films

Who Framed Roger Rabbit? (1988)

A world where cartoons and humans co-exist? Where Bugs Bunny and Mickey Mouse share a scene? Where a hardboiled detective is forced to babysit a frantic, wisecracking toon rabbit? Who Framed Roger Rabbit? is a genre-defying masterpiece that blends live-action and animation so seamlessly, you’ll swear Roger Rabbit is real (and honestly, wouldn’t that be fun?). The film perfectly captures the golden age of animation while delivering a noir-style mystery filled with witty humor, Hollywood satire, and one of the most terrifying villains ever – Christopher Lloyd’s Judge Doom, whose true form still haunts childhood nightmares. The groundbreaking special effects, razor-sharp script, and sheer zaniness make this film an all-time great. P-p-p-please, if you haven’t seen it, do yourself a favor and fix that immediately. | © Touchstone Pictures / Amblin Entertainment

Cool World (1992)

Imagine Who Framed Roger Rabbit? but darker, weirder, and slightly more what-the-heck-did-I-just-watch? That’s Cool World. Directed by Ralph Bakshi (the man behind some of the trippiest animated films ever), this one takes the concept of toons interacting with humans and gives it a more adult-oriented, noir-ish twist. Brad Pitt plays a detective who keeps the animated world (a.k.a. Cool World) in check, while Kim Basinger voices Holli Would, a seductive cartoon femme fatale who desperately wants to become human. The animation is wild, the tone is chaotic, and the movie is... well, let’s just say it’s an acquired taste. Not quite Roger Rabbit, not quite Sin City, but undeniably unique in its own bizarre way. | © Paramount Pictures

Stay Tuned (1992)

Imagine if getting sucked into your TV meant more than just binge-watching for hours – it meant literally getting stuck inside the shows. That’s the premise of Stay Tuned, a wildly underrated gem where John Ritter and Pam Dawber find themselves trapped in a hellish, cartoonishly evil version of television. One minute they’re in a sitcom, the next they’re animated in a twisted Looney Tunes-style segment. With demonic TV executives (yes, that’s a thing here) and parodies of real-life shows taken to absurd extremes, this is peak ‘90s weirdness. If you’ve ever yelled at your screen, “Just change the channel!” – this movie shows why that might not always be the best idea. | © Morgan Creek Entertainment

The Mask (1994)

What happens when Jim Carrey goes full cartoon in real life? The Mask happens. And it’s glorious. This movie is basically a Looney Tunes episode disguised as a superhero comedy, with Carrey’s Stanley Ipkiss transforming from a meek banker into a green-faced, reality-bending tornado of energy. The animation influence is off the charts – his eyes pop out like Tex Avery wolves, he spins like a tornado, and he even pulls off some Roger Rabbit-esque antics. And let’s not forget Cameron Diaz in her film debut, or that ridiculously catchy Cuban Pete dance scene. This movie made us all wonder what we’d do with a magical mask – and realize that, yeah, maybe it’s better off in the movies. | © New Line Cinema

Balto (1995)

Okay, so Balto is mostly an animated movie, but it earns its spot here with that beautiful live-action bookend sequence. Based (loosely) on a true story, it follows Balto, the heroic half-wolf, half-husky who leads a life-or-death mission to deliver medicine to a snow-stricken town. But this isn’t just any underdog story – it’s got talking animals, thrilling action, and a goose named Boris who deserves his own spin-off. The live-action wraparound adds an emotional punch, reminding us that Balto’s story is real history (sort of). Heartwarming, adventurous, and criminally underrated, this film made us all want to adopt a husky and embark on an Arctic adventure. | © Amblin Entertainment / Universal Pictures

Space Jam (1996)

Michael Jordan, Bugs Bunny, and a basketball game to decide the fate of the world? That’s peak ‘90s cinema right there. Space Jam is the ultimate fusion of live-action and animation, featuring the Looney Tunes crew teaming up with MJ to take on some power-draining alien goons. It’s part sports movie, part cartoon chaos, and 100% nostalgic gold. Watching Jordan interact with animated characters was a technical marvel at the time (even if he was mostly acting against a green screen), and let’s be real – who didn’t want to play basketball with Bugs after watching this? Also, this movie gave us I Believe I Can Fly, so whether you loved or hated Space Jam, you felt it. | © Warner Bros.

James and the Giant Peach (1996)

Roald Dahl’s books are already surreal, but Henry Selick (The Nightmare Before Christmas) took James and the Giant Peach to a whole new level of weird and wonderful. The movie starts in live-action, but once James escapes his miserable life and enters the magical giant peach, everything transforms into stunning stop-motion animation. And inside that peach? A crew of giant, talking bugs, of course. The film has that signature dark-yet-whimsical feel, balancing adventure with just enough nightmare fuel (hello, robot shark and ghostly rhino). It’s charming, creative, and just the right amount of creepy – perfect for kids who like their fairy tales with a little bite. | © Walt Disney Pictures

Run Lola Run (1998)

Okay, so Run Lola Run isn’t your typical live-action/animation mashup, but it does throw in some trippy animated sequences that make this high-energy, time-loop thriller even more unique. The film follows Lola, a woman with really vibrant red hair and an even more intense running schedule, as she races against time (literally) to save her boyfriend. The movie plays out in three alternate versions of the same 20-minute scenario, and in between, we get these animated interludes that visualize Lola’s frantic, adrenaline-fueled mindset. It’s stylish, innovative, and feels like a European music video crossed with a philosophical action movie. If you haven’t seen it, lace up your sneakers and get ready for a ride. | © X-Filme Creative Pool

Fantasia 2000 (1999)

How do you follow up a legendary piece of cinema like Fantasia? You bring in Fantasia 2000, crank up the visuals, and add a little more celebrity star power (hello, Steve Martin and Bette Midler!). Like its predecessor, this sequel blends classical music with mind-blowing animation, but this time, we get everything from a sky-high battle with a firebird to Donald Duck helping Noah’s Ark set sail. And yes, Mickey’s Sorcerer’s Apprentice makes a return – because honestly, you can’t not include that. The animation is stunning, the music is timeless, and while it may not surpass the original, it’s still an incredible cinematic experience that proves classical music and cartoons are a match made in artistic heaven. | © Walt Disney Pictures

Cropped The Adventures of Rocky Bullwinkle

The Adventures of Rocky & Bullwinkle (2000)

Someone, somewhere, in the year 2000, decided that what the world really needed was a live-action Rocky & Bullwinkle movie. And honestly? They weren’t entirely wrong. This film brings the classic moose-and-squirrel duo into the real world, where they team up with Piper Perabo (yes, really) to stop Fearless Leader (Robert De Niro, in what must be his most unexpected role ever) from taking over America. The film constantly pokes fun at itself, breaking the fourth wall at every opportunity, and embracing its own ridiculousness. Is it a masterpiece? No. Is it a goofy, self-aware, nostalgia-fueled ride that feels like a Saturday morning cartoon came to life? Absolutely. | © Universal Pictures

Osmosis Jones (2001)

Ever wondered what your body looks like from the inside – but, like, as a buddy cop movie? Enter Osmosis Jones, the most bizarrely educational film you never expected to exist. The live-action part stars Bill Murray as a man whose questionable eating habits make him a walking health hazard, while inside his body, animated white blood cell cop Osmosis Jones (voiced by Chris Rock) and his cold pill sidekick Drix (David Hyde Pierce) are on a mission to stop a deadly virus (Laurence Fishburne, making illness sound really cool). It’s part gross-out comedy, part detective story, and part science lesson – kind of like Inside Out, but with way more mucus jokes. | © Warner Bros.

Looney Tunes: Back in Action (2003)

Space Jam gets all the love, but Looney Tunes: Back in Action is the real Looney Tunes movie we deserved. Brendan Fraser teams up with Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck for a globe-trotting adventure full of cartoon mayhem, meta jokes, and surprisingly sharp satire. There’s a plot in there somewhere about a missing diamond and an evil corporation, but let’s be real – the real joy is watching Daffy being his usual chaotic self while Bugs stays effortlessly cool. Plus, this movie gave us Steve Martin hamming it up as a ridiculously over-the-top villain, which alone is worth the watch. It’s zany, it’s self-aware, and it’s a reminder that no one does animated anarchy quite like the Looney Tunes. | © Warner Bros.

Kill Bill: Vol. 1 (2003)

Quentin Tarantino isn’t exactly known for his use of animation, but Kill Bill: Vol. 1 proves he knows how to wield it just as effectively as a samurai sword. Amidst all the stylish fight sequences and revenge-fueled mayhem, there’s a stunning animated segment that tells the tragic backstory of O-Ren Ishii (Lucy Liu). Handled by the legendary Studio Production I.G (Ghost in the Shell), this anime-inspired sequence is brutally beautiful, giving us an emotional gut-punch while making sure the film’s body count keeps rising. It’s a perfect example of how animation can enhance live-action storytelling rather than just existing for fun – though, let’s be honest, everything in this movie is also fun. | © Miramax Films

Cropped The Sponge Bob Square Pants Movie

The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie (2004)

Who lives in a pineapple under the sea and on the big screen? SpongeBob SquarePants! This gloriously absurd film takes everyone’s favorite fry cook on an epic adventure to retrieve King Neptune’s stolen crown, which somehow involves road trips, ice cream-fueled benders, and David Hasselhoff in what might be the strangest celebrity cameo in movie history. The live-action sequences, especially the scenes with Hasselhoff as a human speedboat, are pure comedic gold, blending seamlessly with the wacky, over-the-top animation. If you ever wanted to see a sponge and a starfish cruise across the ocean on a Baywatch legend’s back, this movie exists to fulfill that very specific dream. | © Paramount Pictures / Nickelodeon Movies

The Lego Movie (2014)

Everything is awesome when The Lego Movie is involved! This film took what could have been a blatant corporate cash grab and turned it into one of the most innovative animated films in years. While it mostly looks like stop-motion animation, it turns out the movie actually blends CGI and live-action elements – especially in the brilliant third act twist, which reveals the whole adventure is unfolding in a real-world basement. Will Ferrell’s live-action role as a strict, brick-obsessed dad adds an emotional depth that no one expected from a movie about plastic blocks. Funny, heartfelt, and packed with pop culture references, The Lego Movie proved that yes, you can make a great film out of a toy. | © Warner Bros.

Detective Pikachu (2019)

A live-action Pokémon movie starring Ryan Reynolds as a wisecracking Pikachu? It sounded insane, but somehow, Detective Pikachu made it work. This film gives us a world where Pokémon exist alongside humans, blending ultra-realistic CGI with real-life settings so well that you actually believe a Jigglypuff could be napping in your local coffee shop. Ryan Reynolds brings unexpected Deadpool-level sass to Pikachu, making this the most charismatic electric rodent in cinema history. And let’s not forget the sheer adorableness – between the fuzzy Pikachu, the grumpy Psyduck, and the terrifyingly realistic Mr. Mime, this film delivered the live-action Pokémon world we never knew we needed. | © Warner Bros. / Legendary Pictures

Chip 'n Dale: Rescue Rangers (2022)

What happens when you mix Who Framed Roger Rabbit? with Lonely Island-style comedy? You get Chip 'n Dale: Rescue Rangers, the comeback movie no one expected but absolutely deserved. This film hilariously blends traditional 2D animation, CGI, and live-action, creating a world where cartoons and humans co-exist. Chip has gone full 3D CGI, while Dale is still rocking his classic 2D look, making for some A+ meta-commentary on animation styles. Packed with pop culture cameos (Ugly Sonic, anyone?) and self-aware humor, this is basically a love letter to animation history disguised as a buddy-cop comedy. It’s nostalgic, ridiculous, and somehow one of the best animated/live-action mashups in years. | © Walt Disney Pictures