2024 was another strong year for movies, including stories that revolved around animals. While talking animals are often expected in the best animated movies, and they definitely played prominent roles in many of 2024’s animated offerings, they were also prominent in many live-action stories. Animals have a unique way of being the heart of a story as they provide delightful humor, tense drama, and even wisdom that ties into a movie’s overarching themes.
From adorable pets to talking animals that help build prosperous civilizations, the animals in 2024’s best movies cover a wide range of roles. The best animals in 2024 movies are those who have distinct and memorable personalities, have a significant impact on the story, and, if applicable, manage to be even more compelling at times than the human characters. With many of these characters appearing in 2024 movie sequels or prequels, some of them have the potential to continue appearing in future projects as well.
5 Rafiki
Mufasa: The Lion King
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Even though Mufasa: The Lion King is primarily about Mufasa and Taka’s relationship, Rafiki proves to be the movie’s standout character. As both a prequel and sequel to the 2019 The Lion King, Rafiki is the character who ties the story together and who appears in both timelines. In the present-day, he tells the story of Mufasa and Taka to Simba and Nala’s daughter, Kiara. In the past, Rafiki travels with Mufasa, Taka, and Sarabi in their journey to the fabled land of Milele, and becomes a pivotal player in their story.
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It is fascinating to see the origins of Rafiki’s friendship with Mufasa, with the lion revealed to be the brother that Rafiki saw in his visions. Rafiki is integral in helping Mufasa embrace his full potential and destiny, along with defeating the Outsiders, and turning Milele into the Pride Lands. With a wonderful voice performance from John Kani, Rafiki continues to balance wisdom and eccentricity, making him entertaining to watch. However, Rafiki is unable to steal the show as effectively as some other animals in 2024 movies.
4 Dogpool
Deadpool & Wolverine
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While there is no shortage of Deadpool variants in Deadpool & Wolverine, one of the most creative, and definitely the cutest, is Dogpool. Between the name, his costume, the tongue hanging out of his mouth, and his penchant for licking Deadpool’s face, Dogpool is easily the most memorable of the many Deadpool variants. Even the variant played by Henry Cavill, and Lady Deadpool, voiced by Ryan Reynolds’ wife Blake Lively, are unable to leave as strong of an impression as Dogpool does.
Dogpool is played by a real dog named Peggy.
As a movie in the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s Multiverse Saga, it is important to tap into the truly limited potential of the multiverse. Much like Alligator Loki appearing in the Disney+ Loki series, having a prominent Deadpool variant being Dogpool taps into the expansiveness of the multiverse. Deadpool & Wolverine does not take itself too seriously, allowing Dogpool to fit well into the self-deprecating tone of the movie. While Dogpool is humorous, he does pale in comparison with animals who are more developed and meaningful in their 2024 movies.
3 Noa
Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes
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While Dogpool is a sidekick and Rafiki is a supporting character, Noa is the protagonist in Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes. This automatically gives him more of an edge, with more focus and development allowing for more opportunity to be invested in him. With the franchise’s newest installment taking place long after Caesar’s death in War for the Planet of the Apes, it is important for Noa to feel like a different kind of protagonist, and one worth following in future movies.
Noa’s story is just getting started, and he provides an intriguing new avenue for the franchise, even though he is not yet quite as compelling as Caesar.
As a brave, likable, and resourceful character, Noa learns to adapt to challenging situations and to save the Eager Clan from the tyrannical Proximus Caesar. Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes’ ending sees Noa as the leader of the Eagle Clan and making peace with Mae, although he does not know about her involvement with a secret human colony. Noa’s story is just getting started, and he provides an intriguing new avenue for the franchise, even though he is not yet quite as compelling as Caesar.
2 Brightbill
The Wild Robot
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Adapted from Peter Brown’s The Wild Robot book, the 2024 movie follows an orphaned gosling, Brightbill, who is raised by an abandoned service robot nicknamed Roz. One of the best parts of The Wild Robot is getting to see Brightbill develop from the moment he hatches as an adorable baby gosling and as he grows up. Since he is considered a
