Movies Like The Ugly Duckling

If you liked The Ugly Duckling (1968), a animation and fantasy movie directed by Kazuhiko Watanabe, here are 20 movies with a similar feel, based on TMDB's recommendations. Each one links to its cast, trailer and where it's streaming.

1
Babes in the Woods (1932)
★ 6.1/10Also animation
Two Dutch children stumble on a clearing in the woods where gnomes are going about their business. The gnomes are friendly to the children. A witch comes and takes them away on her broom to her gingerbread house, where…
2
Lou (2017)
★ 7.5/10Also fantasy and animation
A lost-and-found box holds a mysterious and unseen monster within.
3
How to Train Your Dragon: Homecoming (2019)
★ 8/10Also animation and fantasy
It's been ten years since the dragons moved to the Hidden World, and even though Toothless doesn't live in New Berk anymore, Hiccup continues the holiday traditions he once shared with his best friend. But the Vikings…
4
The Pied Piper (1933)
★ 6.5/10Also animation
The people of Hamelin, overrun with rats, offer a bag of gold to anyone who can get rid of the rats. A piper offers to do the job, and successfully lures the rats into a mirage of cheese, which disappears. The…
5
The Smurfs: The Legend of Smurfy Hollow (2013)
★ 6.9/10Also animation and fantasy
When Brainy Smurf is favored to win the annual Smurfberry Hunt for the ninth year in a row, Gutsy Smurf sets out to discover how Brainy wins every year. Gutsy’s investigation takes him into spooky Smurfy Hollow–and…
6
Hawaiian Vacation (2011)
★ 7/10Also animation
The toys throw Ken and Barbie a Hawaiian vacation in Bonnie's room.
7
Party Central (2014)
★ 6.8/10Also animation and fantasy
Mike and Sulley are back at Monsters University for a fun-filled weekend with their Oozma Kappa fraternity brothers. The gang is throwing their first party, but no one’s showing up. Luckily for them, Mike and Sulley…
8
The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore (2012)
★ 7.4/10Also animation and fantasy
After a hurricane levels his city, a young man wanders into a mysterious library where books literally come to life. This film won the Oscar for Best Animated Short Film in 2012.
9
The Little Matchgirl (2006)
★ 7.4/10Also animation and fantasy
An animated short based on Hans Christian Andersen's tale about a poor young girl with a burning desire to find comfort and happiness in her life. Desperate to keep warm, the girl lights the matches she sells, and…
10
Fast Film (2003)
★ 6.8/10Also animation
Bits of found film and different types of animation illustrate a classic chase scene scenario: A woman is abducted and a man comes to her rescue, but during their escape they find themselves in the enemy's secret…
11
Tinker Bell (2008)
★ 7/10Also animation and fantasy
Journey into the secret world of Pixie Hollow and hear Tinker Bell speak for the very first time as the astonishing story of Disney's most famous fairy is finally revealed in the all-new motion picture "Tinker Bell."
12
The House (2022)
★ 7/10Also animation and fantasy
Across different eras, a poor family, an anxious developer and a fed-up landlady become tied to the same mysterious house in this animated dark comedy.
13
Monster High: Scaris City of Frights (2013)
★ 7.8/10Also animation and fantasy
The Monstruitas of Monster High are obsessed with going to Scaris, The City of Frights for Fashion international competition where the winner will become the apprentice of the world famous Madame Ghostier designer.
14
Scared Shrekless (2010)
★ 6.7/10Also animation and fantasy
Shrek challenges Donkey, Puss in Boots and his other fairy tale character friends to spend the night in Lord Farquaad's haunted castle, telling scary stories to see who can resist becoming scared and stay the longest.
15
Barbie: A Fairy Secret (2011)
★ 6.9/10Also animation and fantasy
Barbie realises that fairies secretly surround everybody. She, along with the help of her friends, Taylor and Carrie, sets out to rescue Ken. He is taken to the secret fairy city, Gloss Angeles.
16
Day & Night (2010)
★ 7.7/10Also animation and fantasy
When Day, a sunny fellow, encounters Night, a stranger of distinctly darker moods, sparks fly! Day and Night are frightened and suspicious of each other at first, and quickly get off on the wrong foot. But as they…
17
Charming (2018)
★ 6.3/10Also animation and fantasy
Three fairy tale princesses find themselves engaged to the same guy, Prince Charming.
18
Kung Fu Panda: Secrets of the Furious Five (2008)
★ 6.8/10Also animation
Ordered to teach a martial arts class of rambunctious bunny kittens, Po tells stories of each of the Furious Five's pasts.
19
Monster High: Why Do Ghouls Fall in Love? (2012)
★ 8/10Also fantasy and animation
Draculaura’s Sweet 1600th birthday is an extra special occasion to party at Monster High! But her high expectations lead to deadly results when she’s faced with the choice between practical boyfriend Clawd, and new…
20
The Boxtrolls (2014)
★ 6.7/10Also animation and fantasy
An orphaned boy raised by underground creatures called Boxtrolls comes up from the sewers and out of his box to save his family and the town from the evil exterminator, Archibald Snatcher.