7 best movies like Netflix's Thelma the Unicorn

Thelma the Unicorn is one of Netflix's latest additions to the animated genre. It is a musical adventure comedy directed by Lynn Wang alongside Jared Hess, who also writes the screenplay alongside his wife, Jerusha Hess.

Based on the children's book series of the same name by Aaron Blabey, Thelma the Unicorn dropped for streaming on Netflix on May 17, 2024, with a one-and-a-half-hour run time. The central characters have been voiced by the likes of Brittany Howard, Will Forte, Daran Norris, Jon Heder, and others.

Thelma the Unicorn revolves around a music-loving pony called Thelma, who dreams of becoming a famous musician. But when her dream almost slips out of her reach, a semblance to a pink unicorn gives her another chance.

The film explores themes of friendship, believing in your dreams, and accepting yourself for who you are. If you loved watching Thelma the Unicorn and are looking for more such titles to watch with your family, then look no further. We have curated a list of animated movies that explore similar themes like Thelma the Unicorn.

Soul, Sing, and 5 more films to watch if you loved Netflix's Thelma the Unicorn

1) Soul

Soul is an animated fantasy comedy drama from Disney Studios. Pete Docter directed the film with a screenplay he wrote alongside Mike Jones and Kemp Powers as a Disney-Pixar collaboration in 2020. The characters have been voiced by prominent stars like Jamie Foxx, Tina Fey, Graham Norton, Rachel House, and Alice Braga, among others.

The film tells the story of Joe Gardner, a part-time musical teacher at a New York middle school. Following an accident, he reaches the Great Before, a mystical realm where souls develop personalities before coming to Earth. Here, he helps a soul find its passion and purpose in life.

Just like Thelma the Unicorn, Soul also capitalizes on the love and passion for music.

2) Luca

Luca is a coming-of-age fantasy drama from Disney. Another Disney-Pixar co-production, the film is directed by Enrico Casarosa with a screenplay written by Jesse Andrews and Mike Jones. The film had its streaming release in 2021, with widely positive feedback from critics as well as the audience. The film was released widely in theaters in March 2024.

The characters are voiced by prominent actors like Jacob Tremblay, Jack Dylan Grazer, Emma Berman, Saverio Raimondo, and Maya Rudolph, among others. The film revolves around a humanoid seamonster called Luca, who, along with his friends, discovers the nuances and adventures of living in the human world.

Similar to Thelma the Unicorn, Luca explores themes of self-identity and the love for music.

3) Coco

Coco is an animated fantasy drama film from Walt Disney Studios. The film is directed by Lee Unkrich with a screenplay written by Adrian Molina and Matthew Aldrich. The film premiered at the 2017 Morelia International Film Festival before releasing in theaters after some months.

The film features an all-Spanish voice cast, including Anthony Gonzalez, Gael Garcia Bernal, Benjamin Bratt, Alanna Ubach, and others. The attention to Mexican culture alongside the animation, music, and story were points of widespread acclaim from critics and audiences alike.

Coco follows the story of Miguel, a young boy who dreams of one day becoming like his idol, Ernesto de la Cruz. When he travels to the realm of the dead by chance, he meets Héctor and tries to meet with de la Cruz, whom he believes to be his grandfather. But when faced with reality, Miguel realizes that while music is important, so is family.

Coco is a brilliant watch by itself, and more so if you already love Netflix's Thelma the Unicorn.

4) Vivo

Vivo is an animated musical comedy from Netflix. Kirk DeMicco and Brandon Jeffords co-directed the film with a screenplay that DeMicco wrote alongside Quiara Alegria Hudes in 2021. The characters have been voiced by prominent actors like Lin-Manuel Miranda, Zoe Saldana, Juan de Marcos González, Ynairaly Simo, Brian Tyree Henry, and others.

The titular character is a music-loving kikanjou who plays alongside his master, Andrés. But when his master passes away before professing his feelings to his loved one, Vivo takes it upon himself to deliver the message. He takes on an arduous journey through the Havanas to reach Miami, in the process of which he meets new people. The film explores themes of friendship, family, and love through the art of music, which is very similar to Thelma.

5) Sing

Sing is an animated musical comedy from Universal Pictures. The film is written and directed by Garth Jennings, with Christophe Lourdelet as co-director. Sing premiered at the 2016 TIFF before releasing in theaters at the end of the year.

The film featured a star-studded ensemble cast including the likes of Matthew McConaughey, Reese Witherspoon, Scarlett Johansson, Seth MacFarlane, John C. Reilly, Nick Kroll, and others. It was a hit among critics as well as at the box office, becoming one of the most valuable films produced.

Set in a world of anthropomorphic animals, Sing follows the story of Buster Moon, the owner of a down-on-its-luck grand theater. To keep his theater running, he organizes a singing competition, but a misprint announces an exorbitant prize money. Just like Thelma, Sing explores the passion for music and fights for it with perseverance.

6) Turning Red

Turning Red is an animated coming-of-age fantasy drama from Disney and Pixar. The film was directed by Domee Shi with a screenplay she wrote alongside Julia Cho. Released in 2022, it was a favorite among the critics as well as the streaming audience.

The voice cast featured Rosalie Chiang, Sandra Oh, Ava Morse, Orion Lee, Maitreyi Ramakrishnan, and others in pivotal roles.

The film revolves around Mei, a 13-year-old Chinese-Canadian who transforms into a giant red panda when she experiences strong emotions. Similar to Thelma the Unicorn, Turning Red explores themes of self-acceptance, personal growth, and friendship.

7) UglyDolls

UglyDolls is a musical adventure comedy from STX Entertainment. Directed by Kelly Asbury with a screenplay written by Alison Peck, the film was released in theaters in 2019.

The characters were voiced by an ensemble of popular artists, including Kelly Calrkson, Blake Shelton, Nick Jonas, Pitbull, Ice-T, Gabriel Iglesias, Lizzo, and Bebe Rexha, among others. Although directed by Asbury, the man at the helm of films like Shrek 2 and Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron, the film did not receive a lot of attention from either the critics or the audience.

The film focuses on the journey, or quest for perfection, and how a generalized concept of the idea does not refer to everybody. It explores the elements of self-love and self-acceptance instead of vying for validation from the outside world. This makes UglyDolls a great watch for anybody who loves Thelma the Unicorn.

These are our top picks of films that you can watch if you loved Thelma the Unicorn on Netflix.