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Top Animated Movies

(Top 100)

 

Must Watch Films

 

#100: An American Tail (1986)

For decades, Disney dominated family-friendly feature animation in the U.S. market. Even as Disney hit hard times, few saw reason to compete. That was until former Disney animator Don Bluth threw his hat into the ring. Teaming with executive producer Steven Spielberg, Bluth’s second feature became the highest-grossing non-Disney animated film for a period, proving there was room for another juggernaut. To an extent, Bluth’s journey mirrored Fievel Mousekewitz’s immigration from Russia to America. Both left everything behind to pursue a better future. That better future isn’t easily earned with new challenges around every corner. It’s worth powering through those hardships to arrive at the happy ending. The beginning of Fievel’s new life in America coincided with Bluth’s solidification as an animation legend.

#99: Despicable Me (2010)

Some would argue that there’s a difference between an animated feature and a cartoon. Illumination’s debut provided the missing link, as well as the best of both worlds. Despicable Me possessed the first-rate animation and A-list voice cast you’d expect from a feature, but the humor consisted of slapstick usually reserved for seven-minute shorts. While much of the plot is an excuse for jokes, Despicable Me doesn’t overstay its welcome. In fact, it had remarkable staying power, spawning the highest-grossing animated film franchise thanks to Gru and especially his scene-stealing Minions. Not bad. With enough heartfelt moments to balance the laughs, Illumination found its niche as the people’s animation studio, maybe not breaking new technical or thematic ground, but always entertaining the masses with glee.

#98: Nimona (2023)

With Disney’s acquisition of Fox, it wasn’t long until the sun prematurely set on Blue Sky Studios. Nimona, which was reportedly around 75% completed, seemed like collateral damage. Through Annapurna, Netflix, and DNEG Animation, though, directors Nick Bruno and Troy Quane brought Nimona to the finish line, giving Blue Sky a proper bookend. Like its titular antihero, the film is anything but conventional. That might be why Disney didn’t want it, but audiences celebrated Nimona’s rebelliousness. As edgy as the film can be, it also seeks to normalize aspects of life that shouldn’t be seen as taboo. What’s different isn’t monstrous until society labels it as so. Rather than force every person into a box, Nimona encourages us to explore everything we can be.

#97: The Adventures of Prince Achmed (1926)

A certain movie about a princess and seven dwarfs is often cited as the first animated feature. While that was the first cel animated feature, as well as the first made in the U.S., several filmmakers took a crack at this ambitious idea beforehand. Many predecessors were sadly lost, but The Adventures of Prince Achmed has been preserved almost a century later. The oldest surviving animated feature, Prince Achmed is distinguished by director Lotte Reiniger’s cutout animation, which continues to inspire modern animators like Rebecca Sugar. Just as integral was the cinematography courtesy of Reiniger’s husband Carl Koch, who operated an early version of the multiplane camera. Ahead of her time in more ways than one, Reiniger’s silhouettes opened a door to infinite wonder.

#96: One Hundred and One Dalmatians (1961)

Upon release, Disney hadn’t produced an animated feature quite like One Hundred and One Dalmatians. Its setting, sound, and look were considerably more modern with a UPA influence. The film embraced modern technology as well, going all in on the Xerox process that allowed animators to transfer drawings straight to cels, no longer having to ink by hand. This proved especially practical in a production consisting of 6,469,952 spots. As contemporary as the film was in these respects, it was equally timeless with characters we remember decades later. Few villains are more memorable than Cruella De Vil, an ideal marriage between Betty Lou Gerson’s eccentric voiceover performance and animation by Marc Davis, who reminds us that animators are actors in their own right.

#95: The Simpsons Movie (2007)

What makes you feel older, that The Simpsons Movie took 18 years to reach theaters or that it’s been almost another 18 years since the film’s release? Either way, the hype was astronomical, and not only due to the buildup. Matt Groening’s creation remained the yellow standard for primetime animation even with the rockier modern seasons. The movie recaptured that classic Simpsons spark, bringing back several key writers and veteran director David Silverman. The story raised the physical and emotional stakes. For a film featuring Bart skateboard streaking, it’s surprisingly emotional with Julie Kavner recording a particular scene over 100 times. The dome might’ve added a cinematic element, but Marge’s tear-jerking video message elevated this from a long episode to a movie.

 

#94: Fritz the Cat (1972)

Decades before The Simpsons broke new ground for adult animation on TV, Ralph Bakshi pulled off a similar feat theatrically. Of course, where The Simpsons has its family values, Fritz the Cat is strictly for the grown-up crowd. So much so that it was the first U.S. animated feature to warrant an X rating. While never skimping on sex, drugs, swearing, violence, and animal nudity, it also tackled timely subjects like race, counterculture, and free love, mirroring the era with gritty surrealism. The film was just as influential for independent animation, grossing nearly $90 million on a $700,000 budget. Although based on R. Crumb’s underground comix, a film this bold, unhinged, and appropriately all over the map could only stem from Ralph Bakshi.

 

#93: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem (2023)

For a franchise infused with 80s and 90s culture, Ninja Turtles has proven surprisingly timeless, adapting to every era with a twist. Mutant Mayhem is classic Turtles, but it also manages to be something more. Director Jeff Rowe brings a fresh aesthetic to the series with the rough edges of notebook doodles brought to life through state-of-the-art animation. The film overflows with top-tier voice talent, including Jackie Chan as Splinter and producer Seth Rogen as Bebop. Yet, it’s the playful camaraderie between the four central voice actors that captures the theme of brotherhood and the teenage experience. Echoing John Hughes, this is a coming-of-age story that reflects how every teenager feels like a reptilian mutant at some point.

 

#92: The Emperor’s New Groove (2000)

A buddy road trip comedy with the spirit of a Looney Tune, The Emperor’s New Groove couldn’t have been more different than the musical epic that Disney initially envisioned. Given its turbulent production, the film had no right being even remotely good. Yet, this new direction didn’t just work. Mark Dindal delivered one of the funniest and most unique entries in the Disney library, showing a capacity for slapstick and self-aware humor that few realized the studio had. The voice cast took every joke to the next level with Eartha Kitt and Patrick Warburton making for one of our favorite villainous duos. Whenever we’re in a funk, we can always rely on this film to put a smile on our faces.

 

#91: Jujutsu Kaisen 0 (2021)

Gege Akutami’s best-selling manga, Jujutsu Kaisen, paved the way for an anime series that premiered in 2020. That story’s prologue, Jujutsu Kaisen 0, was also supposed to be covered on the small screen. Seeing the potential to flesh out the story, studio MAPPA chose to pursue the theatrical feature route. The increased budget is evident in the film’s haunting backgrounds, detailed character designs, and the most intense action the franchise has seen. It’s a welcome instruction for newcomers, plunging them into a world where talking pandas and guys who speak in spice bowl ingredients are the norm. As absurd as that sounds, there’s more to the story than meets the eye with themes of loss, trauma, and turning our curses into gifts.

 

#90: Big Hero 6 (2014)

After Marvel’s acquisition in 2009, some feared the comic book juggernaut would undergo Disneyfication. The MCU proved otherwise, but what happens when you combine Disney’s heart, humor, and first-rate animation with Marvel’s superhero action? You get the Oscar-winning Big Hero 6. Just as the backdrop blends elements of San Francisco and Tokyo into a dazzling urban fusion, this film seamlessly merges two entertainment giants into one. While the film feels 50% Marvel and 50% Disney, it isn’t like anything either brand has attempted before or since. Adding to its one-of-a-kind nature is a clear appreciation of anime, unlocking the best of the Eastern and Western worlds. It also gave us an instant animation icon in Baymax, a robot with limited expressions, but all the feels.

 

#89: The Land Before Time (1988)

The Land Before Time is a 1988 theatrical animated film, directed by Don Bluth (with production based around his Ireland-based studio), and executive-produced by Steven Spielberg and George Lucas. Originally released by Universal Studios and Spielberg's Amblin Entertainment, it features anthropomorphic dinosaurs living in a somewhat fantasy-based version of prehistoric earth. The plot concerns a young Longneck named Littlefoot, who is lost when his mother is killed by a Sharptooth. Littlefoot flees famine and upheaval to search for the "Great Valley", an area which has been spared devastation. On his journey, he meets four young companions: Cera, Ducky, Petrie and Spike. The film explores issues of prejudice between the different species and the hardships they endure in their journey as they are guided by the spirit of Littlefoot's mother.

 

#88: The Princess and the Frog (2009)

The Princess and the Frog is a 2009 American animated film loosely inspired by E.D. Baker's novel The Frog Princess and the Brothers Grimm's fairy tale The Frog Prince. The film opened in limited release in New York City and Los Angeles on November 25, 2009, followed by its wide release on December 11, 2009. It is the 49th animated feature in the Disney Animated Canon, and the first to be traditionally-animated since 2004's Home on the Range. The film was directed by John Musker and Ron Clements (best known for The Little Mermaid and Aladdin), with songs and score composed by Randy Newman. Tiana, the main character, is also notable as Disney's first African-American princess.

 

#87: Happy Feet (2006)

Happy Feet is a 2006 Australian-American computer-animated musical family film, directed and co-written by George Miller. It was produced at Sydney-based visual effects and animation studio Animal Logic for Warner Bros., Village Roadshow Pictures and Kingdom Feature Productions and was released in North American theaters on November 17, 2006. It is the first animated film produced by Kennedy Miller in association with visual effects/design company Animal Logic.

 

#86: Wreck-It Ralph (2012)

Wreck-It Ralph is the titular protagonist of the Wreck-It Ralph film series. Standing at 9ft tall and weighing 643 pounds (291.6 kilograms), Ralph is a heavyweight, heavy-handed wrecker who acts as the villain (or "bad-guy") of Fix-It Felix Jr., a video game in Litwak's Arcade. True to his name, Ralph is depicted as a large, middle-aged man whose temper and unbridled strength are typically the impetus for destruction. In an affront to his programming, Ralph longed to be appreciated by his peers, which manifested in a roguish dream to become a "good guy".

 

#85: Yellow Submarine (1968)

This animated jukebox musical was conceived as a way for the Beatles to fulfill a contract obligation without appearing on screen. While the Fab Four do show up for a live-action cameo, their animated counterparts are voiced by other performers. Considering its background, Yellow Submarine could’ve been phoned in. The results were revolutionary, however. Heinz Edelmann’s art direction changed how various people viewed animation, calling to mind what you’d find in a museum of modern art. Although younger fans could appreciate the music and visuals, Yellow Submarine was truly for an older audience who could grasp the psychedelic overtones and undertones. Just as the Beatles awakened many musically, Yellow Submarine opened numerous eyes to what animation could be in this new age of experimentation.

 

#84: Cats Don’t Dance (1997)

Cats Don't Dance is a 1997 American animated musical comedy film distributed by Warner Bros. Family Entertainment & notable as the only fully animated feature produced by Turner Feature Animation. This studio was merged during the post-production of Cats Don't Dance into Warner Bros. Animation after the merger of Time Warner with Turner Broadcasting System in 1996. Turner Feature Animation had also produced the animated portions of Turner's The Pagemaster (1994). The film was the directorial debut of former Disney animator Mark Dindal and stars the voices of Scott Bakula, Jasmine Guy, Matthew Herried, Ashley Peldon, John Rhys-Davies, Kathy Najimy, Don Knotts, Hal Holbrook, Betty Lou Gerson (in her final film role), René Auberjonois, George Kennedy, and Dindal. Its musical numbers were written by Randy Newman and includes Gene Kelly's contributions as choreographer, before his death in 1996. The film was Kelly's final film project which is dedicated to him.

 

#83: Meet the Robinsons (2007)

Meet the Robinsons is a 2007 computer-animated film and the 47th film in the Disney Animated Canon. It is loosely based on the 1990 children's book A Day with Wilbur Robinson by William Joyce, who also worked on the film's art design and executive produced with John Lasseter and Clark Spencer.  The film was preceded by the 1953 short film Working for Peanuts in theatrical 3D screenings, and with the 1938 short film Boat Builders in theatrical standard screenings.

 

#82: A Goofy Movie (1995)

A Goofy Movie is a 1995 animated musical adventure comedy-drama film, produced by Walt Disney Television Animation and released to theaters by Walt Disney Pictures. It features the characters from The Disney Afternoon television series Goof Troop and is explicitly part of the show's canon. It can also be considered a road trip movie.  The film's plot revolves around the father-son relationship between Goofy and Max heading for disaster as they struggle to find common ground. Max is persistent in having his own life and winning the girl of his dreams, Roxanne. Meanwhile, Goofy worries that Max is headed for a life of delinquency. As a result, they go on a road trip across the United States so both can strengthen their bond. A direct-to-video sequel, titled An Extremely Goofy Movie, was released in 2000.

 

#81: South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut (1999)

South Park: Bigger, Longer, & Uncut is the first South Park feature film. It was released in the United States and Canada on June 30, 1999, a direct two years after the series' broadcast, becoming the fastest TV-to-film adaptation in history.  It received positive reviews, stating it is "brilliant in its own twisted way." Though it amassed $83.1 million at the box office, this is commendable considering that it was, for its time, the highest-grossing animated movie to be rated "R". The film, a musical, contrasting the Disney Renaissance, containing memorable songs, was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Song for "Blame Canada".

 

#80: The Lego Movie (2014)

The Lego Movie can call itself an Oscar nominee thanks to the infinitely catchy Everything Is Awesome. As far as Best Animated Feature goes, though, Phil Lord and Christopher Miller’s audience favorite may be the most gaping omission in the category’s history. Much like how protagonist Emmet is initially written off as an average construction worker, some refuse to see the film as anything more than a toy commercial. The story takes advantage of the Lego name, however, using every building block to construct an imaginative, funny, and heartwarming story that embraces individuality over conformity. It may be simple on the surface, but behind the yellow plastic is something truly special. Plus, who doesn’t love Lego Batman?

 

#79: Zootopia (2016)

Zootopia is a 2016 American 3D computer-animated adventure-comedy film produced by Walt Disney Animation Studios and distributed by Walt Disney Pictures. It is co-directed by Byron Howard, Rich Moore, and Jared Bush, and produced by Clark Spencer. It is the 55th animated feature in the Disney Animated Canon. It was released on March 4, 2016 in the United States and Canada, and February 13, 2016 in Belgium.  The film received widespread critical acclaim, with a lot of praise directed towards the film's animation, voice acting, characters, humor, screenplay, and themes about discrimination and social stereotypes. The film was also a massive box office success, grossing $1.023 billion worldwide against its $150 million budget and ranked as the second highest-grossing Walt Disney Animation Studios film at the time of release, after 2013's Frozen. A theme park attraction inspired by the film has been announced for Shanghai Disneyland, while a short series based on the film premiered on Disney+ in 2022.

 

#78: Lilo & Stitch (2002)

Lilo & Stitch is an American animated science fiction comedy-drama film produced by Walt Disney Feature Animation and released on June 21, 2002. The 42nd animated feature in the Disney Animated Canon, it was written and directed by Chris Sanders and Dean DeBlois and features the voices of Chris Sanders, Daveigh Chase, Tia Carrere, David Ogden Stiers, Kevin McDonald, Ving Rhames, Jason Scott Lee, and Kevin Michael Richardson. Lilo & Stitch was the second of three Disney animated features produced primarily at the Florida animation studio located at Walt Disney World's Disney-MGM Studios in Orlando, Florida. Lilo & Stitch was nominated for the 2002 Academy Award for Best Animated Feature, which ultimately went to Hayao Miyazaki's film Spirited Away, which was also distributed by Walt Disney Pictures, and featured a voice-over performance by Chase and Stiers in the English dub. It is one of the few Disney Animated Canon films to have an original story.  The film is a big blockbuster critical, financial and commercial success. The 2002 film eventually started a franchise: a direct-to-video sequel, Stitch! The Movie was released on August 26, 2003. This was followed by a television series, Lilo & Stitch: The Series, which ran from September 20, 2003, to July 29, 2006. A second direct-to-video sequel, Lilo & Stitch 2: Stitch Has a Glitch, was released on August 30, 2005. A third and final sequel, Leroy & Stitch, aired on June 23, 2006 on Disney Channel and released for DVD four days later on June 27, served as the conclusion to the TV series. A second television series, an anime titled Stitch!, was made for the Japanese market and ran in Japan from October 8, 2008, to June 19, 2011, with two post-series specials broadcast in 2012 and 2015. It was dubbed to English with an entirely different voice cast from the rest of the franchise, with said dub first airing in 2009. A third television series, a Chinese animated series called Stitch & Ai, was made for the People's Republic of China and had the production assistance of American animators. Stitch & Ai was produced in English first then dubbed into Mandarin Chinese. The thirteen episodes of the Mandarin dub aired in March 2017. The original English version of the Chinese series aired in February 2018, again with none of the original voice actors from the films or first TV series returning. Both of the latter two shows shift the tone of the franchise from "soft" science fiction to science fantasy and controversially remove franchise title character Lilo Pelekai as a main character; she is replaced by Yuna Kamihara in the anime and Wang Ai Ling in the Chinese series. A live-action imagining based on the 2002 animation, and directed by Dean Fleischer Camp, will be released in theaters on May 23, 2025.

 

#77: Metropolis (2001)

Metropolis is a 2001 anime film and loosely based on the 1949 Metropolis manga created by the late Osamu Tezuka, The Anime is based on the 1927 german silent film Metropolis. The 2 films do not share plot elements and some scenes are also shown in the film. The anime, however, does draw aspects of its storyline directly from the 1927 film. The anime had an all-star production team, including renowned anime director Rintaro, Akira creator Katsuhiro Otomo as script writer, and animation by Madhouse Studios with conceptual support from Tezuka Productions. In the United States, the anime was given a PG-13 rating by the MPAA for "violence and images of destruction" and TV-14-LV rating when it aired on Adult Swim.

 

#76: Klaus (2019)

Klaus is a 2019 English-language Spanish animated Christmas film written and directed by Sergio Pablos in his directorial debut,[2] produced by his company Sergio Pablos Animation Studios and distributed by Netflix. Co-written by Zach Lewis and Jim Mahoney, and co-directed by Carlos Martinez Lopez, the traditionally animated film stars the voices of Jason Schwartzman, J. K. Simmons, Rashida Jones, Will Sasso, Neda Margrethe Labba, Sergio Pablos, Norm Macdonald, and Joan Cusack. Serving as an alternate origin story of Santa Claus independent from the historical take of Saint Nicholas of Myra and using a fictional 19th-century setting, the plot revolves around a postman stationed in an island town to the Far North who befriends a reclusive toymaker (Klaus). The film was nominated for an Oscar.  Klaus was released on 8 November 2019 and received positive reviews for its animation, story, and vocal performances. It won seven awards at the 47th Annie Awards, including Best Animated Feature, and also won Best Animated Film at the 73rd British Academy Film Awards. The film was also nominated at the 92nd Academy Awards for Best Animated Feature, making it the first animated film from Netflix to be nominated for an Academy Award, as well as the first animated film from a streaming service to be nominated, alongside I Lost My Body,[3] but lost to Toy Story 4.

 

#75: James and the Giant Peach (1996)

This adaptation of Roald Dahl’s book may open in live-action, but even these scenes have an animated sentiment with storybook-esque production design. It isn’t long until James is given a stop-motion makeover alongside a cast of the most lovable insects you’re inclined to ever meet, each with a well-defined personality and design. The titular giant peach, while not sentient, also has a life of its own, making for one of the most atmospheric sets in stop-motion. This material was tailor-made for director Henry Selick, who crafts a dreamlike world that’s simultaneously eerie and whimsical. Like The Wizard of Oz, the film wasn’t a financial success upon release, but it’s gone on to be rediscovered as a classic that may even surpass the source material.

 

#74: Peter Pan (1953)

Peter Pan is a 1953 American animated musical fantasy-adventure film produced by Walt Disney and based on the play, Peter Pan, or The Boy Who Wouldn't Grow Up by J.M. Barrie. It is the 14th film in the Disney Animated Canon, and was originally released on February 5, 1953 by RKO Radio Pictures. Peter Pan is the final Disney animated feature released through RKO; future animated features would be released by Walt Disney's own distribution company, Buena Vista Film Distribution. It is also the final Disney film in which all nine members of Disney's Nine Old Men worked together as directing animators. It is also the second Disney animated film, starring Kathryn Beaumont, Heather Angel, and Bill Thompson, after their roles in the animated feature Alice in Wonderland.  The film was entered into the 1953 Cannes Film Festival. A sequel titled Return to Never Land was released in 2002, and a series of direct-to-DVD prequels focusing on Tinker Bell began in 2008. A Disney Jr. television series featuring some of the characters, Jake and the Never Land Pirates, premiered in 2011. While not a big hit at first, it is considered to be one of the most well known Disney films of all time.

 

#73: The End of Evangelion (1997)

The End of EvangelionWP is the second film in the Neon Genesis Evangelion franchise, and the last anime release for the series until the Rebuild of Evangelion tetralogy. The film is an alternate ending to the TV series, taking place after Episode 24. The film was released on 19 July 1997.  The film is divided into two approximately 45-minute episodes, each given a secondary English title by GAINAX just as with the TV series' episodes: "Episode 25': Air" and "Episode 26': Sincerely Yours". They are regarded by the producers as either an alternate ending to the TV series or a more detailed "real world" account of the TV series' original ending in Episodes 25 and 26, which takes place almost completely in the minds of the main characters (the style being largely shaped by time and budget restraints).

 

#72: I Lost My Body (2019)

The French animated fantasy drama “I Lost My Body” is one of the quirkiest features to come out of 2019. It’s consists of two fascinating halves that make up an interesting but not quite cohesive whole. It’s a movie that not only marches to its own beat but demands that viewers embrace it on its own terms. While I found that to be easier said than done, I can’t help but commend it for sticking to its visions and convictions.  “I Lost My Body” received a strong reception after screening at the Cannes Film Festival and was picked up by Netflix. It’s an adaptation of Guillaume Laurant’s novel “Happy Hand” that sees director Jérémy Clapin (who co-write the screenplay with Laurant) taking two narratives which seem unrelated on the surface but are clearly working their way together. It makes for one oddly braided story.

 

#71: A Silent Voice (2016)

A Silent Voice is a 2016 Japanese animated drama film based on the manga of the same name by Yoshitoki Ōima. The film was produced by Kyoto Animation, directed by Naoko Yamada and written by Reiko Yoshida, featuring character designs by Futoshi Nishiya and music by Kensuke Ushio. Plans for an animated film adaptation were announced back in November 2014, Kyoto Animation was confirmed to produce the film in November 2015. Miyu Irino and Saori Hayami signed on as voice casting in May 2016 and the theatrical release poster and official trailer were released in July 2016.  The film covers elements of coming of age and psychological drama, dealing with themes of bullying, disability, forgiveness, mental health, suicide, and friendship of opposite sexes. It follows the story of a former bully turned social outcast, who decides to reconnect and befriend the deaf girl he had bullied years prior. The film premiered at Tokyo on August 24, 2016. It was released in Japan on September 17, 2016, and worldwide between February and June 2017. The film received highly positive reviews from critics, with praise going to the direction, animation, voice acting, musical score and the psychological complexity of the characters. It has grossed over $30.5 million worldwide.

 

#70: Perfect Blue (1997)

Director Satoshi Kon blended reality and fantasy to the point that they felt interchangeable. While most of his films blurred the line between the two, each came with a distinct signature. In Perfect Blue, Kon tapped into the psychological thriller genre. The arresting story follows Mima Kirigoe, a singer-turned-actress embroiled in a murder plot and identity crisis as a stalker draws closer. The world becomes Mima’s stage, leaving us to guess whether she’s descending into madness, manipulation, or the performance of a lifetime. Despite denying claims that Perfect Blue inspired Black Swan, Darren Aronofsky eulogized Kon following his passing in 2010. Although Kon lost his life tragically young, he left behind a prolific body of work capped off with his swan song, Paprika.

 

#69: It’s Such a Beautiful Day (2012)

It's Such a Beautiful Day is a 2012 American experimental animated drama film written, directed, animated, photographed, produced, and narrated by Don Hertzfeldt. It follows Bill, a stick figure who struggles with memory loss and surreal visions, among other symptoms of an unknown neurological problem.  The film employs offbeat humor with its philosophical musings. It mostly consists of stick figures with stylized real-life footage sometimes appearing in split-screen windows that are photographed through multiple exposures. The film is divided into three chapters, all of which were originally released in theaters as animated short films: Everything Will Be OK (2006), I Am So Proud of You (2008), and It's Such a Beautiful Day (2011). The three short films collectively received over 90 film festival awards upon their original releases, including the Sundance Film Festival's Grand Prize for Everything Will Be OK. In 2012, the three chapters were combined and released as a new feature film.  It's Such a Beautiful Day received widespread critical acclaim, with its experimental storytelling and surreal elements being singled out for praise. Many listed it as one of the best films of 2012, and it has since come to be widely regarded as one of the greatest animated films of all time.

 

#68: The Secret of NIMH (1982)

The Secret of NIMH (alternatively spelled The Secret of N.I.M.H.) is a American 1982 animated action-fantasy film adaptation of Robert C. O'Brien's 1971 book Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH. The title of the movie was later used for newer editions of the book. It was directed by Don Bluth as the first feature film he directed, produced by Aurora Pictures, and released by United Artists in the summer of 1982. It was followed in 1998 by a direct-to-video Bluthless sequel called The Secret of NIMH 2: Timmy to the Rescue, which was made without Don Bluth's input or consent. NIMH 2 has been and still is widely panned by fans of the first film (this film), due to its inaccuracy and changes of the first film's elements, which has made the sequel have a more juvenile tone and appearance.

 

#67: Mary and Max (2009)

A 2009 Australian clay-animated film written and directed by Adam Elliot. The emotionally powerful Mary and Max appears to have been overshadowed by such recent, better-known stop motions as Coraline and The Fantastic Mr. Fox, as well as the fact that it falls smack bang into the middle of the Animation Age Ghetto.  Set in the 1970-90's, and supposedly Very Loosely Based on a True Story, Mary and Max tells the story of a friendship between two unlikely pen pals: Mary, a lonely 8-year-old girl living in the suburbs of Melbourne, Australia, and Max, an obese 44-year old man living in New York City who is eventually diagnosed as having Asperger's Syndrome. The movie follows the story of their life and friendship over the course of Mary's childhood and adulthood. What appears to start out as a solely blackly humourous story soon turns into something quite dark and often very depressing, dealing with everything from parental neglect, to insecurity, to bullying, to suicide.

 

#66: Castle in the Sky (1986)

Castle in the Sky is the 2nd film written and directed by Hayao Miyazaki and produced by Tokuma Shoten. It is the first film created by Studio Ghibli and released on August 2, 1986, although it is considered the second by some, as Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind was created by the founding members two years prior. During its theatrical release, it was screened alongside two compilation movies for Sherlock Hound, The Adventure of the Blue Carbuncle, and Treasure Under the Sea.  Miyazaki, who was forced to raise funds due to delays in the production of Isao Takahata's film The Story of Yanagawa's Canals, proposed this film after consulting Toshio Suzuki, who worked for Tokuma Shoten. Additionally, this was the first film that featured the profile of Totoro in the opening, despite being released before My Neighbor Totoro (1988).

 

#65: Loving Vincent (2017)

Every movie is technically a work of art, but rarely has that been more apparent than in Loving Vincent. Dorota Kobiela came from a painting background, setting out to make a seven-minute short after becoming enamored by Vincent van Gogh’s letters. During production, she married fellow filmmaker Hugh Welchman, who came on as a co-director after encouraging her to produce a feature. With the aid of 125 professional painters, they spent six years developing 65,000 oil frames. The outcome was the first painted animated feature, bringing van Gogh’s works to life. To those who don’t view animation as high art, every still from Loving Vincent could be displayed in a museum. Craft aside, it celebrates van Gogh in ways a live-action biopic never can.

 

#64: Alice in Wonderland (1951)

Alice in Wonderland is the 13th animated feature film produced by Walt Disney Productions in the Disney Animated Canon and was released to theaters on July 26, 1951 by RKO Radio Pictures. Lewis Carroll's books Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking-Glass had only a few adaptations before this movie; this adaptation solved the problems of the setting by using animation (the next adaptation wouldn't come until 1972, two decades later). The film features the voices of Kathryn Beaumont as Alice (also the voice of Wendy Darling in the later Disney feature film, Peter Pan) and Ed Wynn as the Mad Hatter. Made under the supervision of Walt Disney himself, this film and its animation are often regarded as some of the finest work in Disney studio history, despite the lackluster, even hostile, reviews it originally received, especially in the UK. Even many people behind the film, including Walt Disney himself, were unhappy with the final result, though it did receive an Academy Award nomination for Best Original Score.  It gained popularity in the 1970s due to the "drug" culture fandom at the time, it was released in 1974, and then again in 1981. By the 1980s, the initial consensus proved to be outdated. One of the biggest cult classics in the animation medium, the film gained critical praise and became one of the most popular Disney films of all time, as well as one of the most commercially successful Disney films (ironically considering it's initial disappointment). Today it is not only universally considered the best film adaptation of Lewis Carrol's novel, but one of Disney's greatest classics.

 

#63: Hercules (1997)

Hercules is a 1997 animated musical comedy fantasy adventure film produced by Walt Disney Feature Animation and released by Walt Disney Pictures. The 35th film in the Disney Animated Canon and the eighth entry of the Disney Renaissance, Hercules was directed by Ron Clements and John Musker. The movie is based on Ancient Greco-Roman mythology, more specifically the adventures of Heracles (known in the movie by his Roman name, Hercules), the son of Zeus.  Released on June 27, 1997, Hercules underperformed expectations during its theatrical release, only taking $252,712,101 at the box office worldwide. This was mainly due to competition from other studios. Though Hercules did not match its predecessors, it did receive positive reviews.

 

#62: The Red Turtle (2016)

The Red Turtle is a 2016 animated fantasy drama film directed by Dutch animator Michaël Dudok de Wit who co-wrote the film with French screenwriter Pascale Ferran. The film is an international co-production between Japanese anime company Studio Ghibli and several French companies, including Wild Bunch and Belvision. The film, which has no dialogue, tells the story of a man who becomes shipwrecked on an uninhabited island where his attempts at escape are repeatedly thwarted by a red turtle.  The film premiered in the Un Certain Regard section at the 69th Cannes Film Festival on 18 May 2016. The film was nominated for the Best Animated Feature Film for the 89th Academy Awards.

 

#61: Bambi (1942)

Bambi is a 1942 American animated film produced by Walt Disney and based on the book Bambi: A Life in the Woods by Austrian author Felix Salten. The fifth film in the Disney Animated Canon, it was released by RKO Radio Pictures on August 21, 1942, during World War II. It is the last Disney animated film to be in a single-narrative format until nearly eight years later with Cinderella due to the decrease of resources in World War II causing the studio to make "package features" to stay the studio afloat for financial reasons.  The main characters are Bambi, his parents (the Great Prince of the Forest and his unnamed mother), his friends, Thumper and Flower, his childhood friend, Faline, and the villain of the story, Man. The plot centers around Bambi learning to grow up in the forest after his mother is shot by Man. For the film, Disney took the liberty of changing Bambi's species into a white-tailed deer from his original species of roe deer, since roe deer do not inhabit the United States, and the white-tailed deer is more familiar to Americans. The film received three Academy Award nominations for Best Sound, Best Song for "Love is a Song" and Original Music Score.  The film was a major catalyst in what people now see as "environmental films", as well as Walt Disney's favorite of his animated films, alongside Dumbo. In June 2008, the American Film Institute presented a list of its "10 Top 10", the best ten films in each of ten "classic" American film genres. After polling over 1,500 people from the creative community, the film placed third in animation. In December 2011, the film was added to the National Film Registry of the Library of Congress for being "culturally, historically and aesthetically significant".

 

#60: Howl’s Moving Castle (2004)

The Great Hayao Miyazaki has given us numerous inventive characters, outdoing himself with this film’s titular castle. Nature and machinery are two of the most prominent themes in Miyazaki’s filmography. The moving castle encompasses both on a gigantic scale, roaming the countryside in all its magical, mechanical wonder. Although based on Diana Wynne Jones’ novel, Miyazaki was influenced more by the 2003 invasion of Iraq, touching upon war and pacifism. On a more personal level, protagonist Sophie embarks on a journey of self-discovery. She seeks out the wizard Howl to lift the curse on her, but Sophie truly saves him. Miyazaki has called this his favorite work and while we’d place a few of his films higher, Howl’s Moving Castle is an all-around astounding achievement.

 

#59: The Girl Who Leapt Through Time (2006)

 

 

#58: The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1996)

 

 

#57: Mulan (1998)

 

 

#56: The Triplets of Belleville (2003)

 

 

#55: Kubo and the Two Strings (2016)

No U.S. animation house is doing more exciting things with stop-motion today than the Oregon-based Laika, a successor to Will Vinton Studios. Laika co-founder Travis Knight made his feature directorial debut with Kubo and the Two Strings, which marries the studio’s signature stop-motion with the essence of an anime. It achieves this with an art style that draws from origami, ink-wash painting, and woodblock printing. These ancient techniques go hand in hand with cutting-edge effects, earning the team one of two Oscar nominations. The original story feels as if it could’ve been passed down through generations, creating a layered lore that doesn’t overshadow the endearing characters. Winning the BAFTA, Kubo is the kind of epic we only get once in a blue moon.

 

#54: The Breadwinner (2017)

 

#53: Millennium Actress (2001)

 

#52: Tarzan (1999)

 

#51: Kung Fu Panda (2008)

 

#50: Frozen (2013)

Entering a new golden age in the 2010s, Disney animation was on a hot streak that reached its boiling point with Frozen. The most successful Disney films are often the ones that evolve the familiar into something game-changing. Frozen may be a fairytale with princesses, comedic relief, and music. Yet, Chris Buck and Jennifer Lee’s film didn’t just reinvent Hans Christian Andersen’s The Snow Queen. Disney reinvented itself, awakening sleeping beauty like never before. Robert Lopez and Kristen Anderson-Lopez’s songs turned Frozen into a phenomenon, elevating a profound story about sisterhood and the varied facets of true love. Modern and nostalgic in all the right ways, Frozen resonated with generations new and old, winning Disney Animation Studios their first Best Animated Feature Oscar.

 

#49: Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit (2005)

 

#48: Tangled (2010)

 

#47: Up (2009)

 

#46: Ghost in the Shell (1995)

 

#45: Grave of the Fireflies (1988)

Grave of the Fireflies seems like an anti-war film at first glance, presenting World War II from the perspectives of a Japanese boy named Seita and his little sister Setsuko. While it doesn’t portray war positively, director Isao Takahata had another message in mind. Although the siblings are victims of the wartorn backdrop, Seita doesn’t make the wisest choices, despite his best efforts to keep himself and Setsuko alive. It may be a period piece, but Takahata made the film for a young modern audience, wishing to evoke empathy. However you interpret the story, Roger Ebert perfectly summed up Grave of the Fireflies as an emotional experience so powerful that it forces a rethinking of animation… a powerful dramatic film that happens to be animated.

 

#44: Persepolis (2007)

 

#43: The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh (1977)

 

#42: Toy Story 2 (1999)

 

#41: Encanto (2021)

 

#40: Song of the Sea (2014)

With The Secret of Kells, Tomm Moore and the rest of Cartoon Saloon kicked off the Irish Folklore Trilogy, which 2020’s Wolfwalkers concluded. This trilogy’s best outing came in the middle. While more contemporary than the first or third chapters, Song of the Sea is every bit as timeless. The film isn’t just grounded in Celtic mythology, but also perennial themes of abandonment, reconciliation, and family. Nature is also at the story’s root with Adrien Merigeau’s art direction bringing out the beauty of Ireland in every soothing backdrop. Maintaining the trilogy’s signature medieval art aesthetic, the stunning hand-drawn animation breaks down each environment and character to their most basic components. Beneath every simple exterior is a wealth of depth and atmosphere.

 

#39: Puss in Boots: The Last Wish (2022)

 

#38: Moana (2016)

 

#37: The Mitchells vs. the Machines (2021)

 

#36: Inside Out (2015)

 

#35: Waltz with Bashir (2008)

An animated documentary was nothing new in 2008. The concept can be traced back to Winsor McCay’s The Sinking of the Lusitania in 1918. Through Waltz with Bashir, though, director Ari Folman demonstrated how effective animation can be in nonfiction storytelling. A Lebanon War veteran, Folman also has recollections of the Sabra and Shatila massacre. Of course, memories are often full of holes and don’t always align with what actually happened. Rather than recreate experiences using live actors, animation cleverly plays into the larger theme. Memories aren’t set in stone like documentary footage. They change and fade over time, looking like a puzzle without all the right pieces. Animation is the ideal medium to convey this, taking us to the crossroads of reality and memory.

 

#34: The Iron Giant (1999)

 

#33: Monsters, Inc. (2001)

 

#32: Kiki’s Delivery Service (1989)

 

#31: Aladdin (1992)

 

#30: Coco (2017)

Centered on a young Mexican musician whose family doesn’t approve of his passion, Coco sounds like a story we’ve heard before. Appearances can be deceiving, however. Your idol can be a fraud, a scoundrel can be a loving father, and a senseless dog can be a spirit guide. The titular Coco appears unreachable during her twilight years. There’s still a person behind her weary eyes, though, just waiting to be awakened. The way music ties into this tale of family and remembrance is nothing short of brilliant. Pixar is known for telling stories through witty dialogue and beautiful imagery, which Coco by no means lacks. Yet, some emotions can only be expressed through song. Lee Unkrich’s film takes Pixar to new places musically and culturally.

 

#29: Coraline (2009)

 

#28: Toy Story 3 (2010)

 

#27: Sleeping Beauty (1959)

 

#26: Pinocchio (1940)

 

#25: Fantastic Mr. Fox (2009)

Another stop-motion film based on a Roald Dahl book, Henry Selick nearly directed Fantastic Mr. Fox with Wes Anderson. As other projects caught Selick’s attention, Anderson took the helm in what would be his first animated feature. It was a natural transition given how animated Andeson’s live-action films are, making the mundane seem playful, even otherworldly. While the stop-motion is sophisticated, every character is given a scruffy edge that strangely makes them feel more alive. The central characters may be animals, but they have more humanity than the farmers living above the surface, tying into themes like class and identity. The autumn color pallet also complements the theme of change as our protagonist adapts to his surroundings, emerging as a better husband, father, and fox.

 

#24: The Prince of Egypt (1998)

 

#23: The Little Mermaid (1989)

 

#22: Princess Mononoke (1997)

 

#21: Finding Nemo (2003)

 

#20: Cinderella (1950)

Marc Davis was the hand behind Cinderella’s dress transformation, which is said to be Walt Disney’s favorite piece of animation. That could be because it was symbolic of the studio. Following the hardships of World War II, Disney had virtually everything riding on Cinderella to prove that feature animation could be profitable. In true rags-to-riches fashion, Cinderella was Disney’s most successful film in more than a decade, winning over the masses with angelic music, delightful comedic relief, and an elegantly evil villain. Cinderella herself might not be as complex as some Disney princesses who followed, but she embodies a positive message that through hard work, perseverance, and kindheartedness, good things will eventually come your way. Such was the case for Disney after several difficult years.

 

#19: Chicken Run (2000)

Aardman Animations had already won three Oscars for short subjects by the time they produced their first feature. Chicken Run soared with the wit, charm, and ingenuity audiences had come to anticipate from stop-motion masters like Nick Park and Peter Lord. The story offered even more with a grim setting yet a hopeful message. Our feathered heroes find themselves imprisoned by Mrs. Tweedy, who’s cruel and intimidating enough to be a POW officer. The film is as funny as it is suspenseful, taking inspiration from The Great Escape. Whether you’re a vegetarian or meat-eater, it’s impossible not to become invested in the chicken’s plight as they attempt to take flight. Chicken Run flew the coop with the highest box office returns in stop-motion history.

 

#18: Batman: Mask of the Phantasm (1993)

Conceived as a straight-to-video movie to hold over audiences between the first and second seasons of Batman: The Animated Series, Mask of the Phantasm was upgraded to a theatrical release. Although this came with a larger budget, Warner Bros.’ resources didn’t extend to marketing. Despite flopping, audiences discovered Mask of the Phantasm in time. With a tragic romance, enthralling mystery, and an emphasis on the man behind the mask, it’s come to be recognized as one of the finest superhero movies ever made (not just animated). While there have been some phenomenal live-action Batman movies, animation finds the character at his most natural with Art Deco backdrops and imposing shadows lending flawlessly to a film noir story about the past returning to haunt the present.

 

#17: Your Name (2016)

Summoning a storm of emotion in Weathering with You and giving life to a three-legged chair in Suzume, Makoto Shinkai has established himself as a modern master of animation. For many, his best film is still Your Name, which broke box office records while helping to bridge the gap between Eastern and Western animation fans. On that note, separation is a key theme in the tale of Taki and Mitsuha, two strangers who somehow switch bodies. They aren’t only separated by location, but by time as well. Despite this physical distance, Taki and Mitsuha feel spiritually connected, growing closer in a race against the clock. The story leaves you breathless around every turn, building to a finale that’s about as uplifting as love stories get.

 

#16: Ratatouille (2007)

They’ve yet to win a Best Picture Oscar, but Pixar has reached a pinnacle of storytelling that only a handful of filmmakers (animated or live-action)

have come close to touching. Something similar can be said about Remy. To some, Remy’s species discredits him as a chef. Once you’ve tasted his ratatouille, though, it’ll change the way you view food and the artists who prepare it. At its core, Brad Bird’s film is about pursuing one’s passion, no matter how far-fetched. Even if your work isn’t always showered with the rewards it deserves, there’s nothing more satisfying than sharing your creation with those who see its value. There isn’t a better chef in Paris than Remy and with Ratatouille, Pixar exemplifies why they’re Hollywood’s top chef.

 

#15: The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)

When Tim Burton arrived at Disney, the studio didn’t know what to do with the young animator. Burton soon moved on to other studios that did, resulting in multiple hits as audiences embraced his gothic artistry. Realizing they let a big fish get away, Disney sought to mend the relationship by adapting a poem that Burton wrote while at the studio. With Burton co-producing and Henry Selick making his feature directorial debut, The Nightmare Before Christmas was a turning point for stop-motion. Once defined by the Rankin/Bass Christmas specials, stop-motion soon gained a reputation for telling darker, most twisted stories. Nightmare unearthed the ideal middle ground between the joy of Christmas and the frights of Halloween, becoming a staple of more than one holiday.

 

#14: How to Train Your Dragon 2 (2014)

The setup for How to Train Your Dragon treaded on formulaic territory. With directors Chris Sanders and Dean DeBlois at the forefront, however, it felt like we were hearing an age-old story for the first time. DeBlois flew solo on the sequel, which took the story to more mature and unexpected places. Unlike some other animated franchises where time never moves, DreamWorks allowed Hiccup and Toothless to grow with their audience. How to Train Your Dragon 2 thus surpasses its predecessor, expanding the action, lore, and dramatic tension. The plot places Hiccup in truly challenging situations that can’t always be resolved with peaceful negotiation. There comes a time when every leader needs to fight, and the battles here are as epic as they come.

 

#13: My Neighbor Totoro (1988)

My Neighbor Totoro is essentially a slice-of-life picture. Sure, that slice of life comes with mystical creatures like the Susuwatari, a cat bus, and of course Totoro. When you’re a child playing in the forest, though, the extraordinary can seem ordinary. The film is the epitome of what Hayao Miyazaki and Studio Ghibli do best, making Totoro a fitting mascot for the company. My Neighbor Totoro creates a world without venturing far beyond the characters’ backyard. Miyazaki captures a precise moment in childhood between those carefree days of escapism and when every young person grasps the notion of mortality. Nobody’s childhood lasts forever, but watching My Neighbor Totoro, we’re taken back to a simpler time that was more complex than we realized.

 

#12: Shrek (2001)

Shrek won the inaugural Oscar for Best Animated Feature, ushering in several new beginnings. It launched a billion-dollar franchise, bringing in even more green with its record-breaking sequel. It set a tone for DreamWorks as the edgy alternative to Disney, giving a whole new voice to animation. Speaking of voices, the casting here is so spot-on that the actors practically escape into their characters, most notably Eddie Murphy’s Donkey. The screenplay is a masterstroke of satire, taking shots at everything from fairy tales to Lord Farquaad’s shortcomings, pushing the family-friendly label to the limit. Underneath its cynical exterior is a surprisingly big heart and a message about what true beauty looks like, flipping the conventional happy ending on its head.

 

#11: WALL-E (2008)

Although Pixar pioneered computer animation into the mainstream, the studio perhaps had a more substantial impact on screenwriting, making the dialogue the star of every movie. While WALL-E isn’t devoid of dialogue, it tested Pixar’s ability to tell a story primarily through visuals, sound, and Thomas Newman’s score. Pixar pulled this off with a protagonist in the spirit of Chaplin or Keaton set against a futuristic backdrop worthy of Kubrick. Its vision of the 29th century is looking more like the 21st every day as humanity succumbs to corporate greed, unmanaged waste, and an overreliance on technology. Andrew Stanton’s film doesn’t condemn technology, though, showing its capacity to learn and love. WALL-E is a love story above all else, making us cry for a robot.

 

#10: Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio (2022)

After over a decade in development hell, Guillermo del Toro completed his passion project with the late stop-motion wizard Mark Gustafson. Rather than try to recreate the Disney classic, del Toro took his Pinocchio in an entirely different direction. The film is just as much about Geppetto as he grieves one son while learning to unconditionally love another. As for Pinocchio, his arc goes beyond learning to be a real boy. Pinocchio learns what it means to be human against the bleak backdrop of Fascist Italy. The wooden puppet grows into a symbol of individuality, gaining empathy and a willingness to make sacrifices for those he loves. Pinocchio might not become human in this version, but that doesn’t mean he lacks a soul.

 

#9: Akira (1988)

Anime’s presence in North America stretches as far back as the early 60s. The modern anime boom as we know it, however, didn’t take off until ​​distributor Streamline Pictures introduced Akira to the U.S. Based on his own manga, Katsuhiro Otomo’s magnum opus was a wake-up call for U.S. audiences who failed to realize how action-oriented and adult animation can be. Akira is uncompromisingly violent, but it isn’t senseless. Akira stimulates the mind with its themes and TMS Entertainment’s imagery, which is gorgeous even at its most grotesque. Neo-Tokyo is cinema’s definitive cyberpunk metropolis, rivaled only by Los Angeles in Ridley Scott’s Blade Runner. Funny how both films take place in 2019, although we’re still waiting for manufacturers to build Kaneda’s motorbike.

 

#8: Beauty and the Beast (1991)

Animation was overdue for a Best Picture nomination by 1991. Beauty and the Beast couldn’t have been more deserving of such a milestone. It was in the tradition of the Disney fairy tale, but Gary Trousdale, Kirk Wise, and their team took everything to the next step. Belle established herself as the most progressive Disney heroine yet while the central romance shattered the notion of love at first sight. Belle and the Beast must work through their differences, finding that beauty comes from within. This is exquisitely expressed through the Oscar-winning title song by Alan Menken and the late Howard Ashman, the latter of whom gave a mermaid her voice and a beast his soul. Their influence on animated musicals is still felt decades later.

 

#7: The Incredibles (2004)

At a time when superhero movies were just starting to take over the industry, The Incredibles stood out for several reasons. The film had a more satirical edge, deriving comedy not only through superhero tropes, but family dynamics as well. The latter is where Brad Bird’s wonderful film excelled. Eight years before the Avengers assembled on the silver screen, Bird demonstrated the strength of a superhero team lies not in their powers, but in their personalities. The Parr family works off each other so naturally that watching them sit down to dinner is every bit as entertaining as watching them battle a robot. The film’s balance of action, humor, and relatability foreshadowed various superhero movies to come, although few have been more incredible.

 

#6: Fantasia (1940)

Fantasia is proof that animation can share the same artistic value as a classical piece of music. When combined, they create a new form of entertainment. Disney’s ambitious vision also innovated new technology like Fantasound, a forerunner to surround sound. Ahead of its time in every sense, Fantasia didn’t immediately win over audiences or critics, but its endurance is felt in each segment. No version of Mickey Mouse commands more gravitas than the one in The Sorcerer’s Apprentice. Never have the dinosaurs appeared more majestic or threatening than in Rite of Spring. Rarely has a film transitioned from haunting to inspiring more gracefully than in the finale Night on Bald Mountain and Ave Maria. Disney understood animation’s true power and everyone else was catching up.

 

#5: Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse (2018)

Great animated films come out every year. Only once in a generation, though, does an animated film reach an uncharted frontier that leaves the medium forever changed. Into the Spider-Verse didn’t just swing to a new frontier. It took us to several new frontiers, overloading our senses one frame and comic book panel at a time. Miles Morales’ team-up with various Spider-People offers countless creative possibilities, but this setup also ties into a deeper message that anyone can wear the mask. Likewise, animation can be anything we imagine, although there are so many masks we’ve yet to try on. If you still don’t take animation or superheroes seriously, Into the Spider-Verse and Across the Spider-Verse are cinema evolving right before our eyes.

 

#4: Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937)

Even if it wasn’t the first animated feature ever, Snow White is the film that changed everything - and not just for Disney. Few other than Walt believed cartoons could be more than silly seven-minute segments. Could an animated character honestly conjure the same emotions that we feel for live actors on the screen? Hollywood assumed not, prematurely writing Snow White off as Disney’s Folly. People had a change of tune following its premiere at the Carthay Circle Theatre as audiences wept over Snow White’s apartment demise and rejoyced as her eyes awakened to the happiest of endings. Of course, this was only the beginning. In what could’ve been a trial run, Disney instead threw every resource into making the most magical movie imaginable.

 

#3: The Lion King (1994)

The apex of the Disney Renaissance, The Lion King showcased just how big animation can be. We’re not just talking about the film’s record-shattering box office or the ensuing media franchise that’s still making bank 30 years later. From the moment we hear the opening song’s first note against an all-encompassing sunrise, the audience is overwhelmed by the sheer grandeur of nature and cinema. Every aspect of Roger Allers and Rob Minkoff’s film feels larger than life, from Hans Zimmer’s heart-pounding score, to the sweeping African landscapes, to a story that’s practically biblical with Shakespearean echoes. The Lion King was a cultural landmark that united audiences everywhere through its music, characters, and visuals, connecting us all in the circle of life.

 

#2: Toy Story (1995)

Disney distributed Toy Story, but with their first feature, John Lasseter, Andrew Stanton, Pete Docter, and the rest of Pixar sought to distinguish themselves from the Mouse and all other animation studios. The film’s trailblazing CG animation was one way, showing the industry that the computer is just another tool like pencil and paper. Pixar understood from the get-go that technology doesn’t matter without appealing characters or an involving story. Toy Story had both in addition to heart, finding humanity in plastic. Setting a new standard with its contemporary backdrop, sharp screenplay, and groundbreaking animation, Toy Story is the film that almost every American animated feature has been chasing since. Yet, there’s only one Toy Story... except Toy Story 2, 3, 4, and soon 5.

 

#1: Spirited Away (2001)

Given this lineup, selecting one film above all others seemed daunting. The more we thought about it, though, the more obvious our choice became. To be regarded as the greatest animated movie of all time, our pick needed to take full advantage of the medium. No film celebrates animation’s endless potential quite like Hayao Miyazaki’s Spirited Away, packing mind-blowing imagery into every frame. Miyazaki creates a world so rich that any background character could carry a side story. Yet, the star here is the ordinary Chihiro, who anchors the fantastical plot with a universal story about discovering confidence. Making history as the first Japanese animated feature to win an Oscar, Spirited Away is a revelation of filmmaking and imagination that only one medium could realize.

 

 

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