Animated movies. It's a medium that's grown a lot since its inception close to 100 years ago. I guess the reality is that it's nothing like it was when it first became popular. Animation has transitioned from the classic 2D Walt Disney style animation to now the highly detailed computer animated style. It took a while before computer-animated movies looked anywhere near as good as the classic 2D style, but I'm glad that we've finally gotten to the point where they can look just as beautiful and detailed as the older style. Personally, I wish the big studios still released some old-school 2D animated movies every now and then, but it's easy to see why they wouldn't (mostly money reasons I assume). But this list I'm going to make here is to celebrate animated movies of all forms: 2D, 3D, Stop-motion, and the rest. Since the release of Snow White, there have been countless animated classics and hits released, to the point where it was impossible to watch all the greats. Still, I took the time to go through a lot of the major animation studio releases and some indie ones to make this list. I did my best to try to get all the great movies and decide whether or not to include them and it was really tough. But that's what nearly 100 years' worth of great animated movies will do to you. No doubt I missed some, and there's still a lot I haven't seen yet, though I will try to catch up on them soon. Still, I think I've seen enough to be able to make a list of the top 20 best-animated films ever (in my opinion). So here it is:
But first some small honorable mentions:
Persepolis: A movie that sounds like it wouldn't be the most interesting topic for an animated movie, but actually ended up being one of the best. The art style is an interesting choice as it goes for a black and white 2D style like the graphic novel it's based on. The movie follows the life of young Marji as she grows up during the Iranian Revolution and how it affects her and her family. It has a lot of great heartfelt moments while still bringing in some good humor throughout the story. It's really worth a watch if you can find it on streaming. It's a very unique movie with a great story to tell.
The Mitchells vs the Machines: The newest movie on this list only came out just last year. It wasn't long before this one became one of my new favorites. This movie had everything going for it, from the brilliant animation and voice acting to the story itself. It's a nice father and daughter story which I feel isn't seen a lot in these animated movies. The movie has a lot of great action and humor inside what is really a heartfelt story with some really memorable characters.
Wolf Children: A Japanese film from 2012 with a really unique story about a single mother raising two babies who happen to have the ability to turn into wolves at any time. It's a great story about two kids who are struggling to find their identity in the world as the mother who can't always relate to their unique struggles tries her best to help them. It has plenty of emotional moments while still feeling mostly light-hearted and fun. Definitely an underrated gem.
Perfect Blue: One of the most shocking movies I have ever seen left me with my mouth open once the credits started rolling. It's most definitely not for kids, as it features some horrific scenes and pretty graphic violence. Yet, despite all this, I couldn't take my eyes off the screen as it all unfolded. The story is so captivating and even though it can be hard to watch at times it was impossible for me not to want to keep watching to see where the story ultimately goes. The story follows a young pop star who decides she wants to transition into an acting career. While she slowly starts to lose her sense of identity in this new career. The less you know going in the better, just let the story totally take you for a ride. Just know the movie can be hard to watch (as I said several times) because some of the scenes can be pretty graphic. That's why it didn't make the list proper, it's not the most rewatchable movie.
Shrek 2: On a lighter note, here's one of the funniest animated movies ever. Shrek 2 is the perfect example of how to make a sequel to a beloved movie. You take all the characters from the first movie, add new characters who are just as lovable, and put them into a story that builds on the story from the first movie. The movie does a great job at building on Shrek and Fiona's relationship by introducing her family. It's like a fairy tale version of Meet the Parents, but with some more ridiculous situations. Even after all these years the humor still holds up and even the dated animation still looks pretty good for the time.
Grave of the Fireflies: An animated film that takes a more realistic look at the effects of war on a family. It's a beautifully told story through maybe even more beautiful animation. It can feel a bit hopeless at times, but I think that goes with the themes of war and loss. Not the easiest movie to put on for a rewatch, but I don't think that takes away from its impact on animation and storytelling as a whole.
Now for the list proper: The Top 20 Animated Movies of All Time! (in my opinion)
20. Prince of Egypt
Loosely based on one of the most famous stories from the Bible comes Dreamworks' best movie. The story of Moses is one most people have heard in their lives at one point or another. This movie takes that story while adding its own little twists to it, while still staying true to the moral of the story and the character of Moses. The movie is beautifully animated, one of the best 2D and computer-animated hybrids created. That alongside some great vocal performances by some Hollywood greats like Val Kilmer and Stever Martin helped put this classic story into a film. Whether you are a believer or not, it's hard to not call this a great movie that does a fantastic job at retelling the Moses story.
19. Coraline
The first feature-length film from the great animation studio Laika. Coraline is a beautifully crafted stop-motion animation movie. The movie is based on Neil Gaiman's book of the same name. The story is wonderful and yet a little creepy, especially for kids. It's the kind of story that could maybe be slightly too much for very young kids, but for anyone else, it's highly recommended. The stop motion visuals are top-notch and the creepy visuals used all create a very fun world that is great to come back to again and again. It all adds up to a movie I find myself coming back to a lot, especially during the spooky season.
18. Ratatouille
At a time when it seemed Pixar could do no wrong, they released what sounds like a pretty ridiculous concept for a movie. A rat in Paris dreams of becoming a world-class chef and making the dishes he's imagined in his head. He finds an opportunity when he takes control of a young boy who cleans at a high-class restaurant and helps him make stunning dishes that surprise everyone. As weird as it sounds, it all works extremely well and makes for a really funny and charming story with some great characters. The setting of Paris really helps make this movie feel really unique from the other Pixar movies as it was really the first to entirely take place in a real-life city. It really felt like the animation was being pushed to incredible new levels... but I guess you could say that about most new Pixar releases back then.
17. Little Mermaid
The movie that kickstarted one of the most beloved eras of Disney Animation. The fantastic colorful animation with great detail reminded everyone why Disney was the best at the craft. That and really focusing on bringing the iconic musical aspect of the classic Disney movies back. Little Mermaid has one of the most memorable soundtracks of any Disney movie, with one of the all-time greats "Under the Sea" among the tracks. It also brought in one of the more memorable villains in the drag-queen-inspired Ursala who was as evil as she was magnificent. This movie will always have a special place in Disney's history for how much success it brought the company, but it will also stand the test of time as a classic animated movie. Also fun fact: this was the last traditional animated movie that wasn't created using computers in one way or another (at least for Disney).
16. Akira
One of the most influential animes ever made, Akira changed the anime landscape in the late 80s. Taking place in the cyberpunk future of Neo Tokyo, the art style and story truly captivated Japanese audiences in its release. It's gained a cult status among anime fans around the world as time has passed and more people have discovered it. The movie is very gritty and dark, taking place in a world full of violence and gang warfare. On top of that, the government has some shady dealings as they take children into their custody to experiment on them and give them telekinetic powers. A story that would influence many a sci-fi and horror film since its release. There's no denying that this movie is an important part of animation history and it's still of the best ever made.
15. Princess Mononoke
From one anime classic to another. This Miyazaki film came out in 1997 and was quickly branded another Studio Ghibli classic. This is the first Studio Ghibli film on the list, but... well it won't be the last. If you've seen a Miyazaki film, then you know how beautiful the animation is with the amount of detail the worlds in his movies have. On top of that, you get some top-notch storytelling with characters that will be remembered forever. Princess Mononoke is a fantasy story about a young man named Ashitaka as he tries to find a cure for a disease that is slowly killing him. On his journey, he meets a girl named San who is accompanied by large wolves. Together they find themselves in a war between the forest spirits and the humans who deplete the forest of its resources. A story that is heavy on environmental themes, and conservation. It handles the themes well and doesn't feel like it's too heavy-handed or preachy.
14. Aladdin
A lot of people will always remember this movie for one of the most iconic Disney characters in Genie voiced by the legend Robin Williams. It's true that his performance here completely changed the landscape of animated movies and the voice-acting casting that would be more in favor of celebrity star power over actual voice work talent. That's how good he was in this role, he changed things forever. It's easy to forget though, the rest of the movie is fantastic in its own right. The romance between Aladdin and Jasmine is a big part of the movie that works well, as well as the villain Jafar. While a few things here and there might not have aged like fine wine, it still holds up for the most part.
13. The Incredibles
The first Pixar movie to be centered around human characters. It's actually interesting to see the evolution of human characters in these 3D animated movies, as in the early days it wasn't always so easy to make humans look good. You can really notice how basic this movie is with the textures and design of the characters compared to what they can do now. It doesn't take away from how good this movie was and is still to this day. Superhero movies now are all over the place and it's become so big with Marvel that every studio wants to try to get some of that success. This movie came out at a time Superhero movies were just starting to really take off with X-Men and Spider-Man. It took the genre and put a unique twist on it. Everything about this movie just works. The action is a lot of fun, the characters are all memorable and the music is fantastic. Even the villain, who doesn't show up until a little later in the movie, is really well done. I think this should be considered one of the best superhero movies and not just in the animated genre.
12. The Iron Giant
Before Vin Diesel was Groot, he was a giant metal robot thing. The Iron Giant was released by Warner Bros Feature Animation is the year 1999. For a studio that was known for its iconic cartoon series like Looney Tunes and Animaniacs, it really struggled to release successful theatrical animated movies. It's actually sad that this was the last fully animated movie they made because it ended up being one of the best animated movies ever made. It's surprising that this movie actually failed hard at the box office considering how beloved it is nowadays. The story follows young boy Hogarth and his friendship with a giant evil robot. Turns out the robot isn't so evil, but actually wants to be good and a hero. But, the US military sure doesn't see him as a hero, as they want to capture and destroy the gentle iron giant. The relationship between Hogarth and the Giant carries this movie and it's surprisingly emotional and heartfelt.
11. Finding Nemo
How fast can Pixar make you cry? Pretty fast it turns out. Finding Nemo was a phenomenon when it first came out in 2003. I haven't seen this movie in years now, but I feel like I can still remember every scene and most of the dialog with how much I watched it back in the day. Not only that, but it's also one of those movies where every scene is really good and serves a purpose. The storytelling is fantastic here and the relationship between all the characters really takes this movie from great status to amazing. Even though I was never the biggest Ellen fan, I can admit she was the perfect casting choice for Dory and I can't really imagine anyone else in the role.
10. Snow White and the Seven Dwarves
The first-ever animated feature-length movie by Disney is still one of the best of all time. While its importance to animation as a whole is a big deal, even without that it still deserves to be on this list. The beautiful animation still looks great to this day and considering how early it was that is pretty amazing. The story is timeless too with lots of great humor and heartfelt moments. The story was already well known as it was created by the Brothers Grimm, who made plenty of classic fairy tales. This was a great adaptation of their work and it wouldn't be the last. Now I'm just hoping they don't make a live-action remake of this one.
9. Wall-E
WALL-E is a special movie because it does something that none of the movies on this list did. Having a protagonist that doesn't speak isn't unheard of, in fact, Disney did it with the movie Dumbo decades ago. Still, this was Pixar's first time doing so and it worked amazingly. WALL-E's design makes him lovable at first sight with his small rusty body and big robot eyes. It's his actions that really make you root for him though and his connection to EVE that carries the environmentally friendly message of the movie. The animation is of course top-notch, but that's expected of Pixar at this point.
8. Inside Out
One of the newer movies on this list left an impact on me right away. This movie actually came out at a time Pixar was starting to feel a bit stale with its storytelling. Movies like Cars 2, Brave, and Monster's University just felt like they were missing the great Pixar touch. Then came Inside Out. It felt like the old Pixar came back for one last great story. The idea was simple enough, a story about what our emotions would be like if they were living creatures. Pixar took a good idea and made a really great story out of it with some memorable characters that made you laugh and cry like Pixar usually does. It also has one of the best celebrity voice castings since Robin Williams as Genie or Mike Myers as Shrek with Amy Poehler playing Joy. What I really liked about this movie though, is how it teaches a great message that you don't really see a lot of kid movies do. Sadly Pixar went on another bad streak after this movie, but it looks like that's turning around recently with better movies like Coco, Soul, and Luca.
7. Spirited Away
One of Miyazaki's most beloved films is worthy of all the praise it gets. The story is so unique and bizarre, but it works so well because of the characters and beautiful animation. A young girl named Chihiro is trapped in a bathhouse that is home to many unusual spirits. She has to try to work her way out of it and rescue her parents. While she is trapped, she meets a boy named Haku and they slowly form a bond that will change Chihiro's life forever. This movie features some iconic anime visuals and characters that are referenced in many other works. In fact, you can find many people with tattoos and collectibles of this movie because of how iconic it has become over time. If you've never seen a Miyazaki film, this one is a good place to start... or the other one I'm going to mention soon.
6. Spider-Man Into the Spiderverse
The newest movie on the list was one that became a favorite of mine in pretty much one watch. I've seen it many times now and it only seems to get better with every rewatch. The story, animation, and music all combine to make one of the best animated movies ever. I'd even say this is my favorite Spider-Man movie too, which is crazy considering how good a lot of the other ones have been. There's just something about the unique animation style mixed in with great storytelling that puts this one on another level. It's got so much style, but it doesn't take away from the substance of the characters and storytelling that can be really captivating. The characters are memorable and even the villain(s) were really well done. Maybe over time this movie will move up and down on the list, but for now, it's one of my favorites ever.
5. Beauty and the Beast
It's one of the most beloved Disney movies of all time and also the only Disney animated feature to be nominated for best picture at the annual Oscars. It's a tale as old as time, Beauty and the Beast was one of the earlier movies of the Disney Renaissance. I feel like it really took what Little Mermaid did before it and improved upon it. It showed that the Little Mermaid wasn't just a one-time fluke, but that Disney was in fact back in form. The beautiful animation and the iconic music really pushed what was already a great story into legendary status. The love story between Belle and Beast certainly carried the movie, but the memorable side characters like Gaston, Lumiere, and Mr. Potts took this movie into iconic status.
4. Howl's Moving Castle
The final Miyazaki movie on this list is one I love to revisit. It's a simple story: a young woman meets a young wizard, the young woman is cursed with old age by a witch, and the young handsome wizard helps the old lady get back her young body. We've all been there. But seriously, it's a fantastic story that's carried by the great connection between the two protagonists. As with every Miyazaki movie, the animation is insanely good and incredibly detailed. Miyazaki's influence on animation is probably on par with that of Walt Disney, maybe even greater you could argue. The fact that you could debate which of his many movies is the best one shows how much quality he brings into the world of animation. This is my favorite personally, and I would highly suggest you watch any of his movies if you've never seen them.
3. Lion King
This is still my favorite Disney movie to date after all these years. Though there have been many greats before and after this movie, this one still holds a special place. It's a flawless movie in its entirety. The characters, story, music, animation, voice acting, and setting all come together so perfectly that it's impossible for me not to put this so high on this list. At points, it has you ugly crying and at other points it has you crying from laughter. The story is so well done, with the movie showing you a great father and son relationship that makes Mufasa's death so impactful because of how great a character he was in the short time you spend with him. Watching Simba grow from a tiny lion cub who's clearly not ready to be king into the lion his father always hoped he would become is a great arc. Even the villain Scar has great motivation and has one of the best villain songs in any Disney movie. It's the perfect movie.
2. Toy Story 3
It was hard to choose which one of the Toy Story movies I would put on this list because they are all so great, but ultimately this one felt right. It was the end of the Andy saga that was being built up in all of the movies, especially the second one. Toy Story 3 takes everything that worked from the first two movies and builds on it to create a perfect ending to a trilogy. Of course, it didn't end up being a trilogy after all, since they made one last movie to give Woody his big finale. Still, this movie still felt like the perfect send-off to all the beloved characters at the time, since most of us thought this was the last one. The themes of growing old and always being there for your friends carried on, but this time felt more emotional because it really felt like the last time we'd see these beloved characters. I'm not sure if it's fair to say the existence of Toy Story 4 affects that or not, because I think 4 is also a great ending to the series too.
1. Fantastic Mr. Fox
When I first heard Wes Anderson was making an animated feature I was immediately interested. Never would I have imagined that it would end up being one of my favorite movies of all time and the best-animated movie ever made (in my opinion). It's one of the most unique movies I've ever seen and it's so visually interesting I can never take my eyes off of the screen when I watch it. The movie has this great quirkiness to it that's incredibly charming and funny. But like with a lot of these movies, the characters really carry the movie and there's a great story here. If you've never seen it, it's about a famous thief fox who decides to retire to focus on his family life. He quickly grows bored with the ordinary life and plans his greatest heist yet. For the first time in his life though, he's taken on more than he can do alone. It's a really funny story, but still has great moments of heart and lessons that don't feel out of place in the story. It does everything so perfectly, which is why it's my favorite animated movie of all time.
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