Before we begin I want to just make a couple of declarations, clarifications and caveats. First off, this list will only feature traditionally animated films (or at least movies that are mostly traditional), so no Pixar. I do this because (I feel) the look of traditional animation and CGI animation is so different that the experiences need to be judged with separate criteria, the same goes for stop motion animation. Additionally, this list is strictly MY favorites. This is not a list of "best" animated films, or most influential or successful, it's just a list of movies I love.
So with no further ado, here are my 25 favorite animated feature films.
For close to a decade the Simpsons was - by far - the best primetime animated sitcom in history. As the years passed, however, the show became so stale and repetitive that people began questioning whether americas favorite dysfunctional family was relevant - or even funny - anymore. This atmosphere of skepticism was only enhanced by the announcement that a Simpsons movie was finally going to hit theaters in 2007. Could Homer and company recapture the magic that made them a world wide phenomenon, or would they simply hack out a pathetic cash grab and put the final nail in the proverbial coffin of this once great franchise? Well, much to my relief The Simpsons Movie turned out to be a fantastic return to form, one that reminded me exactly why I loved these characters to begin with. I won't get into any plot details, but the thing that made this story work so well was the writers understanding of the Simpson family. Whether it's Homer's selfishness, or Bart's desperate pleas for attention through delinquency, or Lisa's environmental causes (not to mention her girlish desire for romance), or Marge's constant forgiveness, this movie captures all the visceral personality quirks of the Simpsons perfectly and enjoyably (heck, even Maggie gets her chance to shine).
This movie would have ranked higher on my list had the ending been as exciting and magical as the rest of the film. Instead it felt very rushed and un-empowered (to me anyways). Regardless, the Secret of Kells is a wonderful tale set in the ninth century, rich with Irish folklore. It's about a young boy named Brendan whose life ambition is to become a master illuminator, but to do so he must disobey his uncle - Abbot Cellach - who expects Brendan to follow in his footsteps and complete a giant wall to protect the Abbey of Kells from Vikings. This conflict is further enhanced when Brother Aidan arrives in Kells and takes Brendan under his wing as an apprentice.
Of all the action-adventure DTVs that have come out over the last 15 or so years, Wonder Woman is by far the best. Not only does this film have excellent animation (especially for a DTV), amazing action and a great story; it handles the tough subject of female empowerment in the most honest way I've ever seen. Directed by the fantastic Lauren Montgomery, Wonder Woman is a layered and intelligent DTV that remains the gold standard of the genre.
Directed by the late Satoshi Kon, Millennium Actress is a gorgeously animated movie that tells the life story of fictional actress Chiyoko Fujiwara by interweaving Chiyoko's journey to reunite with a long lost love into the various movie roles she played throughout her career. A beautifully poignant tale, Millennium Actress is a perfect example of how versatile a storytelling medium animation can be in the right hands.
French director Sylvain Chomet's 2003 movie Triplets of Belleville is a wonderfully offbeat film. Animated in a very retro - pen and ink - fashion this movie has tons of style and very little dialog. The story revolves around a tiny French woman named Madame Souza who must raise her grandson after his parents die. Unable to initially shake the boy from his depression, Madame Souza finally finds the key to getting Champion (that's her grandson's name) back on his feet, cycling. Years later, Champion is now a professional bicyclist competing in the Tour de France. Champion is unable to finish the race, however, and finds himself kidnapped by New York gangsters and taken to America. Determined to get her grandson back, Madame Souza travels to America herself and befriends the Triplets of Belleville, a group of three sisters who were once popular 1930s music hall singers. Together this mismatched band of rescuers set out to save Champion. Despite being a wonderful film, I cannot help but be disappointed with the way Triplets of Belleville horribly stereotyped Americans as fat, glutenous slobs. Yes, there is a sad truth to this stereotype (the US consumes egregious amounts of natural resources, our eating habits are terrible and obesity is one of our most serious problems) it ultimately feels mean spirited and resentful. Though it's meant as a caricature, I'm pretty sure Sylvain would be equally offended by a film depicting French people as unwashed, cowardly, arrogant, wine drinking, cheese eating frogs. That little rant aside, I love this film's artistic vision and charming characters.
Hayao Miyazaki's 2009 film Ponyo was almost perfect. Very loosely based on Hans Christian Andersen's "The Little Mermaid" story, Ponyo features a young - quasi-human - goldfish that falls in love with a boy named Sōsuke. Despite the disapproval of her father (who is some kind of scientist/magician), Ponyo eventually turns herself human and escapes to the surface world. Fantastically conceived and beautifully animated, the only flaw I found with Ponyo was that the final stage of Ponyo and Sōsuke's "trial" missed the mark. I don't want to give anything away, but I really wanted to see Sōsuke's loyalty tested by Ponyo's father, instead it all just played out like a big misunderstanding. Overall, this is a great movie though, and one that can be enjoyed by people of all ages.
This movie comes from a time (1982) when feature film animation was a little "darker" than it is now. Even Disney films like the Fox and the Hound and The Rescuers were far more moody than what audiences have come to expect. That said, this darker tone is perfectly suited for the subject matter of this Don Bluth masterpiece. Though set in our world, the story of the Secret of Nimh features anthropomorphic mice who live on a farm. One such mouse, Mrs. Brisby, is trying to move herself and her children from their current home - which is in the middle of a field - before plowing begins that spring. Unfortunately her youngest child has fallen ill and cannot leave the home, so Mrs. Brisby must seek the assistance of super intelligent rats led by the mysterious and mystical Nicodemus. Featuring amazing animation - and world building - the Secret of Nimh is Don Bluth's best directorial work.
Do I really need to explain why this film is on my list? I thought not. Sufficed to say, Bambi is one of the most visually groundbreaking animated films ever created. Funny, tragic, inspiring an honest, this is one of Walt's greatest accomplishments.
Much like Bambi, I see no need for a plot synopsis with Lady and the Tramp. Gorgeous animation, idyllic backgrounds and a timeless story (not to mention a little risque), Lady and the Tramp literally could not be any better than what it is.
While it'll never be as popular - or influential - as other Disney films, Mulan is still an excellent movie. The stories heroine is Mulan, a Chinese girl who pretends to be a man so that she can serve the military in her fathers place (her father has become too frail to serve himself). Featuring excellent music, attractively simple character design and lots of laughs (courtesy of Eddie Murphy), Mulan not only delivers in the entertainment department, it effectively drives home the great message that women are just as capable as men.
Another amazing Satoshi Kon film. In this 2006 psychological thriller, a new device called the "DC mini" has been invented allowing people to insert themselves into dreams. Developed as a new form of psychotherapy, one of the Doctors working on the project has begun using the device to help people under the persona "Paprika". Before the DC Mini is approved by the government, however, three prototypes are stolen and mysterious deaths begin to occur. Upon investigation, Paprika is drawn further and further into a twisted dream world where reality and dreams begin to become one. Using all the tricks he developed in previous projects, I feel that Paprika is Satoshi Kon's best work. If you liked Inception you'll probably dig Paprika.
This movie is a visual feast. Basically you get some of the best traditional animation ever, seamless CGI integration (seriously, checkout those branch surfing scenes) and wonderful music. All wrapped together by a tight story that can actually pull at the heart strings when it wants. Like Mulan, this film may never be a classic, but it certainly is amazing.
Despite being a great film, there's actually some negativity one must acknowledge when talking about Aladdin. For one, people have accused the film of "borrowing" heavily in both look and feel from The Thief and the Cobbler, a movie that was plagued by years of on again, off again production. Secondly, Aladdin contains a great deal of pop-culture humor, something that many critics (and fans) dislike because it goes for "cheap" laughs and dates the film (seriously Robin Williams, my kids don't even know who Arsenio Hall is). Finally, very few people ever mention this, but the whole genie portion of Aladdin plays out very closely to another Disney film released only two years prior, Duck Tales Treasure of the Lost Lamp (give it a watch sometime and you'll see what I mean). All that said, I still believe that Aladdin is one impressive animated feature. Great story, great songs, great animation and great characters make this movie one of most beloved - and well rounded - Disney films ever made.
Though made in 1995, Ghost in the Shell is still an amazingly relevant piece of science fiction noir. Set in the year 2029, our primary protagonist is the cyborg officer Major Kusanagi, a member of the special police task force Section 9. While investigating the world renowned hacker "Puppet Master" Kusanagi begins to ponder her own existence as an artificial being,and soon discovers that the Puppet Master may hold the answer to her philosophical dilemma. While an excellent story with some unexpected twists, the thing that really sets Ghost in the Shell apart is its amazing visuals. Groundbreaking animation, insanely detailed backgrounds and some of the best action choreography ever put on film make Ghost in the Shell a definitive anime movie.
It's hard for me to say exactly why I like this film so much. It isn't any one or two specific things I suppose ... it's everything. I love the look, the story, the voice acting, the pacing, the music and all the stuff in-between. Additionally, this is the last Disney film to feature all of Disney's Nine Old Men as directing animators, so in some ways it's the end of an era as well. Based on the J. M. Barrie story "Peter Pan, or The Boy Who Wouldn't Grow Up", Peter Pan is just great execution of a great concept, one that I can watch over and over again.
This film is just an amazing piece of art. Every time I watch Sleeping Beauty I'm blown away by the film's color styling and elaborate backgrounds. Artist Eyvind Earle not only designed all the fantastic settings of this movie, he painted the majority of them himself! Besides its visual prowess, Sleeping Beauty also has one of the best villains ever in Maleficent, and a prince that actually does something besides marry the princess (unlike those lazy princes from Snow White and Cinderella). Granted, it's not the most amazing story you'll ever see, but whatever shortcomings Sleeping Beauty may have are easily overcome by its unmatched artistry.
Originally titled Laputa: Castle in the Sky, this movie may not be as highly praised as other Miyazaki films, but it's still an amazing piece of storytelling and one of my favorite animated features. The story of Laputa involves two youngsters named Sheeta and Pazu. After a somewhat unorthodox first meeting, these two heroes band together to uncover the location of Laputa, a castle that literally floats in the sky. To do this they must endure military agents, sky pirates and a giant robot capable of unbelievable amounts of destruction. As always the visuals in this Miyazaki film are brilliant (especially for a film from 1986) and the characters both charming and endearing. Simply put, this is adventure storytelling at its best.
Another entry courtesy of Hayao Miyazaki (and my list isn't even done yet). Nausicaa may not be the first film Miyazaki directed, but it certainly is his breakout film. Released in 1984 and written by Miyazaki himself, Nausicaa and the Valley of the Wind is set in a post apocalyptic future where toxic jungles now consume much of the planet's surface making it difficult for humans to survive. Our heroine is Nausicaa, a young princess who must find a way for people to coexist with the environment before the rash actions of others lead to the total annihilation of mankind. Though obviously environmental in origins, the story of Nausicaa is the kind that gets its message across without sounding like some PSA (I'm looking at you Fern Gully). Thought provoking and in many ways ahead of its time, Nausicca and the Valley of the Wind is a beautiful film with substance.
It's not the most original story, but what the Lion King lacks in originality it more than makes up for with execution. What blows me away the most about this film is the emotional impact you get from the characters performances. Whether it's the look in Mufasa's eyes when Scar betrays him, or the heart wrenching attempts by Simba to wake up his father, the Lion King gives you goosebumps time and time again. It doesn't hurt that the animation and music are some of the best ever by Disney either.
Outside of the medium of print, Batman Mask of the Phantasm is the quintessential Batman story. A fantastically clever plot (loosely based on Batman Year Two I think) with a brilliant twist, Mask of the Phantasm tells the story of a young Bruce Wayne unsure of his decision to fight crime after he falls in love, and a modern day Batman struggling to catch a killer with ties to that past. Compared to many of the other films on this list, the animation found in Batman is only average (I believe it was supposed to be a DTV but got a theatrical release once higher-ups saw how good it was). That said the climax of this film does sport some awesome action and impressive visuals. Honestly, I love this movie so much it should probably be illegal.
Where Hayao Miyazaki's films transcend the genre of anime, Katsuhiro Otomo's "Akira" defines it. Released in 1988 and based on Otomo's hit manga of the same name, Akira is - arguably - the most important piece of anime ever produced. Set in the futuristic city of Neo-Tokyo in the year 2019, Akira revolves around two friends named Kaneda and Testuo. Like other delinquent youths, these two orphans fight on motorbikes with other gangs in the streets of Neo-Tokyo. During one of these battles Testuo collides with an unusual looking child who has blue skin and psychic abilities. The result of this encounter is that Testuo gains near godlike powers. Powers that bring out the worst in Testuo and drive him insane. Torn between the desire to save his friend and the responsibility he feels to stop him, Kaneda finds himself fighting a battle that may decide the fate of all Neo-Tokyo. For me to say the animation in this movie looks "amazing" or "beautiful" is an understatement. Akria is - quite simply - one of the most technically impressive films in the history of traditional animation. Backgrounds are unbelievable, the biker fight scene from the start of the movie is mind blowing, Testuo's first flight, the battle of Kaneda and Testuo, the chase in the sewers ... words just can't describe the sheer level of awesome achieved in these scenes. It's been over two decades since Akira set the bar for anime, to date no one has been able to raise it.
Winner of the 2001 best animated picture Oscar, Spirited Away is - in my opinion - Hayao Miyazaki's most charming film. When ten-year-old Chihiro and her parents set out to move to a new town they encounter an abandoned theme park in the middle of nowhere. While Chihiro explores the rundown park her parents begin gorging themselves on food from one of the local vendor stands. As night descends, Chihiro returns to find both her mother and father transformed into pigs and spirits wandering the streets. Now trapped in this bizarre world, Chihiro must go to work at the local bathhouse while trying to figure out a way to save her parents. As always, Miyazaki creates a wonderful world full of rich characters and beautiful visuals. This is easily the most recognizable Studio Ghibli film here in the US, and its success opened the door for all of Miyazaki's other films to be released here.
The first ever animated film to be nominated for the Best Picture Oscar, Beauty and the Beast is Disney magic at its best. Though it features an astounding assortment of songs, phenomenal animation and great romance (this from a guy who isn't a romantic), the thing I love most about this movie is its characterization. Seeing the Beast change from a spoiled, angry child into man capable of sacrifice and compassion (I love that last scene with Gaston) is one of the best character evolutions in the history of film (not just animation). Hands down my favorite animated Disney feature.
If I had to describe this film in a single word it would be "epic". Epic animation, epic story, epic music ... epic everything. Directed by master filmmaker Hayao Miyazaki, Princess Mononoke is one of the most intelligent and thought provoking stories you'll find in animation (or film in general). The plot centers around Ashitaka, the last prince of the Emishi. While protecting his village from a giant boar spirit turned demon, Ashitaka's arm becomes infected with a cursed mark that will spread throughout his body and eventually kill him. Upon discovering that the boar's madness was caused by an iron bullet, the young prince sets out on a journey to the west to discover the weapon's origin. Like Nausicaa and the Valley of the Wind before it, Princess Mononoke's plot is rooted heavily in environmentalism. Unlike Captain Planet and Fern Gully, however, Princess Mononoke doesn't present a black-and-white view of the subject. Instead of using the cliche "Man cut down trees, bad. Noble savage and nature, good" Miyazaki carefully constructs a story where there are no villains, just people with different agendas. Sadly, these agendas can be very destructive, but the people behind them are often quite noble and well intentioned. This is the brilliance of Princess Mononoke, the film doesn't try and preach at its audience or pass judgment on its subject, directors like James Cameron could learn a lot from this film (his movie Avatar is ungodly preachy). Epic in scope and perfect in execution, the Princess Mononoke is my favorite Hayao Miyazaki film.
In 1999 this movie was a flop. Released behind a poor marketing campaign, The Iron Giant came and went from theaters so fast that it might as well have never existed. I was working as the projectionist at a local second run theater at the time and stayed late to watch the movie after building it on Thursday night. I was mildly interested in the story since it appeared to have science fiction origins, but my expectations were pretty low. About half way in I realized I was watching a masterpiece. Directed by two time Oscar winner Brad Bird (Incredibles, Ratatouille), The Iron Giant is a film that shows no fear when breaking from convention. Where other animation directors simply aped the Disney formula in the late 90s, Bird chose to tell a story that had no musical numbers, no princesses, no cute sidekicks and no romance. Instead of adapting some overly familiar fairy tale Bird based his film on a 1968 novel titled “The Iron Man” by Ted Hughes. Set in the year 1957 during the height of Mccarthyism and the Red Scare, The Iron Giant tells the story of Hogarth, a young boy who befriends a giant robot from outer space while trying to hide it from government agent Mansley. An amazingly touching film that captures a time in American history where fear dictated far too many of our actions (something we should remember these days), the Iron Giant is – simply put - Powerful. From a visual perspective, Brad Bird took no shortcuts while making this film either. Featuring a beautiful color pallet and some of the best CGI and traditional animation integration ever, this movie looks fantastic. Though it was not a finical success, The Iron Giant did go on to receive near universal critical praise and is now considered a modern classic. Without a doubt my favorite animated film.
