My Top Ten Animated Films

For the most part, I love watching movies of all eras, countries, and genres. From Buster Keaton's silent films in the 1920s, to the gritty film noir of the 40s and 50s, to the splatterfest action and horror flicks of the 80s, all the way to recent Best Picture winners (looking at you, Spotlight), I can typically enjoy any film that's well made.

However, there's something special about the animation medium that appeals to me in a way unlike any other style. Perhaps my upbringing explains this phenomenon. After all, like many a 90s kid, I grew up on Saturday morning cartoons - everything from the Hanna-Barbera classics like Scooby Doo to Nickelodeon's greats, like Spongebob Squarepants.

My exposures have definitely expanded since then, but whatever the reason, I almost always dig creative and well-crafted animation. The medium can facilitate storytelling in really unique and visually-stunning ways (oftentimes in a fashion impossible for live-action to reproduce). I think these characteristics contribute to why it remains such a popular form of media among all ages.

I'm done waxing nostalgic (for now). Anyway, here are my Top Ten Favorite Animated Films. (Not necessarily ranking quality here, just enjoyment.) Let me know if any of yours made my list!

10) End of Evangelion (1997)

Anyone who read my review of the 1995 anime series Neon Genesis Evangelion knows I'm a huge fan. End of Evangelion is the feature length film that caps off the show's storyline. Continuing down the path of its TV predecessor,  EoE  experiments with a variety of apocalyptic themes in a series of visually-stunning and psychedelic vignettes. At one point, near the end of the film, images of pre-screened audiences who watched it prior to the premiere are spliced into a montage of real-world images alternating with animated ones. The film also features a few glorious action sequences, as well as what might be cinema's most infamous masturbation scene. 

Arthouse through and through, EoE is a memorable cinematic experience unlike any other.

EVA 2 on a rampage 

9) Who Framed Roger Rabbit? (1988)

Not 100% animated, but 100% brilliant

Although I saw bits and pieces of Who Framed Roger Rabbit? as a child, I didn't actually watch the entire thing until just a few months ago. All I can say is that the film deserves all its awards and accolades and then some. The animation and special effects look astoundingly-good and have aged extremely well. The interaction between the animated characters and the real world is so well done and convincing I kept wondering how the heck they pulled several scenes off.

A witty and exciting script complements the visual effects, and the film is flush with all types of easter eggs. Director Robert Zemeckis (of Back To The Future fame) somehow managed to get both Warner Brothers and Disney to assent to having both of their trademark characters appear in cameos in the film. Because of this remarkable agreement, we get to see both Donald and Daffy Duck play dueling pianos, and Mickey Mouse and Bugs Bunny tease the protagonist (see below). This type of arrangement had never occurred before and hasn't happened since. 

Roger Rabbit is a classic for all of the above reasons, and a film any serious cinema lover should check out.

A truly one-of-a-kind scene

8) Spirited Away (2001)

Winner of both the Berlin Golden Bear Award and Oscar for Best Animated Feature, Spirited Away is rightfully considered a masterpiece of animation. Director Hayao Miyazaki's unbridled imagination and technical excellence are on full display here. Inhabited by spirits and creatures of all shapes and sizes, the enormous bathhouse in which the film takes place is filled with enough majesty and wonder to keep one returning again and again. Coupled with a contemplative score by longtime Studio Ghibli composer Joe Hisaishi, the wonderful storytelling of Spirited Away makes it an excellent film for all ages and generations.


7) Wall-E (2008)

Pixar's most endearing protagonist

I consider Wall-E Pixar's greatest achievement and an essentially perfect film. It's one of the greatest cinematic examples of the mantra "show - don't tell," crafting a simple yet superb tale equal parts touching and laugh-out-loud hilarious. The central story line features a satirical critique of modern consumerism, but doesn't clobber the audience over the head with its message. In many ways Wall-E is the simplest of all of Pixar's offerings (most of which are excellent), but also the most effective. Also, leave it to Pixar to create cinema's first sympathetic cockroach.

6) The Brave Little Toaster (1987)

The Brave Little Toaster is one of Disney's most unique and bizarre creations. I absolutely adored this movie as a child. However, it struck me after re-watching for the first time as an adult just how darn dark it is. While cute on the surface, filled with a swath of Disney-esque sing-along tunes, BLT is really a not-so-subtle commentary and exploration on mortality. Household appliances fill in for human beings, as our protagonists continually are reminded their glory days have come and gone, and that they stand on the doorstep of obsolescence. They've been left behind by their family and society, and are shunned by the younger generation (of appliances) in the big city.

Toaster and the rest of the gang are constantly imperiled, while the film stays consistently macabre throughout its running time (though it does feature a happy ending). A supporting character commits suicide on screen within the first 10 minutes of the movie, the appliances barely escape vivisection in a horror-filled thrift shop, and the climax of the film involves a disturbing musical number involving broken-down cars singing about their impending demise (before being crushed to death on screen). There's also a terrifying nightmare sequence with one of the creepiest clowns in cinematic history.

While kids movies oftentimes comment on mature subject matter, rarely does one come across a film so overtly dark and disturbing. BLT is extremely memorable in this regard, and remains one of my favorites.

One of the most horrific moments of my childhood

5) Fantastic Mr. Fox (2009)

Wes Anderson is a hit or miss director for me. I really like some of his recent works (Moonrise Kingdom, Grand Budapest Hotel), but have struggled getting into his older films like Darjeeling Limited and Rushmore. My favorite of the bunch, though, is his only animated film - Fantastic Mr. Fox.

Anderson's signature fairy-tale storytelling, pastel color palettes, and undying love for placing his characters in the center of the frame are all on display here. He also assembled an excellent voice cast which includes George Clooney, Meryl Streep, Willem Dafoe, Michael Gambon, as well as Anderson-regulars Bill Murray and Jason Schwartzman.

However, it's the visuals that really make the film. Created using gorgeous stop-motion animation, FMF is pure eye candy from start to finish. The characters are distinctive and detailed and the world convincing and creative. It evokes a Wallace and Gromit vibe, but one-hundred times more intricate.

Thankfully, the humor (much of which involves visual gags) fires on all cylinders too, which doesn't always happen with Anderson's offerings. Overall, a delightful film.

It's the little details (like the shadows here) that make this film spectacular

4) How To Train Your Dragon (2010)

Sometimes you just want to go to the movies to feel like a kid again. Granted, I wouldn't say that escapism is my primary motivator for consuming cinematic content; however, who doesn't enjoy plopping down on the couch from time to time and watching something that just makes you feel all warm and fuzzy inside?

How To Train Your Dragon fills that role perfectly. Comedic, heartwarming, and thrilling, I love this film so darn much because at its core it is one of the best feel-good movies I've ever seen. I in no way am demeaning or disparaging its artistic value by saying that either - HTTYD is superbly-crafted and filled with gorgeous visuals, standout voice work, and one of my favorite film scores of all time. Every time I watch it, I still get chills during Hiccup and Toothless' first flight, and invariably end up with a big goofy smile on my face by the end of the movie.


3) The Incredibles (2004)

Like Wall-E, The Incredibles is Pixar at its best. Equal parts superhero movie, family comedy, and James Bondian spy-flick, it's a thrill ride from start to finish. The retro visual style fits the tone of the film perfectly, and the story hums along at a brisk (but never hurried) pace.

The Incredibles may also be Pixar's funniest film to-date. Not only does it feature the studio's funniest character (Edna Mode), but Frozone's anguished search for his supersuit remains perhaps the funniest scene in any Pixar film. 

While there's not a whole lot going on beneath the surface, that doesn't stop it from being one of the most entertaining films of the 2000s. I'm never bored no matter how many times I see it. Plus, this was the movie that put Michael Giacchino on the Hollywood map. He's gone on to compose a number of standout original scores since then, including the next film on my list.

2) Zootopia (2016)

I must confess, when I first sat down to watch Zootopia earlier this summer, I wasn't expecting to love it as much as I did. Granted, it was well-received critically (though not universally), and I had heard some good things about it via word-of-mouth. Still, it's a Disney flick in an era where Disney continues to battle with a reputation that they produce animated films that don't reach the same levels of excellence as Pixar. I think Frozen is one of the most overrated movies of this century, and while other recent offerings such as Wreck It Ralph and Big Hero 6 are well-regarded, my perception is that neither are considered truly exceptional.

All of this contributes to why I walked away from my first viewing of Zootopia so surprised. It's just a flat-out like-able movie in every way possible. Sure, it may not be groundbreaking from an originality perspective or have the deepest story you've ever seen, but the execution really sells the film.

First off, the animation is so intricately detailed and impressive, it's hard to believe the first feature length computer-generated film (Toy Story) came out just a scant 21 years ago. Everything from water effects to facial expressions to a host of other tiny little details turn Zootopia into a feast for the eyes. 

What really makes the film for me is its top-notch writing and voice work. Michael Bluth, er, I mean Jason Bateman, just nails his role as a conniving con artist with a heart of gold, while Ginnifer Goodwin captures exuberant optimism better than any voice actor I've ever heard. The rest of the cast is just as good too - Idris Elba is perfectly cast as a gruff police chief, while J.K. Simmons continues his excellent streak of voice acting roles as the mayor of Zootopia.

The humor and references (Lemming Brothers Bank, hahahaha) are all good fun, and the film delivers its requisite dose of societal commentary with grace. Like How To Train Your Dragon, Zootopia makes me feel like a kid again when watching it. I think everyone needs that once in a while.

The iconic DMV scene

1) Princess Mononoke (1997)

While I haven't watched all of Hayao Miyazaki's works, Princess Mononoke is easily my favorite of those I have seen. A stunning allegory for mankind's dependence on and relationship with the natural world, Mononoke paints a potent picture of humanity building a new society on the edge of the wilderness, dealing with the inevitable consequences of environmental degradation. 

The world of Princess Mononoke is stunning to look at, with breathtaking vistas and grandiose battle sequences. The film doesn't stray away from violence (limbs and heads are severed left and right), but it never becomes gratuitous, and always serves to drive the plot forward and reinforce that violence is typically not the right solution.

Like most of Miyazaki's works, Mononoke doesn't take a black and white view of any of its characters or subject matter. All the characters  in the film, from the industrialists razing trees to the ground to the spirits and animals defending the forest, are multifaceted, with inherent values, flaws, and motivations that keep the audience from picking a single side. In many ways, Mononoke tells a similar story to that of Avatar, except in a much, much more nuanced manner. The film has an obvious environmental message, but proceeds with presenting it in a refined fashion. It's quite refreshing to encounter a film that treats its audience with maturity and doesn't resort to simplifying its message to get a point across. Princess Mononoke embodies this trait perfectly.

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If you made it through this lengthy post, kudos to you! All of the above films appeal to me in different ways, but I feel they represent a fairly-diverse array of qualities that the animation medium has to offer to audiences. 

-CC