Despite live-action movies typically taking the top spots at the box office, there’s something so incredibly special about animated films that can’t be captured in live-action. The things that can be depicted, the style they can take on, the heart and soul they can emit—all so integral to animated film as a medium, and make them some of the most beloved films of all time.
Whether it be a movie by Disney, Pixar, Dreamworks, or Studio Ghibli, an animated film can be astoundingly special to both kids and adults. They’re movies that can be shared with the whole family (most of the time), and that makes them pieces of content that can make some amazing memories and be integral to people’s love of film. There are some that are truly amazing from beginning to end and are exceptional in almost every way.
10
‘Flow’ (2024)
Directed by Gints Zibalodis
With 74 total award nominations and a whopping 56 wins, Flow found itself being one of the best movies of 2024, despite not catching as much attention as others. Following a cute little black cat after his home is destroyed by a great flood, ending up on a boat with other animals with whom he’ll have to find solace with to survive.
It’s an incredibly cute, heartwarming, stylistic, and comfortingly quiet movie that can be enjoyed by pretty much anyone. The movie is also special because it contains absolutely zero dialogue. The story is told strictly through the lens of this adorable cat, and that means there aren’t any words spoken—animals only being in it anyway. There is so much to love about Flow that makes it borderline perfect from start to finish.
Flow
- Release Date
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August 30, 2024
- Runtime
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84 minutes
- Director
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Gints Zilbalodis
- Writers
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Gints Zilbalodis, Matiss Kaza
9
‘The Lion King’ (1994)
Directed by Roger Allers and Rob Minkoff
When people think of great movies from Walt Disney Animation, The Lion King is most certainly one of them. With a stacked cast, animation that’s beautiful, a wonderful story, and music that’s still consistently listened to in this modern age, The Lion King is phenomenal pretty much all-around. The story of Simba (Matthew Broderick) rising to his kingship and taking down Scar (Jeremy Irons) is iconic.
The Lion King is genuinely one of the most critically renowned animated films of all time, even over 30 years later. Songs like “Circle of Life” and “Hakuna Matata” live on to this very day and have yet to die in popularity. Everyone knows these songs and will always sing along no matter where they’re being played.
8
‘Tangled’ (2010)
Directed by Nathan Greno and Bryon Howard
People give Disney and Pixar a lot of flak as of late, but the 2010s era of Pixar was a truly great time for movies and animation as a whole. Kicking off that decade with Tangled 100% set this standard and was the perfect film to do so. Taking the old story of Rapunzel and modernizing it into a CGI-animated musical ended up being the best decision that Disney and Pixar could have made to kick off the decade.
Tangled got astonishing reviews and is still massively beloved today. With a wild cast consisting of Mandy Moore, Zachary Levi, Ron Perlman, and Donna Murphy, the performances bring the characters to life and make them a lot of people’s favorite Disney/Pixar characters even 15 years post-release.
7
‘Shrek’ (2001)
Directed by Andrew Adamson and Vicky Jenson
Shrek is widely known as one of the best animated films ever made. It totally redefined the animated movie medium and showed that they didn’t have to be as sterile and basic as Disney’s stuff. Shrek took risks with jokes that appealed to adults, a more complex storyline than people would expect at the time, and a hero who wasn’t some prince or princess but rather an ogre.
It’s also a huge part of the company’s history, being one of their first massive theatrical hits. Not to mention, the voice cast is absolutely perfect. Filled to the brim with some of the time’s best comedians, they bring these characters to the screen in hilarious ways and keep this a consistently enjoyable watch, no matter how many times one has seen it.
6
‘How to Train Your Dragon’ (2010)
Directed by Dean DeBlois and Chris Sanders
Another total surprise banger to come out of Dreamworks was How to Train Your Dragon in 2010. Releasing at the same time as Diary of a Wimpy Kid, How to Train Your Dragon had some huge competition (with how large of a franchise Diary of a Wimpy Kid was at the time). The story of Hiccup (Jay Baruchel) and Toothless is heartwarming, thrilling, and super well animated for 2010.
There’s a reason that this movie is known as one of DreamWorks’ best. It’s all-around phenomenal and kicked off one of the strongest animated trilogies of all time. Not to mention, the score by John Powell is widely renowned for very good reason. A ton of love went into every single aspect of this movie, and that makes for something truly special.
5
‘Kung Fu Panda’ (2008)
Directed by Mark Osborne and John Stevenson
Before DreamWorks popped off with How to Train Your Dragon, they made what many people consider their best film (behind Shrek and its sequel, of course), Kung Fu Panda. Po’s (Jack Black) story of self-acceptance is not only inspiring but also relatable to almost anyone. Harnessing his true destiny, Po becomes the Dragon Warrior against everyone’s assumptions.
Kung Fu Panda is built for pretty much everyone. It is motivating, emotionally compelling, and filled with some great action sequences in which Po uses his specific strengths to his advantage. Kung Fu Panda continued to prove that DreamWorks not only had what it took to stand up to Disney/Pixar but also to surpass them. That’s because this movie was almost perfect.
Kung Fu Panda
- Release Date
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June 4, 2008
- Runtime
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95 minutes
- Director
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Mark Osborne, John Stevenson
- Writers
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Jonathan Aibel, Glenn Berger
4
‘The Incredibles’ (2004)
Directed by Brad Bird
Director Brad Bird is known for some astounding films. Not many directors have a resume like his. He’s got the likes of The Iron Giant, Ratatouille, and the legendary The Incredibles—also being part of the senior creative team for borderline every Pixar movie since WALL-E. Beginning his career as an animator on 1908’s Animalympics, Bird knows what it takes to make a good animated movie, and that is incredibly true in The Incredibles.
The Incredibles tells the story of the Parr family (whose parents are ex-superheroes) as the father of the pack, Bob (Craig T. Nelson), gets back into his old ways and puts his family in the headlights of a new villain, Syndrome (Jason Lee). It’s a great film for families, with how much the power of family found at its core. The love of family and superhero action makes for a wonderful animated movie.
3
‘Ratatouille’ (2007)
Directed by Brad Bird and Jan Pinkava
Pixar may have made some great movies over the years, but their genuine magnum opus came all the way back in 2007 with Ratatouille. This movie is so well-beloved and critically regarded that it’s pretty impossible not to mention when bringing up great animated movies. Ratatouille is adored all around and pretty much no one can deny that.
There’s something so profound about Ratatouille that appeals to almost all audiences. A movie doesn’t get 96% on Rotten Tomatoes for no reason, and Ratatouille has almost every reason to warrant said reviews. It also continued to further prove that Brad Bird is a phenomenal director and knows what it takes to make not just a good animated film, but a film in general.
2
‘Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse’ (2018)
Directed by Bob Persichetti, Peter Ramsey, and Rodney Rothman
Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse isn’t just a good movie, but it changed the medium of film animation forever. Its expressive and artistic style inspired so many other studios and directors to take a chance on changing up their style, like with movies such as Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem and Puss in Boots: The Last Wish. Its impact on the industry isn’t what makes it incredible from minute zero to the final, though.
Everyone knows the story of Peter Parker, but general audiences had no idea about the story of Miles Morales (Shameik Moore). This made for a perfect opportunity for Spider-Man’s first animated movie to really differentiate itself from the rest of the character’s films. It’s one of the most heartfelt and innovative Spider-Man movies, and with how emotionally compelling and visually electric it is, Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse is a joy from beginning to end.
1
‘Shrek 2’ (2004)
Directed by Andrew Adamson, Kelly Asbury, and Conrad Vernon
Much like how Pixar has a magnum opus in Ratatouille, DreamWorks has their own in a sequel of all things. Shrek 2 is not just the best sequel of all time, but one of the best films of all time, too. Shrek 2 takes everything that worked in the first movie (all of which worked very well) and expands upon them. Shrek’s (Mike Myers) journey of trying to change himself to be accepted by Fiona’s (Cameron Diaz) parents is honestly heartbreaking and, in the end, teaches a great lesson about self-acceptance.
Shrek 2 truly is a perfect film, and from the very start to the very finish, it never lacks or really falters in any way. Performances across the whole cast are genuine and exceptional, the animation is great, and, as stated, the story is exceptionally well-written. The soundtrack is super well put together, too, with some absolute bangers as needle drops throughout the entire project.
