In 1908, Émile Cohl's short film Fantasmagorie became the world's first animated cartoon. Before this groundbreaking achievement, stop-motion techniques were used to bring inanimate objects to life. Sadly, most of the early animated feature films were destroyed in studio fires, making 1928's The Adventures of Prince Achmed the oldest surviving animated film.
The world of animation has come far since the early days of the 20th century. Even before the rise of computers, new techniques revolutionized hand-drawn animation to allow characters to emote like real people and move with realistic fluidity. Today, many animated films are contenders for the greatest films ever made, thanks not just to their artistry but to their ability to evoke powerful emotions and tell human stories about characters and worlds that do not exist. This list will rank the greatest animated movies of the last century based on their quality, contribution to cinema, and their overall legacy.
10 'Shrek 2' (2004)
Directed by Andrew Adamson, Kelly Asbury, and Conrad Vernon
In 2001, DreamWorks released Shrek, which completely changed the world of animation with its cynical humor, satirical take on classic fairy tale clichés used by Disney, and a beautiful story that touched on themes of ostracization and the perception of beauty. Naturally, a sequel was put into production soon after, using new technology to improve the character animation. The resulting film not only equaled Shrek in the eyes of fans and critics, but many people believe it might even surpass it.
The beauty of Shrek 2 is how it takes everything great about the first film and does it better. There are even more hilarious jokes around fairy tales and modern culture, while new characters like Puss in Boots (Antonio Banderas), the Fairy Godmother (Jennifer Saunders), and King Harold (John Cleese) became instant favorites thanks to their vocal performances and sharp writing. But just like the first movie, Shrek 2's heart is what really makes it great. It explores what happens after "Happily Ever After" and societal expectations, which offer chances for Shrek (Mike Myers) to show just how much he is willing to sacrifice for his wife, Fiona (Cameron Diaz).
9 'Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse' (2018)
Directed by Bob Persichetti, Peter Ramsey, and Rodney Rothman
Sometimes, a film comes along that is so innovative that it influences the style of everything that follows. In recent years, the go-to example is Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, the first animated Spider-Man film. Rather than focusing on Peter Parker, this film follows Miles Morales (Shameik Moore), first introduced in the Ultimate Universe, as he must take the mantle of Spider-Man to stop the Kingpin (Liev Schreiber) from enacting a plan that could threaten the multiverse.
The film's animation is nothing short of gorgeous and is designed to look almost like concept art come to life, fitting for a comic-book adaptation. It was quickly adapted by many other animated films, including The Mitchells vs. The Machines, The Bad Guys, and Puss in Boots: The Last Wish. Aside from its animation, the story and characters are great: Miles is a relatable protagonist who struggles with the weight of his new responsibility, and he develops great relationships with his multiversal counterparts, particularly Peter B. Parker (Jake Johnson) and Gwen Stacy (Hailee Steinfeld).
8 'The Lion King' (1994)
Directed by Roger Allers and Rob Minkoff
In a bid to produce a movie that would win Best Picture, Disney put all of their top talent into Pocahontas. Their B team was tasked with working on a movie that would tide audiences over until Pocahontas' release, which morphed into The Lion King. It broke all kinds of records and remains the highest-grossing traditionally animated film, while Pocahontas is looked back upon as one of Disney's more questionable entries.
The Lion King goes all in on its world and characters, which can be seen through its fantastic animation. The backgrounds capture the majesty of the African wilderness in a larger-than-life way that gives the movie an epic feel, while the character animation is on point with the fantastic voicework, especially from the villain, Scar (Jeremy Irons). Meanwhile, its story is that of the universal struggle to avoid getting weighed down by the mistakes of the past, especially when they prevent us from performing our duties in the present.
7 'Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs' (1937)
Directed by David Hand, Perce Pearce, William Cottrell, Larry Morey, Wilfred Jackson, and Ben Sharpsteen
Walt Disney was ever a pioneer of animation and its potential for storytelling. Thus, in the 1930s, he embarked on an ambitious project to create America's first animated film, inspiring his animators by acting out the entire film for them during a story meeting. However, it was a massive gamble: people mocked the idea of audiences sitting through an 80-minute cartoon, calling it "Disney's Folly," and the production cost grew so high that Walt had to mortgage his house and use rough cuts of the film to secure a loan.
Not only was Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs a massive financial and critical success on release, but it also inspired other companies to try their hand at both animated and fantasy movies, including The Wizard of Oz. While it might seem a bit simplistic compared to the films that have followed it, Snow White still possesses a timeless story about the virtues of kindness, alongside catchy songs and unforgettable characters. The animation is still marvellous to behold as well, from the gorgeous backgrounds inspired by European fairy tale books, to the nightmarish transformation of the Evil Queen (Lucille La Verne) into her hag form.
6 'Akira' (1988)
Directed by Katsuhiro Otomo
With how popular anime is today, it can be hard to remember a time when it was overlooked by Western audiences. The turning point was Akira, a cyberpunk dystopian vision of corruption, violence, and the degradation of society. Its impact on anime history is already enough to make it one of the most important films in animation history, but Akira also stands out thanks to its amazing production quality and profound storytelling.
Akira uses its harsh world and memorable characters to delve into the corrupting nature of power and the cyclical nature of destruction and creation, both in the natural world and human society. It also showcases how, in these hard times, it is always the younger generations that suffer most, as seen through the film's introduction of the main characters during a brutal gang war. All of these themes come to life with some of the most detailed and fluid hand-drawn animation ever put to film, capturing every grotesque moment of violence and the complex emotions of the characters.
5 'Beauty and the Beast' (1992)
Directed by Gary Trousdale and Kirk Wise
Following the smash hit of Who Framed Roger Rabbit, Disney decided to take some more risks with their animated films and attempt an adaptation of Beauty and the Beast, something Walt was never able to do in his lifetime. Richard Purdum was brought on to direct, while Linda Woolverton wrote the script. However, Jeffrey Katzenberg, then in charge of Disney animation, disliked how things were turning out and demanded the film be restarted, resulting in Purdum's resignation. Further complications came from the animators having to struggle to complete the film in half of their usual production time, and beloved songwriter Howard Ashman dying from complications of AIDS.
Despite all of these problems, Beauty and the Beast was not only a financial success on release, but it became the first animated film nominated for Best Picture, and the only one nominated when the Oscars had five nominees. It remains one of Disney's most beloved films thanks to its fantastic story, which updates the original tale in a way that keeps the unexpected love angle while giving both the Beast (Robby Benson) and Belle (Paige O'Hara) fleshed-out characters who change and grow throughout the story. Ashman and Alan Menken's music is another major factor: these are some of Disney's most well-known songs, remembered thanks to their fun lyrics, how they move the story along, and the fantastic singing voices.
4 'Toy Story 2' (1999)
Directed by John Lasseter
Toy Story not only established Pixar as a new animation studio to rival Disney, but also introduced the world to the concept of fully CGI animated films. A sequel was planned for a home release shortly after the release of their next film, A Bug's Life, but it was decided at the last minute to upgrade it to a theatrical release. This change resulted in the film being completely re-worked in nine months, during which it was almost deleted by accident.
Toy Story 2 somehow surpasses its predecessor, especially in the emotional storytelling. Its main theme is the inevitability of change and loss that comes with life and the debate between closing oneself off to avoid heartbreak, or enjoying fleeting moments of happiness knowing that they will come to an end someday. This message is captured perfectly during the song "When She Loved Me," which delves into the backstory of the new character Jessie (Joan Cusack).
3 'The Prince of Egypt' (1998)
Directed by Brenda Chapman, Steve Hickner, and Simon Wells
For a time, DreamWorks was releasing hand-drawn animated films alongside their 3D ones. Their first was The Prince of Egypt, an animated telling of the Book of Exodus, and a personal passion project of co-founder Jeffrey Katzenberg. Incredible care went into adapting the story, with various religious experts coming in to ensure theological accuracy.
The Prince of Egypt has since been heralded among DreamWorks' best films, and one of the best animated efforts ever, thanks to its truly Biblical presentation. It remains faithful to the text while also updating the story for film, namely in the relationship between Moses (Val Kilmer) and Rameses (Ralph Fiennes). Much emphasis is placed on these adopted brothers turned bitter enemies and the tragedy of their situation, especially through the impeccable facial animation that captures every moment of joy, confusion, sadness, and vengeance.
2 'Grave of the Fireflies' (1988)
Directed by Isao Takahata
The late Isao Takahata was one of the co-founders and main forces behind the beloved Japanese animation studio, Studio Ghibli. His masterpiece as a director was Grave of the Fireflies, based on the short story of the same name by Akiyuki Nosaka, who based it on his experience with his sister during World War II. Unlike other Studio Ghibli films, which are full of wonder, adventure, and fantasy, Grave of the Fireflies is a bleak, depressing film about two siblings trying to survive after the death of their mother during the final days of the war.
Takahata insisted that Grave of the Fireflies is not an anti-war film, but this hasn't stopped people from praising it for its depiction of the horrors of war, particularly on civilians. Watching the film is a heartbreaking experience, both for the hardships the kids are forced through and because it highlights the dangers of clinging to stubborn pride rather than asking for help. It is well-deserved of its reputation for its poignant themes, emotional storytelling, and for showing the Japanese side of the war, but most would agree that it's a film you only need to see once.
1 'Spirited Away' (2001)
Directed by Hayao Miyazaki
Hayao Miyazaki may just be the most famous Japanese animator. Over his long career, he has given to the world some of the most lavish and inventive fantasy worlds, with strong themes of environmentalism, balance between humanity and the spirit world, and timeless coming-of-age stories, often focused on young female protagonists. His masterpiece is widely considered to be Spirited Away, the film that pulled him out of a brief retirement and became the first foreign film to win Best Animated Feature.
No other animated film can capture the sense of wonder and magic as Spirited Away, thanks to its inventive depictions of spirits, the confusing rules that follow a strange internal logic, and its gorgeously detailed animation. Every scene is full to the brim with little details that encourage repeated viewings, yet the film also remembers when to be quiet and let the atmosphere immerse audiences in its world. Its characters all fit into basic archetypes while still possessing multifaceted personalities that make even the villain feel relatable.
NEXT: 10 Animated Movies That Are Amazing From Start to Finish
