watchmojo.com and today we’re counting
down our picks for the top 10 animated
films that should be taught in film
school if you like animated movies you
might also like the show Noah’s
impressions over at jr. mojo in the link
below noah impersonates different Pixar
characters check it out to see how many
Fernando gets right No let’s get back to
the list for this list we’re taking a
look at the most influential iconic and
important animated features that every
aspiring filmmaker should check out
however we’ve excluded short subjects
like the goddess of spring as
significant as they might be that’s a
list for another day number 10 ghost in
the shell’ I entered this body because I
was unable to overcome section 6 as
reactive barriers in the 90s anime
experienced a surge of popularity with
Western audiences ghost in the shell’ in
particular was a launching point for
many soon to be prouder Taku centered on
major Motoko Kusanagi a cyborg that
blurs the lines between a tie and
intelligence itself and her pursuit of
the mysterious puppet master the
stunning Japanese feature delivered rich
sci-fi with complex themes mind-blowing
visuals and a sophisticated tone
improving animation could be so much
more than quote-unquote kid stuff it’s
the only thing I could find on the black
market it’s not my taste to be honest
it’s a little young the movies ideas and
style not only inspired countless
animators but also had a huge impact on
various live-action pictures most
number nine a Scanner Darkly it may just
be my imagination starring Keanu Reeves
as a man torn between what’s real and
what’s an illusion this film’s trippy
premise is perfectly complemented by
it’s surreal animation stuff while A
Scanner Darkly was initially shot
digitally animators proceeded to trace
over the live-action footage in a
technique known as interpolated
rotoscope
this supplied the final product with a
dreamlike ambience reminiscent of a
living painting this is a world getting
progressively worse can we not agree on
that in addition to being visually
interesting the film is full of
fascinating themes that practically
invite analysis and much like a
Rorschach test there are so many ways to
interpret this picture because if the
scanner sees only talk by the way I do
and I’m cursed
and cursed again number eight inside out
I just saved our lives oh yeah you’re
welcome no matter how old you are inside
out encompasses a life lesson that can
speak to anyone as it explores the
importance of sadness the film shows us
the inner workings of an 11 year old
girl’s mind as she deals with the
inevitability of change in a way
live-action movie has yet to do although
joy strives to find the silver lining in
a difficult situation its sadness that
shows young Riley the light teaching
children and parents everywhere that
it’s alright to cry Corrine helps me
slow down and obsess over the weight of
life’s problems complete with ingenious
writing multi-layered characters and
unparalleled imagination
it’s an emotional coming-of-age journey
you’ll never forget
number seven my neighbor totoro hmm
ready Hayao Miyazaki is often described
as the eastern equivalent to Walt Disney
likewise
Totoro could be seen as Japan’s answer
to Mickey Mouse eventually becoming the
mascot for Studio Ghibli the iconic
character made his debut in the
phenomenon that is my neighbor totoro I
bet your name’s told you oh isn’t it the
film follows two young girls that
discover a roly poly spirit in the
forest as well as several other
delightful creatures rather than relying
heavily on the written word Miyazaki
allows the expressive artwork to tell an
immensely charming story while the plot
may be simple on the surface what lies
underneath is deep atmospheric and even
magical embodying the grandeur and
number six persepolis mind telling us
why you’re running sister because I’m
late I have class in five minutes
whether you’re aspiring to become an
animator or a comic book artist
Persepolis is a film that will connect
with anybody who loves to draw based on
her autobiographical novel
Marjon Sartre P adapted it to the big
screen in this full-length animated
feature set against a bleak backdrop the
movie stays true to the look and feel of
the source material chronicling an
Iranian girl’s voyage to womanhood it’s
all just a game a pointless you’re the
one who’s full of less than a game
it’s not pointless there are people
giving their lives for freedom okay
although it tackles challenging themes
regarding war and religion Persepolis
offers a surprising amount of heart and
humor it’s gloomy while being hopeful
and subtle while being lively showing it
that life isn’t as black and white as it
appears never forget who you are and
where you come from
number five waltz with bashir waltz with
bashir is one of the most unique
animated features you’ll ever see and
one of the most distinctive
documentaries the film’s director ari
folman served as a soldier in the
Lebanon War when he was a teen decades
later pullman met with several of his
fellow veterans to discuss their
experiences making this film proved
therapeutic for folman who had repressed
many of his own military memories these
war stories are brought back to life
through haunting animation mixing brutal
reality with an otherworldly sentiment
taking an original approach to the
documentary genre waltz with bashir
encourages artists to view the world
from another perspective and think
Fantasia joins animation and music
together in perfect harmony making for a
cinematic triumph unlike any other the
film is virtually devoid of dialogue
relying on the orchestra and
breathtaking imagery to convey every
emotion made up of a series of short
subjects some straightforward and others
far more abstract each segment
beautifully visualizes an immortal piece
of music
from the whimsical Sorcerer’s Apprentice
the jaw-dropping Rite of Spring to the
poetic Night on Bald Mountain Fantasia
is a feast for the eyes and ears while
not a success upon release today it can
number three Snow White and the Seven
Dwarfs
[Music]
it’s the first full-length animated
feature but aside from being a
filmmaking milestone does Snow White
truly stand the test of time against all
odds the film still miraculously holds
up not only for its unforgettable
characters and story but for it’s
remarkable craft as well in the 1930s
producing an animated feature was
considered the riskiest of Gamble’s with
that in mind Walt Disney and company
through everything they had into Snow
White delivering the most detailed and
passionate movie possible the result was
a thrilling humorous romantic tragic and
uplifting tour de force that would
forever change the way audiences viewed
animation number two Toy Story Toy Story
is another dicey endeavor that
ultimately broke new ground Pixar’s
debut feature film is still remembered
for its pioneering computer animation
earning director John Lasseter a special
achievement Academy Award
however the movie’s technical
achievements would have been easy to
overlook without a compelling narrative
didn’t mean to sorry howdy my name is
woody and this is Andy’s room the story
of Woody and Buzz went down as one for
the ages highlighted by its
well-developed characters clever
interplay and genuine heart putting just
as much emphasis on the writing as the
visuals Toy Story became the first
animated film to score a Best Original
Screenplay Oscar nomination further
solidifying its place in the history
this is a crime this is falling with
before we get to our topic here are a
[Applause]
Oh Gromit I don’t wanna be a giant
rabbit how do we get the mouse break the
glass
we can’t it’s people poor thing is Peter
proof have you got your drumsticks with
you a drum Blake might shattered it no I
have a look in your pocket hey number
one spirited away if you want to eat me
eat this first widely seen as Hayao
Miyazaki’s best outing as well as the
first anime film to win an oscar
spirited away is simply a spectacle to
behold every character every environment
every set piece is a visual marvel
flooding the screen with a plethora of
creativity of course the film is much
more than I can D telling a meaningful
story about a young girl that must find
the courage within to rescue her parents
[Music]
while the film has echoes of Alice in
Wonderland
The Wizard of Oz and other classics it
still stands out as a completely
original feat arguably the biggest film
in Japanese history spirited away will
be studied and enjoyed for generations
to come
I’ll be back soon geez hold on do you
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