as legendary animator Chuck Jones once
said animation isn’t the illusion of
10 animated movies everyone should see
at least once before we begin we publish
new content every day so be sure to
subscribe to our Channel and ring the
bell to get notified about our latest
videos for this list we’re taking a look
at influential and innovative animated
features that left an impact on both pop
culture and the medium itself making
them essential viewing for film lovers
number 10 Akira
alright move out in an era where anime
was known for cutting corners
Akira went all-out with flowing
character movements and vibrant
backgrounds using over 160,000 animation
cells for many Western audiences the
film was not only their introduction to
anime but also an early example of how
animation could be tailored for mature
audiences the world that Katsuhiro Otomo
created is as gritty as it is
philosophical recalling both Blade
Runner and 2001 a Space Odyssey the
film’s gorgeous cyberpunk imagery can be
found in numerous projects that followed
from other anime like Cowboy Bebop
to blockbusters like The Matrix even
with all the modern advances in CGI it’s
hard to imagine a live-action adaptation
competing with the sheer grandeur of
Otomo’s original magnum opus where’s
this Akira
[Music]
number nine paprika what did my dreams
reveal about me that you’re impatient
Satoshi Kon is another filmmaker who
frequently touches upon adult themes
taking animation to new depths in his
directorial debut perfect blue Kon Davis
is psychological thriller that unraveled
the fabric of reality
similarly the freako revolves around a
machine that provides a gateway into
dreams just as the imagination is
practically limitless this exploration
into the human psyche demonstrates how
the possibilities are endless when it
comes to animation science is nothing
but a piece of trash next door but found
dream there are many people who don’t
consider animation a serious art form
when you think about it though animation
is like a living painting and paprika
overflows with gorgeous gallery worth
visuals that evoke classic surrealist
painters at their finest well I guess
that would be something wonderful number
eight
The Iron Giant don’t die
although Western animation has seen a
resurgence of popularity throughout the
90s audiences still generally associated
the medium with musical fairy tales
rather than mimicking Disney’s
successful formula the Iron Giant broke
the mold with a touching tale about a
boy and his giant robot writer director
Brad Bird had previously worked as a
creative director on The Simpsons which
really shines through here can’t go
there yet people just aren’t ready for
you the filmmakers put just as much
thought into the script as they did into
the slick animation creating a
character-driven family film with an
ideal balance of comedy thrills and
heart while with film bombed financially
upon release you would be hard-pressed
to find somebody today who wouldn’t deem
it a perennial classic and you don’t
have to
you are what you choose to me
number seven grave of the fireflies keep
this ring in your purse
don’t lose it okay centering on a
teenage boy and his little sister as
they struggle to get by during World War
two
this Japanese animated feature doesn’t
shy away from the horrors of war but
writer-director is so Takahata didn’t
see it as an anti-war picture per se
rather Tuckahoe too viewed his film as a
cautionary tale for younger generations
exploring how pride and isolation from
society can contribute to one’s own
downfall
why do fireflies have to die so soon
however you interpret its themes film
critic Roger Ebert summed up gravy with
the fireflies best calling it quote an
emotional experience so powerful that it
forces a rethinking of animation the
titular fireflies in particular provides
some of the most poignant imagery in all
animation acting as both symbols of hope
and of loss there are millions of them
number 6 an old man a naive Boy Scout a
talking dog an exotic bird and a flying
house you wouldn’t think these elements
could fit together in a story that’s
humorous exciting and dramatically
compelling when a group of creative
geniuses let their imaginations run wild
though the impossible can become reality
some of the ideas in this Pixar film
might sound pretty far-fetched but the
way they’re executed is surprisingly
mature and meaningful the result is a
film that speaks to all ages with kids
gravitating towards its colorful world
while adults latch on to its themes of
loss and letting go a movie with
universal appeal up became the second
animated feature to earn an Oscar
number five Beauty and the Beast come
into the light 18 years before up broke
into the Best Picture race this tale is
all this time became the first animated
film to contend for the Academy’s
highest honor coming out towards the
dawn of the Disney Renaissance Beauty
and the Beast kept the studio’s
traditions alive while also redefining
what animation could accomplish with a
modern heroine a profound love story and
music worthy of Broadway Disney wasn’t
just making a comeback they were taking
animation to a new frontier pushing the
envelope in ways that hadn’t been
attempted since Walt Disney’s death by
the way thank you for saving my life
prior to its official release an
unfinished version of the film was
screened at the New York Film Festival
where it earned a 10-minute long
standing ovation animation hasn’t been
the same ever since now can I open them
all right
now
number four Persepolis is a bitter dish
best served cold
a graphic novel is like a detailed
storyboard for an animated feature
although few have translated to the
silver screen as masterfully as
mouthwash onset puppy’s life story the
simplistic character designs and
black-and-white environments give
Persepolis a personal touch as if Seth
Happy’s drawings have come alive the
film is a must-see not only for its
stunning artistry but for its
multi-layered themes regarding religion
war and being a modern Middle Eastern
woman levels a game it’s not pointless
there are people giving their lives for
freedom okay above all else
Persepolis is about the confusing
journey that is childhood and how these
experiences shape the people we grow in
to Persepolis presents the world from
the perspectives of both a child and an
adult with the animation creating a
brilliant contrast between the past and
the present never forget who you are and
where you come from
number three Toy Story okay everybody
coast is clear Pixar’s debut feature is
often celebrated for being the first
full-length computer animated film which
earned it a special achievement Academy
Award the film’s game-changing technical
innovation can’t be denied especially
since CGI became the new norm for
Western Feature animation in the years
that followed even more significant
though was the film’s Oscar nomination
for Best Original Screenplay the
dialogue had a contemporary sensibility
to it while still sounding timeless
treating younger viewers like adults and
making older viewers feel like kids
again
oh and the film also stood out by
putting an emphasis on friendship over
romance and not being a traditional
musical proving that this town was big
enough for more than one type of
Animated Feature Toy Story opened the
floodgate for much more variety the real
bugs like your your your an action
figure
you are a child’s plaything number two
The Lion King my dad you showed me the
whole kingdom and I’m gonna rule it all
feature animation wouldn’t be what it is
today without the Disney Renaissance and
The Lion King is widely considered the
pinnacle of this era
the film became the highest-grossing
animated feature of its time and for a
while nothing even came close to topping
it success what makes this so iconic is
that Disney actually wasn’t expecting it
to become a cultural phenomenon during
early production with chairman Jeffrey
Katzenberg reportedly having more faith
in Pocahontas it’s a it’s a hit
it’s got a hit written all over it Lion
King on the other hand it’s kind of an
experiment we don’t really know if
anybody’s gonna really want to see yeah
even without some of Disney’s top
talents on board The Lion King
emerged as an animated epic through with
sweeping animation random musical
numbers and Shakespearean story just as
Simba accepted his place in the circle
of life the film edged out a special
place in cinematic history that’s
because of me before we unveil our top
pick here are some honorable mentions
help me grow me today what kind of
I feel confined only free to expand
number one spirited away you can’t stay
here they’ll find you and you’ll never
get to rescue your parents we’ve
discussed several animation masters
throughout this countdown but even some
of Disney’s key creative figures would
point to Hayao Miyazaki as their Idol
from My Neighbor Totoro to Princess
Mononoke this Japanese filmmaker helped
turn Studio Ghibli into the animation
powerhouse it is today spirited away has
been called Miyazaki’s crowning
achievement balancing a world of
boundless animation with a relatable
story about finding one’s self it may be
a 21st century film but the characters
environments and narrative all feel like
the stuff of legend in addition to
winning the Japan Academy Award for best
film spirited away broke new ground in
the US where it became the first anime
film to win an Oscar triumphing over the
Western competition in Best Animated
Feature there’s so much water it looks
like a sea do you agree with our picks
check out these other great clips from
WatchMojo and be sure to subscribe and
ring the bell to be notified about our latest videos
said animation isn’t the illusion of
10 animated movies everyone should see
at least once before we begin we publish
new content every day so be sure to
subscribe to our Channel and ring the
bell to get notified about our latest
videos for this list we’re taking a look
at influential and innovative animated
features that left an impact on both pop
culture and the medium itself making
them essential viewing for film lovers
number 10 Akira
alright move out in an era where anime
was known for cutting corners
Akira went all-out with flowing
character movements and vibrant
backgrounds using over 160,000 animation
cells for many Western audiences the
film was not only their introduction to
anime but also an early example of how
animation could be tailored for mature
audiences the world that Katsuhiro Otomo
created is as gritty as it is
philosophical recalling both Blade
Runner and 2001 a Space Odyssey the
film’s gorgeous cyberpunk imagery can be
found in numerous projects that followed
from other anime like Cowboy Bebop
to blockbusters like The Matrix even
with all the modern advances in CGI it’s
hard to imagine a live-action adaptation
competing with the sheer grandeur of
Otomo’s original magnum opus where’s
this Akira
[Music]
number nine paprika what did my dreams
reveal about me that you’re impatient
Satoshi Kon is another filmmaker who
frequently touches upon adult themes
taking animation to new depths in his
directorial debut perfect blue Kon Davis
is psychological thriller that unraveled
the fabric of reality
similarly the freako revolves around a
machine that provides a gateway into
dreams just as the imagination is
practically limitless this exploration
into the human psyche demonstrates how
the possibilities are endless when it
comes to animation science is nothing
but a piece of trash next door but found
dream there are many people who don’t
consider animation a serious art form
when you think about it though animation
is like a living painting and paprika
overflows with gorgeous gallery worth
visuals that evoke classic surrealist
painters at their finest well I guess
that would be something wonderful number
eight
The Iron Giant don’t die
although Western animation has seen a
resurgence of popularity throughout the
90s audiences still generally associated
the medium with musical fairy tales
rather than mimicking Disney’s
successful formula the Iron Giant broke
the mold with a touching tale about a
boy and his giant robot writer director
Brad Bird had previously worked as a
creative director on The Simpsons which
really shines through here can’t go
there yet people just aren’t ready for
you the filmmakers put just as much
thought into the script as they did into
the slick animation creating a
character-driven family film with an
ideal balance of comedy thrills and
heart while with film bombed financially
upon release you would be hard-pressed
to find somebody today who wouldn’t deem
it a perennial classic and you don’t
have to
you are what you choose to me
number seven grave of the fireflies keep
this ring in your purse
don’t lose it okay centering on a
teenage boy and his little sister as
they struggle to get by during World War
two
this Japanese animated feature doesn’t
shy away from the horrors of war but
writer-director is so Takahata didn’t
see it as an anti-war picture per se
rather Tuckahoe too viewed his film as a
cautionary tale for younger generations
exploring how pride and isolation from
society can contribute to one’s own
downfall
why do fireflies have to die so soon
however you interpret its themes film
critic Roger Ebert summed up gravy with
the fireflies best calling it quote an
emotional experience so powerful that it
forces a rethinking of animation the
titular fireflies in particular provides
some of the most poignant imagery in all
animation acting as both symbols of hope
and of loss there are millions of them
number 6 an old man a naive Boy Scout a
talking dog an exotic bird and a flying
house you wouldn’t think these elements
could fit together in a story that’s
humorous exciting and dramatically
compelling when a group of creative
geniuses let their imaginations run wild
though the impossible can become reality
some of the ideas in this Pixar film
might sound pretty far-fetched but the
way they’re executed is surprisingly
mature and meaningful the result is a
film that speaks to all ages with kids
gravitating towards its colorful world
while adults latch on to its themes of
loss and letting go a movie with
universal appeal up became the second
animated feature to earn an Oscar
number five Beauty and the Beast come
into the light 18 years before up broke
into the Best Picture race this tale is
all this time became the first animated
film to contend for the Academy’s
highest honor coming out towards the
dawn of the Disney Renaissance Beauty
and the Beast kept the studio’s
traditions alive while also redefining
what animation could accomplish with a
modern heroine a profound love story and
music worthy of Broadway Disney wasn’t
just making a comeback they were taking
animation to a new frontier pushing the
envelope in ways that hadn’t been
attempted since Walt Disney’s death by
the way thank you for saving my life
prior to its official release an
unfinished version of the film was
screened at the New York Film Festival
where it earned a 10-minute long
standing ovation animation hasn’t been
the same ever since now can I open them
all right
now
number four Persepolis is a bitter dish
best served cold
a graphic novel is like a detailed
storyboard for an animated feature
although few have translated to the
silver screen as masterfully as
mouthwash onset puppy’s life story the
simplistic character designs and
black-and-white environments give
Persepolis a personal touch as if Seth
Happy’s drawings have come alive the
film is a must-see not only for its
stunning artistry but for its
multi-layered themes regarding religion
war and being a modern Middle Eastern
woman levels a game it’s not pointless
there are people giving their lives for
freedom okay above all else
Persepolis is about the confusing
journey that is childhood and how these
experiences shape the people we grow in
to Persepolis presents the world from
the perspectives of both a child and an
adult with the animation creating a
brilliant contrast between the past and
the present never forget who you are and
where you come from
number three Toy Story okay everybody
coast is clear Pixar’s debut feature is
often celebrated for being the first
full-length computer animated film which
earned it a special achievement Academy
Award the film’s game-changing technical
innovation can’t be denied especially
since CGI became the new norm for
Western Feature animation in the years
that followed even more significant
though was the film’s Oscar nomination
for Best Original Screenplay the
dialogue had a contemporary sensibility
to it while still sounding timeless
treating younger viewers like adults and
making older viewers feel like kids
again
oh and the film also stood out by
putting an emphasis on friendship over
romance and not being a traditional
musical proving that this town was big
enough for more than one type of
Animated Feature Toy Story opened the
floodgate for much more variety the real
bugs like your your your an action
figure
you are a child’s plaything number two
The Lion King my dad you showed me the
whole kingdom and I’m gonna rule it all
feature animation wouldn’t be what it is
today without the Disney Renaissance and
The Lion King is widely considered the
pinnacle of this era
the film became the highest-grossing
animated feature of its time and for a
while nothing even came close to topping
it success what makes this so iconic is
that Disney actually wasn’t expecting it
to become a cultural phenomenon during
early production with chairman Jeffrey
Katzenberg reportedly having more faith
in Pocahontas it’s a it’s a hit
it’s got a hit written all over it Lion
King on the other hand it’s kind of an
experiment we don’t really know if
anybody’s gonna really want to see yeah
even without some of Disney’s top
talents on board The Lion King
emerged as an animated epic through with
sweeping animation random musical
numbers and Shakespearean story just as
Simba accepted his place in the circle
of life the film edged out a special
place in cinematic history that’s
because of me before we unveil our top
pick here are some honorable mentions
help me grow me today what kind of
I feel confined only free to expand
number one spirited away you can’t stay
here they’ll find you and you’ll never
get to rescue your parents we’ve
discussed several animation masters
throughout this countdown but even some
of Disney’s key creative figures would
point to Hayao Miyazaki as their Idol
from My Neighbor Totoro to Princess
Mononoke this Japanese filmmaker helped
turn Studio Ghibli into the animation
powerhouse it is today spirited away has
been called Miyazaki’s crowning
achievement balancing a world of
boundless animation with a relatable
story about finding one’s self it may be
a 21st century film but the characters
environments and narrative all feel like
the stuff of legend in addition to
winning the Japan Academy Award for best
film spirited away broke new ground in
the US where it became the first anime
film to win an Oscar triumphing over the
Western competition in Best Animated
Feature there’s so much water it looks
like a sea do you agree with our picks
check out these other great clips from
WatchMojo and be sure to subscribe and
ring the bell to be notified about our latest videos
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