Even if animation doesn’t appeal to everyone, there are some animated movies which everyone should watch at least once. Many of the best animated movies ever have helped shape the history of cinema, so they deserve to be appreciated by anyone, even those with only a pᴀssing interest in the medium.

If someone wants to gain a deeper understanding and appreciation of animation, there are certain movies which they must watch. Seminal classics like Toy Story and Spirited Away have helped push the medium forward, and they deserve to be listed among the very best movies ever.

12

Toy Story (1995)

Pixar’s First Movie Was A Game-Changer

Pixar’s first feature-length movie changed the landscape of animation for good. Within a decade of its release, all the major Western studios had shifted toward 3-D computer-generated animation, which is still the prevailing style. Aside from its importance, Toy Story still deserves to be appreciated for its quality. There’s a reason that the story of Buzz and Woody spun into a huge franchise, with Toy Story 5 on the way. Toy Story demonstrates Pixar’s ability to connect with young audiences, using both crowdpleasing humor and a fantastic concept that understands childhood imagination.

11

Spirited Away (2001)

Hayao Miyazaki’s Fantasy Masterpiece Is Hard To Beat

Spirited Away is not just one of the best Studio Ghibli movies; it’s also a contender for the best animated movie ever made. Hayao Miyazaki’s creations are known for their rich worldbuilding and endless creativity, and Spirited Away perfectly demonstrates these elements. While the story and the characters are all fascinating, there are just as many intriguing details competing for attention in the background. Some of the strangest elements of Spirited Away go unexplained, leaving audiences with a distinct impression of a fantastical world that they have barely stepped foot in.

10

The Lion King (1994)

Disney’s Classic Musical Mixes Humor And Heart

Disney’s live-action remakes have been fairly controversial, and there’s no stronger argument against them than the original version of The Lion King. Disney’s ’90s classic comes close to perfection, with great songs, plenty of fun characters and an emotional story that reinterprets Hamlet for a younger audience. Replacing such expressive characters and breathtaking landscapes with more realistic depictions robs The Lion King of its personality. Thankfully, the original is still just as enjoyable. It may represent the peak of the ’90s Disney’s renaissance which revitalized animation.

9

Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse (2018)

The Spider-Verse Movies Are Already Shaking Up Animation

Every now and then, a movie comes along which breaks the mold and breathes new life into the animation industry. Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse is one such movie, forging its own idenтιтy amid a landscape of homogenized 3-D animated movies. Into the Spider-Verse is a multiverse story with a creative patchwork of different art styles. It also takes inspiration from old comic books and Saturday morning cartoons to honor its superhero heritage. Across the Spider-Verse developed these aesthetic ideas, and hopes are already high for Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse.

8

The Iron Giant (1999)

The Iron Giant Deserves More Love

Before becoming one of Pixar’s go-to directors with hits like The Incredibles and Ratatouille, Brad Bird showed that he could also master 2-D animation with The Iron Giant. When it was released back in 1999, The Iron Giant went down as a commercial failure, but it soon gained a reputation as a beloved cult classic. The Iron Giant is still underrated, but at least it now has an audience who can truly appreciate its heartwarming story and quirky art style. The Cold War setting makes it even more rewarding for older audiences too, as the historical context ties into the central metaphor.

7

Akira (1988)

Animated Action Doesn’t Get Any Better Than This

Japan was miles ahead of most animation being produced in the west during the 1980s, and Akira is the perfect example of this. Decades later, there are still very few movies which capture such kinetic action. It’s easily one of the best animated action movies ever made, proving that animation can still be thrilling and deeply affecting. Akira is also admirable for its intelligent worldbuilding. There are elements of Blade Runner to the way Akira establishes a fascinating, bustling city without dwelling too long on any of the details. A live-action remake has been stuck in development hell for years, but it’s unlikely to ever surpᴀss the original.

6

Kubo & The Two Strings (2016)

Laika’s Rich Fantasy Incorporates Elements Of Japanese Mythology

Laika has been developing a reputation for its mastery of stop-motion animation, starting with child-friendly horror hits like Coraline and ParaNorman. Kubo and the Two Strings represented a huge leap in Laika’s ambitions, but a lot of these horror notes remain in the historical fantasy. Kubo and the Two Strings takes place in feudal Japan, and the animation style is influenced by origami and traditional ink-wash paintings. This sets the scene perfectly for a beguiling fantasy populated with plenty of unique and captivating characters.

5

Grave Of The Fireflies (1988)

Studio Ghibli’s War Story Is Deeply Moving

For anyone who thinks animation is solely for children, Grave of the Fireflies acts as the perfect reʙuттal. Studio Ghibli’s harrowing story of survival in World War II-era Japan is powerful enough to connect with audiences of all ages. The fact that the story is based on real life only makes it more emotional. Grave of the Fireflies uses the boundless potential of animation to add some heartbreaking creative flourishes to its story, although there are also moments which are shockingly real. In these instances, the colorful art style juxtaposes with the upsetting content. It isn’t always easy to watch, but Grave of the Fireflies is an intelligent, important film.

4

Fantastic Mr. Fox (2009)

Wes Anderson’s First Animated Movie Is A Charming Tale

Fantastic Mr. Fox has a similar quirky visual aesthetic to other Wes Anderson’s movies, but the director’s first animated feature gives him the creative control he desires over every inch of his compositions. Anderson is able to comb every fur of his woodland critters to his liking, and it makes for one of his most visually stunning movies. The story is based on Roald Dahl’s beloved children’s book, but Anderson extrapolates on this paper-thin plot with a crime caper of his own creation. This makes Fantastic Mr. Fox a strange amalgam of children’s entertainment and more mature subject matter.

3

Paprika (2006)

Sci-Fi And Animation Often Work Well Together

Paprika demonstrates how animation gets the best out of sci-fi, and vice versa. Satoshi Kon’s kaleidoscopic masterpiece follows its characters into the world of dreams. This sets up several mind-boggling sequences, since anything and everything is possible. While other movies could spin off into weightless abstraction, Paprika has a story compelling enough to ensure that the visual gymnastics are all in service of something bigger. Paprika shows that there are no limits to animation, as long as a movie is intelligent enough to provide adequate context for its creative departures.

2

Mary & Max (2009)

Mary And Max Is Peculiar And Constantly Rewarding

Based on a true story, Mary and Max is the kind of darkly humorous, life-affirming film that usually inspires deep affection. The peculiar story of an unlikely friendship between two pen pals on different sides of the world cuts to the core of the human experience, demonstrating our shared struggles and triumphs, even in two people who seem as though they live in different worlds. There’s an undeniable sweetness to the unorthodox bond that the two characters develop, and although the specifics are fascinatingly original, their feelings are universal. Mary and Max‘s animation strikes the perfect balance between bleak and cute, which captures the odd appeal of the movie.

1

Pinocchio (1940)

Disney’s Old Classic Is More Than A Historical Artifact

Fans of animation should know about the roots of the medium. Old Merrie Melodies and Tex Avery cartoons are a good place to start, but Disney’s first few animated feature-length films are just as important. Pinocchio wasn’t the first – that distinction goes to Snow White – but it’s one that represents a great leap forward. It’s worth watching for more than just its historical status, however. From the expressive animation to the endearing humor, Pinocchio still has a lot to offer audiences over 80 years later.