Top 10 Animated Movies
By Cinema Sugar
From trash planets to totalitarian regimes, animation transports us to new worlds and tells powerful stories for all ages—whether in stop-motion, 2D illustration, or CGI. These are the Top 10 Animated Movies that have drawn us in the most.
10. Coco
Ever since 1995’s Toy Story, Pixar movies have gotten progressively more visually impressive as animation technology and artistry have evolved. But even now you could argue Coco is the studio’s late-period creative peak, combining gorgeous animation (the colors in the Land of the Dead, my goodness…), a cast of richly written characters, and catchy yet narratively important songs that will both make you dance and rip your heart out. Add to that the resonant influence of Dia de Los Muertos imbuing every frame with a rich cultural history and connective warmth and you’ve got a family-friendly winner for the ages. —Chad Comello
9. Fantasia
As a child I watched this animated anthology film—almost entirely silent and driven by iconic classical music—in complete wonder and awe. It gives you the chance to step into the ancient past by witnessing the destruction of the dinosaurs, the mythological world of the Greek gods, behind the scenes of an orchestra, an interpretation of sugar plum fairies, and even the magical world of Mickey Mouse. So while it introduces you visually to unfamiliar worlds, it is grounded in the sounds of familiar music. It’s classic Disney at its finest. —Natalie Pohorski
8. The Nightmare Before Christmas
A stop-motion picture is a mammoth undertaking on its own. A stop-motion picture musical is another beast altogether. Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas crashed onto the scene in 1993 and *looks around* never quite left. Its characters indelible and identifiable the world over; its songs composed by the great Danny Elfman, perfectly extravagant and tuneful; and its story, beloved, renowned, and revisited year after year. When autumn rolls around, there’s a magic in the air that carries us from one holiday to another. And while the tonal and traditional differences between Halloween and Christmas are many, they are forever bound by proximity. It’s this magic and juxtaposition that Tim Burton and director Henry Selick so brilliantly harnessed, delivering a timeless and undeniably great tale for the creeps, carolers, and everyone in between to enjoy. —Kevin Prchal
7. Persepolis
This movie, so amusing and heart-wrenching and full of spirit and torment, bears the weight of some of the most admirably intimate narrative I have ever seen. Its precision, its confessional aspect (whether you want to refer to Marjane Satrapi as the creator of the comic or the director of the film), and its excellent prolepsis could only come from a place heavy in her heart. The sentiment of Persepolis, of all the reminders of your history lapsing in a moment, so clumsy and catastrophic and priceless they may be, is as particular to her as it is ubiquitous to us all. —Natalie Bauer
6. Spirited Away
One of auteur Hayao Miyazaki’s greatest achievements, Spirited Away is a coming-of-age fairytale about 10-year-old Chihiro who wanders into a mysterious and scary world hidden in an abandoned theme park, where humans are turned into animals, there’s a spa for visiting spirits, and a greedy witch keeps everyone under her control. Nothing and no one is as they seem. Dark and fanciful, cute and spooky, the world of Spirited Away feels so odd and infinite that it leaves you feeling curious and utterly enchanted. If it’s your first Miyazaki film, it will make you feel as though you’re experiencing an animated film for the first time. —Natalie Pohorski
5. Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse
It’s a rarity for me to see a movie in theaters twice, but I was happy to do so for this one—partially so I could see it with my wife but also so I could bask once again in the resplendent glory of this modern masterpiece. This is undoubtedly a peak in the modern wave of multiversal storytelling, overwhelming in scope at times but always grounded in the immediate concerns of Miles Morales and his archetypal Spidey struggles. Unique in its exhilarating, comics-infused sensibility, the film is packed with exquisite artistic detail and emotional stakes that beckon us into a vividly rendered vision—which I hope instigates a much-needed sea change in film animation and superhero movies. —Chad Comello
4. My Neighbor Totoro
There are many doors of cinema. Doors that will lead you to adventure, comedy, drama, romance, horror, and more. Hayao Miyazaki’s My Neighbor Totoro is a door of its own. It simply exists in its serene and supernatural environment and invites you to visit and take from it what you will. From sprawling rural vistas to rich family dynamics, from quirky and tranquil music to its forest spirits large and small—it offers more as a sensual experience than any other film I can recommend. Whether you want to laugh, cry, rejoice, or just simply be, all of this and more is available to you in this impeccably realized world. And just when you think you’ve gotten all it has to offer, introduce it to your kid and watch as their eyes light up at the first sight of a soot gremlin, or Totoro fast asleep in his lush sanctuary in the forest. No matter your mood, My, Your, Our Neighbor Totoro is always there for you. —Kevin Prchal
3. The Lion King
The Lion King follows the journey of Simba, heir to the throne of the animal kingdom, from a young king in exile to his fight to return balance to the kingdom. It teaches about the circle of life, facing your past, and to not fear who you truly are. These deeply human themes, seen in animal form, make it an extremely emotional movie. And the stakes are high. I’m sure our parents were mortified to watch Mufasa’s murder by his own brother, but what allows these themes to be navigated seamlessly by all ages is the soundtrack from Elton John, lyrics by Tim Rice, and musical score by Hans Zimmer. The songs are some of the funnest, catchiest pop songs you’ll ever hear, which are balanced perfectly by the grounded yet epic score that ties us to the African setting. It's a true modern classic for any ‘90s kid, and grander and more global than almost any Disney tale. —Natalie Pohorski
2. Fantastic Planet
Fantastic Planet is as absurd as it gets. It’s bitter, annoying, baffling, exotic, surreal, aberrant, bleak, astonishing, anesthetized, golden, alarming, bare, eerie. The experience of watching this movie for the first time (as with many subsequent viewings) can best be described as a vibe. This whole composition feels faraway, like examining a structure beneath a microscope. It has awesome music; its handling of musical score from start to finish is keenly powerful. It’s an examination of the darkest crevices of the collective subconscious. And the animation is exceptional, with a strongly crafted mysterious, melancholy ambience akin to the serpent a snake charmer soothes with their melodious absorption. —Natalie Bauer
1. WALL·E
Transcending all conventions of animation and filmmaking at large, Disney/Pixar’s WALL·E rolled into our lives in 2008 and left a permanent mark. One that widens our eyes to the wonders of the world around us, that cautions us to the grim realities ahead, and that reminds us of the vital importance of human connection (even in a robot world). Employing all the charm and buoyancy of the silent film era, WALL·E manages to say more about the human condition without saying much at all. And of the few words spoken, the Axiom’s captain asking his AI companion to “define dancing” with all the wonder of a 5 year old is one of the most beautiful and life-affirming lines ever uttered in a film. Who knows what the future holds, but whatever it may be, let’s just be glad we have this film and its fumbling, awe-inspired hero to show us the way. —Kevin Prchal