We don’t make movies to make money, we make money to make more movies.
Walt Disney
That was Mr Disney, the undisputed king of animated cinema, explaining his studio's frenetic output. Most credit him with launching this genre, but French animator Émile Cohl predates Disney's first film release by roughly 30 years. Still, Uncle Walt grabbed the ball and ran with it, turning out some of the best films ever in the process.
Meanwhile, on the other side of the world, a different brand of animated film gripped those audiences. Of those productions, one name stands out: Studio Ghibli movies. In this article, we put Disney and Ghibli side by side, and study how they broke the dam for other animation creators.
How to Categorise the Best Animated Movies:
- Disney movies: cartoon films for all audiences
- Studio Ghibli movies expand anime artistry
- The Best Cartoon movies: other studios embrace the genre
- 90s animated movies: a new generation of stories
- The best Pixar movies: Disney goes digital
Best Disney Movies
We must point out that Walt Disney wasn't alone in creating animation movies. The rival studio, Warner Brothers found success with Looney Tunes, a Disney Shorts spoof enterprise. However, Disney studios produced colour animations and original songs. Warner Bros didn't jump on that bandwagon until much later.
The two feature-length Disney films we review bookend the classical Disney era. The first title got the Disney ball rolling. The second one revived interest in animated productions. With that said, we note that all of this studio's film are relevant and impactful.
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs - 1937
Persecuted by a vain and greedy stepmother, Snow White barely escapes with her life. Wandering deep in the forest, she happens upon an untidy cabin that contains seven of everything.
Soon, our princess and the dwarves are fast friends - but the stepmother isn't happy at all.
This tale is a bit grim, once you subtract all the iconic Disney visuals. Contrast it with the 2007 film, Enchanted, which mocks the fairy-tale version. Indeed, it was one of the best comedy films in cinemas, that year.
💻Where to watch: Disney+, YouTube, Amazon
🍅Rotten Tomatoes: 97%
🍿Audience Rating: 7.8/10
This story doesn't play out well against today's sensibilities. Still, the music is uplifting and the artwork is sublime! Don't look for messaging in this film; this one is purely for entertainment purposes.
The Little Mermaid - 1989
A longing to explore different shores leads a headstrong sea creature to make a deal with a witch. She exchanges her golden voice for a pair of human appendages.
She bursts to the surface with a delightful cast of characters in tow. Her quest for love is successful, but she cannot tell the prince how she feels.
💻Where to watch: Disney+, YouTube, Amazon
🍅Rotten Tomatoes: 91%
🍿Audience Rating: 8.8/10
With Disney trapped in a formula of their own making, who else but a feisty mermaid could rescue the studio? Disney didn't abandon all its tropes in this production, but it stepped far enough away from them to make this studio a top brand again.
Also Watch These Best Animated Movies from Disney's Early Days
| 🏆Film Title | 📆Year | 🎬Director | 🤼Cast |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pinocchio | 1940 | Ben Sharpsteen | Cliff Edwards Dickie Jones Christian Rub |
| Fantasia | 1940 | Samuel Armstrong and others | Leopold Stokowski Deems Taylor |
| Dumbo | 1941 | Ben Sharpsteen | Edward Brophy Verna Felton Cliff Edwards |
| Bambi | 1942 | David D. Hand | Donnie Dunagan Peter Behn Paula Winslowe |
| Cinderella | 1950 | Wilfred Jackson Hamilton Luske | Ilene Woods Eleanor Audley Verna Felton |
| Alice in Wonderland | 1951 | Ben Sharpsteen Clyde Geronimi | Ed Wynn Richard Haydn Sterling Holloway |
| Sleeping Beauty | 1959 | Clyde Geronimi Wolfgang Reitherman | Mary Costa Bill Shirley Eleanor Audley |
| The Jungle Book | 1967 | Wolfgang Reitherman | Phil Harris Sebastian Cabot Louis Prima |
Top Studio Ghibli Movies
As interest in animated movies waned in the west, Japanese filmmaking artists were busier than ever. Anime like Akira, a pivotal film that inspired some of the best Sci-fi movies ever, thrilled audiences across the country. Another such artist, Hayao Miyazaki, created lush spectacles.
His Studio Ghibli released a catalogue of hand-drawn films during the 80s. Topping the list is My Neighbour Totoro, a universal favourite. A master storyteller and consummate artist, Miyazaki oversees every aspect of production. The titles we review here have special meaning - to him, and for audiences.
Spirited Away - 2001
A bored young girl is glad for a rest from the long car ride. However, she soon loses sight of her parents and wanders into a world of spirits and other magical creatures. Kindness and selflessness are her only way back to her world. As long as her friend can help her.
💻Where to watch: Netflix, Prime
🍅Rotten Tomatoes: 96%
🍿Audience Rating: 9.6/10
Perhaps western audiences weren't quite prepared for Totoro (1984), but they loved Chihiro's adventures. You will, too. Spirited Away presents a complex tale with a moral lesson, wrapped in a gorgeous package.
Howl’s Moving Castle - 2004
Vain, self-centred Howl has no intention of sacrificing his youth, looks, or talent to the war effort. He's a bit subversive, transforming himself to fly on 'bombing raids' every night. However, when an old woman joins his household, he has no option but to reconsider his life choices.
💻Where to watch: Netflix, Max
🍅Rotten Tomatoes: 87%
🍿Audience Rating: 9.3/10
Miyazaki fell in love with Diane Wynne Jones' book, and petitioned for the privilege of animating it. More than any Ghibli film, Howl demonstrates this creator's artistry and vision.
Treat Yourself to These Studio Ghibli Movies
| 🏆Film Title | 📆Year | 🎬Director | 🤼Cast |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nausiccaä of the Valley of the Wind | 1984 | Hayao Miyazaki | Sumi Shimamoto Gorō Naya Yōji Matsuda |
| Laputa: Castle in the Sky | 1986 | Hayao Miyazaki | Mayumi Tanaka Keiko Yokozawa Kotoe Hatsui |
| Grave of the Fireflies | 1988 | Isao Takahata | Tsutomu Tatsumi Ayano Shiraishi Yoshiko Shinohara |
| My Neighbour Totoro | 1988 | Hayao Miyazaki | Chika Sakamoto Noriko Hidaka Hitoshi Takagi |
| Kiki’s Delivery Service | 1989 | Hayao Miyazaki | Minami Takayama Rei Sakuma Kappei Yamaguchi |
| Porco Rosso | 1992 | Hayao Miyazaki | Shūichirō Moriyama Tokiko Kato Akemi Okamura |
| Princess Mononoke | 1997 | Hayao Miyazaki | Yōji Matsuda Yuriko Ishida Yūko Tanaka |
| The Boy and the Heron | 2024 | Hayao Miyazaki | Soma Santoki Masaki Suda Aimyon |
Top 90s Animated Movies
The Little Mermaid helped animated movies make their theatre comeback. With new leadership and new audiences, Disney descended into a feverish creation frenzy. However, that studio was no longer the only one producing animated fare.
Titles from abroad began commanding larger audience shares. New filmmaking techniques gave rise to to an animation sub-genre: stop-motion films. Our two picks demonstrate these categories.
Mulan - 1998
- a story of a Chinese warrior who hides a secret.
- Studio: Disney
- Directors: Barry Cook, Tony Bancroft
- Cast: Ming-na Wen, Eddie Murphy
- 💻: Disney+, Prime
- 🍅: 86%; 🍿: 8.5/10
The Nightmare Before Christmas - 1993
- The pumpkin king tries to capture another holiday
- Studio: Touchstone/Disney
- Director: Henry Selik
- Cast: Danny Elfman, Chris Sarandon
- 💻: Prime
- 🍅: 95%; 🍿: 9.2/10
The 90s was a time of evolution for animation. Two-dimensional visuals and child-safe themes were losing audiences. New technologies gave studios the opportunity to take this genre to the next level. Imported animation gave western studios new stories to explore, as the list below reflects.
Add These 90s Animated Movies to Your Watchlist
| 🏆Film Title | 📆Year | 🎬Director | 🤼Cast |
|---|---|---|---|
| Beauty and the Beast | 1991 | Gary Trousdale Kirk Wise | Paige O'Hara Robby Benson Richard White |
| Aladdin | 1992 | John Musker Ron Clements | Scott Weinger Robin Williams Linda Larkin |
| Batman: Mask of the Phantasm | 1993 | Eric Radomski Bruce Timm | Kevin Conroy Mark Hamill Dana Delany |
| The Lion King | 1994 | Roger Allers Rob Minkoff | Jonathan Taylor Thomas Matthew Broderick James Earl Jones |
| Ghost in the Shell | 1995 | Mamoru Oshii | Atsuko Tanaka Akio Otsuka Iemasa Kayumi |
| The Hunchback of Notre Dame | 1996 | Gary Trousdale Kirk Wise | Tom Hulce Demi Moore Tony Jay |
| The Iron Giant | 1999 | Brad Bird | Jennifer Aniston Harry Connick Jr. Vin Diesel |
Watch the Best Cartoon Movies
The post-90s animated transition was complete. Now, other studios, influences, and sub-genres entered our entertainment environment.
How to Train Your Dragon was an international production. Kung Fu Panda (ostensibly) taught us Chinese wisdom and spirituality. And one of our most enduring franchises made it to the big screen, becoming one of the best British films of all time.
Wallace and Gromit - 2005
A harmless invention to brainwash rabbits backfires, turning our hero into the ultimate rabbit. Now, the race is on to turn him back into his normal self, before his rival does away with him forever. All to save the vegetables!
💻Where to watch: Prime, iPlayer
🍅Rotten Tomatoes: 95%
🍿Audience Rating: 7.9/10
In true British fashion, this film parodies every scary movie heretofore made. That's a tall ask for a cheese-loving brainiac and his quiet companion. The wry humour likely didn't land with non-British audiences, but we thought it was the best W & G story yet!
Wolfwalkers - 2020
In 1650s Ireland, a domineering Protector orders a forest cleared. He cares not that the wolves will lose their habitat; in fact, he orders the end of all wolves.
One rebellious child wants to help her father in his assignment. However, she discovers the wolves aren't so different from the humans.
💻Where to watch: Apple TV
🍅Rotten Tomatoes: 99%
🍿Audience Rating: 9.8/10
It's about time the wider world appreciates Celtic lore! This gorgeous, convoluted tale of loyalty and respect is all the better for the filmmakers' skills at bringing the story to life.
Don't Forget These Best Cartoon Movies!
| 🏆Film Title | 📆Year | 🎬Director | 🤼Cast |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fantastic Mr Fox | 2009 | Wes Anderson | George Clooney Meryl Streep Jason Schwartzman |
| Coraline | 2009 | Henry Selick | Dakota Fanning Teri Hatcher Jennifer Saunders |
| Persepolis | 2007 | Marjane Satrapi Vincent Paronnaud | Chiara Mastroianni Catherine Deneuve |
| Chicken Run | 2000 | Peter Lord Nick Park | Phil Daniels Lynn Ferguson Mel Gibson |
| Shrek | 2001 | Andrew Adamson Vicky Jenson | Mike Myers Eddie Murphy Cameron Diaz |
| Despicable Me | 2010 | Chris Renaud Pierre Coffin | Steve Carell Jason Segel Russell Brand |
| The Lego Movie | 2014 | Phil Lord Christopher Miller | Chris Pratt Will Ferrell Elizabeth Banks |
| Spiderman: Into the Spiderverse | 2018 | Bob Persichetti Peter Ramsey | Shameik Moore Jake Johnson Hailee Steinfeld |
The Best Pixar Movies
Now, we arrive at the pinnacle of animated film evolution in the west. Pixar Studios started making films in 1984 but the technology wasn't developed enough to make quality films.
All that changed in the late 90s and, after a learning curve, Pixar started cranking out gems. Including our first selection, which delivered one of the best action thrillers of all time, in digital format.
The Incredibles - 2004
The government has banned all superhero activity. The Parrs retire their costumes and do their best to embrace a 'normal' life.
The lack of adventure drives the mister half-mad but, soon, he'll have a chance to get some actions. And then, the whole family gets involved.
💻Where to watch: Disney+, Amazon, BBC iPlayer
🍅Rotten Tomatoes: 97%
🍿Audience Rating: 7.5/10
This franchise is how the superhero genre transcended the two-dimensional format. We've as much to praise for its ingenuity and technique as its storylines and comedy.
Frozen - 2013
A cruel separation and a tragic demise leave two sisters at odds with each other. Scarred from her parents' earlier scoldings, the Snow Queen exiles herself, leaving her realm in perpetual winter.
Her younger sibling sets off to convince her she needn't be so harsh. This film's 2019 sequel became one of the best films in the past five years.
💻Where to watch: Disney+, Prime
🍅Rotten Tomatoes: 90%
🍿Audience Rating: 8.5/10
Frozen works well as a rallying cry for the Girl Power movement. It bridges the gap between that 90s initiative and the soon-to-come Me-Too movement. Some might think it's too political, but its catchy tunes and skilled narration blunt those edges.
More Best Pixar Movies to Watch
Note: * represents a Disney collaboration.
| 🏆Film Title | 📆Year | 🎬Director | 🤼Cast |
|---|---|---|---|
| Toy Story | 1995 | John Lasseter | Tom Hanks Tim Allen Annie Potts |
| Monsters, Inc | 2001 | Pete Docter | John Goodman Billy Crystal Steve Buscemi |
| Finding Nemo | 2003 | Andrew Stanton | Albert Brooks Ellen DeGeneres Alexander Gould |
| Ratatouille | 2007 | Brad Bird | Patton Oswalt Ian Holm Lou Romano |
| Wall-E | 2008 | Andrew Stanton | Ben Burtt Elissa Knight Jeff Garlin |
| Up! | 2009 | Peter Docter | Ed Asner Christopher Plummer Jordan Nagai |
| Coco | 2017 | Lee Unkrich | Anthony Gonzalez Gael García Bernal Benjamin Bratt |
| Soul | 2020 | Peter Docter | Jamie Foxx Tina Fey Graham Norton |
| *Moana | 2016 | John Musker | Dwayne Johnson Auliʻi Cravalho Rachel House |
| *Zootopia | 2016 | Byron Howard Rich Moore | Ginnifer Goodwin Jason Bateman Idris Elba |
| *Wreck it Ralph | 2012 sequel 2018 | Rich Moore | John C. Reilly Sarah Silverman Jack McBrayer |
| *Frozen, Frozen II | 2013, 2019 | Chris Buck Jennifer Lee | Kristen Bell Idina Menzel Josh Gad |
What's your animation type?
Enjoyed this article? Leave a rating!
Loading...
