I know that I’ve already done an article on my favorite movies before, but the animated film medium is simply so large that it still makes for an effective article all on its own. Also, if you remember that old article, there’s a certain movie from that list that might not be in the spot you’re expecting on this list. So, let’s jump into it!
(And there are so many great animated films that several beloved ones couldn’t quite squeeze into this list, sadly. The list would have to be a lot longer to encompass all of my favorites!)
10) Bionicle: The Mask of Light
Following the on-again/off-again tradition of The Contrarian Corner articles, we have a bit of a joke pick here in the #10 spot, with Bionicle: The Mask of Light. Let’s be clear: it really isn’t some sort of incredible film. The animation doesn’t exactly hold up, the ending is a bit rushed, and the plot is a bit clichéd in general. But, gosh darn it, I have more nostalgia for this movie than I have towards, like, anything else in my life! I watched this film relentlessly as a child, and I can still quote most of the silly dialogue to this day. I love the surprising darkness of the villains, and the soundtrack is actually pretty phenomenal.
9) Quest for Camelot
True, this movie might just be a pretty blatant attempt at cashing in on the classic Disney formula, but I see way too many people write off this film without giving it a proper shot. It’s a classic Hero’s Journey sort of film with an effective and saddening opening plot beat, some iconic humorous moments, a fun final showdown, and a memorably hammy villain performance by Gary Oldman. And, of course, this movie deserves to be recognized for an incredible soundtrack, with such genuinely fantastic hits as “On My Father’s Wings”, “I Stand Alone”, “United We Stand”, and “The Prayer”.
8) Pokémon Ranger: Temple of the Sea
Another childhood nostalgia movie, though one I feel like actually holds up pretty well to this day. It might be the 56th Pokémon movie out of, like, 2000 (these are made-up numbers, by the way), but that isn’t reason alone to dismiss it. It’s a really entertaining and shockingly somber movie about loss and letting go, encapsulated by the primary relationship of protagonist May and her newfound Pokémon buddy, Manaphy. There’s a soundtrack so good it’s goosebumps-inducing, some surprisingly great bits of animation given the film’s status, a very entertaining and quotable main villain, and a tense near-drowning scene that absolutely fueled my drowning-related nightmares as a kid. Definite recommendation!
7) The Mitchells vs. The Machines
I actually didn’t know a single thing about this movie before jumping into it, and I was pleasantly surprised by just how incredible it is. It’s a gorgeously animated and frequently hilarious romp through a human-versus-robot war, all told through the lens of a young woman trying to move on from her clingy and embarrassing parents, but realizing the true value of that relationship along the way. I laugh and cry in equal measure every single time I watch this film. The jokes fly so fast that you catch a new one on each viewing, and the emotional beats never lose their resonance or relevance. Deservedly, this film won basically every Annie Award category it was nominated for (hah, take that, Encanto).
6) Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse
Alright, alright, let’s do this one more time…
What is there to say about this film that hasn’t been said already? This is a nearly flawless movie that encapsulates every single thing that people love about the animation medium. It’s funny, it’s heartfelt, it’s action-packed, and it doesn’t waste your time or insult your intelligence. Truly, anyone of any age can watch and enjoy this film equally. It pushed the animation world into a brand new era of excellence, winning the Best Animated Feature award in the process. It also introduced a whole new generation to Miles Morales and the vast, exciting, and crazy world of Spider-Man.
Plus, without this film, we would’ve never gotten the sequel…
5) The Incredibles
Admit it. You’re already humming the amazing theme song to this film, aren’t you?
I think it’s easy to forget just how Incredible (I’m so sorry) this movie is after the lackluster sequel that debuted a few years back. It’s one of the best superhero movies of all time, and also one of the best family drama films of all time. Every character gets their chance in the spotlight, the plot is tightly written and full of fun twists, the action is creative and exciting, and it has provided some truly long-lasting memes and quotes (the ‘where is my super suit scene’, the ‘you caught me monologuing’ bit). It’s one of those rare animated films that ostensibly markets itself for young children, but is best enjoyed by families of all ages.
4) Wreck-It Ralph
I genuinely feel as if Wreck-It Ralph is a movie concept that never should have worked as well as it did. A fictional baddie from a made-up video game decides to stop hanging out in his video game, and so he crosses into a visualized arcade world to meet other famous gaming characters and find his true purpose. Also, halfway through the film, it stops being about gaming jokes and references and instead turns into an endless stream of candy puns. It’s a strange pivot, conceptually, and really emphasizes how wacky the premise is.
And yet, this film works on every single level. And it doesn’t just work, it excels! From the compelling central characters to the heartwarming story, Wreck-It Ralph proves that Disney is capable of some amazing masterpieces when they aren’t focused on guzzling money from live-action remakes. The world presented in this film is inventive and engaging, and the closing shot of Ralph’s monologue as he waves to a distant Vanellope is just…wow. Perfect.
3) Megamind
As an animation studio, DreamWorks has a spotty track record, to put it lightly. A few of their series are true beacons of hope, but many are not. And yet, sometimes they take a gamble on something completely out of the blue, and produce a near-masterpiece. Megamind is one such masterpiece, and I love the resurgence in popularity this film has experienced over the past few years. I almost feel vindicated for being obsessed with it since I was a child!
This film just about has it all. It’s side-splittingly hilarious and refreshingly unique in the way it presents its story and characters. The central deconstruction of what it means to be a villain and a hero is amazing to watch unfold, and it leads to great character moments. Having the true villain be an almost frighteningly accurate depiction of toxic masculinity hits even closer to home today, as does the theme of not letting others tell you what to make of your life. Also…did I mention this movie is really funny? Great soundtrack too!
2) Kung Fu Panda 2
This shouldn’t come as a shock, considering it ranked on my list of Top 10 Favorite Films way back near the start of this blog. I love Kung Fu Panda 2 to death, and could probably spend hours talking people’s ears off about how its the most perfect sequel the series ever could have received, managing to take everything the first film built and then evolve and expand upon those concepts in such organic and incredible ways.
It’s visually beautiful, well-acted across the board, and proud owner of the best soundtrack I’ve ever heard in an animated film. Po and Shen are two of my favorite characters in all of cinema, with their own personal journeys being so engaging from the very first scene. The action choreography is a step above the already-excellent first film, and the humor still lands well. The humor knows when to take a back seat, though, and let the arresting central theme of loss and found family land hard. This is a surprisingly dark movie, and I love it all the more for that.
1) Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse
Yeah…it really is that good.
I’ve seen this movie twice in theaters and still spend way too much of my free time listening to the soundtrack online or watching poor-quality uploads of my favorite scenes. I’d go again if I didn’t have to deal with the obvious theater drawbacks of the car drive and the ads/previews before the film! I can’t get this movie out of my head no matter what I do, and it would drive me insane if I wasn’t just generally overjoyed I was able to see a film like this in my lifetime!
It’s perfect. It makes for a repetitious blog article to keep using the word ‘perfect’, but there’s not a better word to describe each and every single aspect of this film. The soundtrack. The visuals. The characters. The story. The pacing. The action choreography. The unique and inventive settings. The way it builds off of the previous installment to push Miles, Gwen, and everyone else to even better heights. The references and cameos for long-time fans of Spider-Man.
Everything about it is perfect. Or, if you prefer, maybe Amazing is a more apt word!
If this film doesn’t win the Best Animated Feature award, I’ll riot!
But hey, that’s just my opinion!
The Contrarian Corner 