The word “animation” bears the unfortunate stigma of immediately and unfairly being associated solely with ‘kiddie fare’. Certainly, most such films are geared towards younger audiences but that isn’t always the case. Animation is simply another medium of film-making.
Now this is NOT a list of non-childish animated features. Nor is it a list of the best animated films ever made. These are simply the ones that I feel every person should watch at least once in their life.
Check back in over the next few weeks to see the later installments!
[Note: this list is in no particular order]
- Coraline [2009]
This adaptation from Laika Studios is what happens when you cross Neil Gaiman’s brilliant novella with the delightful mind of Henry Selick. Coraline is Alice in Wonderland but with a darker twist— there’s even a talking cat. The visuals, especially those of the Other World, are riveting and the voice casting, particularly Teri Hatcher as the Mother and Dakota Fanning as Coraline, is pitch perfect. Ultimately, it might have more appeal for an older audience while children may find this a little too disturbing for their liking.
PS: this is one of the rare instances where overall, I prefer the film to the book. Don’t get me wrong, I love what Neil Gaiman wrote but the adaptation was a little better. Go check both out!
- The Lion King [1994]
For many people, The Lion King is a symbol of childhood. Objectively speaking, this isn’t the most original story: it is, for all purposes, a Disney take on Shakespeare’s Hamlet but with the standard tropes the company is familiar for: musical numbers, remorseless villains and— what would a Disney movie be without them?!— obligatory sidekicks (good and evil)!
Yet in this film’s case, the clichés— if you will— only serve to enhance the charm: Elton John’s songs are still memorable and possibly the best music written for it, Hans Zimmer’s score is phenomenal (and this was his only Oscar win to date, funnily enough), the casting is impeccable (Jeremy Irons as Scar is outstanding and the animation sublime! It also spawned the immortal motto of “Hakuna Matata”. It means “no worries”.
- Spirited Away [2001]
You haven’t seen animation until you’ve watched a Hayao Miyazaki film.
Spirited Away might look for all intents and purposes like a Disney film— don’t let that fool you for even a second! This is a wonderfully mature tale populated with complex characters and animation so gorgeously detailed it is breathtaking. It’s a children’s tale for grownups and a rare delight. In a completely deserved win, it took home the Oscar for Best Animated Feature in 2001 and it is not hard to see why: Spirited Away easily puts nearly ninety-percent of Disney’s fifty-plus year old filmography to shame!
- The Iron Giant [1999]
Brad Bird made a mighty splash and a name for himself with The Incredibles, Ratatouille and Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol but in an ideal world, his directorial debut should have done that long before he moved to Pixar. The Iron Giant is a Cold War story depicting the friendship between a small boy, Hogarth, and the Iron Giant that fell from space and consequently, their struggle against a federal agent and the US Military. It’s a wonderfully warm, funny and exciting tale hinting at Brad Bird’s great prowess yet to come. The film also sports some surprising vocal talents, including Jennifer Aniston, Harry Connick, Jr., Christopher McDonald and… Vin Diesel as the titular Giant. Anyone wondering why Marvel wanted him to play a tree with a vocabulary consisting of “I am Groot” should watch this to understand why.
- ParaNorman [2012]
Laika’s second production was yet another brilliant tale with a mature angle to the entire proceedings. Think of ParaNorman as The Sixth Sense in a more humorous vein. Norman, the protagonist, can “see dead people” but they’re friendly and mean him no harm. The same cannot be said about society, deeming Norman to be a freak. ParaNorman is also the first animated film in which one of the characters is actually gay, a move that co-director Chris Butler says is connected explicitly with the message of the film[1], .
The Snarky Quill 