Greatest Animations

by Seirix | created - 07 Oct 2011 | updated - 07 Oct 2011 | Public

List of great animated movies and television shows. I've only included my absolute favourites.

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1. Spirited Away (2001)

PG | 125 min | Animation, Adventure, Family

96 Metascore

During her family's move to the suburbs, a sullen 10-year-old girl wanders into a world ruled by gods, witches and spirits, and where humans are changed into beasts.

Director: Hayao Miyazaki | Stars: Daveigh Chase, Suzanne Pleshette, Miyu Irino, Rumi Hiiragi

Votes: 849,477 | Gross: $10.06M

My favourite animated movie of all time.

2. Princess Mononoke (1997)

PG-13 | 134 min | Animation, Action, Adventure

76 Metascore

On a journey to find the cure for a Tatarigami's curse, Ashitaka finds himself in the middle of a war between the forest gods and Tatara, a mining colony. In this quest he also meets San, the Mononoke Hime.

Director: Hayao Miyazaki | Stars: Yôji Matsuda, Yuriko Ishida, Yûko Tanaka, Billy Crudup

Votes: 433,737 | Gross: $2.38M

One of the first animations I ever loved, I can watch this over and over again.

3. The Prince of Egypt (1998)

PG | 99 min | Animation, Adventure, Drama

64 Metascore

Egyptian Prince Moses learns of his identity as a Hebrew and his destiny to become the chosen deliverer of his people.

Directors: Brenda Chapman, Steve Hickner, Simon Wells | Stars: Val Kilmer, Ralph Fiennes, Michelle Pfeiffer, Sandra Bullock

Votes: 146,369 | Gross: $101.22M

Great story and fantastic animation, based on the biblical story of Moses.

4. Akira (1988)

R | 124 min | Animation, Action, Drama

68 Metascore

A secret military project endangers Neo-Tokyo when it turns a biker gang member into a rampaging psychic psychopath who can only be stopped by a teenager, his gang of biker friends and a group of psychics.

Director: Katsuhiro Ôtomo | Stars: Mitsuo Iwata, Nozomu Sasaki, Mami Koyama, Tesshô Genda

Votes: 205,232 | Gross: $0.55M

Beautiful music, amazing art and animation, and a really intense plot. So much to praise about this classic.

5. The Lion King (1994)

G | 88 min | Animation, Adventure, Drama

88 Metascore

Lion prince Simba and his father are targeted by his bitter uncle, who wants to ascend the throne himself.

Directors: Roger Allers, Rob Minkoff | Stars: Matthew Broderick, Jeremy Irons, James Earl Jones, Whoopi Goldberg

Votes: 1,142,349 | Gross: $422.78M

My favourite movie growing up.

6. Aladdin (1992)

G | 90 min | Animation, Adventure, Comedy

86 Metascore

A kind-hearted street urchin and a power-hungry Grand Vizier vie for a magic lamp that has the power to make their deepest wishes come true.

Directors: Ron Clements, John Musker | Stars: Scott Weinger, Robin Williams, Linda Larkin, Jonathan Freeman

Votes: 466,883 | Gross: $217.35M

This one brings back a lot of memories from when I was very young.

7. Toy Story (1995)

G | 81 min | Animation, Adventure, Comedy

96 Metascore

A cowboy doll is profoundly threatened and jealous when a new spaceman action figure supplants him as top toy in a boy's bedroom.

Director: John Lasseter | Stars: Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, Don Rickles, Jim Varney

Votes: 1,068,565 | Gross: $191.80M

A great movie, and a true pioneer.

8. Grave of the Fireflies (1988)

Not Rated | 89 min | Animation, Drama, War

94 Metascore

A young boy and his little sister struggle to survive in Japan during World War II.

Director: Isao Takahata | Stars: Tsutomu Tatsumi, Ayano Shiraishi, Akemi Yamaguchi, Yoshiko Shinohara

Votes: 310,441

An intensely emotional movie that will haunt you.

9. WALL·E (2008)

G | 98 min | Animation, Adventure, Family

95 Metascore

In the distant future, a small waste-collecting robot inadvertently embarks on a space journey that will ultimately decide the fate of mankind.

Director: Andrew Stanton | Stars: Ben Burtt, Elissa Knight, Jeff Garlin, Fred Willard

Votes: 1,200,481 | Gross: $223.81M

What's not to love?

10. Persepolis (2007)

PG-13 | 96 min | Animation, Biography, Drama

90 Metascore

A precocious and outspoken Iranian girl grows up during the Islamic Revolution.

Directors: Vincent Paronnaud, Marjane Satrapi | Stars: Chiara Mastroianni, Catherine Deneuve, Gena Rowlands, Danielle Darrieux

Votes: 100,185 | Gross: $4.45M

Interesting comic-style animation, and an emotional relevant story.

11. Up (2009)

PG | 96 min | Animation, Adventure, Comedy

88 Metascore

78-year-old Carl Fredricksen travels to Paradise Falls in his house equipped with balloons, inadvertently taking a young stowaway.

Directors: Pete Docter, Bob Peterson | Stars: Edward Asner, Jordan Nagai, John Ratzenberger, Christopher Plummer

Votes: 1,125,062 | Gross: $293.00M

Lovely story and great character design.

12. Lilo & Stitch (2002)

PG | 85 min | Animation, Adventure, Comedy

74 Metascore

A young and parentless girl adopts a 'dog' from the local pound, completely unaware that it's supposedly a dangerous scientific experiment that's taken refuge on Earth and is now hiding from its creator and those who see it as a menace.

Directors: Dean DeBlois, Chris Sanders | Stars: Daveigh Chase, Chris Sanders, Tia Carrere, David Ogden Stiers

Votes: 211,661 | Gross: $145.79M

Just watched this recently, and really enjoyed the characters and art. What a fun story!

13. The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)

PG | 76 min | Animation, Family, Fantasy

82 Metascore

Jack Skellington, king of Halloween Town, discovers Christmas Town, but his attempts to bring Christmas to his home causes confusion.

Director: Henry Selick | Stars: Danny Elfman, Chris Sarandon, Catherine O'Hara, William Hickey

Votes: 375,152 | Gross: $75.08M

This movie gave me the creeps as a child, but in the best way.

14. My Neighbor Totoro (1988)

G | 86 min | Animation, Comedy, Family

86 Metascore

When two girls move to the country to be near their ailing mother, they have adventures with the wondrous forest spirits who live nearby.

Director: Hayao Miyazaki | Stars: Hitoshi Takagi, Noriko Hidaka, Chika Sakamoto, Shigesato Itoi

Votes: 380,273 | Gross: $1.11M

I probably watched this a little too late in my life to really appreciate it, but still very cute and enjoyable.

15. The Incredibles (2004)

PG | 115 min | Animation, Action, Adventure

90 Metascore

While trying to lead a quiet suburban life, a family of undercover superheroes are forced into action to save the world.

Director: Brad Bird | Stars: Craig T. Nelson, Samuel L. Jackson, Holly Hunter, Jason Lee

Votes: 808,674 | Gross: $261.44M

This one has a really great message.

16. Ghost in the Shell (1995)

TV-MA | 83 min | Animation, Action, Crime

76 Metascore

A cyborg policewoman and her partner hunt a mysterious and powerful hacker called the Puppet Master.

Directors: Mizuho Nishikubo, Mamoru Oshii | Stars: Atsuko Tanaka, Iemasa Kayumi, Akio Ôtsuka, Kôichi Yamadera

Votes: 156,888 | Gross: $0.52M

Not one of my favourite plots, but the amazing animation and fascinating concept do it for me.

17. Shrek (2001)

PG | 90 min | Animation, Adventure, Comedy

84 Metascore

A mean lord exiles fairytale creatures to the swamp of a grumpy ogre, who must go on a quest and rescue a princess for the lord in order to get his land back.

Directors: Andrew Adamson, Vicky Jenson | Stars: Mike Myers, Eddie Murphy, Cameron Diaz, John Lithgow

Votes: 734,205 | Gross: $267.67M

Made me laugh as a kid, and still does as an adult.

18. The Fox and the Hound (1981)

G | 83 min | Animation, Adventure, Drama

65 Metascore

A fox named Tod and a hound named Copper vow to be best friends forever. But as Copper grows into a hunting dog, their unlikely friendship faces the ultimate test.

Directors: Ted Berman, Richard Rich, Art Stevens, David Hand, Wolfgang Reitherman | Stars: Mickey Rooney, Kurt Russell, Pearl Bailey, Jack Albertson

Votes: 101,922 | Gross: $63.46M

This always made me cry. Bittersweet.

19. The Boondocks (2005–2014)

TV-MA | 22 min | Animation, Action, Comedy

Brothers Huey and Riley Freeman experience a culture clash when they leave Chicago to move in with their grandfather in the suburbs.

Stars: Regina King, John Witherspoon, Gary Anthony Williams, Cedric Yarbrough

Votes: 35,721

One of my favourite shows, hilarious and a really great animated style.

20. Fullmetal Alchemist (2003–2004)

TV-PG | 24 min | Animation, Action, Adventure

When a failed alchemical ritual leaves brothers Edward and Alphonse Elric with severely damaged bodies, they begin searching for the one thing that can save them: the fabled philosopher's stone.

Stars: Vic Mignogna, Aaron Dismuke, Romi Park, Rie Kugimiya

Votes: 77,622

Started watching this series in my early teens, and it is one of the anime's I still love.

21. The Illusionist (2010)

PG | 80 min | Animation, Drama, Fantasy

82 Metascore

A French illusionist finds himself out of work and travels to Scotland, where he meets a young woman. Their ensuing adventure changes both their lives forever.

Director: Sylvain Chomet | Stars: Jean-Claude Donda, Eilidh Rankin, Duncan MacNeil, Raymond Mearns

Votes: 36,519 | Gross: $2.23M

Really love the art style of this one. No dialogue, just great visual storytelling.

22. Paprika (2006)

R | 90 min | Animation, Drama, Fantasy

81 Metascore

When a machine that allows therapists to enter their patients' dreams is stolen, all hell breaks loose. Only a young female therapist, Paprika, can stop it.

Director: Satoshi Kon | Stars: Megumi Hayashibara, Tôru Emori, Katsunosuke Hori, Tôru Furuya

Votes: 96,898 | Gross: $0.88M

Really interesting concept and fluid animation.

23. The Emperor's New Groove (2000)

G | 78 min | Animation, Adventure, Comedy

70 Metascore

Emperor Kuzco is turned into a llama by his ex-administrator Yzma, and must now regain his throne with the help of Pacha, the gentle llama herder.

Director: Mark Dindal | Stars: David Spade, John Goodman, Eartha Kitt, Patrick Warburton

Votes: 225,498 | Gross: $89.30M

Maybe not the most critically aclaimed movie, but this was so fun when I was a kid!

24. Tangled (2010)

PG | 100 min | Animation, Adventure, Comedy

71 Metascore

The magically long-haired Rapunzel has spent her entire life in a tower, but now that a runaway thief has stumbled upon her, she is about to discover the world for the first time, and who she really is.

Directors: Nathan Greno, Byron Howard | Stars: Mandy Moore, Zachary Levi, Donna Murphy, Ron Perlman

Votes: 494,281 | Gross: $200.82M

The 3D animation on this one was just mesmorizing, it's hard not to fall in love with the two main characters.

25. Kung Fu Panda (2008)

PG | 92 min | Animation, Action, Adventure

74 Metascore

To everyone's surprise, including his own, Po, an overweight, clumsy panda, is chosen as protector of the Valley of Peace. His suitability will soon be tested as the valley's arch-enemy is on his way.

Directors: Mark Osborne, John Stevenson | Stars: Jack Black, Ian McShane, Angelina Jolie, Dustin Hoffman

Votes: 522,696 | Gross: $215.43M

I found this surprisingly above my expectations. Great voice acting, and lots of fun.

26. Megamind (2010)

PG | 95 min | Animation, Action, Adventure

63 Metascore

Evil genius Megamind finally defeats his do-gooder nemesis, Metro Man, but is left without a purpose in a superhero-free world.

Director: Tom McGrath | Stars: Will Ferrell, Jonah Hill, Brad Pitt, Tina Fey

Votes: 295,851 | Gross: $148.42M

Another really fun movie, and I loved the protagonist (or should I say antagonist?)



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