40 best animated films of all time

2024 Author: Malcolm Clapton | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:44

Rolling Stone magazine has chosen cartoons that can both amuse and immerse in philosophical reflections.

1. Rango

• Cartoon, comedy, adventure.
• USA, 2011.
• Duration: 107 minutes.
• IMDb: 7, 2.

Johnny Depp and director Gore Verbinski teamed up again after Pirates of the Caribbean to make a cartoon about a cute lizard stranded in an unfamiliar city. Rango is full of references to famous films, from Clint Eastwood's paintings to Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, where Johnny Depp played the main role.

2. Coraline in the Land of Nightmares

• Cartoon, fantasy, family.
• USA, 2008.
• Duration: 100 minutes.
• IMDb: 7, 7.

The Nightmare Before Christmas seemed like a creepy cartoon, but the film adaptation of Neil Gaiman's book looks truly intimidating. Coraline's parents are too busy with their own affairs and do not pay attention to their daughter. Once, wandering around the house, the unfortunate girl finds herself in a world where all the characters were replaced by cheerful, but soulless doubles with buttons instead of eyes.

3. Charlotte's Web

• Cartoon, musical, family.
• USA, 1973.
• Duration: 94 minutes.
• IMDb: 6, 9.

Directed by Charles A. Nichols and Iwao Takamoto, the popular children's novel about Wilbur the pig and his spider friend Charlotte has been turned into a beautiful musical. According to rumors, the author of the novel does not like this cartoon, but admits that the picture managed to convey the soft and melancholic tone of his work.

4. The grave of the fireflies

• Anime, cartoon, drama.
• Japan, 1988.
• Duration: 89 minutes.
• IMDb: 8, 5.

Isao Takahata directed a heartbreaking World War II drama in which two children must learn to survive after their city was destroyed. Yes, the plot focuses on children, but in fact it depicts a deep, lost and deprived adult story.

5. Wild planet

• Cartoon, fantasy.
• France, Czechoslovakia, 1973.
• Duration: 72 minutes.
• IMDb: 7, 8.

From the musician Flying Lotus to the hip-hop producer Madlib, this psychedelic film by French animator René Laloux has inspired everyone. The whimsical design and quirky animation style continues to amaze viewers, while Alain Gorager's music is creepy. The plot of the picture tells the story of tall aliens who keep people as animals.

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6. The secret of N. I. M. Kh

• Cartoon, science fiction, fantasy.
• USA, 1982.
• Duration: 82 minutes.
• IMDb: 7, 6.

Disillusioned with Disney studios, Don Bluth debuted as an independent filmmaker with a story about a little mouse. She has lost her husband and is forced to go alone in search of a cure for her son.

7. Up

• Cartoon, drama, comedy.
• USA, 2009.
• Duration: 96 minutes.
• IMDb: 8, 3.

This is a story about the friendship between a little boy and an old man, which proves that it is never too late to go in search of adventure. Up received an Oscar for Best Animated Film and became the first cartoon to open the Cannes Film Festival. With its stunning animation and deep emotional story, it's no surprise.

8. Howl's Moving Castle

• Anime, science fiction, fantasy.
• Japan, 2004.
• Duration: 119 minutes.
• IMDb: 8, 2.

Japanese master Hayao Miyazaki brilliantly blends Eastern and Western aesthetics in this anti-war tale. In Howl's Moving Castle, a steampunk mobile home travels around the world, powered by the energy of a fire demon. And it is controlled by a warlike wizard. This beautiful love story also shows the dire consequences of war on people and the environment.

9. Belleville Trio

• Cartoon, drama, comedy.
• France, Belgium, Canada, UK, Latvia, USA, 2003.
• Duration: 78 minutes.
• IMDb: 7, 8.

Sylvain Chaumé's vintage-grotesque animation tells an intricate tale of gangsters, Tour de France cyclists and a trio of strange sisters who expose criminals. The film has a catchy melody and high-quality humor, but most importantly - a fascinating plot.

10. Adventures of Fritz the Cat

• Cartoon, drama, comedy.
• USA, 1972.
• Duration: 78 minutes.
• IMDb: 6, 3.

A satirical animation film about a cat named Fritz. This candid cartoon pokes fun at Nixon America with corrupt cops, racial division, revolutionary youth, and free love. "The Adventures of Fritz the Cat" is the first animated film to receive an X rating in the United States and is banned from children.

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11. Persepolis

• Cartoon, drama, biography.
• France, USA, 2007.
• Duration: 95 minutes.
• IMDb: 8, 1.

This tape is based on a graphic novel by the Iranian writer Marjan Satrapi. "Persepolis" is a story about Iran during the Islamic Revolution, told by a little girl. Like any child, she is rebelling against the system in a country where people can go to jail for lipstick. The cartoon turned out to be as emotional and exciting as the autobiographical novel of the same name.

12. Incredibles

• Cartoon, action, adventure.
• USA, 2004.
• Duration: 111 minutes.
• IMDb: 8, 0.

Pixar released The Incredibles even before the Nolan era, so the superheroes in the cartoon turned out to be fun and funny. Director Brad Bird presented them as simple middle-class hard workers, focusing on the feelings of a person who has to pretend to be someone else all his life.

13. Wallace and Gromit II: The Wrong Pants

• Cartoon, short film, comedy.
• UK, 1993.
• Duration: 30 minutes.
• IMDb: 8, 4.

The inventor Wallace and his trusty dog Gromit are one of the greatest comedy duos on the screen. In the previous cartoon, the companions went to the moon to have a picnic there. This time they settle at home a gangster penguin who plans to steal robotic pants. The painstaking work of Nick Park and his team is visible in everything, right down to the wallpaper in Wallace's cozy cottage.

14. Waltz with Bashir

• Cartoon, drama, biography.
• Israel, France, Germany, USA, Finland, Switzerland, Belgium, Australia, 2008.
• Duration: 90 minutes.
• IMDb: 8, 0.

Israeli documentary filmmaker Ari Folman is used to working with vivid images, but this time he chose animation to explore the slippery nature of memories. In the cartoon, he told a story about himself and his friends who were repressed after participating in the ravaging Lebanon War of 1982.

15. Bambi

• Cartoon, drama, family.
• USA, 1942.
• Duration: 72 minutes.
• IMDb: 7, 3.

Bambi is a story about life and death, true friendship and family, as well as the beauty of nature. After the hunter shot Bambi's mother, the fawn had to survive, gain knowledge and experience alone. The cartoon shows how hard it is to grow up when there is no one close to you.

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16. South Park: Large, long, uncut

• Cartoon, musical, comedy.
• USA, 1999.
• Duration: 81 minutes.
• IMDb: 7, 8.

Trey Parker and Matt Stone love primitive animations and edge to foul jokes. Just look at the title of the movie. However, behind the vulgarity lies a vivid satire that ridicules the vices of our society. In addition to Saddam Hussein in bed with Satan, the film will also surprise with groovy songs.

17. The Adventures of Prince Ahmed

• Cartoon, fantasy, melodrama.
• Germany, 1926.
• Duration: 81 minutes.
• IMDb: 7, 9.

The extraordinary tale of Lotta Reiniger is still striking in its beauty. Even after 92 years, it looks absolutely amazing, as if the magic itself brought the carved figures to life. The picture tells about Prince Ahmed, who was sent to distant lands by an evil sorcerer.

18. The Beatles: Yellow Submarine

• Cartoon, musical, comedy.
• Great Britain, USA, 1968.
• Duration: 90 minutes.
• IMDb: 7, 4.

Switch off your mind, relax and go downstream with this psychedelic odyssey of the late sixties. John, Paul, Ringo and George must save the underwater country from evil but funny creatures. The gorgeous four did not give their voices to the characters, but George Dunning's insane animation paired with The Beatles' songs will give viewers an unforgettable experience.

19. Toy story

• Cartoon, fantasy, comedy.
• USA, 1995.
• Duration: 81 minutes.
• IMDb: 8, 3.

Pixar entered the animation world with its debut film, which has set the benchmark for all animators in the digital age. Warm and instructive "Toy Story" will be imbued with both an adult and a child. And the star couple Woody and Buzz Lightyear is an example of true friendship.

20. Lego. Movie

• Cartoon, fantasy, comedy.
• Australia, USA, Denmark, 2014.
• Duration: 100 minutes.
• IMDb: 7, 8.

Pixar isn't the only studio to explore the secret life of children's toys. Phil Lord and Christopher Miller have filmed a gripping story of a Lego world in which a man voiced by Chris Pratt rescues everyone from the evil Lord of Business.

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21. Pinocchio

• Cartoon, drama, family.
• USA, 1940.
• Duration: 88 minutes.
• IMDb: 7, 5.

The adaptation of Carlo Collodi's fairy tale is based on thinking about what it means to be human. This is a beautiful and kind story about growing up and the need to take responsibility for your actions.

22. Akira

• Anime, fantasy, action.
• Japan, 1988.
• Duration: 124 minutes.
• IMDb: 8, 1.

A dark cyberpunk anime about post-apocalyptic Tokyo, in which insane gangs operate. And although the grim future has not yet arrived, Katsuhiro Otomo's cartoon reminds us what can happen if humanity does not change its mind in time.

23. Awakening of life

• Cartoon, fantasy, drama.
• USA, 2001.
• Duration: 99 minutes.
• IMDb: 7, 8.

To create this picture, frames with real actors were used, which were then subjected to animation. The main character of the film communicates with different people on the themes of life, death, reincarnation. He, like many of us, is trying to find answers to age-old questions lurking on the other side of reality.

24. Anomalies

• Cartoon, drama, melodrama.
• USA, 2015.
• Duration: 90 minutes.
• IMDb: 7, 3.

"Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind" writer Charlie Kaufman loves to place his characters in unusual worlds. Unsurprisingly, he took up animation. Together with director Duke Johnson, he created a comedy-drama about love. In the story, Michael Stone motivates people, but at the same time suffers from a fear of communication. Until one day he meets a completely ordinary girl named Lisa.

25. The Little Mermaid

• Cartoon, musical, family.
• USA, 1989.
• Duration: 83 minutes.
• IMDb: 7, 6.

An adaptation of Hans Christian Andersen's tale of a vivid dream: to be human. It was The Little Mermaid that set the bar high for animation studios and showed how to make musical cartoons. Without this tape, you would not have seen The Lion King and Frozen.

26. Escape from the chicken coop

• Cartoon, drama, comedy.
• UK, USA, France, 2000.
• Duration: 84 minutes.
• IMDb: 7, 0.

Nick Park and Peter Lord shelved another Wallace and Gromit installment to make a cartoon about quirky chickens and a big talking rooster. The birds want to escape from the chicken coop in order to find freedom and escape from certain death.

27. Steamer Willie

• Cartoon, short film, musical.
• USA, 1928.
• Duration: 7 minutes.
• IMDb: 7, 7.

Long before Mickey Mouse became the face of Disney, he was a mischievous little disgrace. The mouse often drew the attention of viewers to important issues that were raised in popular short films. The first and most famous film was Steamboat Willie. Not only did Mickey and Minnie make their debuts, it also featured sound for the first time in Disney history.

28. My Neighbor Totoro

• Anime, fantasy, adventure.
• Japan, 1988.
• Duration: 86 minutes.
• IMDb: 8, 2.

Hayao Miyazaki created a world of magical creatures and supernatural phenomena, saturated with a child's longing for a mother. Many believe that this cartoon is the quintessence of Studio Ghibli. It is ideal for both adults and children. Beautiful landscapes, vivid heroes and extraordinary adventures of two sisters will resonate in every heart.

29. Puzzle

• Cartoon, family, comedy.
• USA, 2015.
• Duration: 95 minutes.
• IMDb: 8, 2.

This cartoon is direct proof that Pixar is the most powerful brand in Hollywood. After all, the studio was able to convince Disney to allocate money for a cartoon about the value of sadness. The plot focuses on five emotions that live in the head of a little girl and control her life using a special remote control. The studio got a kind of animated response to the series "Herman's Head", in which the hero found himself in a similar situation.

30. Crocodile Street

• Cartoon, short film.
• Great Britain, 1986.
• Duration: 20 minutes.
• IMDb: 7, 8.

Stephen and Timothy Quay completely ignore animation fashion and use old methods of stop motion animation. Inspired by the Polish writer Bruno Schulz, in 1986 the brothers created a surreal picture of a journey through the dark and light corners of a person's personality, his desires and fears.

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31. How's the opera, Doc?

• Cartoon, short film, musical.
• USA, 1957.
• Duration: 7 minutes.
• IMDb: 8, 3.

Your child is unlikely to be delighted with the opera, but he will definitely not remain indifferent to "Flight of the Valkyries" in this funny short animated film. Bugs Bunny and Elmer Fudd chase each other, parodying the famous Wagner opera.

32. The world of the future

• Cartoon, short film, fantasy, drama.
• USA, 2015.
• Duration: 17 minutes.
• IMDb: 8, 2.

Director Don Herzfeldt has created a seductive and frightening alternate reality in which clones from the future connected with humans to talk about what awaits humanity. Future World tells the deep and emotional story of the little girl Ellie, in which, as in life, not all questions are answered.

33. The Nightmare Before Christmas

• Cartoon, musical, family.
• USA, 1993.
• Duration: 76 minutes.
• IMDb: 8, 0.

Skellington Productions' executives feared that the cartoon about the city of Halloween, where the worst nightmares are gathered, would be too scary for children. But Tim Burton was inspired by this concept and helped director Henry Selick to make it happen. According to the plot, Jack Skellington is the most creepy monster that came to the city of Christmas. Inspired by the holiday, he decides to take the place of Santa Claus to give gifts to people.

34. Steel Giant

• Cartoon, fantasy, action.
• USA, 1999.
• Duration: 86 minutes.
• IMDb: 8, 0.

A gripping film adaptation of Ted Hughes' children's book about a boy who is friends with a huge robot. The cartoon flopped at the box office, but later became a cult one, because it was able to turn a simple science fiction story into a sincere statement of heroism and friendship. "Giant of Steel" pays homage to the old Superman cartoons, in which a man of steel uses his power to benefit, not harm.

35. WALL · I

• Cartoon, fantasy, adventure.
• USA, 2008.
• Duration: 98 minutes.
• IMDb: 8, 4.

This is a story about a sad little robot who was left to clean up on Earth, while people roam space in an interstellar ship with all the conveniences. He meets another robot named EVA and goes with her into space, and the viewer finds out what a generation of people who have become too dependent on technology and consumption have become.

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36. Mad Duck

• Cartoon, short film, comedy.
• USA, 1953.
• Duration: 7 minutes.
• IMDb: 8, 6.

Duffy Duck's short story is a solid metaphor for how a person has to change and adapt in order to survive. While watching a movie about a hot-tempered duck, you involuntarily begin to think about the vicissitudes of fate.

37. Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs

• Cartoon, musical, melodrama.
• USA, 1937.
• Duration: 83 minutes.
• IMDb: 7, 6.

Singing princesses, evil queens, beautiful heroes and hilarious characters have become as much a part of the Disney formula as the herb and spice blend for KFC. Walt Disney changed the future of animation back in the 1930s. The success of "Snow White" proved that the viewer can watch a cartoon spellbound for 80 minutes, and the money allocated for the equipment was well spent.

38. Fantasy

• Cartoon, fantasy, comedy.
• USA, 1940.
• Duration: 125 minutes.
• IMDb: 7, 8.

Fantasy is perhaps Walt Disney's greatest artistic and creative achievement. With this cartoon, the studio put an end to conversations on the topic: "Can animation be art?"

39. Spirited Away

• Anime, fantasy, adventure.
• Japan, 2001.
• Duration: 125 minutes.
• IMDb: 8, 6.

Almost all of Ghibli's cartoons have become iconic, but Spirited Away is a real classic. It is a fairy tale, an adventure, and a metaphor combined in Hayao Miyazaki's animated masterpiece. A little girl is forced to work in a bathhouse for ghosts and demons after her parents are turned into pigs. Miyazaki's craziest landscapes and characters are neatly woven into a deep story of growing up and an ever-changing world.

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40. Fantastic Mr. Fox

• Cartoon, comedy, adventure.
• USA, 2009.
• Duration: 87 minutes.
• IMDb: 7, 8.

Wes Anderson's animation is executed with meticulous attention to detail. This is a story about foxes, in which the restless head of the family, despite his promise to his wife, is forced to return to his criminal affairs. And the stunning voices of George Clooney and Meryl Streep turn the cartoon into a sincere, adult representation of the hardships of life.

Bonus: "Coco's Secret"

This cartoon is not on the Rolling Stone list, but you just have to watch it.

• Cartoon, comedy, adventure.
• USA, 2017.
• Duration: 105 minutes.
• IMDb: 8, 5.

Another masterpiece in the Pixar's piggy bank, which has earned extremely positive reviews, including from Rolling Stone. The story of a Mexican boy who fell into the world of the dead turned into a touching and deep parable about family values. The leitmotif of "Secrets of Coco" is built on the conflict of generations, so the cartoon will be useful for both adults and children.