From Shane Conto

When you think of animation…who do you think of? It is hard not to think of the singular name who revolutionized this approach to filmmaking, Walt Disney. Whether it is the 100 years of Disney Animation or their familiar partners Pixar, this is a brand which has dominated the landscape of animation for decades. There were other creators in the 1990’s but it was Disney delivering their great Renaissance and Pixar changed animation with Toy Story. The Academy Awards have been staunchly Disney and Pixar heavy with their Best Animated Feature award. This launched for films released in 2001 and was won by Shrek (my personal favorite animated film). But even then, Shrek was not Disney or Pixar but Dreamworks instead. 

But major animation has not just been dominated by Disney and Pixar, has it? There are other major studios which still deliver mass audience animation and don’t generally play outside of the comfort zone of animation. Dreamworks has plenty of big named successes that fit squarely in that 3D animation boom of the 21st century. Illumination has taken this approach to a whole other level. For most of their releases, middling quality goes hand-in-hand with accessibility to wide audiences which has led to insane box office success (looking at you The Super Mario Bros Movie). Disney and Pixar have made some of the greatest animated films of all time! And these other major studios have delivered a few for themselves. But you would be cheating yourself by sticking to the familiar creations of these most popular American studios. 

But where to start to find animated greatness elsewhere? There are some unexpected rising stars within the major studios and streamers. Sony Animation is really finding itself in the launch of the animated Spider-Man universe. Into the Spider-verse and Across the Spider-verse have completely changed the expectations for animated films from major studios. Pixar is in a bit of a rut and Disney is offering up quality but it is Sony who is delivering artistically complex and bold films that still hit the masses with its superhero stories. Netflix is making a bit of a shocking splash with some of their recent productions in animation. Klaus is a surprising new holiday classic in the making with its gorgeous animation and heart. The Sea Beast made a bigger splash by snagging a Best Animated Feature nomination. Its message and scale make it a standout of recent animation filmmaking. But Nimona might take the kicker by being one of the best animated films of 2023 by far. 

But where are some of the most inventive animated films coming from in the United States? We have a few filmmakers and one studio who are keeping stop motion animation (one of the most impressive and complex approaches) alive. Henry Selick is one of the most talented directors out there who has created some of the most important stop motion films of all time. A Nightmare Before Christmas might have Tim Burton’s name all over it but it was Selick who actually created the film with all of the talented animators. He continued his work with contributions to James and the Giant Peach and The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou. His Wendell & Wild is a dark and fun time that was sadly looked over in its release. But Selick opened the door for collaborators like Tim Burton and Wes Anderson to create their own stop motion films. Burton’s Corpse Bride and Frankenweenie are both Halloween mainstays and offer up artful creations. Anderson’s Fantastic Mr. Fox just might be the most clever and impressive stop motion films ever and Isle of Dogs is impressive in its own right. But don’t look further than Laika for modern stop motion animation. Coraline and ParaNorman capture the eerie and dark personality of Selick’s films with impressive depth and bits of horror. But it is Kubo and the Two Strings which is a sprawling and fascinating epic that wows with its scale, action, heart, emotion, and technical achievements. 

But who is still making the best of hand drawn animation? Look no further than two international studios who continue to dominate this approach to animation. One of the unsung heroes of animation globally is the Irish co-production studio of Cartoon Saloon. They have created some of the most poignant films in recent memory in animation with their beautiful tales of Gaelic lore. The Secret of Kells, Song of the Sea, and Wolfwalkers are all some of the best animated films of the 21st century. The hand-drawn animation is strikingly beautiful and rich with the colors. The themes are moving and the adventures and fantasy is so fully realized. There is a lot of great European animation and you would not want to miss out on all the great work coming from that continent (especially out of France which produces plenty of incredible works). 

What about further East? In Asia, anime is one of the most dominant forces in the animation world. Classics like Akira, Ghost in the Shell, Perfect Blue, and Your Name (to name just a few) have set the bar for not only quality but for making it clear that animation can be for adults too. But Studio Ghibli is the gold standard in many ways for not only anime but for animation in general. Hiyao Miyazaki is arguably the greatest animation director of all time. He has violent and mature war films like Princess Mononoke. There are incredible, mind-blowing works that represent the apex of animation, like Spirited Away. Ponyo and My Neighbor Totoro are both examples of his penchant for making charming and warming films for the whole family to enjoy. Other entries in Ghibli deliver as well like the haunting anti-war film, Grave of the Fireflies. If you have not gotten into anime, that will leave a giant blindspot. 

Can we go below the radar, shall we? There are some cult classic animation films that have their following but need more attention. Don Hertzfeldt struck a nerve with his hand drawn tales that are minimalist in visuals and towering in content and surrealism. It’s Such a Beautiful Day just might be one of the best animated films of them all. Richard Linklater (one of the most famous auteurs in cinema) took his turns with motion capture animation and blew the minds of every member of his limited audience. A Scanner Darkly, Waking Life, and Apollo 10 ½ all are top quality even if their fan base might be smaller from lack of exposure. Deeply resonant dramas such as Persepolis, Flee, and Waltzing with Bashir all take unique approaches to animation similar to Linklater and pack an impressive impact on both its themes and emotions. 

Are those enough places to start the expansion of your animation taste? I would have gone on for pages as there are plenty of amazing films from outside the animation mainstream. But these should certainly be a starting point for you all reading. Whether they are from the early days of cinema, the Golden Age,, through the years to modern times, and for still holding these positions. Go for an exciting and adventurous journey through the boundless world of animation!

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