I've long thought that comics and animation go hand-in-hand. When reading a graphic novel, you're animating it in your head, filling in the gaps between panels. Animation also leads lots of people to become comic fans, such as anime series inspiring fans to follow the manga on which their favourite shows are based. This was certainly the case for me - I was raised on Disney, which led me to anime, which led me to comics.
So, out of every animated film I've ever seen, which ten stuck with me the most? To do a proper countdown would be impossible - I'm not even 100% sure which one of these movies is my favourite. For this reason, I've decided to put them in order of release date, starting with...
Grave of the Fireflies (1988)
Out of every film on this list, Isao Takahata's Grave of the Fireflies should be essential viewing. It's not necessarily an enjoyable film - in fact, I felt sad for days after watching it. Based on Akiyuki Nosaka's short story of the same name, this eye-opening story follows two Japanese siblings during the Second World War. The flawless Studio Ghibli animation doesn't pull any punches, providing an accurate account of the struggles of ordinary people during this terrible period in time. This is a movie that will stick with you for a long time and demonstrates why animation is just as important as live-action.
Tarzan (1999)
The lush jungle backgrounds, lovable characters and timeless Phil Collins soundtrack all add up to make Disney's Tarzan a movie that can be watched over and over again. In fact, it's probably the film I've seen the most times, giving it an annual re-watch since I had it on VHS as a kid. Kevin Lima and Chris Buck's adaptation of the classic take is nothing short of wonderful and without their film I may never have been the animation buff I am today.
Monsters, Inc. (2001)
In Monsters, Inc., the first Pixar film on this list, director Pete Docter transforms various childhood fears into employees for a company that specialises in scaring. Sully and Mike's world is super creative, and thanks to voice actors John Goodman and Billy Crystal, their friendship is both entertaining and authentic. You can tell everybody involved had a lot of fun making this film.
Lilo & Stitch (2002)
If one film can rival Tarzan in terms of how many times I've watched it, it's Lilo & Stitch. With stunning watercolour backgrounds and quirky character designs, Chris Sanders and Dean Deblois' sci-fi adventure is one of the most visually-impressive films Disney has ever released. This heart-warming tale is packed with fantastic characters such as the titular duo, Lilo's sister and guardian Nani, mysterious social worker Cobra Bubbles and alien scientist Dr. Jumba. It's also got a superb soundtrack that fits the Hawaiian setting perfectly.
Finding Nemo (2003)
If I recall correctly, Andrew Stanton's Finding Nemo was the first movie I ever saw in the cinema. Like the other Disney features on this list, one of its main strengths lies in world-building - it paints an excellent picture of life under the sea with compelling characters and visuals that'll have you gasping for air. The story would still stand up if fished out of the water and told in another context as it is a gripping and inspiring adventure.
Up (2009)
As you might've noticed, this isn't the first Pixar movie on the list, nor is it the last. No, Disney aren't paying me to write this (if only!) - they just seem to nail it with almost every single film. Pete Docter has delivered another masterpiece in the form of Up, with the opening sequence alone being more moving than most animated features I've ever seen. As the title suggests, it's an uplifting film, but also a very melancholy one as we follow the elderly Carl Fredricksen fulfil a promise he made to his late wife and go on a great adventure.
Inside Out (2015)
This is the last Disney movie. I promise. There just wasn't any way I could write this list an not include Pete Docter's latest feature film, Inside Out. From the trailers, I figured it'd be pretty predictable - we see the protagonist thrown into a number of different scenarios and the five emotions (Joy, Sadness, Anger, Fear and Disgust) squabble over how to react. This is more-or-less how the story plays out, but 'Surprise' was never intended to be a feeling this movie elicited. What did surprise me however, was just how well each of these scenes was executed - I spent the whole film either smiling or bawling.
Your Name (2016)
And so we get to the movie that inspired me to write this list! I watched Makoto Shinkai's Your Name just last week and was utterly blown away. This anime feature has the simple premise of a city boy and a country girl occasionally switching bodies, but as the plot goes on it evolves into a multifaceted analysis of themes such as gender, civilisation and fate. The animation is so atmospheric that it really deserves to be called cinematography, and along with the moving score and the enthralling story it will bring you to tears. This is anime at its very finest.
Isle of Dogs (2018)
While this list is mostly comprised of more conventional animation techniques, it's important to mention that I have undying respect for the art of stop-motion and the sheer amount of effort that goes into its production. Like Your Name, I watched Isle of Dogs only very recently and it ended up becoming one of my all-time favourites. Director Wes Anderson uses a very weird, inimitable style to tell a thought-provoking story with Holocaust parallels - your eyes will be fixed on each scene so you can appreciate every frame that went into this work of art. There's also an excellent cast starring the talents of Bryan Cranston, Jeff Goldblum and Scarlett Johansson, and a great original soundtrack.
Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse (2018)
Now, I said at the start I'm not sure which of these ten is the best, but it feels fitting that Into the Spider-Verse concludes this list. Something is holding me back from saying it stands above my childhood favourites and all of the other masterpieces I've praised, but from start to finish, Spider-Verse had me repeating one phrase over and over in my head: "This is the film I've been waiting for." Like I said earlier, comics and animation go hand-in-hand, and that has never been more true than in this superhero adventure. Trio of directors Bob Persichetti, Peter Ramsey and Rodney Rothman have weaved together one of the most visually stunning, exciting and moving productions I have ever seen. I've written a full review for it here, but to summarise: watch it, watch it, watch it!
And there you have it - my top ten animated films. This list was a real challenge to put together and a bunch of excellent movies didn't make the cut such as the Toy Story trilogy and the works of Hayao Miyazaki, but I'm happy with my choices. With four of these pictures being released within the last four years, animation is undoubtedly in a great place right now, with more great things yet to come - perhaps I'll have to rewrite this list in a few years?
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