Animated Movie Primer

With the release of Zootopia 2, I figured this would be a good month to do an animated movie primer. Obviously, animated movies are more geared towards children, but a good animated movie will appeal to both kids and adults. There are several well-established animated studios that are the pinnacle of the genre, including Walt Disney Animation, Pixar, DreamWorks, Illumination, and Studio Ghibli. There are also many different styles of animation, from hand-drawn to computer-generated and stop motion. For this list, I tried to be representative of all the major studios and animation styles. With all that said, here is the Animated Movie Primer.

1. Snow White and the Seven Dwarves (1937)

Snow White and the Seven Dwarves stands as one of the first major animated films. As the first feature-length animated film and an early fantasy hit, it set the standard for fairy tale storytelling and established Walt Disney Animation as a premier studio. The movie introduced innovations such as the multiplane camera for an immersive, visually rich experience. Beyond its groundbreaking achievements, it features memorable songs and a highly quoted—and often misquoted—line. The film saved Walt Disney Studios with its initial blockbuster success, propelling it into industry leadership.

2. Akira (1988)

Akira was a landmark film that introduced anime to Western audiences. Its success broadened global acceptance of anime and Japanese culture. Akira also shattered the stereotype that animation is only for children, presenting violence and mature themes that resonated with adults. The film set a new technical bar with over 150,000 hand-drawn frames and innovative animation techniques for exceptionally fluid motion. Its distinct visual style has profoundly influenced movies, TV, and comics.

3. Beauty and the Beast (1991)

Beauty and the Beast was groundbreaking as it was the first animated film to get nominated for Best Picture. The movie was also a financial success and helped solidify the Disney Renaissance. The movie was innovative in its animation, blending hand-drawn animation with CGI in the ballroom scene. This was also the first Disney animated film to be developed with a formal pre-written script, setting a new standard for production. The film also updated the typical princess model with Belle being innovative and independent instead of just a damsel in distress.

4. Aladdin (1992)

Aladdin was groundbreaking for its use of celebrity actors to market its films. Aladdin was one of the first films to feature a prominent actor, Robin Williams, voicing a major character in the film. The movie was heavily marketed around this and revolutionized how animated movies were cast and promoted. The movie created a trend of casting high-profile actors in animated movies that is still in use today, such as Eddie Murphy in Mulan, Jack Black in Kung Fu Panda, and Chris Pratt in The Super Mario Bros Movie. Aladdin also created a shift in Disney's approach to diversity, with Aladdin sparking a series of stories about nonwhite protagonists such as Mulan, The Lion King, Pocahontas, and Moana.

5. The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)

The Nightmare Before Christmas is considered to be the first feature-length stop-motion animated movie. While stop motion animation is the oldest form of animation, it wasn't used for a full-length film until this movie. The movie helped bring stop motion animation into mainstream cinema, launching many other films with the same style. The film also has a very unique aesthetic that created a whole substyle of animation used in later films like Coraline, Corpse Bride, and Frankenweenie. The unique gothic and whimsical aesthetic has also been used in many films outside of animation. The film itself has also been embedded in pop culture, influencing everything from merchandise to themed events.

6. Toy Story (1995)

Toy Story is an important animated movie as it was the first fully computer-generated animated movie and caused a shift in the animation industry from hand-drawn to computer-generated. The 3D animation also brought a new level of detail to animated movies through texture and shadowing, setting a new standard for animated projects. The film's success also launched the Pixar animation studio, which has gone on to become one of the most prominent animation studios today. The film also launched a very successful franchise with 5 films, multiple shorts, and a theme park land.

7. Shrek (2001)

Shrek was an important animated film as it was the first winner of the Best Animated Feature at the Oscars. The movie also helped break away from traditional storytelling and created a more satirical and modern style of animated storytelling. The success of Shrek also helped launch the DreamWorks animation studio, created a strong direct competitor to Disney, and helped create more diverse animated content. The film also helped further the use of CGI in animated movies and confirmed it as the future of animated movies. Shrek also helped reshape the hero and princess archetypes, promoting the idea that appearances do not matter.

8. Spirited Away (2001)

Spirited Away, much like Akira, helped establish Japanese anime to Western audiences. The film also helped establish a new style of anime with artistic and emotional maturity outside of the typical anime stereotypes. The movie also helped pave the way for more female-led animated stories outside of the typical princess story. The success of the film helped put Studio Ghibli on the map, an anime studio that would go on to be known for its prestigious films and consistent Oscar nominations. The film also brought a change of pace to animated films, offering a quieter, contemplative story as compared to the typical fast-paced ones.

9. Despicable Me (2010)

Despicable Me was an important animated movie as it helped launch the highly successful Illumination studio, as well as help set a new template for the modern animated movie. Despicable Me proved that successful animated movies could be made on a lower budget and faster production style, shifting the way movies would be made. The film also brought a new style of animated movie with cute side characters and a pop music-centric soundtrack. The movie would also be responsible for the introduction of The Minions, who would go on to be cultural icons like Mickey Mouse and Mario. The movie also created the most successful animated franchise of all time with multiple sequels and spin-offs.

10. Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse (2018)

Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse was groundbreaking for its new animation style. The film went away from the traditional 3d CGI animated style and instead opted for a blend of 2D and 3D animation to create the style of a comic book come to life. The film also seamlessly blended multiple animation styles together, with each character being from its own slightly differently animated universe. The success of the film proved there was an audience for experimental, highly stylized animation non-photo non-photorealistic animation, with the animation styling continuing to be used by other films and animation studios.