ARTICLE

Top 10 Animated Movies + BONUS

By Chen Shun / 25 Jun 2020 (Thursday)

Cartoons are a great escape for kids and adults alike. It would be almost impossible to not have seen an animated film in your life but if by some weird reason you haven’t, then we’ve got just the listicle for you! We’ve listed out the top 10 animated movies right here. Do bear in mind that this listicle is based on our writer’s opinion and should you have any opposition towards it, feel free to let us know in the comment section below.

#10 Coraline (2009)

Coraline is an American stop-motion animated dark fantasy horror feature film. The flick depicts a naive and adventurous girl named Coraline finding an idealised parallel world behind a secret door in her new home. Everything seems perfect in this world, and unbeknownst to her, there is an evil and sinister secret lurking around her.

Writer says: I was 13 when I first watched Coraline. I remember that I wasn’t able to sleep alone in the dark for a good one week. Thinking back, it was a traumatising yet fascinating experience for me.

Coraline is not available on any accessible streaming platforms in Singapore but you can borrow its source material, the 2002 novella of the same name by Neil Gaiman here.

#9 Up (2009)

Up is an American computer-animated comedy-drama adventure film by Pixar. The movie tells the story of an elderly man named Carl, who sets off on a journey to fulfil his promised made to his late wife, Ellie. Along the way, Carl accidentally brings a young boy named Russell by mistake. Will they be able to work out their age gap and difference to complete what Carl set out to achieve?

Writer says: Watching Up at 13 was fun yet scary. At that age, the concept of ‘old’ seems so far away, but after experiencing what Carl had gone through, I became genuinely afraid of what’s to come.

Up is not available on any streaming platforms in Singapore likely due to the impending rise of Disney+ around the world. Hopefully, the streaming site reaches us soon!

#8 Ice Age (2002)

If we are talking about animated movies, how can we leave out a movie full of talking animals! Ice Age, an American computer-animated comedy film, centres around three prehistoric animals that work together to return a human baby to its tribe.

Writer says: Personally, the best part of the movie isn’t the main plot or its main characters but its scene-stealer, Scrat, a speechless “sabre-tooth squirrel” who is continuously finding places to bury his acorns! Since the film’s debut in 2002, the movie has become a global franchise with 5 movies under its belt.

Ice Age is currently available for rent and purchase on AppleTV.

#7 Kung Fu Panda (2008)

Next up on our list is talking animals of the oriental kind! Kung Fu Panda is an American computer-animated martial art comedy film produced by DreamWorks Animation. The film is set in ancient China that's populated with anthropomorphic talking animals. It revolves around an easygoing panda named, Po who's life took a 180-degree turn when he was prophesied to be the ‘Dragon Warrior’ that is destined to defeat evil.

Writer says: Po’s character and the plot were very relatable when I was a child. Po had lots of unexpected situations and expectations thrown at him that he never wanted.

Kung Fu Panda is currently available on HBO GO along with its sequel, Kung Fu Panda 2.

#6 Fantastic Mr. Fox (2009)

It seems like talking animals is really popular in animated films. Coming in 6th on our list is the beloved family of talking foxes, Fantastic Mr. Fox! The film is a stop-motion animated comedy by Wes Anderson that tells the story of a fox who steals food each night from three rich and nasty farmers. Fed up with Mr. Fox’s crafty crimes, the farmers set out to kill him.

Writer says: Fantastic Mr. Fox was one of the most anticipated movies for me during my childhood. As a huge Roald Dahl fan, any book or flick related to his work gets me squealing with excitement!

Fantastic Mr. Fox is currently available on Amazon Prime.

#5 Shrek (2001)

We can't do a list of Top 10 of animated movies without including a fairytale themed movie, right? 5th on our list is our one and only green ogre, Shrek. The film is DreamWorks Animation's computer-animated comedy that tells the story of an ogre named Shrek who somehow finds himself in a turmoil against a corrupted Lord Farquaad. Along the way, Shrek finds himself falling in love with the kingdom’s Princess Fiona.

Writer says: Ever since the release of Shrek in 2001, the film has unarguably become the best-animated franchise Dreamworks has ever created. With 4 Shrek movies, a spin-off with Puss in Boots and many more, Shrek has undoubtedly become a household name throughout the years.

Shrek is currently available on Amazon Prime.

#4 Toy Story (1995)

Coming in 4th is the world of talking toys, Toy Story. The Pixar computer-animated comedy film talks about an imaginary world where toys could talk and move when their owners are not looking at them.

Toy Story is another film that has spanned a global franchise with 4 movies and multiple tv series under its belt. While Tom Hanks (voice of Woody) said that the fourth film is the final film in the series, nothing is set in stone as Annie Potts (voice of Bo Peep), and Tim Allen (voice of Buzz Lightyear) hinted that a fifth film is possible.

Toy Story is still available for purchase on AppleTV.

#3 The Incredibles (2004)

How can we finish off a Top 10 animated movies list without a superhero movie included? Coming in at 3rd place on this writer's list is the super-powered family, The Incredibles. The film is an American computer-animated superhero film that talks about a family of superheroes who hide their powers following government laws. Due to the righteous family head, Mr. Incredible, the family finds themselves fighting against a new supervillain.

Writer says: When I watched The Incredibles at 8 years of age, I had this fantasy that my family is like The Incredibles. Just imagine you and your family having superpowers to save the world. How cool is that?

The Incredibles is currently available for purchase on AppleTV.

#2 WALL-E (2008)

Coming in 2nd on our list is the lovable and cute robot, WALL-E. The computer-animated sci-fi romance film is Pixar's 9th feature. It follows the story of a single trash compactor robot who falls in love with another robot named EVE.

WALL-E is undoubtedly one of the best animated movies of the 00s as many fans and critics rated it as the best film of 2008.

The animated film is currently still available for purchase on AppleTV.

#1 Finding Nemo (2003)

On the very top of our list *DRUMROLLS* is the cute aquamarine film, Finding Nemo! The movie is an American computer-animated adventure film about an overprotective clownfish, named Marlin, who goes through huge risk and hurdles to save his son who was taken by scuba divers. Along Marlin’s journey, he makes a regal blue tang named Dory as his companion.

Writer says: I still remember vividly that Finding Nemo is the first movie that made me shed tears in the theatre. With its relatable storyline and great characters, the film became the highest-grossing animated film of all time at the time of its release in 2003. After a long wait of 13 years, the film finally had a sequel titled Finding Dory.

Finding Nemo is still available on HBO GO for your viewing. Go see it now before its lost to Disney+ forever!

Honourable Mention: Studio Ghibli

It is unsatisfactory to have a Top 10 list of animated movies without mentioning a single Studio Ghibli film, we know. But we couldn't just pick one so for our honourable mention, we're putting the whole Studio Ghibli catalogue in. It's only fair because there are too many masterpieces from the studio that we can only group them as one! Perhaps it even needs a Top10 list of its own.

When Studio Ghibli released their first film in 1986, many could foretell that they will become a giant in the animated film industry in the years to come. Ever since then, the studio has created memorable films that kids of all ages will remember fondly.

Writer says: If I have to pick a favourite, it will always be the unbeatable and iconic Spirited Away (2001)!

Many of Studio Ghibli’s work is currently on Netflix so head on over and check it out.

Did we miss out some of your favourites in our list? Let us know in the comments below. Also, you may drop us some suggestions on other Top10s you’d like to see us do next.

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