The American Film Institute compiled a list of what they consider the greatest animated films of all time. But is it accurate?
The American Film Institute, in its mania for listing what it considers to be the best movies in every genre, has finally turned its attention towards animation, announcing their faves in a star-studded spectacle last night.
Jennifer Love Hewitt hosted the animation portion of the event, where the AFI unveiled what it considers to be the greatest animated films of all time. Here's their list:
The AFI's Greatest Animated Films
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937)
Pinocchio (1940)
The Lion King (1994)
Fantasia (1940)
Bambi (1942)
Beauty and the Beast (1991)
Shrek (2001)
Toy Story (1995)
Cinderella (1950)
Finding Nemo (2003)
Now, before you start screaming about how none of Hayao Miyazaki's movies made the list, take a look at who's compiling it: the American Film Institute. Non-Yanks need not apply.
Not surprisingly, this is a pretty Disney-centric list, with nine of the 10 nominees either produced or distributed by the Mouse House. Five of the honorees are from Disney's "Golden Age," which is prior to the 1950's, two of them are from the 1990's "animation renaissance," and two of them are from Pixar.
The lone holdout? DreamWorks Animation's Shrek, which snagged the first ever Best Animated Feature Film Oscar.
Interestingly, DreamWorks CEO Jeffrey Katzenberg shepherded three movies on the list: Beauty and the Beast, The Lion King, and Shrek. None of Disney's post-Katzenberg movies made the cut (excepting Pixar, which was still independent), which makes a compelling argument that then-Disney CEO Michael Eisner goofed when he turfed Katzenberg in 1994.
IMDb's Top 10 Animated Movies
Just for the sake of argument, let's compare the AFI's choices versus IMDb users' most beloved animated films, as of June 18th, 2008 (the list tends to change as new movies get added).
Spirited Away(Studio Ghibli, 2001)
Princess Mononoke (Studio Ghibli, 1997)
Mind Game (Studio 4º C, 2004)
Cat City (Pannonia, 1988)
Ratatouille (Disney/Pixar, 2007)
Finding Nemo (Pixar, 2003)
The Incredibles (Pixar, 2004)
Whisper of the Heart (Studio Ghibli, 1995)
Toy Story (Pixar, 1995)
Grave of the Fireflies (Studio Ghibli, 1988)
Just a leetle different, hmm? None of Disney's classic or "animation renaissance" films rate; Pixar and Japan's Studio Ghibli take over with a vengeance. Only four out of the Top 10 are American, and they're all from Pixar. Studio Ghibli's Hayao Miyazaki is the most beloved animator (directing the two top films, and helping write Whisper of the Heart), with Pixar's Brad Bird running a close second (his movies take #5 and #7).
IMDb's Top 10 American Animated Movies
If we eliminate the non-American animated movies, the IMDb Top 10 List resembles this (actual ratings are in brackets):
Ratatouille (#5)
Finding Nemo (#6)
The Incredibles (#7)
Toy Story (#9)
The Lion King (#12)
Kung Fu Panda (#14)
Toy Story 2 (#20)
The Nightmare Before Christmas (#21)
Shrek (#22)
Monsters Inc. (#23)
Pixar's dominance becomes even clearer, with 6 movies from that company. Disney gets The Lion King and The Nightmare Before Christmas, and DreamWorks has Shrek and Kung Fu Panda. It's worth noting that new films like Kung Fu Panda tend to get initially high ratings before dropping down into their final slots. At one point, Ratatouille was challenging Spirited Away for overall supremacy before sliding to #5. So Kung Fu Panda's position may not last.
Just for the heck of it, how did IMDb users rate the AFI's choices? Here's the AFI's list again, with the IMDb positions in brackets:
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (#33)
Pinocchio (#50)
The Lion King (#12)
Fantasia (#32)
Bambi (didn't make the list)
Beauty and the Beast (#25)
Shrek (#22)
Toy Story (#9)
Cinderella (didn't make the list)
Finding Nemo (#6)
So, what would be *your* Top 10 List of Animated Films? Let us know by making a comment below.
The copyright of the article AFI's Greatest Animated Films in Animated Films is owned by Dominic von Riedemann. Permission to republish AFI's Greatest Animated Films in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
Hey, Dominic - Dan Lalande here from the Classic Film column.
All of these lists should have the same opening one-two punch: 'Snow
White' and 'Toy Story' - two films that set incredible precedents in terms
of form and style. The other titles are certainly worthy but each,
essentially, is no more than a byproduct of the aforementioned two.
The Japanese deserve their due for their distinct contribution, so
yes, 'Spirited Away' should be on any list. And though I certainly don't
expect the AFI to acknowledge the more adult titles - though IMDb should -
where are 'Fritz The Cat' and 'Persepolis'? Again, these are films that
took the art into hitherto unexplored directions!
Continue to
enjoy your column! Please keep at it!
Dan
Aug 29, 2008 2:44 PM
Guest :
Well, the AFI List is a list of the best "American Films", so
obviously there aren't any Studio Ghibli's movie. I agree with you guys,
Hayao Miyazaki's films must be on any decent list of the best animated
pictures, especially Spirited Away and Princess Mononoke, but we most not
forget other non-japanese films like Persepolis that are great too.
Apr 4, 2009 4:15 AM
Guest :
How about this more top animated movies
1. Beavis and Butthead
Do America (Started the trend of animated sitcoms getting the big screen
treatment) 2. Fritz the Cat (First X-Rated cartoon feature) 3.
Toy Story (First fully CGI animated movie) 4. The Nightmare Before
Christmas (First fully stop motion animated movie) 5. Shrek (Started
the trend of well known celebrities starring in animated movies) 6.
Akira (Introduced animie to Weston culture) 7. South Park the Movie
(First fully cut out style animated movie) 8. Snow White (Started it
all off) 9. Monsters vs Aliens (First CGI animated movie done in
3D,every CGI animated movie before that was 2D CGI) 10. Pinocchio
(Set the record for the most oscars won by a fully animated movie, Who
Framed Rodger Rabbit was a crossbreed animated movie)
Apr 4, 2009 7:53 AM
Guest :
As far as impact goes here's a very acurate list
1.Toy
Story(First CGI animated movie) 2.The Nightmare Before Christmas(First
stop motion animated movie) 3.South Park: Bigger, Longer and
Uncut(First cut out style animated movie) 4.Fritz the Cat(First
X-Rated cartoon feature) 5.Beavis and Butthead Do America(Started the
trend of animated sitcoms getting the big screen treatment) 6.Monsters
vs Aliens(First 3D animated movie of any style) 7.Akira:(Western
culture's first introduction to animie 8.Snow White(First animated
movie ever) 9.Pinocchio(Set the record of the most oscars won by an
animated movie when it won 2 oscars, it still is the record) 10.Spirited Away(First animated movie to win the Berlin Film Festival
Apr 12, 2009 5:32 AM
Guest :
What about The Nightmare Before Christmas?
While Snow White was
the first cell animated movie and Toy Story was the first CGI animated
movie, then AFI should have included The Nightmare Before Christmas because
that was the first stop motion animated movie. It was released 7 years
before Aardman created Chicken Run and Wallace and Gromit: Curse of the
Were Rabbit.
AFI should have got rid of Cinderella and replace
it with The Nightmare Before Christmas.
Apr 30, 2009 1:16 AM
Guest :
Fantasia shouldn't count as that's technically a live action hybrid (like
Who Framed Roger Rabbit?).
May 2, 2009 8:16 AM
Guest :
1. The Lion King 2. Tarzan 3. Aladdin 4. Cinderella 5.
Beauty and the Beast 6. The Black Cauldron 7. Sleeping Beauty 8. Shrek ll 9. Bambi 10. Snow White and the seven dwarfs
May 3, 2009 1:02 AM
Guest :
I suppose if the JFI (Japanese Film Institute)did a list of animated
features, Princess Mononoke, Akira and Spirited Away would be there.
In a simmilar situation if the BFI (British Film Institute) did the
same, Wallace and Gromit in the Curse of the Were Rabbit and Chicken Run
would be there.
Jun 27, 2009 1:05 AM
Guest :
How about The Polar Express? I believe it was the first animated feature
done in motion capture. Others that used this style include:
Beowulf (with Angelina Jolie as a demon) Disney's A Christmas Carol
(coming out later this year)
Technically it's a live action
hybrid but Tim Burton's Alice in Wonderland also has segments using motion
capture.
Sep 18, 2009 11:45 AM
Guest :
Here would have been a better AFI list for animation and why they would be
there. 1. Toy Story: First CGI animated movie 2. The Nightmare
Before Christmas: First stop motion animated movie 3. South Park the
Movie: First cutout style animated movie 4: The Polar Express: First
motion capture animated movie 5. Shrek: Really embraced celebrity
voices both male and female alike 6. Fritz the Cat: First X-Rated
animated movie 7. Monsters vs. Aliens: First CGI movie done in 3D 8. Beavis and Butthead Do America: No Beavis and Butthead Do America = no
Simpsons Movie and no South Park movie 9. Finding Nemo: Highest
grossing animated movie not to come from a film series. 10. The Iron
Giant: First animated cult classic
If anyone has better ideas
please comment.
Oct 30, 2009 11:56 PM
Guest :
I cant believe people are saying Fritz the cat instead of American Pop,
that was probably Ralph Bakshi's best movie! That man gets just doesn't get
enough attention or credit. Kiknda like houw the rescuers down under is
really under rated...
