Hello all! I'm finally back from my weekend of moving and to celebrate my return I have for you a list of my what I consider the best animated films. Of course I could only choose from films I have actually watched myself so if your favourite films are not on here then tough luck, I probably haven't seen it.
12) Coraline
Based on a story by acclaimed author Neil Gaiman (I freely admit being a bit of a Gaiman fangirl) and directed by Henry Selick this film just screamed potential. This top-motion film tells the tale of Coraline who discovers a secret passage way which leads to the 'Other World' where it seems that life is perfect. However she soon learns that not all is as it seems and that nothing comes without a price.
Suitably cute and chilling in all the right places, and not afraid to treat children to scares rarely seen in other films, Coraline is sure to become an animated classic.
11) Sleeping Beauty
This Disney Classic actually has a lot more to it than meets the eye, and this becomes obvious when you watch it again as an adult. Take a look at the art style, it's one you won't see in any other Disney film. Every bit of the background art was inspired by the type of artistry found in the Medieval period and is very styalised. As well as this it's the first time that we actually see a Disney Prince with his own character and role within the film, in fact I would say that Phillip is much more developed as a person than Rose.
You may also note that the music throughout is almost completely based upon Tchaikovsky's Sleeping Beauty Ballet. The only other time that Disney has used so much non-original music was in it's Fantasia films.
Factoid: This was the last Disney Princess movie until The Little Mermaid in 1989.
10) Chicken Run
Aardman is probably the best example of the greatness that can be created in the great British garden shed. A few years after releasing A Grand Day Out and receiving an Oscar or two Nick Parks gave us his first feature length claymation work featuring some guy called Mel Gibson who you may or may not have heard of.
At the end of the day Chicken Run is The Great Escape with chickens a film that only a guy in a shed in Lancashire could dream of and make into comedy reality. Even if you don't like gravy you can't help but like this film.
9) The Nightmare Before Christmas
Yet another stop-motion classic from Henry Selick, this time utilising the story telling abilities of the wonderfully gothic Tim Burton. I'm always confused as to whether I should watch this at Hallowe'en or Christmas, or both, or if I should just ignore it all and watch it whenever I want. Whatever time you choose to indulge in the tale of Skeleton Jack there is no doubt that you will fall in love with the brilliant story telling. I also challenge you to not get 'This is Hallowe'en' or 'What's This?' in your head for hours after viewing.
Let me not forget that this film is also essential cult viewing for all those of the goth or emo persuassion.
8) Shrek
Despite the poor sequels (I admit I have yet to watch Shrek 4) the original outing of Shrek and friends was brilliant and quite different from anything else upon its release. It perfectly parodies the classic fairytales. especially the Disneyfication of such stories, yet it does not rely on this comedy to foward the plot instead allowing the story to introduce these moments. There is a real connection between the characters of Shrek and Fiona and there is also real character development between all three lead characters.
I like Shrek so much that I can even forgive Mike Myers for his not quite awful, but at the same time not quite right Scottish Accent. Almost.
7) Wallace and Gromit The Curse of the Were-Rabbit
Aardman returned to the big screen in 2005 with the duo that started it all, Wallace and Gromit. The story follows cheese-loving Wallace and his long suffering dog Gromit as they embark on a career in humane pest control during the time of the annual village vegetable competition. Thrown into this typically British scenario is a tale straight from a 1950s American B-movie as Wallace is accidently turned into a were-rabbit as a result of his inventions.
What makes not only this film but all Aardman creations so special is the knowledge that each frame of animation was a labour of love. It famously takes the animators hours of work in order to film just as couple of seconds of film and to do this for a film which is over an hour long takes not only dedication but belief in bringing only the best to the screen.
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