My Top 25: #5 - #1

#5: Tokyo Godfathers (2003): Sometimes the best you can do is protect the innocent with all of your might. Three homeless men find a baby and resolve to take care of it; by doing so, they end up resolving their person issues and finding their own homes. Equal parts pathos and bathos, Tokyo Godfathers mixes humor and seriousness in such a way as to create a weird melange, and one that just works. Somehow. If the concoction was mixed with just a little more or less of what it has, it would have been an unworkable hodge podge of disparate elements, but the mix is just right, making for an incredible movie.



#4: Bambi (1942): Ironically the source of many controversies, including hunter's rights, animal rights, the right to bear arms, and the definition of vegetarian, this movie seems to have grown legs beyond its original meaning, which was merely a deer growing into its own destiny. A perennial family favorite, this is one of those few movies where grown men cry without embarrassment.



#3: Ghost in The Shell (1995): Exploring the nature of what makes us us, this cyberpunk classic combines beautiful detail and existentialism with some of the genre's greatest characters and plot to create something rather unique. By the end of the movie we are debating the existence of good and evil, recognizing that even the most insane among us have identifiable goals and that we all strive towards those goals. We are defined less by who we are and what we do; in a society where those roles can change at the drop of a hat, does that make us all disposable, like easy-to-reprogram robots? GitS asks this question just as we may advancing into a realm that makes it possible.



#2: Castle of Cagliostro (1979): Obviously a sentimental favorite (this is one of the first anime movies I watched), there is a lot to recommend this movie, and why it keeps showing up on convention schedules. Although it is a comedy, there are also levels of seriousness to the movie, such as Lupin deciding that he was going to defend the maiden's honor, as well as the teaming up of hunter and prey. It also cements the Lupin/Fujiko relationship. And the final reveal is worth it, especially if you like complicated machinery in action. There is a reason that this movie is a fan favorite, and will remain so for a long time.




#1: Pinocchio (1940): This is what animation is meant to be. This is one of the earliest cartoons to step away from the barely possible and simply have a lot of fun with the impossible. There are puppets turning into boys, boys turning donkeys, and a fish large enough that one can live inside of it. Unlike the other Disney movies, or even the shorts, there is nothing plausible about anything that happens in this movie, and yet we do not deny that any of could happen, even after we finish watching the movie. We can strip the legendary elements from almost any other Disney movie and still have a commoner become a princess, a prince find his love, or even a nobleman debate if he is more beast than man; it doesn't matter that Maleficent can become a dragon so much that she is the expression of evil or that a lion cub must grow to lead his pack. With Pinocchio you cannot strip those elements away without leaving a poorer tale behind, and that is what truly makes this movie the best animated ever.

Top 25: #10 - #6

#10: Iron Giant (1999): It should be really hard to fall in love with a weapon of mass destruction, but you can't help but love Hogarth. This is one of those movies that was marketed the wrong way, and yet still finds an audience. Not a major surprise as the Iron Giant himself was done rather well, and although full of the usual anti-war cliches it somehow still finds a way to make even the hardest man cry at the end. This is that rare movie, a movie with heart and soul that makes for a wonderful little respite from the difficulties in our own lives.



#9: Akira (1988): Akira was a phenomenon when it was originally released, ushering in a wave of Japanese animation that has yet to be really checked. It showed that animation did not need to be just for kids. To show you the power of this movie, it may be the first Hollywood movie to not find an audience due to its casting of non-Asians. The mix of punks, post-apocalyptic ruins, out of control psychic power, and extreme violence combined with beautiful animation made this movie something that could not be stopped, even more than twenty years later.



#8: The Incredibles (2004): This is one of those really weird movies: Not only does it make fun of its chosen genre, but it also shows us why we continue to believe in the genre. Synergy is a unique villain, as he craves the respect of his chosen hero and is willing to do whatever it takes to get it, even killing him. He could only be fought by The Incredibles, a family dedicated to each other no matter what, even when individual members screw up. Combined with some other rather unique characters such as Edna “E” Mode, it is one of those movies that shows us why families depend on each other.



#7: Sleeping Beauty (1959): Classic Disney animated movies should all be considered mandatory viewing. Sleeping Beauty is one of those that stands apart, as it is continually redefined in terms of the current political scene, with Princess Aurora finding herself at the center of almost every feminist struggle since her awakening. Maleficent is doubtless one of the most unforgettable villains of all time, willing to do anything to get what she wants, just as much as the fairies do what it takes to oppose her. With all that estrogen, it's easy to see why Prince Charming gets forgotten. This is still probably one of the best Disney animated cartoons, and that's no mean feat.



#6: Howl's Moving Castle (2004): Personally I'm more a fan of Only Yesterday, but this movie is far more important. Along with Disney movies, I think Miyazaki movies should also be considered mandatory viewing, and for basically the same reasons: They are gorgeous movies with incredible plot and unforgettable characters. Sophi's curse and subsequent choices make for one of the most enchanting movies. The world is rather nicely imagined, with all sorts of nice touches tossed in to show that this is a working world. It's that combination of whimsy and real that makes a Miyazaki film special, and it is never more on display than in this movie.

Top 25: #15 - #11

#15: Nightmare Before Christmas (1993): Stop-motion animation is one of those weird things about animation; it's not quite painted or drawn and is sort of live action. Nonetheless, it is unlikely that we will ever see it or its equivalent ever disappear from the catalog of animation. Nightmare Before Christmas is probably the best of this lot, especially if you ever got tired of those cheerful, perky Rankin-Bass holiday specials, or just wanted a Halloween movie that reminded you why Halloween is so cool before the politically-correct types got a hold of it and reduced it to “harvest festivals”.



#14: Wizards (1977): And now for something completely different. There is a lot of weirdness going on in this cartoon, ostensibly a World War II allegory with a decidedly post-apocalyptic and magical twist, where one wizard has found weapons of mass destruction and is using them to take over the world. The funny little magic trick at the end is worth the price of admission, as is the animation, which uses real stock footage to enhance the animation. Worth tracking down for anyone serious about animation.



#13: Shrek 2 (2004): I know it's weird to even mention a sequel, but this one is sort of special. The original turned fairy tales on their collective ear by having the usual monster become an unusual hero. The sequel, however, is superior to the original because it went after more fairy tales, and had a lot of fun doing it. It also had a little more fun slamming pop culture, and it can be watched be adults without much fear of insanity.



#12: Persepolis (2007): Sometimes animation can get away with being simple and elegant. Persepolis is also reasonably unique on this list as it is an autobiography; it's the story of a woman and her escape from repressive regime and her adventurers in Europe. This is a beautiful cartoon, and is fascinating to watch simply because it it such an elegant cartoon, without the details we are so used to in most cartoons today. It's a beautiful piece, and one that will take your breath away with its simplicity.



#11: Transformers: The Movie (1986): Although its theme song is among the most ridiculed out there, this movie nonetheless shows what epic scale a cartoon can be. There is death, destruction, and mayhem on a cosmic scale, and the antagonists are truly frightening; there is no question of who is on which side. This is a fun cartoon, especially for fans of space opera and giant robots, but there is enough pathos for even the die-hard Shakespeare fan.

Top 25: #20-#16

#20: The Lion King (1994): One of the finer Disney movies, this is Shakespeare for the junior set. The music is fun, and there are a number of great characters. This is what Disney attempts to be, fun in spots but with solid storytelling and a lot of respect with regards to what it's doing. Although memories mat make it seem like just a small comedy, the fates of Mustafa and Scar remind us that this is not a movie to be taken lightly.



#19: Toy Story (1995): Sometimes you need to be reminded that dreams can be shattered for the illusions that they are to be supplanted by a richer, better reality, and this is the movie that does that. Toy Story is a fun movie, but the audience has enough at stake that the problems of its plastic protagonists are watched from the edge of the seat. This is also one of the few trilogies that delivers on its promise, and is worth watching time and time again.



#18: South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut (1999): The best movies are those that push the envelope, and this one enjoys tearing those boundaries away. This is as close to a blasphemous movie as I've seen, and yet it still manages to have fun doing so. It's nice to see a cartoon that doesn't steer away from controversy, and in fact rushes straight into it, daring any to stop it.



#17: Aladdin (1992): This is the cartoon that allowed us to see what Robin Williams could really do. Even had he not been part of the movie, there is a lot to recommend this movie; any movie that has a carpet showing emotion, and one without a face of any kind, and is able to combine computer and cel animation at this level, deserves a thousand kudos. This is a great fun movie, and shows us why rollicking adventure will always be with us.



#16: Grave of the Fireflies (1988): Animation doesn't always need to be fun. Every so often it needs to be serious, to make us remember some of the worst moments that humanity has lived through. It needs to remind us that we, as human, are not perfect and that the world is not always saved at the last moment from our mistakes. Although whimsical in spots, this movie serves as a reminder that nuclear war should remain in the past, and that we should fight for peace whenever we can.

The Top 25: 25-21

#25: Bon Voyage, Charlie Brown! And Don't Come Back! (1980): Admittedly this is probably the most lightweight movie on this list, but it's also a fun one. It's also here because of the enduring quality of the Peanuts Gang, and it's one of the kid's movie that you can watch more than once without wanting to claw your eyes out. It's a sentimental favorite, but that it can hold its own against some of the movies on this list says a lot about our need to have something simple in our lives.



#24: Fantastic Planet (1973): One of only two European movies to make this list, this movie highlights the struggle of the minute Terr and his struggle to do something about his alien masters. In a way, this is the mandatory weird movie on the list; the movie is entrancing, and something to see for any student of animated film. Be advised that it can be a little slow, but it's definitely a journey worth taking.



#23: The Fox and The Hound: Although a decidedly low-key movie, this movie makes the list because it's simply hard to not watch it again. It's the standard tale of two childhood friends forced to fight against each other, but where love overcomes any boundaries. If there is any doubt as to why this is a classic, I dare anyone to watch and not feel a little warmer whenever you hear “I'm a hound dog”.



#22: Fritz the Cat (1972): Adult films usually make for bad cinema; there is too much a focus on the sex and not enough on the story. Bakshi's attempt at a socially relevant movies sometimes goes a little awry, but in general is an interesting look at the problems facing the US near the end of Nixon's presidency, ranging from racism to losing faith in government. Although it lacks much in the way of subtlety, it's an honest look at those times, if a bit raunchy in places.



#21: Paprika (2007): Although I debated its inclusion, Paprika shows what animation can be when it really wants to be something. The story of a woman attempting to do right through her patients' dream, it ranges from the sublime to the bizarre , sometimes within a few frames. Definitely a blue-ribbon of anime that screws with your head, this can be a very interesting trip.

My Top 25

Time Magazine recently unleashed its Top 25 Animated Movies of All Time. Suffice to say, the list sucked. There were too many “mandatory movies” (Prince Achmed, for example, was chosen to represent the oldest movies), and too many movies that were chosen apparently because the represented a particular genre. There were even some titles that made little to no sense (such as “The Bugs Bunny/Road Runner Movie”, which was just a compilation of cartoons). Worse, Ralph Bakshi and Brad Bird were noticeably missing from the list.

Because of this, I've compiled my own Top 25 list. I have tried to allow for movies that have had some impact on the animation business, or have been at least interesting. There is a definite bias towards re-watchability, as well as those that created some interesting waves. It should be noted that the list is skewed towards American and Japanese animation; this should not be taken as an affront to other countries, especially as those two countries have dominated the animation world.

Some movies did present some problems. “Yellow Submarine” was on the Times list; although an interesting picture, it's only reason for even a mention is that it pretty much encapsulated the decade it was created in. “The Triplets of Belleville” was a fun call; although I highly recommend watching it, it's one of those kind of films that is really only of interest to students of animation. It has a great plot, and some incredible characters, but the pacing would drive anyone else insane. “Who Framed Roger Rabbit?” posed an interesting quandary; ultimately, I knocked it off not only because it wasn't fully animated, but because it was too much of a send-up of animation, and there were better choices.

Some honorable mentions: Animation is best when the animators have some fun. For those interested in some historical films, I believe the following are worthy of at least a mention. “Black Cauldron” is the first major motion picture to incorporate computer graphics into the movie; although not one of Disney's best, it is worth looking at for that incorporation. “Fire & Ice” had some serious story problems, but its use of Rotoscope techniques make it worthy of note. “Rock & Rule” and “Heavy Metal” are personal guilty pleasure; there are fun movies to watch with no real relevance, but work mostly as memorials to the time and music that they spring from.