The Wild Robot
The Wild Robot certainly deserves recognition as one of the best films of 2024 thanks in large part to its stellar voice cast, universal story, and beautiful animation work, and down the road, I wouldn’t be surprised to see it recognized as one of the best of all time either.
How to Train Your Dragon
Dean DeBlois and Chris Sanders gave us a near perfect family animated film in How to Train Your Dragon with a story, characters, animation, and score that all work in harmony to produce a film that became an instant classic and is undoubtedly one of the all-time greats.
The Triplets of Belleville
Artistically, The Triplets of Belleville is certainly a triumph with plenty of unique art and pleasing audio callbacks to bygone eras to be deserving of its spot among the greats.
Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio
Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio is ultimately a triumph of both the animation craft and of storytelling, though, more than deserving of a place among the greats.
Song of the Sea
Anyone looking for an excellent coming-of-age tale that also has poignant themes and gorgeous animation will be hard pressed to find many films better than this one, cementing its place among the cinematic greats.
My Life as a Zucchini
My Life as a Zucchini brilliantly portrays its coming-of-age story with stellar writing and strikingly unique animation, earning a spot among the greats along the way.
Demon Slayer: Mugen Train
Between its phenomenal scenes of combat, compelling worldbuilding, and beautiful animation style, Demon Slayer: Mugen Train offers itself as a film for anyone interested in dark fantasy, fast-paced action, and/or anime drama, earning itself a spot among the greats in the process.
The First Slam Dunk
The First Slam Dunk tells a story of gripping drama and emotion through a beautiful visual medium with a cast of memorable characters, arguably earning the title of best basketball movie ever and definitely a place among the Greatest Films of All Time.
Sita Sings the Blues
Paley’s blend of animation styles go a long way in keeping the film engaging, but it’s really the actual retelling of the Ramayana that give Sita Sings the Blues the edge that it needs to earn a place among the greats.
Ernest & Celestine
While its animation and style would make for a great film on their own, Ernest & Celestine’s message of overcoming prejudices in order to forge bonds of friendship that lead to the cultivation of one another’s strengths makes it a film worthy of all-time great status.
Puss in Boots: The Last Wish
Puss in Boots: The Last Wish shows that children’s sequels don’t have to be simple cash grabs and that animation can offer mature themes, fun action, and interesting characters to audiences of all ages, making it a film worthy of recognition among the greats and one worth celebrating for years to come.
My Neighbor Totoro
My Neighbor Totoro checks so many of the boxes for what makes a film good: from its animation and music to its story and themes, Miyazaki gives audiences a gloriously fun film that is sure to touch the hearts of anyone who watches it.
Only Yesterday
Takahata’s examination of the ways that our childhoods (good, bad, and average) are inseparable from our adult lives elevates the sometimes-simplistic narrative of Only Yesterday and makes it into something great, worthy of mention among the greats.
Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit
Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit offers the rare example of a simple family film that still manages to achieve greatness thanks to its dedicated filmmakers’ efforts in animation and a winning blend of comedy that elevates the film beyond some of the more typical family fare.
Kiki’s Delivery Service
Miyazaki’s coming-of-age film about a witch who delivers things on a broom achieves its level of greatness through the filmmaker’s consistently excellent animation and a poignant message about passion and commodification that is relevant for all audiences.
The Nightmare Before ChrISTMAS
The Nightmare Before Christmas is one of the most memorable films of all time, carving out a niche for itself that no other film or aesthetic has quite been able to match, warranting a place among the Greatest Films of All Time.