The 20 Greatest Animated Movie Masterpieces of All Time, Ranked

Animation has stood as one of the most versatile and expressive forms of filmmaking ever since the very beginning of the medium. It has evolved and changed a multitude of times over the years, spanning a wide range of different styles and approaches that each add their own distinct flavor and artistic flair to the concept of animation. While many animated films are often associated with simple, feel-good stories directed towards children, animation has proven itself time and time again to be much more than just simple children's content.

From dazzling visuals to beautifully creative storytelling that brings to life concepts that simply couldn't be done in live-action, animation has thrived as a form of artistic expression in film thanks to its limitless possibilities and mass appeal. Among the multitude of animated masterpieces that have graced the big screens over the years, these distinctly stand out as some of the most exceptional, well-crafted animated films that have defined the genre for filmmakers and audiences everywhere.

20 'Shrek 2' (2004)

While the original Shrek felt like a seemingly inescapable force of pop culture dominance that forever changed the landscape behind Hollywood animated filmmaking, Shrek 2 manages to outdo and improve upon the already great original in every conceivable way. The jokes are funnier, the themes and overall storytelling are more compelling, and just about every other aspect of the film builds upon what worked in the original and amplifies it tenfold.

The film has stood tall since its release as the apex of Dreamworks Animation, easily standing as one of their best movies and truly cementing them as a mainstay of 3D animation. Unlike many other Hollywood animated films of the early 2000s that utilized pop culture references and trends, Shrek 2 holds up tremendously in the modern day thanks to its distinctly satirical approach and signature comedic wit. One can only hope that the main Shrek series can return to its former glory with the upcoming release of Shrek 5.

19 'The Nightmare Before Christmas' (1993)

A gothic cornerstone of stop-motion animation and a frequent yearly rewatch for both the Halloween and Christmas seasons, The Nightmare Before Christmas has charmed and delighted generations with its twisted combination of the two tonal opposite holidays. It continues to stand as one of the most personality-fueled and strikingly beautiful stop-motion animated films to have ever been released, revolutionizing the entire subgenre and further cementing stop-motion as a staple of cinematic animation.

As for the storytelling and aesthetic itself, its gothic nature has proven to be massively impactful and effective for its long-lasting appeal, as while it may not have been a smash hit when initially released, it quickly became a substantial cult classic thanks to years upon years of rewatches. Now a tradition of both holidays for avid animation fans, it's difficult to even imagine where stop-motion animation would be today without the influence and stature of The Nightmare Before Christmas.

18 'Princess Mononoke' (1997)

A sprawling anime adventure film that features some of the most beautiful settings and compelling worldbuilding of any anime fantasy film, Princess Mononoke has stood as a shining beacon of cinematic anime brilliance ever since its release. The Hayao Miyazaki masterpiece features some of the best fantasy action in animation history, as well as telling a fluid and dynamic story of man's continued struggle and battle against nature.

Its graceful and timeless story has touched the hearts of many audiences since its release, blending top-of-the-line animation with a mature, multi-layered narrative that aligns it with the best adventure films of the 90s. While massively acclaimed when it was first released, the film has only grown more and more appreciated with time, with it now being considered one of the finest works of art that Studio Ghibli has ever released.

17 'The Incredibles' (2004)

Pixar's run of masterpiece after masterpiece throughout the 2000s stands as one of the best studio runs in animation history, with The Incredibles further cementing them as the defining masters and visionaries of early 3D computer animation. The love letter to superhero stories utilizes everything that makes these stories work, while at the same time adding exceptional, grounded human elements and enough wit and charm to make it approachable to children and adults alike.

The film features then-groundbreaking animation that still holds up to this day, as well as a story and screenplay so well-crafted that it became one of the few animated films nominated for Best Original Screenplay. Despite being a wholesome family experience that can be enjoyed by audiences of all ages, the film doesn't hold back in terms of its mature, layered themes and a deeper exploration of superhero concepts in a real world.

16 'Robot Dreams' (2023)

Robot Dreams is the type of wild, highly expressive, and entertaining swing for the fences that proves that abstract, experimental 2D animation can still work wonders in the modern era of animation. The modern silent film follows the blossoming friendship between a lonely dog and the robotic buddy that he builds, with the duo living a gracious life in Manhattan before having to deal with the pain of being split apart from one another.

Even aside from the ingenuity of telling a film with no dialogue in the modern day, the sheer charm and likability felt within each frame of animation make this quaint story of a Dog and a Robot all the more effective. Even more commendable is how the film, as cheery and feel-good as it is, isn't afraid to delve into some difficult subject matter in a mature and nuanced way. It's the type of film that can easily catch an audience off guard and get them crying heartfelt tears before they even realize what happened.

15 'The Lion King' (1994)

One of the most prominent releases from Disney during their Renaissance era and once heralded as the highest-grossing animated movie of all time, The Lion King is an inescapable icon of animated pop culture whose influence and strengths defined the 90s as a whole. The colorful furry riff on Hamlet has largely gone down as one of Disney's greatest achievements, utilizing all of their greatest strengths to create the quintessential 2D animated musical experience.

It's the type of film that can be easily enjoyed by audiences of all ages, but never talks down to the audience in terms of its storytelling, allowing the strength of its characters and animation to speak for itself. There's an inherent grace and exceptionalism to the execution of the film that makes it feel among the very best that 2D animation is capable of on a blockbuster scale. Even as Disney has attempted to recreate the magic with live-action remakes and spinoffs, nothing holds a candle to the impact and weight of the original masterpiece.

14 'Akira' (1988)

An icon of japanese animation whose striking cyberpunk aesthetic has been a cornerstone of both animated and live-action cyberpunk stories, Akira's masterful filmmaking aged like a fine wine in the decades since its release. From the sleek, neon-soaked colors and renegade energy of the film to its explosive, body horror final act, Akira continues to up the ante in terms of its dynamic and well-crafted sci-fi world and style.

The film has often been considered an anime film masterpiece ever since its release, with its legacy only continuing to grow as it consistently acts as a point of inspiration for many sci-fi filmmakers over the years. Even today, just about every other piece of animation (and even live-action) wants to find a way to pay tribute to its sleek action and style, most notably by referencing its legendary bike slide. Its dystopian view of the future also has proven to be just as impactful and effective in a modern context as it was nearly 40 years ago.

13 'Toy Story 2' (1999)

The original Toy Story continues to stand tall as one of the most important animated movies of all time, paving the way for 3D feature animation as well as the first film from legendary animation studio Pixar. However, in a similar sense to Shrek 2, the original sequel to the film, Toy Story 2, builds upon and improves every aspect of the original film to create the definitive Toy Story experience. The animation quality is better, the jokes are funnier, and the film builds upon the worldbuilding and thematic messaging of the original film.

While everyone is going to have their own personal opinion on which film in the Toy Story trilogy is the best, Toy Story 2's effective mixture of all the best elements of the series, from groundbreaking animation and comedy to heartfelt emotional moments, is what gives it the edge on this list. As far as animated sequels are considered, it's difficult to get much better and more impactful than Toy Story 2.

12 'The Iron Giant' (1999)

While The Iron Giant was initially dismissed by audiences and considered a box office disappointment, it has since been revitalized as a widely beloved cult classic and is now regarded as one of the absolute best animated movies of the 1990s. The characters are well-crafted, the 1950s Cold War period and aesthetic add a lot of thematic resonance to the film, and the blending of 2D and 3D animation still holds up tremendously to this day.

However, the greatest strength that has continued to allow the film to be cherished and appreciated well into the modern day is its emotional core and exceptional dynamic between the titular Iron Giant and the young boy Hobart. Their friendship and connection throughout the film is truly awe-inspiring, creating a high number of heartfelt moments that build up to that all-too-familiar yet undeniably tear-jerking ending.

11 'It's Such a Beautiful Day' (2012)

An icon of independent animation in the 21st century, Don Hertzfeldt's masterful anthology film, It's Such a Beautiful Day, acts as the very essence of showing exactly what can be accomplished in terms of storytelling while seemingly having so little in terms of visuals. The simplicity and minute scale of these stories only amplify their dramatic effect and philosophical messaging, catching the audience off guard with some of the most thought-provoking concepts in any animated film.

While nearly all of Hertzfeldt's brilliant works of art have been well-revered by animation fans over the years, It's Such a Beautiful Day continues to stand as the visionary's magnum opus and one of the absolute best independent animated films to have ever been released. It's a shining symbol of artistic merit that such a beautiful and thought-provoking cinematic experience could be brought to life by what was primarily a single-man team.