There are some amazing, must see animated movies out there that fit all ages and interests. Animated movies have become more than child’s play; they can tell amazing stories that have tons of heart and some great life lessons mixed in. Go microwave that theater popcorn and get ready for some must see animated movies... These are a few you won’t want to miss!
Cinderella is the first Princess movie almost every little girl out there watches. Sure, there are tons of princess movies that could fall into the "must see" category, but none are as iconic as this. Cinderella has it pretty rough, when her parents die at a young age and she is left to be the housekeeper to her ridiculous step-sisters and evil step-mother. But, that never gets her down or takes away her hope for something better. Cinderella sees the good in life and hopes for the best, which is why this one is a must see animated movie!
Toy Story is an incredible coming of age series that deals with the issues every adult has had to go through and every child will have to face. Most of us can remember the first Toy Story coming out when we were young, now we are older and the series has just ended. We have, literally, grown up with Buzz, Woody, Rex, and the rest of the Toy Story gang. If you have not seen all the films, I definitely recommend a Toy Story movie marathon. Just be sure to have some tissues handy, because things can get emotional.
This Japanese movie could be number one on my list of must-sees because of Totoro alone. My Neighbor Totoro was created back in 1988 by Hayao Miyazaki. Miyazaki is to Japan what Walt Disney is to the U.S., and Totoro is his Mickey Mouse. Totoro has become one of the most iconic characters of Japanese film and the movie is just as memorable. Watch this if you are ever needing some warm fuzzies, and you will not be disappointed!
If you were able to see Wreck It Ralph in theaters, or watched the Oscars this year, you have seen all or part of this short film. Paperman is one of Disney’s most recent shorts that also won the Academy Award for Best Animated Short this year. The film is set in a vintage black and white style and follows a man after he sees the girl of his dreams. It is a sweet story that is simple, but wonderful.
DreamWorks has had a pretty good run in the film department over the last decade. Shrek One was hilarious, Shrek everything else was okay, Madagascar is awesome, and Kung Fu Panda is heart warming. How to Train Your Dragon has a bit of it all. This movie is heart warming, hilarious, epic, and filled with hidden life-lessons along the way. How to Train Your Dragon is a breath of fresh air if you are like me and love animals but hate those cliche animal movies... this is not one of those.
I must have watched this movie every day from the age of three to the age of six. Any movie that can hold a crazy three-year-old’s attention without any dialogue must be pretty incredible. No, I still do not quite understand the story line, but the pictures are so pretty that I don’t even care. Fantasia is one of those Disney classics that I pray never goes back into the Disney vault.
A list of must see animated movies would not be complete without some Tim Burton mixed in. The Nightmare Before Christmas is one of the original and most loved Tim Burton movies there is. This stop motion film follows Jack Skellington, the Pumpkin King, through his discovery of Christmas and decision to take over the holiday. Most of the film is set in Halloween Town and includes some pretty Burtonesque characters and note-worthy songs. If you are a fan of this, you will also love Frankenweenie, one of the cutest movies ever made!
Boo! Bet you didn’t see this one coming... actually, you most likely did. Monsters Inc. is an incredible movie filled with an awesome cast including Billy Crystal, John Goodman, and Steve Buscemi, to name a few. With the prequel, Monsters University, coming out in June, there is no better time to see this movie for the first time, or for the fun of it. If you can, opt for the new 3D version. Usually the third dimension hype does not get to me, but I hear this one is pretty epic in its new 3D skin.
Two Pixar films in a row! Most people would agree that Finding Nemo is one of the best Pixar films ever made. This movie is filled with adorable songs, super lovable characters, and a father that will never give up. Add on the 99% score from Rotten Tomatoes and this movie is not to be missed. Be warned though: you are one "play" button away from falling in love with a little blue fish named Dory.
Howl’s Moving Castle is a Studio Ghibli film that is based on the fantasy novel by Diana Wynne Jones. If you have not watched the movie or read the book, I would recommend doing both as soon as you can. The movie follows Sophie, a shy hat shop girl who runs into an evil witch and is forced on an adventure with wizards, fire demons, moving castles, and a turnip. Yes, I can honestly say that Howl stole my heart.
Goodness, ten animated films sure do fly by! With so many great movies out there in the animated department, it can be tough to choose just ten. What are some of your favorite animated films that top the must-see list?
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