Although a lot of mainstream animation can start to feel samey after a while, there are some movies which dare to be different. Animation offers filmmakers unlimited possibilities to explore. Given the potential of the medium, it’s a shame to see so many big-budget animated movies which stick to the same playbook. However, some outstanding movies have broken the mold and influenced the entire industry.
The history of animation is marked by a few trendsetters which have helped advance the medium. For example,Toy Storyushered in the age of computer animation. Often, the most interesting animated movies aren’t the ones which come from big, established studios. Independent animation has been a reliable source of creativity over the years, with many groundbreaking experimental movies which question the orthodoxy of animation.
10 Great Animated Movies That Prove 2D Isn’t Dead
3D has taken over the animation industry, but movies including Suzume, Blue Giant, and The Boy and the Heron prove that 2D is still alive and well.
Toy Storywas the first fully computer animated movie. Today, the landscape of big-budget western animation has become largely homogenized, with Pixar, Disney, Illumination, DreamWorks and more studios all producing 3D computer animated movies, so it’s hard to quantify just how differentToy Storylooked at the time. Pixar’s progression can be measured by comparing the differentToy Storymovies, as the studio has repeatedly revolutionized the technology behind their movies.Toy Story 5promises another bold leap forward.
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfsholds an important place in the history of animation as the first feature-length animated movie to be produced in the United States andthe first cel animated movie. BeforeSnow White,animation was still in its infancy, with very few films being made that were more than a few minutes long.Snow Whiteset a new industry standard that lasted for decades, which is why it has held up so well despite being over 80 years old.Snow Whiteis now getting a live-action remake, bringing it up to date with Disney’s latest trend.
There had been a few experiments beforeWho Framed Roger Rabbit?which combined elements of live-action and animation, but none had ever been so smooth.There are a few moments inWho Framed Roger Rabbit?when the live-action characters interact with the cartoons in ways that don’t seem possible. These moments seem like magic tricks that the animators are performing in front of the audience. Every subsequent movie or TV show which has combined animation and live-action has inevitably had to endure comparisons toWho Framed Roger Rabbit?Not many have stood up to these comparisons.
The Triplets of Bellevillebreaks several rules of animation that are so universal that they are only evident when they are not being followed. For example,The Triplets of Bellevilleplays with extreme perspectives, giving characters elongated features as they crane toward the camera. Each movement is drawn with intent and emotion behind it, so that there are no wasted spaces. WhileThe Triplets of Bellevilleobviously times a lot of the movements to the swinging soundtrack,the specific genre of the music also affects how characters behave, as if they are physical manifestations of the sound.
Richard Linklater is one of a handful ofdirectors who excel in both live-action and animation. Each of his animated movies are made with rotoscope animation. Many other animated movies have used rotoscoping, including classic Disney movies as far back asSnow White.The key difference with Linklater’s approach is that his characters look just like the actors who portray them.He has a very thin line between animation and live-action, which draws attention to the flatness of the animation. This gives his animated movies the look of a comic book.
Phil Tippett developed a reputation as a visual effects specialist, winning awards for his work on blockbusters such asJurassic Parkand the originalStar Warstrilogy.Mad Godis his passion project, a stop-motion animated horror movie which spent 30 years in development. While stop-motion animation is nothing new,Tippett’s great contribution to the form is his gruesome creature designsand his remarkable lighting techniques. Animation isn’t the best medium for horror, since it’s hard to evoke a visceral reaction with something so obviously fabricated.Mad Godis an exception to this rule.
Yellow Submarineis the perfect visual accompaniment to the music of the Beatles, but its status as a landmark of creative animation makes it well worth watching even for those who don’t consider themselves fans of the band.Yellow Submarineuses photographs in the background, in a style that will be familiar to fans of Monty Python who have seen Terry Gilliam’s animations. At a time when animation was becoming set in its ways,Yellow Submarineshowcased a surreal flair, with a procession of bright, psychedelic images which complement both the story and the music.
Paprikajourneys into the world of dreams, and it has the creativity to explore this world without restraint. Many critics have citedPaprikaas an inspiration for Christopher Nolan’sInception, since there are so many similarities between the two movies. One key difference is thatPaprika’s visuals are perfectly aligned with its themes. The distortion and danger of the dreamscape are reflected in the movements of the characters, and this could only be achieved by animation.Paprika, much like its dream world, is densely layered and filled with magical surprises.
Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Versecame at a time when most big studios were stuck animating in similar styles, andits unique visuals have shaken up the industry. The Spider-Man movie takes inspiration from comic books, Saturday morning cartoons and street art to create an unorthodox swirl of color and snappy movements. SinceInto the Spider-Verseis a multiverse movie, it also features several completely different art styles, to represent the different characters and their origins.Across the Spider-Versecontinues this tradition, and the third movie in the trilogy,Beyond the Spider-Verse, will likely add to this rich tapestry.
Motion capture animation has been used to insert non-human characters into live-action movies for years, such as Gollum in theLord of the Ringstrilogy, for example. Movies fully animated using motion capture technology are somewhat rarer. Robert Zemeckis has often been blazing a trail with this technology, although many of his movies sit deep in the uncanny valley. Steven Spielberg’sThe Adventures of Tintinsucceeds whereBeowulfandA Christmas Carolfailed, mostly because it shows an understanding of the limitations of the technology.The Adventures of Tintinuses motion capture to feel more kinetic and weighty, but the characters are only as lifelike as they are in Hergé’s graphic novels.
