Animation is a realm where imagination knows no limits, and over the years, a select group of films has completely reshaped what’s possible on screen. Whether you’ve loved animated films for decades or are just beginning to explore them, these movies didn’t simply entertain—they innovated, inspired generations, and sometimes even changed how audiences perceive storytelling itself.
10. Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse
Whoever imagined a superhero film could be this new? Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse came in with a fearless aesthetic, meshing comic book graphics, CGI, and hand-drawn animation in ways viewers had never experienced. In addition to its stunning appearance, it introduced the multiverse element to mainstream animation and celebrated diversity by making Miles Morales its main hero. An instant modern classic, this movie established a new benchmark for storytelling and artistry in animation.
9. Coraline
Laika Studios’ first film, Coraline, brought stop-motion to exhilarating new heights. Its hauntingly atmospheric, somewhat eerie visuals and stories of bravery and self-discovery demonstrated animation was capable of darker, more mature ground. Implementing 3D-printed character heads and painstaking sets advanced craftsmanship, demonstrating that animated features could be just as ambitious as live-action fiction.
8. The Land Before Time
Don Bluth’s The Land Before Time is an emotional depth masterclass. Unlike most animated films of its era, it addressed mature themes such as loss, survival, and friendship with authenticity and concern. Its richly textured hand-drawn animation and genuine story demonstrated that animated films could induce strong emotions and make a lasting impact on both children and adults alike.
7. Toy Story
Toy Story, by Pixar, revolutionized the world of animation as the first completely computer-generated feature film. It didn’t merely bring us Woody and Buzz—it showed that CGI could deliver emotional stories along with memorable, multidimensional characters. The success of the film opened doors to numerous CGI animated gems and showed the medium capable of a new era.
6. Pinocchio
Disney’s Pinocchio is still a technical wonder of animation’s golden age. The innovative multiplane camera provided unparalleled depth to the on-screen world, and the classic story of truthfulness and personal discovery continues to strike a chord today. Pinocchio established a standard of artistry, demonstrating how technical achievement could be used to tell stories in ways that audiences never thought possible.
5. The Nightmare Before Christmas
Tim Burton’s gothic fairy tale combines spooky magic, whimsical narrative, and musical enchantment. The Nightmare Before Christmas was a stop-motion classic, with its oddball characters and creative world-building affecting animators and filmmakers for generations. Its offbeat tone guarantees it as a holiday staple while fueling countless creative minds.
4. Kubo and the Two Strings
Laika Studios came back with Kubo and the Two Strings, a stunning stop-motion epic based on Japanese myth. With its seamless blending of CGI and hand-assembled models, the film is both technically impressive and richly emotional. Kubo’s epic journey of family, wonder, and valor shows animation to be capable of delivering spectacle and heart as well.
3. Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio
Del Toro’s Pinocchio reimagines the iconic tale as a dark fantasy in Mussolini-era Italy. Its complex stop-motion design, mature subject matter, and dense storytelling captured the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature. This remake demonstrates that animation can address history, politics, and philosophical inquiry while still being visually captivating and emotionally engaging.
2. The Mitchells vs. The Machines
A joyously chaotic celebration of family, technology, and mayhem, The Mitchells vs. The Machines shows that animation is not just for children. This visually creative film, directed by the minds behind Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, combines witty humor, genuine family relationships, and innovative visuals to bring to life a tale that is as heartwarming as it is side-splitting.
1. Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl
Claymation genius excels in Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl. The movie blends humor, action, and characteristically British eccentricity, featuring innovative touches such as automated garden gnomes and the resurgence of that infamous Feathers McGraw. Having received flawless critical acclaim, this short film showcases the long-standing appeal, accuracy, and innovation of stop-motion animation.
From the multiplane camera to multiverse mashups, these movies didn’t merely subvert the norm—they utterly remapped it. Animation is not an easy genre; it’s a boundless playground of possibilities, and these movies are some of its brightest stars.