A company as big and ambitious as Disney is the perfect example to begin a discussion on the techniques and quality a film should have. More than fifty movies in their repertoire have borne witness to the diversity of animation. Animated movies are films that successfully reflect the efforts of the cast and crew in the final cut of its production.
When reality limits the imagination, moviemakers choose to transfer their ideas to an animated world. The aesthetics of this genre varies according to the story and format of the animation. However, there are films that are masterful pieces of art because of the arduous work of animation artists, color specialists, and visual effects professionals. CineFix made a list of the most beautiful animated movies in the history of cinema. Their criteria was based on the image rather than the story. These are some of their choices. Which ones would you include?
The Lion King – Rob Minkoff/ Roger Allers (1994)
The thirty second movie made by the most powerful animation studio was an adaptation of Shakespeare’s Hamlet. The favorite film for both adults and children was not created by the star artists of the company, as they were working on Pocahontas. The studio had little faith on the film; they thought people didn’t want to see a story about African animals. As a consequence, they had complete creative freedom. It only takes the opening scene to know we are watching a masterful film.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8zLx_JtcQVI
Wall-E – Andrew Stanton (2008)
A production from Disney-Pixar. As part of the computer animation division of Disney, this studio has given us many gems, like Up and Inside Out. Their work has showed a high level of details from textures and colors to the characters and scenarios. This intricacy is what makes a production great and noteworthy. The story of Wall-E placed Pixar on a whole new level of creativity. The post-apocalyptic landscape of the world and the dance in the middle of space between Wall-E and EVA are scenes that will always remain in our hearts.
The Boxtrolls – Graham Annable/ Anthony Stacchi (2014)
Stop motion is not a new technique in the film industry. It has already been used in other movies like The Nightmare Before Christmas or Coraline. In 2014, the almost forgotten Boxtrolls became the most ambitious project of stop motion animation. The film is abundant in details, and it easily fools the eye. Over 300 people participated in the production, and it was film that took 72 weeks to be completed.
The Adventures of Prince Achmed – Lotter Reiniger (1926)
The creators of these films bet for a silhouette animation technique. It is the oldest animated movie that remains in good conditions. Before Snow White, The Adventures of Prince Achmed, surprised Germany and audiences around.
The Lego Movie – Chris Miller/ Phil Lord (2014)
In the last years animated movies seemed to lack creativity regarding their plot. The remakes and adaptations could be found everywhere. When Lego announced its movie, expectations were not high. However, the movie became a success, with an entertaining, yet nostalgic story. The animation technique surprised the audience as well.
Waltz with Bashir – Ari Folman (2008)
Unlike any other movie, this dark animated film appears to be edited using a rotoscoping technique. However, the movie was made with thousands of sequences that were later edited on Flash, giving it a unique design. This movie takes us through the psychological turmoil of the characters, and inside of us we have this urge to fight alongside them.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xi5vfipPVeI
The Tale of the Princes Kaguya – Isao Tajahata (2013)
Ghibli studio is an unquestionable authority when it comes to animation. Its fantasy worlds are disturbing and moving at the same time. Choosing one film seems like an impossible task, for this studio would need his own list. The Tale of Princess Kaguya is a subtle and colorful poem. There are not enough words in the world to describe its beauty.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9lDrkokymLQ
Fantastic Mr. Fox – Wes Anderson (2009)
This movie was filmed in 12 frames per second. Wes Anderson’s signature is in every detail, with a symmetric composition, clever dialogues, and extravagant characters. While other directors have taken a different direction when they transition to animated film, Anderson kept his aesthetic.
Legend of the Guardians – Zack Snyder (2010)
He is one of the most controversial directors since his movies oscillate from unparalleled action sequences to splendid and beautiful visual compositions. Snyder worked with the best animators and visual effect directors to obtain a highly intricate story with stunning visuals. Unfortunately, Legend of the Guardians was a box office flop.
The Garden of Words – Makoto Shinkai (2013)
This movie is a combination of different animation techniques: rotoscopy, traditional, and digital animation. The details like the realistic water reflections and the jarring sound of the chalk on the blackboard are what make this film special. The Garden of Words is a nostalgic story of love and mystery, where the unique aesthetics of each frame cannot be found in any other film.
