My Top Ten: Top TWENTY Favorite Animated Films (10 - 1)

Its that time of the month where I give my Top Ten on ANYTHING!

Continuing from the last Top Ten, I'll finish the countdown of my MOST favorites of animated feature films. From artistic merits to childhood, let's go down to explore. Hey, that rhymes :D



Lets get on it shall we?

10.
MY NEIGHBOR TOTORO

Everybody LOVES the Totoros! This is one of those films that makes you feel like a child again and experience the imagination of a child. No matter how old you get. You just want to jump in and give that giant furry totoro one giant squeezable hug. Not only that but this is 100% kiddy safe with no absolute threat or antagonist on screen. There is possibly one tense moment, but this is one film the whole family or anyone can enjoy. Not to mention the subtle environmental message it provides in the movie. Aren't all the characters look so ADORABLE?!

9.
UP



The most recent addition to my list and rightfully so. Pixar may have some bright colorful beautiful images, but they don't shy away from the deep and heavy themes and subjects, giving the film much clever and meaningful layers and making this probably the most mature Pixar film they have ever done yet. It also has that fine balance of emotions, filled with moments of comedy and moments of sadness. The one thing most audience will remember from this movie (other than Dug) is that emotional four-minute sequence illustrating the married life of Carl and his loving wife, Ellie. That sequence defines Pixar's mastery of storytelling, as they are able to draw the audience to these characters to their love, life, problems and tragedy all under a short time. Accompanied with Michael Giacchino's beautiful score, it is one brilliant and tender piece that if you don't at least cry from this, there is something VERY wrong with you.

8.
THE NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS

This was a very innocent, fun and wonderful animated film that delighted every children all over even before it was associated to emos, goths and Hot Topics. Damn those thieves! Though it had a simplistic storyline with a basic protagonist and antagonist, mostly everything else are completely surreal and totally Tim Burton in its element, despite being co-directed by another great stop-motion animator, Henry Selick. The design and look from all the inhabitants to the landscape and environment are both creepy, yet creative and imaginative that its doesn't seem scary or menacing. Plus the music and the song numbers are just terribly catchy. From the moment you hear the first song of the movie "This Is Halloween", its hard not to sing along with it.

7.
BEAUTY AND THE BEAST

This was Disney's animation at its artistic near perfectness. From its simple, yet majestic storytelling, mature and artistic pacing and design, wonderful characters and timeless music and songs, it was an example of a true masterful fairytale. You can tell as it was the first animated film to be nominated for Best Picture at the Oscars. I really love the development and the characteristics of each of the character as Belle being a more independent and strong-minded woman than most of the female protagonists in the Disney-verse and the Beast from being a beast itself to having more human quality when Belle comes into his life. And Gaston is one of those villains who I can't help but like. He may be a giant douche, but he's a douche you love to watch.

6.
SPIRITED AWAY

Like the previous entry, this was the pinnacle of Hayao Miyazaki's art. Comparing to Lewis Carrol's Alice In Wonderland, the film takes us in a wonderful and wild, yet very tranquil journey of one supernatural and sacred world, filled with unique creatures and demons. Probably the greatest thing about this film is that it is a reflective and subtle movie. There is nothing big and loud and not many things flying around all over the place, but a much quiet movie where you have time to observe scenes that is like a painting or art. Its like a stroll through an art museum. And the music score is just a masterpiece, probably the best Joe Hisaishi has ever done.

5.
THE INCREDIBLES

When this was first announced, I thought Pixar is jumping on the superhero bandwagon and will be making a lame kiddy version of the Fantastic Four. How wrong was I? Pixar has put this in the line of work and say they have made one of the best and most awesome superhero films of all time next to Spider-man and Superman. Probably because Brad Bird, responsible for The Iron Giant, was also behind this. Pixar knows how to create layers, relevance and themes into something as simple as a movie about superheroes including nostalgia themes of classic 60s comic superheroes/espionage elements to themes of mid-life crisis and family. You do get behind Mr. Incredible as he tries to adjust to his normal non-superhero lifestyle and tries to get back his glory. Not to mention the action sequences are just awesome and brilliant for an animated film.


4.
KIKI'S DELIVERY SERVICE



You must wonder why I love this more than Spirited Away. Well imagine yourself through the middle of your high school years and you have to deal with responsibility, maturity, growing up and the opposite sex. And then you watch this within those years. That's why I'm more attached to this more than Spirited Away as it did helped me get through those terrible years that was high school. You really do connect with the protagonist, Kiki as upon her tradition where she has to go out into the world and start living for herself, just like everybody else. And like most of Miyazaki's works, there is no real threat or antagonist and it is mostly an coming-of-age tale, something that is essential to kids and teenagers even for today.

3.
WALL-E

Unlike most of the animated films Pixar has done, this one is most different and ambitious. One - it is the first time Pixar fused both computer animation and live-action footage together in certain scenes. Two - the first part of the film is told through visually without any constructive dialogue like a silent film. Three - other than the fact it has subtle messages about environment and corporation, the film is mainly a romantic love story between two non-humanoid robots. And you think that concept wouldn't work, but somehow Pixar made it work in an amazing way. Not only it is one of my favorite animated films, but it is also one of my favorite romantic films of all time and the best example of visually storytelling. Some of the sequences in this film are so artistic and yet very adorable at the same time.

2.
ALADDIN

Is it better than all Pixar films? No. Is it better than most Miyazaki films? No. Then why do I highly put this on my list? I just love this movie! I love it when I was child and I still love it as an adult. It is one of those timeless childhood classics that I won't ever forget. The first time I saw it when I was little, it was just so magical. Every sense of magic, wonder and adventure that every kid could ever want from that wild carpet ride through the Cave of Wonder to Aladdin's fight with Jafar as a giant snake. The animation is, like Beauty and the Beast, majestic and at times, pretty epic with the song numbers very memorable and wonderful. And Robin William really does steal the show as the shape-shifting Genie. Plus singing "A Whole New World" to your girl, works ALL THE TIME!

And my number 1 favorite animated film of all time is...

1.
THE CASTLE OF CAGLIOSTRO

This is among that few rare list of films like The Dark Knight or Schindler's List that I don't and will never ever get tired of. This film is PURE adventure. It is a simple, yet thrilling and extraordinary adventure story with a dashing adventurous hero, a beautiful damsel-in-distress and an evil count, all set in a large and looming castle with dangers and traps. Coincidentally this is also the first film ever to be directed by Hayao Miyazaki and this was very different from most of his films as it was an action film. And it is probably everything you get from a madcap thrilling adventure from the awesome car chase in the beginning, to the huge siege in the castle to the swashbuckling showdown inside the clock tower. As for its time, the animation never looks outdated and still is beautiful to watch as it was back then. If you're a lover of animation such as myself, this is one movie you cannot miss.

So that is my top 20 list. What's your opinion?