Animation lends itself well to the imaginative world of fantasy,giving rise to the best animated fantasy movies ever made. While the live-action medium must contend with rendering fantastical concepts through CGI (which has admittedly become much less difficult), animators can draw anything into existence. The result is thebest animated Disney moviesand thebest Studio Ghibli movies, as well as other noteworthy titles produced by other mainstream and independent studios.
Despite focusing on characters having adventures the audience will never experience themselves, the best fantasy movies still resonate through human characters and relatable feelings.The measure of amazing animated fantasy movies is also, of course, the animation,demonstrating breathtaking artistic visions. This may lead to other advances in animated artwork — one only needs to look athowToy Storychanged animationto understand how all animated movies interact with each other.
Shrek
Cast
A solitary ogre named Shrek embarks on a quest to rescue Princess Fiona from a dragon-guarded castle. Accompanied by Donkey Shrek sets out to fulfill a bargain with Lord Farquaad.
The subverted fairy tale tropes popularized byShrekmight be a little too popular now, but they are witty and enjoyable in the context of this movie. Taking a cue from Pixar’s early success, DreamWorks transitioned to 3D animation in the early 2000s and became the first studio to win the Oscar for Best Animated Feature.Shrekis a wacky movie but features an expertly crafted blend of a grungy modern and medievalist tone,largely through a perfect soundtrack and talented actors voicing charismatic characters.
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From Shrek to The Prince of Egypt to Megamind, DreamWorks animation has managed to put out animated films that push the boundaries of the medium.
Where the story is concerned,Shrek(as well asShrek 2) highlights the biases implicit in a fairy tale;it effectively showcases Shrek’s loneliness and frustration and Fiona’s anxieties about her curse being discovered. The ultimate message of love conquering all and self-acceptance is underscored by the movie’s off-beat design and the uplifting final number of “I’m a Believer.” The franchise has evolved over time, but the lasting fondness for Shrek and his friends shows in the anticipation forShrek 5.
Princess Mononoke
In this epic animated fantasy by Hayao Miyazaki, Princess Mononoke explores the struggle between the supernatural guardians of a forest and the humans who consume its resources. The story follows Ashitaka, a young warrior inflicted with a deadly curse, as he navigates a battle that pits the industrialized human society against the gods of the forest, alongside San, a fierce girl raised by wolves.
Like nearly all Studio Ghibli movies,Princess Mononokeis steeped in artful renderings of a wilderness setting and themes of environmentalism,yet it uniquely makes the characters on the industrialist side of the debate relatively sympathetic.Princess Mononoke’s endingis an impressive combination of grief, hope, divisions remaining, and potential collaboration, as Lady Eboshi sets out to rebuild Irontown while living in harmony with the forest and its inhabitants. Yet San remains in the forest and states that she cannot forgive the humans, proving that some things can’t be undone.
Ashitaka’s position in the story demonstrates how complicated it is, which shows environmental destruction but also healing.
Ashitaka’s position in the story demonstrates how complicated it is, which shows environmental destruction but also healing.Princess Mononokeis not the most clear-cut Studio Ghibli movie,but it demands an extensive debate about how people should treat the natural world. Like always with Studio Ghibli, the designs and soundtrack create a cutting effect that conveys the sadness of a dying world and bittersweet renewal. In the end, Ashitaka cannot save everyone, but he can do some good.
The Nightmare Before Christmas
Henry Selick directs The Nightmare Before Christmas, a stop-motion fairytale from the mind of Tim Burton. Jack Skellington is the king of Halloween and one of Halloweentown’s most beloved citizens, but he longs for something more. When he stumbles across a magical door that leads him to discover Christmas, he makes it his mission to replace Santa Claus and bring festive cheer to his perpetually spooky hamlet.
The Nightmare Before Christmaswas conceptualized by Tim Burton before it was passed on to his collaborator Henry Selick,who led the project as its director to its wonderful cult status. The painstaking stop-motion process was well worth it when it resulted in one of the most spectacular iterations of Burton’s characteristic aesthetic — and one of the best pieces of evidence that this is at its best when animated.The Nightmare Before Christmas’basic story isn’t that revolutionary, but it is used as a perfect vehicle for everything else the movie has to offer.
Jack and Sally’s charactersrepresent some relatable experiences, even in their Halloween-themed world — of a midlife crisis, discontentment, injustice, self-sufficiency, and unrequited love. Danny Elfman then transforms the entire thing with his composition, creating songs that are still delightfully childish, macabre, and poetic.The Nightmare Before Christmasfaced many obstacles in productionand when it was released, mainly because it was so different from the average Disney movie, but no one today would want it any other way.
Coraline
Based on Neil Gaiman’s novella, Coraline follows Coraline Jones, a lonely young girl who, after moving to a new house with her inattentive parents, discovers a portal to another, more sinister alternate reality behind one of the house’s many doors. Written and directed by Henry Selick, the film uses stop-motion animation and stars Dakota Fanning as Coraline.
Also directed by Selick and exhibiting that same creepy atmosphere isCoraline, arguably the most terrifying kids movie ever made.Selick incredibly brings to life Neil Gaiman’s story,which revolves around a basic"be careful what you wish for"formula. The character designs and settings are disturbing yet vibrant, while the dialogue plays with unsettling implications of the worldview of bored children. The unnamed black cat might be the best character in the movie, moving between worlds and offering strange bits of advice.
Gaiman’s novel famously opens with the G.K. Chesterton quote:“Fairy tales are more than true: not because they tell us that dragons exist, but because they tell us that dragons can be beaten.“Coralineas a movie remains true to this theme, showing its intrepid heroine coming back from despair and facing down a monster,remaining vigilant even after the danger has supposedly passed. It’s a kind of coming-of-age experience, as Coraline emerges friendlier towards her neighbors and more appreciative of her life, right as her parents have some more time for her.
All of Cartoon Saloon’s movies are nothing short of stunning, butthe contrasting color palettes of different sequences work especially well with the studio’s style inThe Secret of Kells.Cartoon Saloon mixes typical 2D animation with stationary backdrops and moving elements that look like flat cutouts for a visually dynamic and fantastical movie. Blinding blues and greens characterize peaceful forest scenes, while red and black upon white drive home the invasion sequence, and darker tones make Aisling’s demise horrifying.
Cartoon Saloon inhabits a space decidedly outside the realm of mainstream Disney animated movies, but a different one from Studio Ghibli. Inspired by Irish folklore,The Secret of Kellsdoesn’t follow a typical narrative, showcasing a compilation of Brendan and Aisling’s time togetherand Brendan creating magnificent books before his village is decimated.The Secret of Kells’devastating ending shows a kernel of hope arising through art, something all movies hope to achieve.
The Boy and the Heron
Billed as the final work of famed animator Hayao Miyazaki, The Boy and the Heron is a drama-fantasy film that follows a young boy named Mahito who contends with grief following the passing of his mother during World War II. Forced to evacuate to the countryside amid the war, Mahito struggles to fit into his new environment and contend with his new stepmother. However, Mahito’s life is changed after meeting a strange talking Heron - setting him on a journey of self-discovery filled with magic.
The Boy in the Heronwas seen as the culmination of Hayao Miyazaki’s career, with numerous references to his past works.The color and flow of Studio Ghibli’s animation have only gotten better with every movie leading up toThe Boy and the Heron,the story of which is a more surrealistic and labyrinthine take on a child coping with war and family than Miyazaki has ever accomplished before. Mahito’s encounters with his young mother and one of the future elderly caretakers of his house contribute to a myriad of experiences forming this movie’s themes.
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Mahito’s journey through the afterlife-like world is bitter and transformative,often accompanied by an almost shrieking score,with various mystical beings translating into metaphorical stances on power and family. Seeing his stepmother in trouble and also grieving, Mahito is finally able to reach out to her so they can support each other.The Boy and the Heron’s narrative is hopelessly confusing, but the feeling of a harsh experience enabling someone to move forward with their life to reach better times is ever-present.
Frozen
Frozen, released in 2013, follows young princess Anna of Arendelle on a perilous quest to halt an eternal winter cast by her sister, Elsa. Joined by Kristoff, his reindeer Sven, and snowman Olaf, Anna navigates themes of friendship, courage, family, and love in her journey.
Frozenwas an immensely enjoyable and groundbreaking pop culture phenomenon that triumphed over all the previously obligatory tropes for Disney Princess movies. With its cast of Broadway stars and comedians, it delivered everything from show-stopping musical numbers to countless laugh-out-loud moments.Frozenhas a lot of fun by nodding to the tropes it knows it is subverting,misdirecting the audience with the"act of true love"that will save Anna and the allegedly perfect prince from another land.
Frozen is a cinematic event that no one will ever forget, which has held up well in the 10 years since it came out.
Meanwhile,placing Anna and Elsa’s relationship at the center of the story madeFrozenone of Disney’s best movies to date,something that hasn’t been replicated, even in subsequent Disney Princess movies lacking a love interest.Frozen’s magical production design and the metatextual knowledge of the fairy tale that inspired it also elevate the movie from where it stands on its own.Frozenis a cinematic event that no one will ever forget, which has held up well in the 10 years since it came out.
The Little Mermaid
The Little Mermaid is an animated fantasy film that follows the tale of Ariel, a mermaid princess who dreams of life on land. She falls in love with Prince Eric and makes a daring pact with the sea witch Ursula to become human, risking everything for love.
Alan Menken and Howard Ashman are a legendary composing duo whose work made thebest Disney Renaissance movieswhat they are.None of the composers' movies have the sheer number of catchy songs asThe Little Mermaid(except forThe Lion King, less of a strict fantasy movie), resulting in one of those years when they got almost every nomination for Best Original Song. “Part of Your World,” “Under the Sea,” and “Poor Unfortunate Souls” make the characters who perform them textured, magnetic figures carrying a serviceable story.
With one of thebest Disney villains, notably modeled after a famous drag queen, and flawed but well-meaning characters like King Triton and Sebastian,The Little Mermaidhas a fantastic supporting cast. The underwater setting is epic, detailed, and deeply enchanted.At the center of it all is Ariel, who falls in love fast and hard like many Disney princesses, but is an accurate picture of being a rebellious teenager with new ideas,setting the stage for Belle and Jasmine to also be free thinkers only a few years later.
How to Train Your Dragon
How to Train Your Dragon is a 2010 animated film set in the Viking world of Berk, where Hiccup, the son of Stoick the Vast, befriends a dragon and defies the village’s traditional dragon-slaying ways, leading to a reevaluation of the Viking-dragon conflict.
How to Train Your Dragonis a goofy movie, demonstrating how goofiness can be a perfect juxtaposition to a serious storyand why theHow to Train Your Dragonlive-action remakeis a challenging undertaking. It is also a movie with epic production design; the forest environments and the boundless skies have an amazing amount of gravitas. A great cast voices the variously exaggerated characters with realistic beats in their arcs, caught up in a cycle of unchecked hatred that they luckily escape.
YetHow to Train Your Dragon’s two biggest strengths are the core friendship and the music.Hiccup is a normal, awkward teenager who shows what it is like to be an outsider who sees the world differently, in the process forming a friendship that transcends communication barriers. Hiccup and Toothless have a lot of heartwarming and funny moments together, illustrating the interspecies cooperation theme. Then John Powell’s unparalleled grandiose theme lifts up the story and characters in its best flying scenes.
Spirited Away
Spirited Away, a masterpiece by Hayao Miyazaki, is an animated fantasy film that follows the enchanting journey of a young girl named Chihiro. Trapped in a mystical world after her parents are transformed into pigs, Chihiro must navigate a realm filled with spirits and peculiar creatures to save her family.
Spirited Awayis a timeless classic,showcasing a young heroine undergoing a coming-of-age experience that her parents aren’t even aware of. Throughout the movie there are painfully striking images of pollution, greed, and Chihiro being completely overwhelmed by what has happened to her, breaking down in tears. However, through a strange lifelong friendship and enduring love, she rises to the occasion, proving her resilience despite her age. Fluid animation of iconic sequences ties it all together in the movie that cemented anime’s place in Western pop culture.
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Underrated animated fantasy movies do not get the love they deserve due to the industry’s biases, despite profound themes and great original stories.
WithSpirited Away, Studio Ghibli won its first of two Oscars for Best Animated Feature, setting the bar for all studios’ future animated fantasy movies.Spirited Awaymajorly contributed to the uphill battle for animation to be taken seriously,blending fun characters with darker themes. Every moment ofSpirited Awayis carefully executed and very poignant, making it arguably the best animated fantasy movie of all time.
