Regardless if it's from Pixar, DreamWorks, Disney, or Studio Ghibli, animated films are always close to our hearts. No matter what age you are, you are never too old to enjoy some classic animated movies. #1 because of the heartwarming stories that suit both kids and the kids at heart; and #2 is because it's an escape from the trouble of the real world. When you watch an animated movie, you are in a kingdom, a palace, a faraway land, and even in the future. You don't have to worry about the plot, you just have to sit back, relax, and appreciate the messages that come from them and the joy they bring to all who watch. When it comes to technicality, though, there is always a debate on which animation studio produces the best animated film. From the biggest companies with long histories and hundreds of employees to the smaller, more obscure production houses. In this article, though, we won't be focusing on this, but on the animated movie itself.
So, here are some of the best animated movies of all time. I'm telling you, the list could've been longer, but let's save it for another time. (Watch out for the list of the best animated films per animation studios on our next blog posts) This list is in no particular order.
1. Inside Out
After young Riley is uprooted from her Midwest life and moved to San Francisco, her emotions - Joy, Fear, Anger, Disgust and Sadness - conflict on how best to navigate a new city, house, and school.
Every movie has a lesson, but this movie has taught us a lot of things. One of the biggest lessons is that it is okay to be sad sometimes. In order to be truly happy, you must embrace your sadness, and know what it feels like to grow from your emotions.
2. Toy Story 3
The toys are mistakenly delivered to a day-care center instead of the attic right before Andy leaves for college, and it's up to Woody to convince the other toys that they weren't abandoned and to return home.
Movie takeaway? Even though everyone grows up, no one should forget how special their youth is. No one can slow the passage of time. Change is inevitable. Kids are going to grow up and parents, at the same time, are going to have to let them go. They are going to stop playing with toys, leave home, and become adults. Then they are going to have to get jobs and someday they’ll have their own children. The thing is, we are all going to grow in time. However, we shouldn’t forget how to have fun, play, use our imagination, and most of all, show unconditional love to those things we care about, real or imagined.
3. The Nightmare Before Christmas
Jack Skellington, king of Halloween Town, discovers Christmas Town, but his attempts to bring Christmas to his home cause confusion.
This is one animation movie that I’m quite hesitant to watch at first, but boy, it did not disappoint. One of the lessons I get to take away from this movie is that one never knows what they might find while exploring somewhere new. So, take a chance, explore nature, and see what’s out there. Maybe you’ll find the true meaning and your true purpose in life, too.
4. Chicken Run
When a cockerel apparently flies into a chicken farm, the chickens see him as an opportunity to escape their evil owners.
Movie takeaway? If at first you don’t succeed try and try again. It goes with the saying if plan A doesn’t work, you still have the remaining 25 letters of the alphabet to try next. Try and try again until you reach your goal. Do not ever give up.
During her family's move to the suburbs, a sullen 10-year-old girl wanders into a world ruled by gods, witches, and spirits, and where humans are changed into beasts.
My personal favorite, Spirited Away by Studio Ghibli – a famous Japanese animation studio, is the highest-grossing anime film of all time worldwide. Like any other movie, it offers some life lessons you could truly live by. One take away is to hope and believe in the best. Sometimes we feel that we are overburdened with many things and nothing is turning out the way we expected. We often feel the need to just let go and give up, but this movie tells us to just hold on for a little bit longer. Though some things are not happening as we want it, they will eventually turn out to be good for us. So, the best we can do is to hope for the best and believe that the best will happen.
Now, what about some poster memorabilia to pay homage to these amazing animated films? Bring the inspirations and life lessons these movies have to offer to your home or office. Check out more autographed animated movies in our Animated Film Collection.
