Animated Films are a backbone of the movie landscape. Once only 2D animation and now more readily 3D animation, these films continue to delight due to their dynamism, flexibility and sheer watch-ability.
Here, we round up each of The Animation Guy’s favourite animated films and show how animation can connect with people in different ways, from blockbuster smash hits, international films and beyond!
Animated Films are a backbone of the movie landscape. Once only 2D animation and now more readily 3D animation, these films continue to delight due to their dynamism, flexibility and sheer watch-ability.
Here, we round up each of The Animation Guy’s favourite animated films and show how animation can connect with people in different ways, from blockbuster smash hits, international films and beyond!
Olivia's Favourite Film:
Song Of The Sea (2014)
Olivia has chose Song Of The Sea as her favourite animated film. We are blown away in the studio by the creativity in every frame of this film.
Song Of The Sea is a beautiful 2014 film created by Tomm Moore of Cartoon Saloon. It follows an Irish youth that discovered his mute sister is a selkie who must find her voice and free supernatural creatures. So just your every day run of the mill animated feature film then? The visual design and rooting of the story lifts from traditional irish mythology and folklore, reimagining stories to be told to a new generation and in a new artform. The film has been highly praised and won some awards for Best Animated Feature Film. It is well worth the watch for the heartfelt storytelling and writing, but it is definitely a must watch for the animation work alone! Not one to miss.
Song Of The Sea (2014)
Olivia has chose Song Of The Sea as her favourite animated film. We are blown away in the studio by the creativity in every frame of this film.
Song Of The Sea is a beautiful 2014 film created by Tomm Moore of Cartoon Saloon. It follows an Irish youth that discovered his mute sister is a selkie who must find her voice and free supernatural creatures. So just your every day run of the mill animated feature film then? The visual design and rooting of the story lifts from traditional irish mythology and folklore, reimagining stories to be told to a new generation and in a new artform. The film has been highly praised and won some awards for Best Animated Feature Film. It is well worth the watch for the heartfelt storytelling and writing, but it is definitely a must watch for the animation work alone! Not one to miss.
Theo's Favourite Film:
The Incredibles (2004)
Theo has chosen The Incredibles as his favourite animated film. A wise choice that clearly aligns with Theo being the head of our 3D studio!
The Incredibles is often touted by some as being Pixar’s best film, and as one of the best superhero films of all time. It manages to capture the soul of classic superhero stories, whilst also introducing concepts that are now commonplace among the likes of Marvel movies today. Choosing to focus the film around the family automatically makes it highly relatable to huge swathes of society young and old. With the sequel coming out not that long ago, The Incredibles stands as a testiment of what was to come. The film was ahead of its time in more ways that one. Definitely at the top of many others lists and a formative part of a lot of peoples childhoods with the legacy it left.
The Incredibles (2004)
Theo has chosen The Incredibles as his favourite animated film. A wise choice that clearly aligns with Theo being the head of our 3D studio!
The Incredibles is often touted by some as being Pixar’s best film, and as one of the best superhero films of all time. It manages to capture the soul of classic superhero stories, whilst also introducing concepts that are now commonplace among the likes of Marvel movies today. Choosing to focus the film around the family automatically makes it highly relatable to huge swathes of society young and old. With the sequel coming out not that long ago, The Incredibles stands as a testiment of what was to come. The film was ahead of its time in more ways that one. Definitely at the top of many others lists and a formative part of a lot of peoples childhoods with the legacy it left.
Jay's Favourite Film:
The Lion King
Jay has chosen The Lion King as his favourite animated film. A film which is argued as being the best Disney film of all time, and firmly cemented as one of the most beloved. Revolutionary in its day, the legacy it has left on animation is rivalled by few films.
When The Lion King was released in 1994 it smashed expectations and defined what we now look on as Disney’s cinematic renaissance. It was one of the first of its kind to blend new 3D technologies with the traditional cell animation that Disney was known for, helping to bring the studio clearly into a new era in animated films. There is no question in this film being a favourite among all who have watched it, and for some it holds a special place in their heart.
The Lion King
Jay has chosen The Lion King as his favourite animated film. A film which is argued as being the best Disney film of all time, and firmly cemented as one of the most beloved. Revolutionary in its day, the legacy it has left on animation is rivalled by few films.
When The Lion King was released in 1994 it smashed expectations and defined what we now look on as Disney’s cinematic renaissance. It was one of the first of its kind to blend new 3D technologies with the traditional cell animation that Disney was known for, helping to bring the studio clearly into a new era in animated films. There is no question in this film being a favourite among all who have watched it, and for some it holds a special place in their heart.
Yunjuan's Favourite Film:
A Cat In Paris
Yunjuan has chosen A Cat In Paris as her favourite animated film. A French, hand-made, comedy thriller that lives on the rooftops of Paris and full of that certain brand of French nostalgia that we all have an ongoing love affair with.
A Cat In Paris caused a stir during awards season as it made the rounds, despite not having a large amount of international releases when it first appears on screens. This elegantly unique caper does a lot with not very much. The film lives in a world we aren’t used to, it plays to the beat of its own drum. We’re used to more hectic, busier and cuter films, yet despite this the difference is welcoming and refreshing. A Cat In Paris is a film that may not be a favourite yet but will soon land a place among many peoples lists.
A Cat In Paris
Yunjuan has chosen A Cat In Paris as her favourite animated film. A French, hand-made, comedy thriller that lives on the rooftops of Paris and full of that certain brand of French nostalgia that we all have an ongoing love affair with.
A Cat In Paris caused a stir during awards season as it made the rounds, despite not having a large amount of international releases when it first appears on screens. This elegantly unique caper does a lot with not very much. The film lives in a world we aren’t used to, it plays to the beat of its own drum. We’re used to more hectic, busier and cuter films, yet despite this the difference is welcoming and refreshing. A Cat In Paris is a film that may not be a favourite yet but will soon land a place among many peoples lists.
Kingsley's Favourite Film:
Cloudy With A Chance Of Meatballs 2
Kingsley has chosen Cloudy WIth A Chance Of Meatballs 2 as his favourite animated film. A sequel to the inventive and fresh first film of the same name, this madcap adventure takes us on another fun, animation norm breaking, dad-joke making foodstravaganza.
This film surprised many by living up to the reputation of its predecessor. Cloudy With A Chance Of Meatballs 2 takes us back to where it all began, yet manages to evolve on the formula that worked so well in the first and still fit in more subtext than ever before. It manages to do all of this whilst keeping wide age demographics engaged throughout. One of the definining features of this series of films, has to be their aniamtion style. It is almost reminiscient of early disney animations with the flexibility and mobility of its characters, something you don’t see as much now in large 3D features. This is one that on the surface ticks all the boxes but still has a few surprises in store.
Cloudy With A Chance Of Meatballs 2
Kingsley has chosen Cloudy WIth A Chance Of Meatballs 2 as his favourite animated film. A sequel to the inventive and fresh first film of the same name, this madcap adventure takes us on another fun, animation norm breaking, dad-joke making foodstravaganza.
This film surprised many by living up to the reputation of its predecessor. Cloudy With A Chance Of Meatballs 2 takes us back to where it all began, yet manages to evolve on the formula that worked so well in the first and still fit in more subtext than ever before. It manages to do all of this whilst keeping wide age demographics engaged throughout. One of the definining features of this series of films, has to be their aniamtion style. It is almost reminiscient of early disney animations with the flexibility and mobility of its characters, something you don’t see as much now in large 3D features. This is one that on the surface ticks all the boxes but still has a few surprises in store.
Elliot's Favourite Film:
Princess Mononoke (2001)
Elliot has chosen Princess Mononoke as his favourite film. This wouldn’t be a list of peoples favourite animated films, without including something from Studio Ghibli.
Princess Mononoke is a film where you can see myth and dreams playout on your screen. Realistic films show the physical world as it is, animation shows its essence. The beauty, elegance & mastery of the work and artistry that went into this film is clearly apparent every time you watch it. It contains scenes that would be very difficult to replicate through live-action. The film follows our characters set in medieval Japan at the dawn of the Iron Age, when some peoples of Japan still lived in harmoney with nature, sprits & gods. Whilst others tried to tame and defeat these gods, we witness each persons drive to survive and protect what they have worked hard to build. On the surface it can seem a simplistic tale of good versus evil. However, the story of how the animals, humans and gods all fight for their own share of the world around them shows us that there is no pure evil force. Only opposing sides with different goals and things to look after. It is one of the most visually inventive films in Studio Ghibli’s catalogue and is a must watch for anyone looking to break into the Ghibli repetoire.
Princess Mononoke (2001)
Elliot has chosen Princess Mononoke as his favourite film. This wouldn’t be a list of peoples favourite animated films, without including something from Studio Ghibli.
Princess Mononoke is a film where you can see myth and dreams playout on your screen. Realistic films show the physical world as it is, animation shows its essence. The beauty, elegance & mastery of the work and artistry that went into this film is clearly apparent every time you watch it. It contains scenes that would be very difficult to replicate through live-action. The film follows our characters set in medieval Japan at the dawn of the Iron Age, when some peoples of Japan still lived in harmoney with nature, sprits & gods. Whilst others tried to tame and defeat these gods, we witness each persons drive to survive and protect what they have worked hard to build. On the surface it can seem a simplistic tale of good versus evil. However, the story of how the animals, humans and gods all fight for their own share of the world around them shows us that there is no pure evil force. Only opposing sides with different goals and things to look after. It is one of the most visually inventive films in Studio Ghibli’s catalogue and is a must watch for anyone looking to break into the Ghibli repetoire.
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