TIME Announces 25 All-Time Best Animated Films

Source: TIME.com
by Alex Billington 

 

 

It's time (get it) for another list of movies to debate and discuss. TIME, the magazine and also website, has announced their latest list, a selection of the 25 All-TIME Best Animated Films. Yes, they've got those three you see above, Wall-E, Pinocchio and Spirited Away, but what else makes the cut? Here's the intro: "They've enthralled or terrified generations of kids, and now they're giant worldwide blockbusters. So what are the best animated features of all time? Using an obscure system of weights and measures, TIME movie critic Richard Corliss has compiled and annotated the countdown." Read on for their complete list!
Before we go any further, I highly suggest reading TIME's full piece, as each entry includes a brief write-up from Corliss, an embed of the trailer to watch, and even a Facebook Like button, too. It's a great way to countdown through this entire list! But for discussion purposes, here's the full 25 listed from bottom to top:

25. Lady and the Tramp (1955)
24. Fantastic Mr. Fox (2009)
23. Yellow Submarine (1968)
22. Dr. Seuss' Horton Hears a Who! (2008)
21. Kung Fu Panda (2008)
20. Paprika (2007)
19. Tangled (2010)
18. The Lion King (1994)
17. Akira (1988)
16. Happy Feet (2006)
15. Wallace & Gromit in the Curse of the Were-Rabbit (2005)
14. The Adventures of Prince Achmed (1926)
13. Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937)
12. Toy Story (1995)
11. Toy Story 3 (2010)
10. The Little Mermaid (1989)
9. Finding Nemo (2003)
8. The Triplets of Belleville (2003)
7. Up (2009)
6. South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut (1999)
5. Spirited Away (2001)
4. Dumbo (1941)
3. The Bugs Bunny/Road Runner Movie (1979)
2. WALL-E (2008)
1. Pinocchio (1940) 

Corliss' final, poignant comment about Pinocchio: "The boldest of Disney's horror homilies is also the most powerful demonstration of the ability of a medium supposedly aimed at kids to evoke persuasive motion and deep human emotion. The story of a puppet who wants to be a real live boy also serves as an allegory for the work of the Disney geniuses — and all the great animators whose works are included here — who start with pencil and ink, or pixels, or silhouettes, or plasticine figurines, and create vivid characters that live forever inside the small, enthralled child that is every moviegoer." (Original source.)

Going through this, I must say that it is a damn good list, he touches upon most of the truly important animated films, including Akira and The Triplets of Belleville and the South Park movie, which received a considerably high ranking. However, reading through it, like me, you'll most likely be surprised, relieved, and potentially frustrated at the same time, but of course that's expected. Having just watched Wall-E, I'm not sure I'd put it that high up, and - what gives?! - The Incredibles isn't even on there at all. Other than that, I can appreciate each and every one listed so it's hard to argue. But have at it! Thoughts on their 25?