10 Iconic Movies That Changed Animation Forever

April 23, 2024, 6 p.m.

Movies

10 Iconic Movies That Changed Animation Forever

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Summary Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs set the precedent for feature-length animated movies, changing the entertainment.

Fantasia marked a shift in Disney's storytelling and animation with an experimental structure.

Akira, The Little Mermaid, and Toy Story all changed animation industry standards.

Certain animated movies irrevocably changed the animation industry, whether through technological innovation or radical new storytelling. Animation as it is known today began with a series of illustrations that, when flipped through fast enough, mimicked movement. This concept evolved into short cartoons and movies, before revolutionary filmmakers shocked and dazzled audiences with new mediums of animation. Stop-motion and 3D computer creations are among the recent animated movies that push animation forward.

The advent of 3D animation is responsible for most animated movies today, but other animated movies changed film simply by achieving an unprecedented level of success. Movies like these brought animation into mainstream pop culture to be enjoyed by audiences of all ages. The film industry is still rigged against animation, with live-action movies being considered more worthwhile and more likely to be nominated for prestigious awards, but the creative minds behind several iconic animated movies are changing this bit by bit.

10 Snow White And The Seven Dwarfs (1937)

Snow White is the first feature-length animated movie.

Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs Disney's iconic first feature-length animation tells the story of Snow White, a young princess whose beauty is coveted by an evil queen. After she orders that Snow White should be killed, the girl escapes to the forest, where she meets seven dwarfs who take her in. However, the queen knows that Snow White survives, and hatches a deadly plan involving a poisoned apple. Director David Hand , Perce Pearce , William Cottrell , Larry Morey , Wilfred Jackson , Ben Sharpsteen Release Date December 21, 1937 Cast Adriana Caselotti , Roy Atwell , Pinto Colvig Runtime 83 Minutes

It is possible that animated movies would not even be considered a viable form of entertainment today without the precedent set by Snow White.

Before Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Walt Disney and his team worked solely on cartoon shorts, most famously Steamboat Willie, Silly Symphony, and other adventures featuring Mickey Mouse and friends. Disney made a massive gamble when he set out to produce Hollywood's first feature-length animated motion picture, an endeavor that many were sure would fail. However, the animation, music, story, and overall magic of Snow White captured the minds and hearts of filmmakers and general audiences.

This subsequently set in motion a century of animated filmmaking. It is possible that animated movies would not even be considered a viable form of entertainment today without the precedent set by Snow White. Emboldened by the success of Snow White, Disney set out to make many more animated features, starting with Pinocchio in 1940. Meanwhile, other animation studios slowly began to take shape throughout the 20th century.

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9 Fantasia (1940)

Fantasia marks a departure from the Disney formula.

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buy Not available Not available Not available Fantasia is an animated musical film from Disney that tells eight different stories set to the compositions of Leopold Stokowski. The core story follows Mickey as an apprentice of the powerful sorcerer Yen Sid, with Mickey disobeying him as he finds his hat, bestowing him with incredible power. Attempting to harness it for himself, Mickey loses control of the power, beginning an anthology of visually striking performances while he tries to set things back to normal. Director James Algar Release Date December 25, 1967 Runtime 125minutes

Fantasia came out the same year as Pinocchio, at a time when everything Disney did had major implications for animation. Fantasia, comprising a series of vividly animated shorts paired with classical music, still stands as one of the most experimental Disney movies. The movie represents a return to Disney's cartoons in the new, cinematic format the studio discovered with Snow White, proving that they could have the best of both worlds.

However, Fantasia also marked a tonal shift for Disney. Disney told his staff: “We’ve got more in this medium than making people laugh" (via Smithsonian Magazine). Critic Robert Hughes called Fantasia “high art and low art collapsed into one another.” Despite Fantasia's initial box office failure, Disney continued to produce animated movies that were whimsical and marketed for children but told serious stories. Meanwhile, while some aspects of it have not aged well, Fantasia came to be regarded as a Disney classic and was eventually followed up by Fantasia 2000.

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Related 10 Best Classic Disney Movies That Aren't About Princesses Disney Princess movies get a lot of attention, but animated Disney classics about regular people and animals are just as iconic and heartwarming.

8 Akira (1988)

Akira introduced new techniques and styles to anime.

Akira (1988) A secret military project endangers Neo-Tokyo when it turns a biker gang member into a rampaging psychic psychopath who can only be stopped by a teenager, his gang of biker friends and a group of psychics. Director Katsuhiro Otomo Release Date July 16, 1988 Cast Mitsuo Iwata , Nozomu Sasaki , Mami Koyama , Taro Ishida , Tesshô Genda , Mizuho Suzuki , Tatsuhiko Nakamura , Fukue Itō , Kazuhiro Shindō Runtime 124 Minutes

While Disney dominated animation in the Western world for most of the 20th century, the anime industry gained strength in Japan, producing equally compelling motion pictures. Still one of the most celebrated anime movies of all time is Akira, a dystopian adventure following a biker and his gang on a mission to save their world. According to Adarsh (via Game Rant), "Akira pushed the boundaries of traditional animation, introducing groundbreaking techniques that amazed viewers. The film's stunning visuals, meticulous attention to detail, and fluid animation set a new standard for the industry."

Akira's darker storytelling and advanced animation inspired other anime filmmakers, as well as some live-action movies. The Matrix is widely recognized for popularizing the cyberpunk aesthetic, which Akira certainly influenced. Akira also laid the groundwork for popularizing anime in Western pop culture, which would later be cemented by Studio Ghibli's movies.

7 The Little Mermaid (1989)

The Little Mermaid kicked off the Disney Renaissance.

The Little Mermaid The Little Mermaid is a 1989 Walt Disney animated film written and directed by John Musker and Ron Clements. It stars the voices of Jodi Benson, Pat Carroll, and Christopher Daniel Barnes, with music from Alan Menken. The plot follows a young mermaid named Ariel that wishes to abandon her life underwater and join the humans on land. Director Ron Clements , John Musker Release Date November 17, 1989 Cast Jodi Benson , Samuel E. Wright , Rene Auberjonois , christopher daniel barnes , Pat Carroll , Jason Marin Runtime 63 Minutes

The Little Mermaid is the first and doubtlessly one of the best movies of the Disney Renaissance, a period in animation history when Disney once again changed the game. This era saw the release of many movies that would become synonymous with Disney, and the rise of the legendary composing duo of Alan Menken and Howard Ashman. The Little Mermaid kicked things off with a more dynamic Disney Princess (as opposed to the damsels of Snow White, Cinderella, and Sleeping Beauty), catchy songs, and a story of complicated familial relationships between flawed characters.

The Little Mermaid's success directly led to the milestone of Beauty and the Beast. When this movie achieved the recognition of being the first animated movie to be nominated for Best Picture at the Oscars, new possibilities opened up for animators. The Little Mermaid is still a beloved Disney classic that, in its time, signaled a new reality for animation.

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6 The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)

The Nightmare Before Christmas transformed stop-motion's status among animators.

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. Director Henry Selick Release Date October 29, 1993 Cast Catherine O'Hara , Glenn Shadix , Ken Page , William Hickey , Chris Sarandon , Paul Reubens , Danny Elfman Runtime 76 minutes

The film industry was also deeply skeptical about Tim Burton's proposed idea for The Nightmare Before Christmas. Rejected for being too creepy and ghoulish while Burton was working at Disney, the studio later decided to produce the movie following Burton rising to fame for other projects. After a tumultuous production that is recounted in The Movies That Made Us, The Nightmare Before Christmas was released to an average reception.

However, since the 1990s The Nightmare Before Christmas has become a cult classic and a cherished Disney property. Its later popularity uncovered an outlet for Burton-esque gothic animated movies, leading to other creepy stop-motion pictures. The Nightmare Before Christmas also generally established a footing for stop-motion, a medium that is tedious to produce but yields gorgeous results. Meanwhile, another form of animation began to take shape.

Related 8 Classic Disney Movies You Didn't Know Tim Burton Worked On Tim Burton worked on several Disney classics in the early days of his career, as well a directing some short films while working at the studio.

5 Toy Story (1995)

Toy Story introduced 3D computer animation to the industry.

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buy Not available Not available Not available Pixar's first feature film release sees Woody (Tom Hanks), a cowboy doll, confronted by the nightmare of being replaced as his owner Andy's favorite toy jeopardized when his parents buy him a Buzz Lightyear (Tim Allen) action figure. Stricken by anxiety, Woody hatches a plan to remain the favorite, kicking off a race against time for the toys to be reunited with their owner before his house move makes them permanently Lost Toys. Director John Lasseter Release Date November 22, 1995 Cast Tom Hanks , Don Rickles , Annie Potts , Tim Allen , Jim Varney Runtime 81 minutes

Toy Story likely also helped create a space within awards shows for animated movies.

The release of Toy Story 4 was met with a series of social media posts comparing the animation of the first Toy Story movie and the most recent one (something that will probably continue with Toy Story 5). It is a fascinating trend because, at the time of its release, Toy Story was at the forefront of innovation for producing the first 3D computer-animated movie. The movie received a Special Achievement Oscar; it seems as though the Academy didn't know what else to do with it.

As most people know, Toy Story changed animation by setting in motion the rise of computer animation, which is now preferred by most animation studios due to being faster and cheaper than traditional cell animation. Toy Story likely also helped create a space within awards shows for animated movies. The Oscars introduced the Best Animated Feature category a few years later, an award which Pixar consistently wins.

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4 The Iron Giant (1999)

The Iron Giant is another profound and detailed 2D animated adventure.

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buy Not available Not available Not available Set in 1957 Maine against the backdrop of the Cold War, The Iron Giant follows Hogarth Hughes, a young boy who finds an alien robot crashlanded in the woods outside his hometown. Determining that the robot is friendly, Hogarth quickly becomes its protector against forces in the US Army who wish to use the robot for their own means. Eli Marienthal voices Hogarth, with a further cast that includes Vin Diesel, Jennifer Aniston, Harry Connick Jr., and Christopher McDonald. Director Brad Bird Release Date August 6, 1999 Cast Vin Diesel , Christopher McDonald , Harry Connick Jr , Jennifer Aniston , Eli Marienthal Runtime 86 minutes

Future Pixar director Brad Bird managed to create an animated movie that stands out during the last days of the Disney Renaissance with The Iron Giant. Bird and screenwriter Tim McCanlies changed the supernatural villain of the source material into a hazardous Cold War setting, resulting in an animated movie that blended fantasy and history. On the other hand, the storyline following the evolution of a friendship between a human and a non-human entity is still prevalent in pop culture.

The tale of friendship, morality, heroism, and the question of what it means to be human is timeless. Tom Bond argues (via Little White Lies): "Unlike the quippy protagonists of Marvel’s high-octane blockbusters [the Iron Giant] barely utters a word [...] but at heart he represents one of the most authentic portrayals of heroism ever seen." The Iron Giant proved to be another motion picture that showed the potential for detailed and artistic animation being used to convey profound stories.

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3 Shrek (2001)

Shrek is the first movie to win Best Animated Feature.

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buy Not available Not available Not available Based loosely on the children's book of the same name by William Steig, Shrek tells the story of an ogre (Michael Myers) who sets with his new friend Donkey (Eddie Murphy) out to regain his swamp from fairytale characters. Tasked with rescuing Princess Fiona (Cameron Diaz) in return for the restoration of his solitude, Shrek discovers that he's not the loner he always thought he was, and that looks aren't always everything. Director Vicky Jenson , Andrew Adamson Release Date May 18, 2001 Cast Cameron Diaz , Mike Myers , Eddie Murphy , John Lithgow Runtime 90 minutes

Shrek came out the first year movies had the chance to be named Best Animated Feature, and took the award home in favor of Monsters, Inc. It also played a role in the development of 3D animation by being a movie produced by a studio that was not Disney or Pixar. Dreamworks had previously released acclaimed movies such as The Prince of Egypt and The Road to El Dorado but decided to try their hand at 3D in the aftermath of Toy Story and were rewarded for their efforts.

At a time when 3D animation was still new, Dreamworks' contribution to technological innovation should not go unrecognized. However, Shrek also broadened the types of stories that made their way into animation with Simpsons-like referential humor and a revised fairy tale premise that specifically mocked the typical Disney formula. The legacy of Shrek can be seen in Dreamworks' best movies and other off-beat fantasy features.

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2 Spirited Away (2001)

Spirited Away popularized anime and legitimized animation worldwide.

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buy Not available Not available Not available 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. Director Hayao Miyazaki Release Date July 20, 2001 Cast Rumi Hiiragi , Miyu Irino , Mari Natsuki , Takashi Naitô , Yasuko Sawaguchi , Tsunehiko Kamijô , Takehiko Ono , Bunta Sugawara Runtime 125 minutes

The second winner of the Oscar for Best Animated Feature, Spirited Away finished what Akira started by bringing anime to a global audience. However, Spirited Away has also endured because of its themes of vulnerability, family, and friendship, as well as still-relevant depictions of environmental destruction. Spirited Away also helped legitimize animation as a serious art form that could be produced for adults.

Studio Ghibli made more breathtaking and heartrending films such as Howl's Moving Castle and The Wind Rises, continuing to improve upon cell animation and tell meaningful stories. Ghibli finally won a well-deserved Oscar again with The Boy and the Heron, a movie representing a kind of culmination of Hayao Miyazaki's work. Studio Ghibli and anime in general still have a distinct feel from Disney and Dreamworks movies, but it is impossible to imagine today's animation industry without them.

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Related 10 Great Animated Movies That Prove 2D Isn't Dead 3D has taken over the animation industry, but movies including Suzume, Blue Giant, and The Boy and the Heron prove that 2D is still alive and well.

1 Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse (2018)

Into the Spider-Verse was the push needed for stylized 3D animation.

Then Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse introduced a new style of 3D animation that incorporated many artistic styles and favored visual appeal over realism.

A couple of decades after Toy Story, there seemed to be no way around the dominance of 3D animation. Disney abandoned old animation techniques and only an occasional anime or indie 2D-animated movie reached the same level of popularity and profits. Then Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse introduced a new style of 3D animation that incorporated many artistic styles and favored visual appeal over realism. This took off as the future of animation, illustrated by movies such as Puss in Boots: The Last Wish and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem.

However, Into the Spider-Verse and its sequel Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse also represent a level of spectacle previously unseen in animation. The two-part movie event, with Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse expected in the future, comprises a high-stakes epic superhero narrative much like the MCU's biggest releases — but animated. The Spider-Verse series is among the most recent movies that have forever changed animation, resulting in new and bold adventures.

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Source: Smithsonian Magazine, Game Rant, Little White Lies