'Toy Story' Tops List of Best Animated Films

While I have some really worries about a couple of the entries on a recent poll determining the best animated films of all time, I can't argue with number one: Toy Story. OnePoll (via The Telegraph) reports that the first Pixar film bested plenty of Disney flicks and a few other notables, and there's a long list of reasons I agree with it. First, it's a great film. Second, it revolutionized in 80 minutes the future of animation the way only a couple of other movies can claim. Third, it brought the storytelling forward to appeal as much if not more to adults than to children. Fourth, the structure of Toy Story has been relentlessly copied in the 14 years since, but out of appreciation for good, engaging writing more than cheap imitation. It's The Godfather or Star Wars of film animation. So number one gets a gold star. But where's Toy Story 2? And The Incredibles? I can understand Up not making the list because of its delayed international release, but as with all lists, there are problems like this that stand out. In what known universe is Shrek better or more imporant than Who Framed Roger Rabbit, Snow White, or Fantasia? And how is the first Ice Age appropriate to this discussion in the slightest, much less a top five animated film of all time? Enjoy, disagree, and discuss: 1 - Toy Story
2 - Shrek
3 - The Lion King
4 - Finding Nemo
5 - Ice Age
6 - The Jungle Book
7 - Monsters, Inc.
8 - Beauty and the Beast
9 - Bambi
10- Aladdin
11- Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
12- 101 Dalmatians
13- Who Framed Roger Rabbit
14- Watership Down
15- Wall-E
16- Fantasia
17- The Nightmare Before Christmas
18- The Little Mermaid
19- Cinderella
20- Alice in Wonderland

Comments

[knives]

A little American-centric, eh?

[Get The Big Picture]

Oh, yes it is. And I didn't even think about that. Not even a Miyazaki mention, nor are recent gems like Persepolis or Waltz with Bashir anywhere to be found.

[Orinn]

Its a top 20 list, everyone knows lists come in 5, 10 or 100 versions.

and the Miyazaki comment, good god cant imagine how you even begin to tackle a list that was not american-centric, but he deserves to be on the list.

one I have never heard of, watership down. Now to wiki it.

[Kevin]

Incredibles was a movie that would have been great in live action. Ice Age shouldn't be there, and Beauty and the Beast might be higher. It was a big start-up in computer animation. I also don't think Nightmare Before Christmas should be on there. It's one of the most overrated movies I've ever seen.

[Orinn]

I thought Nightmare before Christmas set the standard for stop motion animation.

[Vince]

My problem with this list is based on the title: "Best Animated Films".

I agree that "Toy Story" is a fantastic film, and certainly one of the best (if not the sole #1). But they should've decided if this list was about "Most Important Animated Films" or just straight up Best.

For example, I cannot deny that "Finding Nemo" is a wonderful looking, and straight up entertaining animated film. But Miyazaki's films, even the least of them I feel, are far more important & just straight up better films.

I think "Fantasia" is certainly an important American film... but I honestly respect that movie more than I actually enjoy watching it.

Otherwise, some good choices here, but they maybe needed to fix the numbering a little bit.

[JP]

We have to remember that this is a poll. There is not mention as to where the research was completed or what kind of demographics were involved, criteria to determine the best, etc. I certainly can agree with Toy Story. There are several names I would have differently on the list and it would definitely be ranked differently.

[Tchad]

Just "a poll of 4,000 film fans", so you can't really argue that it's wrong; just sad that so many great animated films have been missed by those film fans.

If someone polled me, my top ten would be:
My Neighbor Totoro, Toy Story, Secret of Nimh, Spirited Away, Nightmare Before Xmas, Akira, Wall-E, Iron Giant, Porco Rosso, and Beauty and the Beast. Roughly (but not necessarily) in that order.

On a different day I might try to squeeze in Watership Down, Little Mermaid, Rock & Rule, Nausicaa, Shrek, Fantastic Planet, Allegro non Troppo, Fantasia, Bambi, Princess Mononoke, Wallace & Gromit, The Last Unicorn or The Incredibles. A few more Disney Classics could sneak in too. I'm not considering Up yet (or Ponyo or Nine), still too fresh.

I don't think Roger Rabbit qualifies (otherwise you'd also have to consider Tron, Jurassic Park, and countless other "mixed" live action films).