Cartoons and animates movies have fascinated children and adults from the early days of the seventh art. Animated motion pictures are the finest example of how cinema effortlessly molds human imagination.
This last decade, we have experienced incredible digital technological advancement which has lead to a surge in the quantity and quality of animated movies. Countries such as the United States, France, Italy, and Japan are at the forefront of this cinematic genre.
The same digital progress we just mentioned is responsible for the creation of traditional cartoons that blend perfectly with flawless digital technique, which years ago would have been unfathomable.
Top 15 best animated movies from 2010 - 2018
We have compiled a list of the best animated movies, either 2D or 3D, that have been produced between 2010-2018. Our top of the 15 best animated movies focuses on recent productions although notable distinctions should be made to Spirited Away, Wall-E, Fantasia, The Nightmare Before Christmas, Grave of the Fireflies, Persepolis, Waltz with Bashir, Shrek, or Fantastic Planet.
Healthy Way Mag has included animation movies from all over the world, from the famous American Pixar animations to, perhaps less known but equally brilliant, European and Japanese productions.
1. Inside Out (USA, 2015)
Inside Outis one of the best animated movies of all times due to its emotional intensity and its ability to educate kids (and adults alike) on basic notions such as dealing with our emotions. For example, this cartoon film looks at sadness from a perspective of acceptance and understanding.
This top would not be complete without a special mention to Pixar's other cartoon movies released this decade such as Toy Story 3 (2010), Coco (2017) and Incredibles 2 (2018).
2. Your Name (Kimi no na wa; Japan, 2016)
Your Name is a Japanese animated movie about love and romance that broke box office records in 2016, both in Japan and across the world. Your Name is now the highest grossing anime film ever, earning US$281 million worldwide and surpassing Spirited Away’s $275 million gross.
Kimi no na tells the story of a teenage boy and a teenage girl who switch places when they fall asleep.
3. Loving Vincent (Poland-UK, 2017)
Loving Vincent, the recent Polish-UK co-production, is an experimental animated biographical drama film about the life and death of painter Vincent van Gogh. This cinematographic masterpiece owes most of its distinctive charm to the film's 65,000 frames of oil paintings on canvas (using the same technique as Van Gogh.)
All 65,000 frames tell the story of van Gogh's suspicious death and the events surrounding it, which may reveal unexpected details, unknown to many viewers.
4. Isle of Dogs (USA, 2018)
Isle of Dogs is one of the latest animated movies to hit box offices, an ideal stop-motion-animated science-fiction comedy film suited for children and adults alike. Wes Anderson's creation takes place in the Japanse Archipelago, 20 years into the future, where all dogs are exiled to Trash Island in an attempt to save the city Megasaki from canine influenza.
The structural perfection of the drawings, the charming humor of the dialogues, and the character's movements coupled with ambiguous elements typical of Japanese culture manage to elevate the intensity of this exceptional animated movie.
Once again, Wes Anderson is responsible for creating one of the best animated movies ever made. Aside from Isle of Dogs, Anderson has directed other animated successes such as The Grand Budapest Hotel (2014), Moonrise Kingdom (2012) and Fantastic Mr. Fox (2009).
5. The Painting (Le tableau; France, 2011)
The Painting is a French animated movie that tackles the issue of inequality in strict social orders such as the allegorical world of director Jean-François Laguionie. In it, the inhabitants of three paintings become divided based on the level of their completeness: some are entirely painted, others lack a few colors, while the members of the last group are only sketches.
The artistic style deployed by the director evokes the Expressionist era, Fauvism, Surrealism, and creates a parallel with the works of Henri Matisse, Marc Chagall, Amedeo Modigliani, and Pablo Picasso.
6. Boy and the World (O menino e o mundo; Brazil, 2014)
This extraordinary surrealist Brazilian animation movie captivated kids and adults alike, mainly due to its ability to tell a story and express emotions almost exclusively through images. This alone earned the film the title of best children’s animated film since “Inside Out”.
The skilled use of different types of drawings and animation techniques, along with the clever juxtaposition of the brown-gray city versus a parade of folk music explains why in 2016 the film earned an Oscar nomination for Best Animated Film at the 88th Academy Awards ceremony.
7. Kubo and the Two Strings (USA, 2016)
Kubo is a 12-year-old boy living in feudal Japan that makes a living during the day by performing origami magic shows. With his magically moving origami sculptures and a shamisen (a three-stringed traditional Japanese musical instrument similar to the banjo), he recounts the story of his late samurai father.
During the night, however, Kubo tends to his ill mother that once told him of the horrible things that will happen if he ever left the cave they lived in after nightfall. When Kubo disobeys her, he sets in motion a series of conflicts among the gods.
This poignant and entertaining stop-motion action fantasy film was produced by Laika Studios, the creators of Coraline (2009), an American 3D stop-motion animated dark fantasy comedy horror film.
8. Wrinkles (Arrugas, Spain, 2011)
Wrinkles is a 2011 Spanish animated drama film directed by Ignacio Ferreras, based on the comic book with the same title by Paco Roca, both creations equally brilliant and intelligently written.
This beautifully animated movie is set in a geriatric home and it reflects on matters such as dementia and the status of senior citizens in general. The postscript to the film is "dedicated to all the old people of today and of tomorrow".
9. Song of the Sea (Ireland, 2014)
Song of the Sea is a kid's animated movie based on Irish mythology. It centers around the selkie, a mythological creature that shape-shifts from seal to human, typical of Scottish, Irish, and Icelandic folklore.
10. The Wind Rises (Kaze tachinu; Japan, 2013)
The Wind Rises is considered one of the best animated movies made in Japan in recent years. Film critics and adults alike have attested to its cinematographic artistry. The animation narrates the story of an aeronautical engineer whose work and love lives get interrupted by the Second World War.
Kaze tachinu is the last (and perhaps the most mature) creation by Japanese animation genius Hayao Miyazaki, who is best known for Spirited Away (2001), Princess Mononoke (1997), and My Neighbor Totoro (1988), among others.
11. The Red Turtle (La tortue rouge; France, 2016)
The Red Turtle is a 2016 animated fantasy drama film that reveals the story of a man who becomes shipwrecked on a deserted island and meets a giant red female turtle. The film delivers part harrowing experiences and part bittersweet joy while dealing with the basic longings we all share.
Studio Ghibli and its founder Hayao Miyazaki were involved in the production of The Red Turtle, and the film was nominated for the Best Animated Feature Film for the 89th Academy Awards.
12. How to Train Your Dragon (USA, 2010)
How to Train Your Dragon, which was recently made into a trilogy, is without a doubt one of the best animations movies for kids of this generation.
This 3D masterpiece takes place on the Isle of Berk, which is inhabited by Vikings and later becomes attacked by dragons. The protagonist, young Hiccup Horrendous Haddock III, becomes a dragon rider and trainer due to his connection with Toothless, a dragon he shoots down and later befriends.
13. The Tale of the Princess Kaguya (Kaguya-hime no Monogatari; Japan, 2013)
The last Japanese animation movie in our top is an animated fantasy drama film based on a traditional story where an elderly couple finds a miniature girl inside a bamboo shoot. As time goes by and the little girl grows up, tales of her beauty inspire many noblemen to court her.
With the budget of US$49.3 million, The Tale of the Princess Kaguya is the most expensive Japanese movie to date.
14. Ernest & Celestine (Ernest et Célestine, France, 2012)
Ernest & Celestine is an animated children's movie starring a mouse and a bear. In 2017, the sequel Ernest & Celestine in Winter was released.
The film is based on a series of children's books of the same name published by the Belgian author and illustrator Gabrielle Vincent (real name Monique Martin) and it stands out due to the splendid quality of its drawings and animation.
15. Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse (USA, 2018)
Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse is the most successful animation film produced by the iconic Marvel Studios and one of the latest entries in our top 15. Not only this, but the film could easily become one of the most popular cinematic adaptations of this comic series.
The action is set in an alternative world where, the now famous protagonist, Peter Parker passes away and is replaced by the young Miles Morales who fights the villain Kingpin - mostly known for his feature in Daredevil, another popular Marvel series.
Check out the original article: Las 15 mejores películas de animación y dibujos animados at viviendolasalud.com