Few fictional works have had a more significant impact than Star Wars. This sci-fi fantasy franchise captures the imagination with its laser swords, space battles, engaging characters, and intriguing mythology. These qualities make it beloved by audiences of all ages. That said, they also make it ripe for parody.

Star Wars has seen countless spoofs across movies and TV series. Oddly enough, many of those parodies stem from animated shows. These works don’t have to worry about cheap sets or other production values; the only limit is the creator’s imagination. As such, virtually anything is fair game. They can recreate the films’ visuals to a tee or go in a radically different direction. That freedom opens new avenues for humor. As a result, these animated satires can be funnier than their live-action counterparts.

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10 Family Guy

Arguably the most famous entry on the list, Family Guy has three TV episodes spoofing Star Wars. Each flick reenacts part of the original trilogy, with the show’s characters portraying the sci-fi icons. For instance, Peter Griffin is Han Solo, and Stewie is Darth Vader. That gimmick alone carries much of the humor.

Of course, the specials also stack on a gaggle of other jokes. These gags are all in Family Guy’s typical style of silly and dirty. Just look at the Battle of Hoth, where one of the Rebels stops mid-fight to go touch their “giant boob nipple gun.” The whole tale recreates these designs and tropes with loving detail while simultaneously poking fun at them.^[1]

9 The Fairly OddParents

Many kids probably wish their toys came to life, but The Fairly OddParents shows the Dark Side (sorry) of that dream. In the episode “Hard Copy,” Timmy’s fairy godparents leave for a doctor’s visit. The kid worries about not having anyone to grant his wishes, so Wanda conjures a magical copier to manifest anything he scans. Unfortunately, activating the Life Size mode brings forth a sci-fi invasion.

Scanning an action figure of Dark Laser from Space Wars, Timmy unwittingly unleashes the Darth Vader wannabe on his town. The villain swiftly scans the rest of the toys from his catalog, bringing the full wrath of his empire down on Dimsdale. Timmy must fight magic with magic. Not only do the lightsabers spring from his fairies’ wands, but he flies a Rebel Y-Wing in the shape of a star. This aesthetic makes the slick sci-fi stuff look farcically frilly, which goes hand-in-hand with the show’s theatrical irony.^[2]

8 The Adventures of Jimmy Neutron, Boy Genius

Star Wars is a space opera with Shakespearean drama, so why not apply it to an actual Shakespeare play? The Adventures of Jimmy Neutron, Boy Genius marries the two properties with entertaining results. “Out, Darn Spotlight” sees Jimmy’s school put on a production of Macbeth with an extraterrestrial edge. That’s not the only liberty taken, though.

The revised story concludes with Macbeth sword-fighting a space pirate. Thanks to Jimmy’s work with special effects, the duel unfolds with laser swords akin to lightsabers. The production values put most movies to shame, but the performers are still untrained kids. That fact inevitably leads to a few slip-ups, such as Jimmy accidentally losing his sword during the duel. The finished product somehow feels high-end and low-budget at the same time. Of course, children fumbling with advanced tech is par for the course with this series.^[3]

7 Rugrats

You might wonder how a show about babies could parody anything, but the eponymous Rugrats have active imaginations. They often use make-believe to rationalize the world around them. Thus, when the stars start falling, the babies embark on a space adventure to set things right.

“Falling Star” contains a slew of sci-fi references, but Star Wars is the primary target. It turns out the culprit of the collapsing stars is the bratty Angelica, decked out like Darth Vader. While there’s no lightsaber duel, the scenario does lead to an “I am your father” moment where she reveals herself as Tommy’s cousin. That absurdity born from naivete is what gives Rugrats its charm.^[4]

6 Pinky and the Brain

Being an animated skit show, both Animaniacs and Pinky and the Brain thrive on satire. It’s not a stretch to see them come together to spoof the original Star Wars. Their approach, however, is essentially the precursor to Family Guy’s take. “Star Warners” recreates the original film as a TV special, with the show’s stars filling out the cast. Wakko is Luke Skywalker; Slappy Squirrel is Obi-Wan Kenobi; Pinky and the Brain are the two droids; the list goes on. However, seeing these cartoon animals embody the roles is even wilder.

That unpredictability extends to the jokes. The episode continues the humor found in these ’90s Warner Bros. shows. That means plenty of slapstick mixed with referential gags. A memorable example comes when the Empire tortures Princess Leia by having her listen to Ben Stein. These zingers help the shows spoof all of pop culture. Considering Star Wars is a cultural phenomenon, that style is oddly appropriate.^[5]

5 The Grim Adventures of Billy & Mandy

Despite its supernatural subject matter, The Grim Adventures of Billy & Mandy has several Star Wars gags. The most blatant occurs in the episode “Brown Evil,” which involves Billy inadvertently baking an evil batch of brownies. Grim loves these pastries, but they also attract hordes of undead. This invasion draws monster hunter Hoss Delgado, who immediately zeroes in on Grim.

The resulting brawl is straight out of Star Wars. Hoss activates a green energy sword from his mechanized hand and slices the blade off Grim’s scythe. The Reaper then energizes what’s left of his staff, and the two fighters engage in a duel, complete with lightsaber sound effects. It ends when Grim slices off Hoss’s hand. Luckily, he still has a human hand and a heap of muscle. One punch knocks Grim’s head clean off. That mixture of gallows humor and gross-out gags is what Billy & Mandy does best.^[6]

4 Robot Chicken

Here’s a no-brainer. Robot Chicken lives to poke fun at pop culture. This stop-motion sketch show acts out iconic movies and TV shows using action figures and dolls. That alone would be amusing enough, but the creators also splice some self-aware irony into the scripts. Basically, they show how these scenes would play out if the characters were juvenile fools who questioned every concept.

Star Wars is a natural treasure trove for that type of nitpicking. Sure enough, Robot Chicken lays out limitless skits based on this space opera. These bits typically pick on pivotal scenes. Luke and the Emperor get into a “yo momma” fight; Obi-Wan gives a long-winded speech about the “high ground” after slicing off Anakin’s legs; Chewie accidentally rips off Lando’s head and reattaches it backward. These gags are just the tip of the iceberg. Nothing is sacred in this silly show.^[7]

3 Teen Titans

Going into the TV realm is a great excuse to lampoon pop culture’s most famous franchises. Teen Titans takes ample advantage of that in “Don’t Touch That Dial.” This episode involves geeky villain Control Freak constructing an advanced remote to travel into the city’s TV screen. To prevent his monopoly over the television realm, the Titans follow him into the televised dimension, making their way through countless recognizable IPs to catch the baddie.

This chase culminates in a sci-fi battle straight out of Star Wars. A “12th-Level Space Samurai,” Control Freak knocks aside the Darth Vader stand-in and takes his laser sword. Then, right on cue, he proclaims himself to be the hero’s father. Luckily, Beast Boy is a die-hard fan of this franchise. Although his attempted Jedi mind trick doesn’t work on the battle droids, he does pull off an ancient spell to trap Control Freak. Nerd knowledge saves the day thanks to the series’ trademark blend of tense action and wacky anime comedy.^[8]

2 Phineas and Ferb

Wish fulfillment can be both comforting and hilarious. Phineas and Ferb always strives to prove that. Its titular kids constantly get into elaborate misadventures from their backyard. However, one of their greatest journeys occurs in their crossover with Star Wars. Once again, the story goes through the classic plot of A New Hope, with the show’s characters filling in for the film’s cast. That prospect might seem stale at this point, but the humor practically writes itself.

The appeal stems from how well the series’ stars fit the movie archetypes. Petty sister Candace is a Stormtrooper, Perry the platypus’s secret agent antics make him a Rebel sp, and the deranged Dr. Doofenshmirtz is an incompetent Sith Lord responsible for the Death Star’s fatal flaw. In turn, having these silly figures inhabit the top spots alters the tale in chuckle-worthy ways, such as the Empire building a Sith-inator to turn people evil. That’s exactly the type of goofy spin that you’d expect from a bunch of kids.^[9]

1 Buzz Lightyear of Star Command

This joke has a big-screen precedent. Toy Story 2 depicts a fight between Space Ranger Buzz Lightyear and Evil Emperor Zurg. They melodramatically reenact their rivalry, which is all the funnier considering they’re both plastic toys. The cherry on top comes when Zurg proclaims that he’s Buzz’s father, to which Buzz responds by screaming “No!” in hammy fashion. That silly revelation makes things awkward in the spin-off show.

Buzz Lightyear of Star Command undoes this twist and uses it for a comedic callback. During the episode “Stranger Invasion,” the hero and villain once again fight for the fate of the universe. Zurg then distracts Buzz by repeating the movie’s reveal, which lets him get one over on the Space Ranger. He even mocks his enemy for being so gullible. Yep, the series parodies a parody. How fitting for this cheeky take on Buzz’s high-flying adventures.^[10]

Walt Disney Studios is considered the king of animation, but they are hardly the only studio churning out animated movies. Across the pond, you’ll find Studio Ghibli and many other powerhouses in the industry, some of which have created animated classics far better than some of what Disney has produced over the years.

The best aspect of animation is that it isn’t a genre, as it can be about literally anything, so determining which films are the best is no easy task. To land on this list, a movie has to be technically well done, have a compelling story with interesting characters, and instill a sense of awe through the visual medium.

Like all movie lists, this one is entirely subjective to the writer, so shout out your favorite non-Disney animated films in the comments.

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10 The Secret of NIMH (1982)

The Secret of NIMH may not be a Disney movie, but it wouldn’t exist were it not for the House of Mouse. Back in the early ‘80s, Don Bluth and Gary Goldman left Disney with 14 other animators to form their own studio, and the first film project they took on was an adaptation of Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of N.I.M.H. The film is much darker than the works of Disney at the time. It deals with mass extermination, drugs, predation, deadly pneumonia, death, magic, and hyper-intelligent rats who agree to help a field mouse move her home to save her son’s life.

The tone may be dark, but the movie is incredibly well-made. The use of backlight animation techniques offered an eery visage for some of the more interesting and frightening characters in a way that established a level of danger and awe in the audience. It’s one of those movies that stays with you your entire life until you show it to your children. Shortly after its release, The Secret of NIMH was honored with the Saturn Award for Best Animated Film, though it lost the coveted Best Fantasy Film that year to The Dark Crystal.^[1]

9 When the Wind Blows (1986)

Animated films often deal with mature issues, but they rarely cover nuclear war and the end of all things. When the Wind Blows is a British film based on a graphic novel of the same name, and it uses a unique means of storytelling by combining two different animation techniques to tell the story. The characters are all hand-drawn in a traditional cell animation style, while the world around them is made up of real objects, which are animated via stop-motion animation. While this may seem odd at first, it establishes an effect of realism on the animated characters, making them relatable to the audience.

The film deals with a fear many people had in the 1980s, which was the threat of nuclear war. The two characters, Hilda and James Bloggs are a couple, who lived through World War II, and having lived through that nightmare, they have memories of a time leading up to war, and it is upon them once more. As the war looms on the horizon, they follow the government’s advice to “Keep calm and carry on,” but when the war does come, they succumb to radiation sickness, which does little to hamper their resolve in the face of the end of the world.^[2]

8 Grave of the Fireflies (1988)

If you’re familiar with the works of Isao Takahata and Studio Ghibli, you know that every film the studio produced could top a list of best animated films. After all, the studio has been churning out hits since its first film, Castle in the Sky. While there are plenty of greats to choose from, the best of all Studio Ghibli’s films is the second one made by the studio. Grave of the Fireflies is one of the best animated films ever made, but it’s also one of the saddest movies ever produced. The film follows the story of a young boy and his little sister who barely survive the fire-bombing of Tokyo during World War II.

As the story progresses, the two struggle to survive as war orphans in a country fighting to save itself from the rest of the world, and it’s one of the most harrowing tales ever filmed. It’s one of those movies you can’t finish watching with dry eyes, as the heartwrenching tale will bring the most hardened sociopath to tears. The animation was done superbly, which isn’t a surprise given Takahata’s skills as a director, but the real reason the film landed on this list is simply due to the fact that it’s a phenomenal film.^[3]

7 The Iron Giant (1999)

When The Iron Giant was released in 1999, it was something of an outlier in the world of animated films, and it did two things well: it bombed completely and utterly, and it entertained the masses (who caught it on video after it left theaters). It is often considered to be a modern animated classic and has a massive cult following. The movie did underperform at the box office, but that wasn’t due to critics panning it; Warner Bros. didn’t market it well, and that led to a critically acclaimed movie bombing at the box office.

The film follows a little boy who finds a giant robot he forms a close bond with. It’s much like the plot of E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial, but with more lasers and giant robots playing with a kid in a junkyard. There was a ton of talent involved in making the film, which included a great voice cast with Jennifer Aniston, Harry Connick Jr., Vin Diesel, and many more. Additionally, the animation style was masterfully done, as it blended traditional cell animation with computer-generated imagery in a seamless combination of the two forms.^[4]

6 The Triplets of Belleville (2003)

Typically, music is used in an animated film in much the same way it’s used in a musical. That’s especially true for most Disney movies, but while music is important, it’s rarely used as the primary means of storytelling. The French animated film, The Triplets of Belleville doesn’t follow this format, and while there is some dialogue sprinkled throughout, the majority of the storytelling is done through the highly stylized art and through song. This makes The Triplets of Belleville a unique standout in the world of animation, and it’s incredibly fun to watch.

The film is about an elderly woman named Madame Souza, who embarks on a quest to save her grandson from the French mafia. As she embarks on her journey to the city of Belleville to find her grandson, Champion, she takes along his dog, Bruno, and the titular triplets, all of whom are accomplished singers she met along the way. The movie is surreal in its storytelling, yet this doesn’t take away from its charm the story, settings, and characters display, scene after scene. It was nominated for Best Animated Feature the year it was released but lost to Finding Nemo.^[5]

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5 Persepolis (2007)

Persepolis is based on a graphic novel of the same name by Marjane Satrapi. The film and book are an autobiographical representation of Satrapi’s life growing up in Iran against the backdrop of the Iranian Revolution. Her life is complicated by the fact that her family is liberal and not Fundamentalists, but also because she’s a woman, and her life became incredibly complicated and wrought with misogyny once the Islamic Fundamentalists took over her home country. As the story progresses, she moves to Vienna to mature and find her way in life.

Eventually, she returns to Iran but is forced to flee her home country when it becomes clear her life is on the line. Despite the turmoil of her life, she remains a proud Iranian woman, and the story reflects this through the animation style, which depicted past events in black & white, while present moments were presented in color. The illustration style was also interesting due to the somewhat two-dimensional look of the characters, and overall, it’s visually quite stunning. This movie is somewhat difficult to watch, as the subject matter is antithetical to the social constructs a Western audience is familiar with, but that only helps to make it an incredibly compelling film.^[6]

4 Wizards (1977)

Ralph Bakshi is something of a controversial animator due to the various projects he’s worked on over the years. He made Coonskin and Fritz the Cat, which is the first animated film to be rated XXX when it was released. Those projects aside, the man is a brilliant storyteller, and the way he perfected the use of rotoscoping as a technique in his films have made them stand apart from the competition. American Pop from 1981 is one of his best stories, but the best movie Bakshi ever made — as far as the fans are concerned — is 1977’s Wizards.

Wizards is a cult classic about two magical brothers, who represent good and evil in a world long lost to mankind. The setting takes place millions of years after mankind killed the world and mutated into monsters. Avatar, the good wizard, has all that is good and virtuous on his side while his brother, Blackwolf, commands a legion of orcs, goblins, and other monsters outfitted with Nazi imagery that clearly established the divide between both sides in the war. Bakshi has called the movie an allegorical story about the creation of Israel after the Holocaust amidst the backdrop of a potential resurgence of fascism.^[7]

3 Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse (2018)

The most recent addition to this list is Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, and despite being a superhero movie released when they are mainstream money-makers, it’s not on here for that reason. Sony could have made this film into a live-action extravaganza, but instead, it was done via animation, and what beautiful animation it is. The film took its visual cues from comics published nearly 60 years before it was made, and this was done to follow the director’s desire to make it feel like the viewer “walked inside a comic book.”

Computers were used to build the animation of the characters and move them from scene to scene, but artists went back into every single frame of the film, and hand drew dots and line work, which made it look like it truly was a comic book come alive. The result was a film that is best described by the concept of “every frame a painting.” Every shot had a style and texture to it that set it apart from every animated film that came before it, and while it does have an amazing story, which makes it a vastly entertaining movie to watch, it’s on here solely due to the visual artistry that went into making it.^[8]

2 The LEGO Movie (2014)

When it was first announced that a fully-rendered CGI LEGO film was being made into a major motion picture, few could have imagined the movie would go on to become a massive hit adults and kids loved, but that’s what happened. In terms of the story, the movie is played out like a satire, and it’s brilliantly written. The characters hearken back to just about everyone’s childhood in one way or another, and that helps to instill a sense of nostalgia in everything that happens in much the same way Toy Story managed nearly 20 years prior.

When it comes to the animation done to make this movie a reality, the best way to describe it might be to call it painstakingly accurate to the smallest detail. The detail put into making this film LEGO accurate cannot be stressed enough, as every single plastic piece in the film is a real LEGO you can purchase IRL, but you’d have to buy a total of 15,080,330 to recreate everything seen in the movie. Not only that, but the animators also added fingerprints and scratches to the pieces, which can only be seen when the light hits them perfectly, making the textures and lighting a fantastic achievement in moviemaking.^[9]

1 The Last Unicorn (1982)

Another pioneer in early ‘80s animation was Ranking/Bass Productions, which put together a number of hits, including Flight of Dragons and The Hobbit. While those two moves are incredibly well-made, the best the studio ever made was 1982’s The Last Unicorn. Sadly, there are tons of adults who never saw this film due to a limited VHS release and the fact that it appears, on the surface, to be a children’s film. While a kid can certainly sit down to watch The Last Unicorn, there’s a good chance it will scare the crap out of them, as the themes are more aligned with an audience that is more mature.

The film follows the quest of the only known unicorn, who sets out from her enchanted forest to find out what happened to the rest of the world’s unicorns. She is seen as a white mare by most, but the magically attuned see her for what she is, and this leads to all sorts of dangerous adventures. In addition to the customarily beautiful animation the studio consistently put out, the film features a beautiful soundtrack, consisting entirely of original songs written and performed by the band America, which ensures you will be humming the titular tune for weeks after enjoying this amazing film.^[10]

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Mentioning soundtracks of animated musical films, would likely immediately conjure up the image of Elsa strutting over the snow, singing “Let It Go”. Songs in kids’ films are not a new concept, but they have gotten better over the years to the extent where they are nominated for and win Academy Awards.

However, there are several criminally underrated songs in animated films that are just as good as the prize winners (sometimes even better).

10 “Great Spirits” – Brother Bear

Brother Bear was released in 2003 and tells the story of a Native American boy, Kenai, who can’t wait to become a man. However, when one of his brothers is killed by a bear, he immediately seeks revenge and is turned into a bear himself when he angers the spirits of his people. This profound story couldn’t have anything other than fantastic music to accompany it, and that it does.

The soundtrack was written by Phil Collins (who also wrote the songs for Tarzan) and some of the songs are truly excellent. A great example is “Great Spirits” performed by Tina Turner. Tina is no stranger to movie soundtracks, having also provided the title song to the James Bond film, “Golden Eye”.

9 “I See The Light” – Tangled

Tangled doesn’t only have many underrated songs, but is also an underrated film as Frozen seems to take precedence when it comes to favorite animated movies. The film tells the story of Rapunzel in a new and fresh way, with some great songs in the mix. These include “When Will My Life Begin”, “Mother Knows Best”, and “I’ve Got A Dream.”

The best by far however, is the song at the end of the movie when Rapunzel’s dream of seeing the floating lanterns comes true. She and Flynn are on a boat with the lanterns highlighting the scene from the background when they start singing, “I See The Light.” This epic song is performed by Mandy Moore and Zachary Levi and is still truly underrated.

8 “Deliver Us” – The Prince of Egypt

Dreamworks is behind the grand animated story, The Prince of Egypt, and while there are many awesome songs that form part of the soundtrack including “When You Believe”, some are surprisingly underrated as well. “When You Believe” is sung in the movie by the characters of Tzipporah and Miriam and a pop version was recorded by Whitney Houston and Mariah Carey in 1998. It also won the Oscar for Best Original Song.

Mostly overlooked however are the scores created by Hans Zimmer and Stephen Schwartz including the opening number of the movie, “Deliver Us”. Ofra Haza and Eden Riegel deliver a powerful vocal that sets up the story of the struggle of the Hebrew slaves.

7 “When We’re Human” – The Princess And The Frog

The Princess And The Frog is one of Disney’s most underappreciated gems. The movie tells the reworked tale of The Frog Princess in which a waitress named Tiana dreams of owning her own restaurant. She ends up kissing a prince who’d been turned into frog and ends up as a frog herself.

This film too features some great songs, two of which were nominated for Academy Awards but lost out to Up and Crazy Heart. The song that not many people talk about however is the fantastic “When We’re Human”.

Starting with the quip “enjoy your loneliness, my friend” this catchy tune definitely deserves more love.

6 “Lost in the Woods”- Frozen II

There is no doubt that Frozen has delivered some of the best songs of all animated films. “Let It Go” became a smash hit after the first film and the Idina Menzel-performed song won both a Grammy and an Oscar. It became one of the most globally recorded Disney songs and the international releases of the movie included at least 41 versions sung in different languages.

Menzel shone again in 2019 with the song “Show Yourself” that she performed as Elsa in Frozen II. While not quite as popular as “Let It Go”, the song garnered much acclaim.

There is a highly underappreciated ballad in the second movie however, sung by Kristoff (Jonathan Groff). Sounding like a nod to Chicago’s “You’re the Inspiration”, Kristoff belts out “Lost in the Woods” while he’s, you know, in the woods. There is even a nod to Queen in one scene during the song.

And while we’re at it, let’s never forget about “Reindeer Are Better Than People.”

5 “I’ll Make a Man Out of You” – Mulan

Mulan is another beautifully told story and is based on the Chinese legend of Hua Mulan. The film takes place during the Han dynasty in China and sees Fa Mulan impersonating a man in order to take her father’s place in battling a Hun invasion.

The action is set to a great soundtrack that includes songs like “A Girl Worth Fighting For”, “Honor To Us All”, and “Reflection.” One of the best songs to come out of this classic animated film is the inspiring “I’ll Make a Man Out of You.” It is performed by Donny Osmond & Chorus and plays as Mulan and her army are transformed into warriors. Stephen Schwartz was tasked with scoring the soundtrack of Mulan, and his ideas included a melody called “We’ll Make a Man Out of You.” He was however persuaded by Dreamworks to make music for the Prince of Egypt instead and the song was changed to “I’ll Make a Man Out of You”.

4 “When She Loved Me”- Toy Story 2

The Toy Story movies are hugely popular with kids and adults alike. Woody, Buzz Lightyear and their friends made a huge impression with the first film and this led to 3 sequels all with their own great soundtracks. The first instalment was the first animated film to be nominated for Best Original Screenplay and was also nominated for Best Original Song for “You’ve Got a Friend in Me” which is the most well-known song on the soundtrack.

There are quite a few sad moments throughout the Toy Story movies, with one of the most heartbreaking scenes being the one in Toy Story 2 when Jessie the Yodeling Cowgirl ruminates about being forgotten and given away by her owner Emily. The song that plays during this scene “When She Loved Me” is sung by Sarah McLachlan and is a true underrated tearjerker.

3 “Immortals” – Big Hero 6

During the trailers of Big Hero 6, the song “My Songs Know What You Did in the Dark” by Fall Out Boy could be heard playing throughout several scenes. And that wasn’t the last of the band’s songs in the movie either. Big Hero 6 follows the adventures of Hiro Hamada and Baymax and is the first Disney animated film to feature Marvel Comics characters.

It was the highest grossing animated film of 2014 and won several awards including an Oscar for Best Animated Feature. The soundtrack includes a thumper of a song by Fall Out Boy called “Immortals.” The song was written specifically for the movie and sold one million units. But despite its success, the tune still doesn’t make a lot of ‘best of’ lists.

2 “I Won’t Say (I’m In Love)” – Hercules

Development of the animated classic, Hercules, began in 1992 and the movie was finally released as a musical fantasy film in 1997. The film didn’t perform quite as well as its Disney predecessors and the soundtrack received mixed reviews. Some of the most recognizable songs to come out of the movie, is “Go The Distance” by Michael Bolton and “One Last Hope” by Danny DeVito.

The most under appreciated song on the soundtrack is “I Won’t Say (I’m in Love)” which is performed by Susan Egan, Lillias White, LaChanze, Roz Ryan, Cheryl Freeman and Vanéese Y. Thomas. The pop ballad is reminiscent of 1950s songs and its lyrics are about denying have romantic feelings towards a particular person; in this case Meg denying having feelings for Hercules.

1 “You’ll Be In My Heart” – Tarzan

Tarzan was the most expensive animated film ever made until Final Fantasy was released in 2001. It grossed $448 million worldwide and became the second highest grossing animated release in 1999, after Toy Story 2. The success of the film led to two sequels, a TV series and a Broadway show.

The songs on the Tarzan soundtrack were composed by music legend, Phil Collins and one of the tracks, “You’ll Be In My Heart”, won an Oscar and Golden Globe for Best Original Song. The soundtrack as a whole was the first to be recorded in several different languages to cater for different countries and Collins recorded French, Italian, German and Spanish versions of the songs. The album release of the soundtrack put Phil Collins back in the spotlight as it became his best-selling album in ten years. Strangely enough, despite “You’ll Be In My Heart’s” massive success, it is still one of the most underrated songs in an animated film.

Presenting the list of 10 must watch animated movies of all time. Everyone should see these animated films at least once in lifetime.

Top 10 must watch animated movies:

10. Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937)

Walt Disney Pictures.

Produced by Walt Disney Productions in 1937, it is an American animated musical fantasy film. The film was ranked among the 100 greatest American films, and also named as the greatest American animated film of all time. Also one of the 10 must watch animated movies.

WHAT IS IT ABOUT?

Snow White is a princess of great beauty, which makes her stepmother jealous. She asks her magic mirror daily to tell her that she is the most beautiful. But one day, the mirror says that the most beautiful woman in the kingdom is Snow White. The queen then decides to kill her but the guard charged with this task does not find the courage and abandons Snow White in the forest. Lost, exhausted, she fails in a house where seven Dwarfs live.

WHY SHOULD I SEE IT?

Certainly, and contrary to a widespread idea, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs is not the first animated feature film in the history of cinema. Nevertheless (nothing to do!). It is the film that immediately comes to mind when talking about the beginnings of the cartoon on the big screen; That offered Walt Disney his status of master; Always who knew how to reach the general public first, and this since the end of the 30’s.

How not to be amazed, while we are still in 1937 and the animation is always synonymous with nice cartoons in black and white, in front of the fireworks of colors, songs and characters as real life? Nearly 80 years later, we still have not managed to forget the chorus of the seven Dwarfs, the eyes of the witch and the fluidity of the movements of the young princess.

9. The King and the Mockingbird (1980)

Studio Canal.

WHAT IS IT ABOUT?

King Charles V and Three make Eight and Eight make Sixteen reign as a tyrant over the kingdom of Takicardie. Only a playful and talkative Bird, who has built his nest at the top of the gigantic palace, near his Majesty’s secret apartments, dares to taunt him. The King is in love with a charming and modest Berger whom he wants to marry under duress. But this one likes a little chimney sweep. Both flee to escape the King and, refugees at the top of the highest tower of the palace, save a small reckless bird caught at one of the traps of the Tyrant. The grateful Father Bird promises in return to help them.

WHY SHOULD I SEE IT?

If you only have to choose one French animated film to see during your life, opt for it without hesitation. It’s one of the best and 10 must watch animated movies.

Firstly because it is the first construction in the Hexagon; Then because it is unlike any other. Probably thanks to the combined talents of Paul Grimault, considered the French Walt Disney, and Jacques Pervert, scriptwriter of the film.

Equipped with a poetry worthy of a fable of La Fontaine. The King and the bird makes children dream while stirring social and philosophical issues in which their parents will recognize, sometimes approaching a novel of anticipation or even science fiction.

DID YOU KNOW?

It will take 30 long years for The King and the Bird to finally be presented to the public in its final version. Started in 1946 by Grimault and Pervert, the film saw its production interrupted, and released without the knowledge of its authors in 1953, under the title La Berger and the Chimney sweep. Renounced by its director, this first version of the film will be reworked years later. Paul Grimault will end up with a new version in 1979, called “The King and the Bird”.

8. Grave of the Fireflies (1988)

Kazé Animation

WHAT IS IT ABOUT ?

Japan, summer 1945. After the bombing of Kobe, Seita, a fourteen-year-old teenager and his four-year-old sister Setsuko, orphans, will move to their aunt’s home a few dozen kilometers from their home. This makes them understand that they are an embarrassment for the family and must deserve their daily rice. Seita decides to leave with her little sister. They take refuge in a disused bunker in the countryside and live happy days illuminated by the presence of thousands of fireflies. But soon the food begins to be sorely missed.

WHY SHOULD I SEE IT?

Hard to stop his choice on a single feature film when attacking the studio Ghibli. Of course, Le Voyage de Chihiro and Princess Mononoké are founding films and (they too) participated in writing the history of animation through the poetry deployed by Hayao Miyazaki.

But too bad! We had to decide, and it was on the co-founder of the famous Japanese studio, Isao Takahata, that we decided to stop our choice. Considered by many to be the most powerful work produced by Ghibli, his Tomb of the Fireflies is in any case the most moving, no doubt about it!

More magical creatures and legendary dragons here. The feature film bravely stands in the sad reality of Japan in 1945. To the atrocities of war, Takahata responds with a rare delicacy, and the violence suffered by his country, he opposes a shocking sweetness.

To see urgently, therefore! But not without your pack of tissues!

DID YOU KNOW ?

The Firefly Tomb was released in Japan in 1988 along with another film from Ghibli Studio, My Neighbor Totoro, signed by master Hayao Miyazaki, which received a much more enthusiastic welcome. Commercially, although uniquely recognized since as an absolute masterpiece, The Tomb of Fireflies was indeed considered a semi-failure, with only 800,000 entries. If the advertising campaign around the film was designed for both children and their parents, Isao Takahata’s work was considered far too dark, not to say absolute darkness, what the film is otherwise ; to the point of seeing the audience turn away.

7. Toy Story 3 (2010)

Disney – PIXAR

WHAT IS IT ABOUT ?

Andy is about to leave for college. Abandoned, the famous band of toys is found … at the nursery! Raging toddlers and their little fingers able to tear everything off are a real threat to our friends! It is urgent to build a plan to escape them as quickly as possible.

WHY SHOULD I SEE IT?

15 years after having revolutionized the world of animation by giving birth to the first feature film entirely made of computer-generated images, John Lasseter and his team of magicians decide to open their toy box for the third time.

Pass after the first two games of Toy Story and their undeniable qualities is really challenging. The level of requirement is colossal. But as often in Pixar, the miracle happens …

After 10 years of absence, Woody and Buzz are back, and they have lost none of their irresistible humor. The emotion is also more than ever at the rendezvous, and especially in the final sequence of the film, which concludes the trilogy of a sumptuous way.

Again, plan the handkerchiefs….. This is one of the 10 must watch animated movies.

DID YOU KNOW ?

Tom Hanks and Tim Allen, who lend their voices to Woody and Buzz respectively in the original version, insisted on dubbing the film together, which they did not do for the first two episodes, and that is elsewhere quite rare in animation in general.

6. Wallace and Gromit: The Mystery of the Garbage Rabbit (2005)

DreamWorks Animation SKG

WHAT IS IT ABOUT ?

An intense “vegetarian fever” reigns in the small town of Wallace and Gromit, and the ingenious duo took advantage of this craze by inventing a human and ecological anti-harmful product, which saves the lives of rabbits. The trick is simply to capture, by hand, a maximum of these rodents and put them in cages. A few days before the Great Annual Vegetable Contest, Wallace and Gromit’s business has never been so successful, and everything would be best in the best of all worlds, if a giant waswolf did not suddenly come to attack the sacro -saints vegetable gardens of the city. To cope with this unprecedented danger, the contest organizer, Lady Tottington, turns to our two “specialists” and asks them to apprehend the monster.

WHY SHOULD I SEE IT?

At Aardman, animation is an art that is cultivated with patience, just as we take care of a garden. Thus, perhaps it is not a coincidence that the Mystery of the rabbit-garou speaks of vegetable culture, so much the authors have sprinkled perseverance and meticulousness.

Stop motion (or frame-by-frame animation) requires goldsmith precision, and sometimes up to a full day’s work for a second of a movie. The mass of work is monumental, but the harvested fruits are too.

After the awesome Chicken Run, the second feature film of the British studios is a real nugget with British humor devastating and that gives off a real feeling of authenticity: each of the sets that we see on the screen exists for real, each object has been fashioned by hand, modeled at the cost of long efforts, and the result necessarily suffers.

The icing on the cake, it’s his two mascots, the endearing Wallace and Gromit, that the Aardman studios are reserving this time the place of honor, thus offering them their very first feature film.

DID YOU KNOW ?

Each figurine used in the film consists of a metal skeleton covered with a special modeling clay (the Aard-mix), more resistant than the current modeling clay. Unlike the Chicken Run figurines, whose texture was perfectly smooth, those of the Mystery of the Were Bunny retain some imperfections to reinforce the craftsmanship that is the charm of Wallace and Gromit’s films. The sixth among 10 must watch animated movies.

5. The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)

Walt Disney France

WHAT IS IT ABOUT ?

Jack Skellington, Pumpkin King and Halloween City Guide, is bored: For centuries, he’s tired of preparing the same Halloween party that comes back every year, and he dreams of change. It is then that he has the idea to seize the Christmas party …

WHY SHOULD I SEE IT?

In terms of stop motion, impossible not to mention the American Henry Selick and his famous tale as magical as Gothic, taken from a poem written by Tim Burton.

With a unique atmosphere that has inspired much popular culture, Mr. Jack’s Strange Christmas is the first full-length feature film produced entirely.

But if the final result is so striking, it is largely to the musical score of Danny Elfman that we must. It is also the composer himself who gives his voice to Jack the Scarecrow when he sings in the film.

DID YOU KNOW ?

As Tim Burton walked past the window of a store, he had the idea of writing the poem that inspired Mr. Jack’s Strange Christmas, and especially seeing the staff exchange Halloween characters for those Christmas, combining the two worlds for a moment.

4. Ghost in the Shell (1995)

Pathe

WHAT IS IT ABOUT ?

In a futuristic Japan governed by the Internet, Major Motoko Kusunagi, an ultra-sophisticated cyborg woman, is haunted by ontological questions. In spite of herself, she belongs to a muscular cyber-police with virtually unlimited means to fight against computer crime.

The day her section finds the trace of the ‘Puppet Master’, a mysterious and legendary hacker whose identity remains totally unknown, the young woman is about to penetrate the body of it and analyze the ghost ( an indefinable element of consciousness, related to the soul) in the hope of finding the answers to its own existential questions …

WHY SHOULD I SEE IT?

Japanese animation is not limited to Ghibli studio films, far from it!

Considered by James Cameron as “the first adult animated film to achieve this level of excellence,” Ghost in the Shell mixes an incredible animation technique with an ultra-immersive futuristic universe.

This feature film, adapted from the manga of the same name and directed by Mamoru Oshii, deals mainly with profound themes that are more relevant than ever, namely the relationship between man and machine, and the notion of transhumanism.

DID YOU KNOW ?

Ghost in the Shell was one of the major inspirations of the Wachowski brothers as they performed Matrix. Besides the fact that the two films share similar themes, there are several similar sequences. Anyway it’s 4th among 10 must watch animated movies.

3. Up there (2009)

Disney / Pixar

WHAT IS IT ABOUT ?

A 78-year-old balloon salesman, Carl Fredricksen, finally realizes the dream of his life. His desire to live a great adventure pushes him to tie thousands of balloons to his home to fly to the wilds of South America. But he sees too late the presence of a package in the form of his worst nightmare: Russell, a young explorer 8 years a little too optimistic, will accompany him on his journey.

WHY SHOULD I SEE IT?

“For every burst of laughter, you need a tear,” said Walt Disney.

In 2009, Pixar Studios decided to start with the tear by offering their audience a literally overwhelming intro scene. Carl and Ellie’s married life has the immediate effect of quietening the last noises of the room and forcing some viewers to discreetly wipe the glasses of their 3D glasses.

Sobbing sobs follow the laughter, which gives way to tears when Carl Fredricksen’s journey ends. Pixar Studios’ artists are alchemists who distil emotion with as much virtuosity as they handle animation.

Up there is further proof. It’s certainly not the Cannes Film Festival and the Oscars that will say the opposite.

DID YOU KNOW ?

One of the first people to discover up there in the world is a 10-year-old girl. At risk of cancer, the girl wanted to see the film at all costs before she died. The filmmakers sent him without hesitation a copy of the DVD before its theatrical release.

2. Beauty and the Beast (1991)

Walt Disney Pictures

Second in our list of 10 must watch animated movies of all time.

WHAT IS IT ABOUT ?

Belle is a sensitive and imaginative girl, who spends her days immersed in reading and who stubbornly repels the advances of Gaston, a muscular and vain belligerent. Only Maurice, his father, a wacky inventor, counts in his life. One day when the latter is lost in the forest, he must take refuge in a castle to escape a pack of wolves. Irritated by his intrusion, the master of the place, a gigantic and terrifying Beast, throws him into a dungeon. To save her father, Belle agrees to be held prisoner in her place …

WHY SHOULD I SEE IT?

After a long period of skinny cows in the 80’s, Disney studios are back in the early 90s, and prepare to live one of the most beautiful golden ages in their history.

The magic recipe? A return to fairy tales; A breathtaking animation, and songs that the public can continue to sing long after watching the film.

After the success of The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast applies the formula to perfection. This project, which Walt Disney himself had given up on, is transformed into a true masterpiece. This “eternal story” is probably one of the most beautiful romances ever told by Disney Studios. And in any case becomes the first animated feature film to be selected at the Oscars in the Best Film category.

DID YOU KNOW ?

Broadway star Angela Lansbury, who lends her voice to Mrs. Samovar in the film. Thought her character was not in the best position to sing the famous song “Eternal History”. At the request of the directors, the actress still recorded a single test. So convincing test that it was finally used in the film.

1. The Lion King (1994)

Walt Disney Pictures

WHAT IS IT ABOUT ?

The lion Mufasa, king of animals, and his wife Sarabi give birth to Simba, a future heir. But Scar, Mufasa’s brother, seeing his chances of gaining access to the throne decreases, encourages the cub to venture into an elephant cemetery located beyond the borders of the kingdom. The film is one of the 10 must watch animated movies.

WHY SHOULD I SEE IT?

Another nugget of the 90s at Disney; The Lion King has become a standard bearer, imposing itself for a long time as the greatest success of the studios until being dethroned by a certain Snow Queen.

Originally thought of as a “small” transitional project while waiting for Pocahontas, this surprise hit surprised everyone as it came out, unleashing crowds and marking the collective unconscious with its indelible claw.

True symbol of a generation, the film has carved the lion’s share with an introduction to fall to the ground. Unforgettable songs and mythical characters.… Not to mention the death of Mufasa, which we still have not handed.

DID YOU KNOW ?

The spectacular wildebeest sequence sweeping down the runway took the film crew three years to complete, as well as the development of a brand new computer program capable of running hundreds of characters simultaneously without them entering, collision. With a total duration of 6 minutes, the scene, technically irreproachable. Also marks the arrival of the CGI within the traditional animation. Like the introductory credits of Bernard and Bianca in the country of kangaroos or the ball scene in Beauty and the Beast. This is one of the first sequences to use digital processes to animate his characters.