Dad's Top 20 Traditional Animation Films - Ranked!

Countdown from #20 to #1.

This includes Dad's spoiler-free Mini-Preview!

Honorable Mention

It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown (1966), Director: Bill Melendez; rated G

Peanuts, pumpkins, and pleasure for the whole family!

Film ClipStarring: Peter Robbins, Christopher Shea, Kathy Steinberg, Bill Melendez, Sally Dryer, Gabrielle DeFaria, Glenn Mendelson, Ann Altieri, Lisa DeFaria

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★☆☆ - great

"He couldn't come with us 'cause he's sitting in a pumpkin patch, waiting for the Great Pumpkin." – Lucy

Why watch this? It just doesn't fell like Halloween without this Peanuts TV classic.

Plot Summary: Linus holds a firm belief in the Great Pumpkin, a figure he believes will rise from the most sincere pumpkin patch on Halloween night to deliver toys to good children. Despite mockery from his friends, Linus chooses to wait in the pumpkin patch, forsaking traditional Halloween activities like trick-or-treating and a costume party. The story follows Linus' unwavering faith and the reactions of the other Peanuts characters as they celebrate the holiday in their own ways.
 
  Dad's Preview: Just as Charlie Brown had his journey to find out the real meaning of Christmas, now Linus must decipher the magic of Halloween. He's convinced that the Great Pumpkin will rise in the local patch. It's always fun to watch the Peanuts gang don their costumes and trick or treat. Charlie, true to form, only gets a bag full of rocks. There was a child-like genius at play from writer Charles M. Schulz.  


Lee Mendelson Prod., Bill Melendez Prod.,
United Feature Syndicate; CBS (TV)
Top 20 Traditional Animation Films #20     Top

Aladdin (1992), Directors: John Musker, Ron Clements, rated G

A diamond in the rough.

Film ClipStarring (Voices): Scott Weinger, Robin Williams, Linda Larkin, Jonathan Freeman, Frank Welker, Gilbert Gottfried, Douglas Seale

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★☆☆ - great

"All right, Sparky, here's the deal. If you wanna court the little lady, you gotta be a straight shooter. Do ya got it?" - Genie, as Jack Nicholson, about Jasmine

Why watch this? It's a Disney-adapted classic story set to great musical numbers.

Plot Summary: Aladdin, a kind street urchin in the city of Agrabah, discovers a magic lamp containing a powerful yet comical Genie. With the Genie's help, Aladdin tries to win the heart of the free-spirited Princess Jasmine. Meanwhile, the Sultan's power-hungry advisor, Jafar, seeks to steal the lamp and the Genie's power for himself.

  Dad's Preview: The story of Aladdin, and the magic lamp, has been told to children for centuries. It is a classic tale. What makes this treasure stand out is Robin Williams as the Genie. It's a marriage made in heaven to turn Williams, and his manic, fast-hitting humor, loose, then back-fill the Genie's animation to match it. I can watch every Genie scene over and over and it never gets old. He morphs into numerous characters from pop culture and film. It truly is, well, magical!  


Walt Disney Feature Animation;
Buena Vista Pictures Distributing
Top 20 Traditional Animation Films #19     Top

Howl's Moving Castle (2004), Director: Hayao Miyazaki, rated PG

A magician, a witch, a castle that has life. A fantastic journey into the world of imagination.

Film ClipStarring: (the American voice talents of) Emily Mortimer, Jean Simmons, Christian Bale, Lauren Bacall, Billy Crystal, John Hutcherson, Blythe Danner, Jena Malone, Mari Devon

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★☆☆ - great

"Knowing you'd be there gave me the courage to show up. That woman terrifies me. I can't face her on my own. You saved me, Sophie. I was in big trouble back there." - Howl's reply to Sophie's question why she had to go meet with the sorceress Suliman

Why watch this? It's a creative, beautiful fantasy to behold.

Plot Summary: After being cursed with old age by a witch, a timid young hat maker named Sophie seeks a cure and finds refuge in the strange, walking castle of the notorious but insecure wizard, Howl. Assuming the role of a cleaning lady, she gradually grows closer to Howl and his quirky companions, while also trying to break a mysterious contract he has with a fire demon that powers the castle. As Sophie begins to develop her own confidence, she helps Howl confront his deepest fears and protect them both from the dangers of a senseless war engulfing their world.

  Dad's Preview: After watching of few of Miyazaki's films, you start to realize that you are seeing individual works of art, each one more elaborate than the last. His fantasy world-building skills are second-to-none. Everywhere there are steam-punk contraptions, the bustle of people, and beings from other realms. It is a lot to take in. Here the universal themes at play are war's senseless price, seeing things with different eyes, and the ever-present relationship between man and nature. Though the plot meanders a bit in the second half, there are always new, breathtaking cityscapes, or semi-organic warships or mountain vistas around the next corner. Kids will enjoy the fantastical story, and adults will appreciate the complexities of its plot.  


Studio Ghibli; Toho
Top 20 Traditional Animation Films #18     Top

Perfect Blue (1997), Director: Satoshi Kon, Not rated (Dad's guess: R for nudity, violence and rape)

The color of illusion is Perfect Blue.

Film ClipStarring: (the English dub voice talents of:) Ruby Marlowe, Wendee Lee, Gil Starberry, Lia Sargent, Steve Bulen, James Lyon, Frank Buck

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★☆☆ - great

"Nobody cares for you anymore. You're tarnished and you're filthy." - Mima's Ghost

Why watch this? It is an unsettling mental journey through the entertainment business.

Plot Summary: A Japanese pop idol named Mima Kirigoe leaves her successful J-pop group to pursue an acting career, taking on a controversial role in a crime drama series. As she struggles to transition her public image, she is relentlessly stalked by an obsessive fan and an anonymous figure online who believes her idol persona is still alive. Mima's grip on reality begins to blur as she questions her own identity and sanity, leading to a psychological crisis where she can no longer distinguish between fantasy and real life.

  Dad's Preview: There are anime films for children - this is not one of them. The themes here are very mature and disturbing. There is a rape scene that is hard to watch. I kept trying to tether myself to reality. What part if Mima's life is a dream or a waking hallucination, and what part is real? I felt confused, disoriented, frustrated. I realized (later) that is the point. She's in a whirlpool - lost, unsure of herself, being manipulated. Just like me. However the film's point becomes very clear upon reflection. The hyper-sexualization of actors and entertainers (mostly women) has an impact on everyone involved. These people are damaged by those churning the meat grinder - and fame is the lure they utilize.  


Madhouse; Rex Entertainment
Top 20 Traditional Animation Films #17     Top

The Jungle Book (1967), Director: Wolfgang Reitherman, rated G

The Jungle is JUMPIN'!

Film ClipStarring: (the voices of) Phil Harris, Sebastian Cabot, George Sanders, Sterling Holloway, John Abbott, Louis Prima, Bruce Reitherman

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★☆☆ - great

"Man village? They'll ruin him. They'll make a man out of him." – Baloo, the Bear

Why watch this? This is one of Disney's greatest films, pre Beauty and the Beast, that is.

Plot Summary: This children's classic follows Mowgli, an orphaned boy raised by wolves, who is forced to leave his jungle home due to the threat of Shere Khan, a man-eating tiger. Accompanied by the wise panther Bagheera, Mowgli resists returning to the human village, preferring his life with the animals. Along the way, he encounters a variety of colorful characters, including Baloo the bear and King Louie of the Apes, while also facing dangers from Kaa the snake and the persistent Shere Khan.
 
  Dad's Preview: This is a great animated film musical about an orphaned boy who is raised by wolves, and mentored by a friendly big-bellied bear and watchful black panther. The boy is also being stalked by the notorious Bengal tiger, Shere Khan. For a cartoon, it's wonderfully complex and filled with lots of great songs, laughs, and even a few scary moments.  


Walt Disney Prod.;
Buena Vista Distributing
Top 20 Traditional Animation Films #16     Top

Fantastic Planet (aka La plančte sauvage, 1973), Director: René Laloux, rated PG

A Sublime Trip to a Fine New World

Film ClipStarring: (the voice talents of) Barry Bostwick, Jennifer Drake, Eric Baugin, Jean Topart, Jean Valmont, Sylvie Lenoir, Michele Chahan, Yves Barsacq

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★☆☆ - great

"After a while, I lost my intimacy with Tiwa. As she grew up, she gave up her playthings. Deprived of lessons, I decided to run away." – Terr (narrating)

Why watch this? This thought-provoking animated film has lessons for us all.

Plot Summary: Set on the distant planet Ygam, the story explores the relationship between the highly intelligent, giant blue Draags and the smaller, human-like Oms who are treated as both pets and pests. The narrative follows an Om named Terr as he gains access to Draag knowledge and leads his people in a struggle for survival and coexistence. This struggle eventually culminates in the Oms finding a way to establish a new home on Ygam's moon, the Fantastic Planet itself.

  Dad's Preview: As a kid, many issues of Famous Monsters of Filmland magazine would contains pictures from this sci-fi classic. Even then, I was intriqued. This French film is both incredibly creative and sympathetically humanistic. The planet's dominate beings are the blue, highly-advanced Draags. They appear aloof and cold. We, of course, relate more to the mice-sized Oms, who are basically humans, trapped on a brutal world, at the mercy of the Draags and all the land's various beasts. The Oms are pests to the Draags, that is, until a single boy, Terr, escapes and becomes the hero we root for. Fantastic Planet is like immersing your mind into a Picasso nightmare - one that, for a person searching to learn, teaches empathy, at the least, and coexistence as a larger state to achieve.   


Les Films Armorial, Service de le recherche
ORTF, Studio Jiri Trnka; Argos Films
Top 20 Traditional Animation Films #15     Top

Bambi (1942), Directors: David D Hand, rated Approved

The FAMOUS BOOK-OF-THE-MONTH becomes The PICTURE of-the-YEAR!

Film ClipStarring: (the voice talents of:) Donnie Dunagan, Hardie Albright, Peter Behn, Paula Winslowe, Stan Alexander, Will Wright, Cammie King, Fred Shields, Margaret Lee, Perce Pearce

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★☆☆ - great

"Bambi, wait! You must never rush out on the meadow. There might be danger. Out there, we're unprotected. The meadow is wide and open, and there are no trees or bushes to hide us. So we have to be very careful." – Bambi's Mother

Why watch this? This breaks the cute-ometer, obviously, but there's lessons aplenty, too.

Plot Summary: Bambi is a young deer growing up in the forest. Along with his friends, Thumper the rabbit and Flower the skunk, Bambi explores his world and learns about the joys and dangers of life in the wild.

  Dad's Preview: This classic Disney film follows the life of a forest deer, Bambi, from birth to mature adult. The forest can be a fun place to grow up, as Bambi befriends a toe-tapping rabbit named Thumper (the cutest in movie history), a skunk named Flower, and young doe, Faline. There is, however, danger whenever a creature appears called "Man". There were many early film critics who panned Bambi. They expected a Disney film to have fantasy elements. This story, within its delightful cheeriness, has some hard lessons about danger, abandonment, and the sometimes brutal survival challenges for animals. It was too serious. Modern reviewers consider this film one of the best of Disney's Golden Era. Life, even for humans, is hard and can be difficult. World issues, unexpected deaths, family struggles - all are real - and people have to endure. Bambi weathered it, and so can all of us.    


Walt Disney Prod.; RKO Radio Pictures
Top 20 Traditional Animation Films #14     Top

Batman: Mask of the Phantasm (1993), Directors: Eric Radomski, Bruce Timm, rated PG

The Dark Knight fights to save Gotham City from its deadliest enemy.

Film ClipStarring: Kevin Conroy, Mark Hamill, Dana Delaney, Stacy Keach, Hart Bochner, Abe Vigoda, Dick Miller, John P. Ryan, Efrem Zimbalist Jr.

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★☆☆ - great

"Vengeance blackens the soul, Bruce. I've always feared that you would become that which you fought against." – Alfred

Why watch this? This animated classic is one of the best Batman stories ever.

Plot Summary: A new vigilante, known as the Phantasm, begins eliminating Gotham City's crime bosses, and Batman is wrongly accused of the murders. While trying to solve the mystery and clear his name, Bruce Wayne reconnects with an old love, Andrea Beaumont, whose return stirs up complex emotions and raises questions about his decision to become Batman. The film explores Batman's past and present, as he grapples with the escalating violence and the resurfacing feelings for Andrea, leading him to confront difficult choices about his future.

  Dad's Preview: After the incredible Batman: The Animated Series, the same creators finally gave audiences this full-length animated film. It delivers big time. It features two legendary voice actors in Kevin Conroy as Batman and Mark Hamill (yes, Luke Skywalker of Star Wars) as The Joker. The plot is, of course, a who-done-it, with everyone intent on stopping the mysterious Phantasm, a devious villain, murdering folks in Gotham City. The Caped Crusader will have to look deep within to solve this confounding caper.  


Warner Bros. Family Entertainment, Warner
Bros. Animation; Warner Bros.

Top 20 Traditional Animation Films #13     Top

Robin Hood (1973), Director: Wolfgang Reitherman, rated G

Join the MERRIEST MENagerie in the world's best-loved legend

Film ClipStarring: (the voice talents of:) Brian Bedford, Monica Evans, Phil Harris, Roger Miller, Andy Devine, Peter Ustinov, Terry-Thomas, Carole Shelley, Pat Buttram, George Lindsey, Ken Curtis

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★☆ - near perfect

"You know somethin', Robin. I was just wonderin', are we good guys or bad guys? You know, I mean, uh? Our robbin' the rich to feed the poor." - Little John

Why watch this? This Disney version of Sherwood Forest may be the very best.

Plot Summary: Set in a world of anthropomorphic animals, the film follows the legendary outlaw Robin Hood as he, alongside his friend Little John and other allies, challenges the greed and tyrannical rule of Prince John, who has usurped the throne from his brother, King Richard. Robin Hood's cunning and skills are pitted against Prince John's schemes and the efforts of the Sheriff of Nottingham to capture him. Throughout their adventures, Robin Hood and his merry band strive to ease the burdens placed upon the impoverished townsfolk and restore justice to the land.

  Dad's Preview: This Disney classic, from their first animated movie heyday, takes the age-old English story of the people's thief, Robin Hood, and goes hog wild creatively transforming the players into all sorts of animal characters. The result is near perfection. Robin Hood and Marion are foxes. Little John is a rotund bear (voiced wonderfully by Phil Harris). The evil Prince John is a (cowardly and arrogant) lion. The plot is true to legend, but the real pleasures within this film are the hosts of entertaining side characters that serve to spice things up: Marian's handmaiden, Lady Kluck, a bouncy hen; Prince John's advisor, the snake, Sir Hiss; the two hilarious vultures Trigger and Nutsy, who guard the paranoid Prince. To say they don't make films like this anymore is an understatement. The animation is pristine, the musical numbers are lovely, and the script is tight and funny. This family favorite will entertain even the fussiest child. Put it on and enjoy Disney at its best!  


Walt Disney Prod.; Buena Vista Distribution
Top 20 Traditional Animation Films #12      Top

My Neighbor Totoro (1988), Director: Hayao Miyazaki, rated G

This strange creature is still in Japan. Maybe.

Film ClipStarring: Voices: Dakota Fanning, Elle Fanning, Tim Daly, Leo Salonga, Frank Welker, Pat Carroll, Kath Soucie, Ashley Rose Orr

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★☆ - near perfect

"Trees and people used to be good friends. I saw that tree and decided to buy the house. Hope Mom likes it too." – Tatsuo Kusakabe

Why watch this? It's a beautiful, panging vision of childhood and imagination.

Plot Summary: When two young sisters, Satsuki and Mei, move with their father to a new home in the Japanese countryside to be closer to their ailing mother in the hospital, they discover that their new home and the nearby woods are filled with strange and delightful creatures. They soon befriend a giant and gentle forest spirit known as Totoro. Totoro and his friends introduce the girls to a world of magical adventures, including a ride aboard the extraordinary Cat Bus.

  Dad's Preview: This wonderful film, from the mind of the masterful Hayao Miyazaki, takes us inside the brains of two children who move into a new house to be closer to their ailing mother. When their father boards the bus to work, the children's fantasies, to explore, to learn, to be sad, come to life. They encounter benevolent spirits to accompany them. It's a warm film that will touch your memories of childhood and the joys you had. It will perhaps also flush out some perhaps painful memories, too. Both are a valuable part of who we are. The genius here is that all those thoughts are better dealt with as a big fluffy, bouncy-bellied cat-creature. That should give you comfort.  


Studio Ghibli; Toho
Top 20 Traditional Animation Films #11      Top

Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937), Director: David Hand, Rated Approved

Walt Disney's new characters in his first full-length production!

Film ClipStarring: (the voices of) Adriana Caselotti, Lucille La Verne, Roy Atwell, Pinto Colvig, Otis Harlan, Scotty Mattraw, Billy Gilbert, Eddie Collins, Harry Stockwell

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★☆ - near perfect

"Famed is thy beauty, Majesty. But hold, a lovely maid I see. Rags cannot hide her gentle grace. Alas, she is more fair than thee." - Magic Mirror

Why watch this? This Disney classic was the first cartoon feature film. Yes, it started it all.

Plot Summary: The tale follows the orphaned princess Snow White whose wicked stepmother, the Queen, cannot contain her jealousy for the young girl's beauty. The queen orders her Huntsman to take Snow White into the forest and kill her. The burly hunter cannot do the deed and tells the princess to flee and never return. Along her way, Snow White is befriended by the forest's animals, and seven pint-sized miners.

  Dad's Preview: Walt Disney's stellar career began with this cinematic re-telling of an 1812 German fairy tale. This animated treasure covers many themes that Disney would continue to explore: evil stepmothers, true love's kiss, and catchy musical numbers. For 1937, film was unequaled and extremely popular throughout the world. It ushered in the golden age of animation, and remained as the highest-grossing animated film for 55 years! It has some fairly scary moments, but it is adorably cute, too.     


Walt Disney Prod.; RKO Radio Pictures
Top 20 Traditional Animation Films #10      Top

Grave of the Fireflies (1988), Director: Isao Takahata, Not rated (Dad's guess PG-13)

It belongs on any list of the greatest war films ever made - Roger Ebert

Film ClipStarring: (the voice talents of:) Tsutomu Tatsumi, Ayano Shiraishi, Akemi Yamaguchi, Yoshiko Shinohara, Kôzô Hashida, Masayo Sakai, Kazumi Nozaki, Yoshio Matsuoka, Masahiro Kanetake, Kiyoshi Yanagawa

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★☆ - near perfect

"Why do fireflies have to die so soon?" - Setsuko

Why watch this? War is hell on soldiers, but it's also hell on the civilians that live beneath falling bombs.

Plot Summary: During the final months of World War II in Japan, teenage Seita and his young sister Setsuko are orphaned after an American firebombing destroys their home and separates them from their parents. The two children must rely completely on one another for survival, struggling to find food and shelter in the war-torn countryside after a falling out with their unsympathetic aunt. Their story is a heartbreaking tale of the devastating impact of war on innocent civilians and the profound strength of their sibling bond amidst unimaginable hardship.

  Dad's Preview: This visceral, emotional film depicts the cost war takes on civilians. It is based on a semi-autobiographical short story written by Akiyuki Nosaka, who himself survived during and after the incendiary bombings of Kobe, Japan. The people left to fend for themselves amid the rubble of their world had it bad enough. Nosaka had the added responsibility of caring for his little sister, Setsuko. Though an animated feature, their journey is anything but childish or funny. It heart-shattering, as they fight to find food and stay alive. This is about incredibly courage and horrible tragedy. Many consider this to be one of the greatest animated films ever made. For me, it is a necessary anti-war film that drives home the point: war simply kills people. Period.  


Studio Ghibli; Toho
Top 20 Traditional Animation Films #9      Top

The Iron Giant (1999), Director: Brad Bird, rated PG

It Came From Outer Space!

Film ClipStarring: (the voices of) Jennifer Aniston, Eli Marienthal, Harry Connick Jr., Vin Diesel, Cloris Leachman, James Gammon, Christopher McDonald, John Mahoney

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★☆ - near perfect

"I know you feel bad about the deer, but it's not your fault. Things die. That's part of life. It's bad to kill, but it's not bad to die." - Hogarth Hughes

Why watch this? ... a boy finds an unlikely friend when a mysterious metal giant becomes sentient.

Plot Summary: Set in 1957, during the Cold War, a young boy named Hogarth Hughes discovers and befriends a giant robot that has crash-landed near his town in Maine. Hogarth attempts to protect the robot from a paranoid government agent and the U.S. military, who are determined to find and destroy the giant. With the help of beatnik artist Dean McCoppin, Hogarth tries to teach the Giant about life and prevent him from becoming the weapon his creators intended.

  Dad's Preview: This is one of the best non-Disney animated efforts from the 90's. When a massive iron robot crash lands on earth, the bump on the head somehow causes it to become "alive". A fatherless boy, Hogarth, stumbles upon the friendly giant. Their interactions are fun and wonderful, as the iron man becomes more and more human. As par for the course, the Army wants to reclaim their "project" (designed for warfare), even if it means destroying him. The all-star voice cast hits every mark. This heart-warming flick will also leave a mark on your heartstrings.  


Warner Bros. Feature Animations;
Warner Bros.
Top 20 Traditional Animation Films #8      Top

Your Name (2016), Director: Makoto Shinkai, rated PG-13

Experience Japan's #1 film of 2016, from visionary director Makoto Shinkai.

Film ClipStarring: (the English voice talents of:) Michael Sinterniklaas, Stephanie Sheh, Kyle Hebert, Cassandra Lee Morris, Ben Pronsky, Ray Chase, Laura Post, Glynis Ellis, Catie Harvey, Scott Williams, Michelle Ruff, Katy Vaughn

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★☆ - near perfect

"What should I do? Would I annoy him? Would it be awkward? Or maybe he'd be a bit glad to see me?" - Mitshuha, regarding a chance encounter with Taki

Why watch this? More attention needs to be paid to anime films, including this masterpiece.

Plot Summary: The story follows a high school girl in rural Japan and a high school boy in Tokyo who begin to mysteriously swap bodies. They learn about each other's lives and build a connection by leaving notes and messages. When the body-swapping suddenly stops, the boy goes on a quest to find the girl, only to discover a heartbreaking truth about their connection.

  Dad's Preview: This intelligent, completely entertaining sci-fi film covers a lot, makes you think, and knows what it is: an impossible love story. It's plot is hard to explain, and that is why it works so well. The viewer is asked to fill in the blanks, based on an incomplete set of facts. It eventually gets where it's going, but is is like savoring a great slice of cheesecake one fork at a time. The part-CGI-part-traditional animation is truly eye-popping. The soundtrack is catchy in a kind of 90's vibe. However, it's the creative story that drives this spanning epic about two longing souls who somehow cosmically connect, and are forced to battle inner and outer obstacles to be together.  


CoMix Wave Films; Toho
Top 20 Traditional Animation Films #7      Top

The Batman Superman Movie: World's Finest (1997), Director: Toshihiko Masuda, rated TV-PG

Cleaning Up The Planet One Villain At A Time

Film ClipStarring: (the voice talents of:) Tim Daly, Kevin Conroy, Dana Delany, Mark Hamill, Clancy Brown, Arleen Sorkin, Lisa Edelstein, Bob Hastings, Efrem Zimbalist Jr., George Dzundza

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★☆ - near perfect

"My, you do live dangerously. Don't you realize you're moving in on Superman's main squeeze?" - Joker, to Bruce Wayne on dating Lois Lane

Why watch this? This is a superb telling of the first meeting between Bats and Supes

Plot Summary: When the Joker develops a plan to kill Superman for Lex Luthor, Batman follows Joker to Metropolis. This brings the two iconic heroes together, forcing them to overcome their initial distrust of each other. Working together, the world's finest heroes must thwart the villainous alliance between Luthor and the Joker to protect both cities.

  Dad's Preview: Warner Brothers struck gold on DC Super-heroes in the 1990's. They first gave viewers the incredible Batman: The Animated Series (1992-1995, 85 episodes), then followed up with Superman: The Animated Series (1996 to 2000, 54 episodes). This movie was originally aired as three Superman episodes, 29-31, called "World's Finest". It may be my favorite storyline from all the animated work. This would eventually lead to Justice League (2001 to 2004). What's not to like? It takes these long-developed characters and finally brings them together, as comics had done years before. The voice cast is incredible, as is the rock-solid story by Alan Burnett and Paul Dini, long-time comic book writers.  


Warner Bros. Television Animation; The WB (Kid's WB)
Top 20 Traditional Animation Films #6      Top

Princess Mononoke (1997), Director: Hayao Miyazaki, rated PG-13

The Fate Of The World Rests On The Courage Of One Warrior.

Film ClipStarring: (English voice cast:) Billy Crudup, Claire Danes, Minnie Driver, Billy Bob Thornton, John DeMita, John DiMaggio, Jada Pinkett Smith, Gillian Anderson, Debi Derryberry, Keith David, Tara Strong

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★☆ - near perfect

"Now watch closely, everyone. I'm going to show you how to kill a god. A god of life and death. The trick is not to fear him." - Lady Eboshi

Why watch this? It is yet another wonderful animated treasure from the mind of Hayao Miyazaki.

Plot Summary: Set in the Muromachi period of Japanese history, young Prince Ashitaka is cursed by a demonized boar god and must journey to the west to find a cure. There, he becomes embroiled in a conflict between Iron Town, a community encroaching upon the forest and its inhabitants, and the forest spirits, led by the enigmatic Princess Mononoke. Ashitaka attempts to mediate between the opposing forces, seeking a path to coexistence before the escalating violence consumes both humans and nature.

  Dad's Preview: If you enjoyed Dorothy's journey in Oz, or Charlie's adventure in Willie's factory, then this amazing fantasy fare might be right up your alley. Director/Writer Miyazaki creates such incredible visuals that, at first, you might be overwhelmed. This quest through Japanese mythology, where demons and forest gods hold considerable power over humans, plays like a Greek tragedy. As man moves becomes more dominant, nature and the gods of nature, must be destroyed to enable man to essentially rape the natural world of its resources. Standing in the way are a brave warrior, and a wolf whisperer, both determined to stop the human's rampant destruction. The animation is off-the-charts amazing, and the story rich with allegory. A visit to this world will leave you wondering about humankind, and our role in preserving the natural world we live in. James Cameron said this film influenced his meta-hit, Avatar (2009).  


Studio Ghibli; Toho
Top 20 Traditional Animation Films #5      Top

The Little Mermaid (1989), Directors: John Muskar, Ron Clements, rated G

Somewhere under the sea and beyond your imagination is an adventure in fantasy.

Film ClipStarring: Jodi Benson, Christopher Daniel Barnes, Pat Carroll, Kenneth Mars, Samuel E. Wright, Jason Marin, Buddy Hackett

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★★ - perfect

"Hmm... Teenagers. They think they know everything. You give them an inch, they swim all over you." – Sebastian

Why watch this? This film revitalized Disney's animated film reputation.

Plot Summary: A curious young mermaid named Ariel dreams of experiencing life beyond the sea and falls in love with a human prince she rescues from a shipwreck. Desperate to join his world, Ariel makes a dangerous pact with the sea witch Ursula, trading her voice for human legs. With her new form, Ariel embarks on a quest to win the prince's love, but she faces challenges and a ticking clock as Ursula has hidden motives.

  Dad's Preview: During the 1980s Disney's animated films had lost something. Then came The Little Mermaid. This gem felt like they had returned to basics, and found the magic again. It has humor and loveable characters, but it is the music that stands out as iconic. Those numbers just make you want to stand up, sing and even dance (or well, swim). So my youngest son did just that - he was selected to portray Sebastian in his high school musical! And, (parental brag warning) he killed it - we were so proud of him and all the play's cast!  


Walt Disney Feature Animation; Buena
Vista Pictures Dist.
Top 20 Traditional Animation Films #4      Top

Who Framed Roger Rabbit (1988), Director: Robert Zemeckis, rated PG

It's the story of a man, a woman, and a rabbit in a triangle of trouble.

Film ClipStarring: Bob Hoskins, Christopher Lloyd, Charles Fleischer (voice), Joanna Cassidy, Kathleen Turner (voice)

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★★ - perfect

"I'm not bad. I'm just drawn that way." – Jessica Rabbit

Why watch this? ... to watch, in awe, the genius it took to intertwine humans and cartoons into the same celluloid space.

Plot Summary: In 1947 Los Angeles, where cartoons and humans coexist, a private detective who loathes toons takes a case involving a rabbit toon star accused of murder. As the detective investigates, he uncovers a complex conspiracy that threatens the existence of Toontown, the animated metropolis where toons reside.

  Dad's Preview: I am always a fan of something new and inventive, even if the effort sometimes falls short. This film is an example where expectations were exceeded. Director Zemeckis creates a 1950s-ish world where humans and cartoons co-exist, and it's business-as-usual. This is an easy film to love. It has all our favorite cartoon characters (Mickey, Donald, Daffy, Porky, etc.), zany slapstick bits, devious villains, a wonderful ending... and let's not forget naughtily-drawn bombshell, Jessica Rabbit.    


Touchstone Pics, Amblin Ent., Silver Screen
Partners III; Buena Vista Pictures Dist.
Top 20 Traditional Animation Films #3     Top

The Lion King (1994), Directors: Roger Allers, Rob Minkoff, rated G

The greatest adventure of all is finding our place in the circle of life.

Film ClipStarring: Jonathan Taylor Thomas, Matthew Broderick, James Earl Jones, Jeremy Irons, Moira Kelly, Ernie Sabella, Nathan Lane, Robert Guillaume, Whoopi Goldberg, Cheech Marin

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★★ - perfect

"When we die, our bodies become the grass, and the antelope eat the grass. And so we are all connected in the great Circle of Life." - Mufasa

Why watch this? ... It is one of the best of the 90's Disney classics.

Plot Summary: A young lion cub, Simba, is destined to rule the Pride Lands, but his bitter uncle, Scar, plots against him and his father, King Mufasa. Simba is led to believe he is responsible for his father's death and flees into exile, where he befriends Timon and Pumbaa. Years later, his past returns to haunt him, and he must decide whether to reclaim his rightful place and face his demons.

  Dad's Preview: We wore out this Disney VHS tape. Our kids were mesmerized by the cute animals and catchy tunes. It really is a magical story of families and growing up to face responsibility. To that, you only have to add a wise mandrill, a witty lemur and a smelly warthog. And viola! - A great animated classic is born! Today, I still cry numerous times during this musical romp through scenic Africa.  


Walt Disney Feature Animation;
Buena Vista Pictures Dist.
Top 20 Traditional Animation Films #2      Top

Spirited Away (2001, U.S. release date 2002), Director: Hayao Miyazaki, rated PG

Prepare to be spirited away.

Film ClipStarring: Rumi Hiiragi, Miyu Irino, Mari Natsuki, Takeshi Naito, Yasuko Sawaguchi
English dub - Daveigh Chase, Jason Marsden, Suzanne Pleshette, Lauren Holly, Michael Chiklis, David Ogden Stiers

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★★ - perfect

"Three days of eating our food and her smell will go away. And if she doesn't work hard, roast her, boil her, do whatever you want. Now get back to work." - Haku

Why watch this? You need to experience this visual wonder conveyed by Hayao Miyazaki.

Plot Summary: During her family's move, a sullen 10-year-old girl named Chihiro wanders into a world ruled by gods, witches, and spirits. Her parents are transformed into pigs after eating unattended food in an abandoned amusement park, leaving Chihiro trapped in this strange realm. To survive and find a way back, Chihiro must secure employment at a bathhouse for spirits, where she encounters various magical beings and faces numerous challenges.

  Dad's Preview: Though this was released by Disney, it's  not a Disney film, and I suggest that it's not really for small children. It is a wonderful fable about a young girl's dream-like transition from child to young adult. Throw in a lot of creative symbolism, some of which has meaning, some not so much. It is visually wild, and you'll wonder, "Who thinks up this stuff?" Director Miyazaki apparently, and thank goodness for his unique perspective. Who also loved it was the Academy, rewarding this with the Oscar for Best Animated Feature Film.  


Studio Ghibli; Toho
Top 20 Traditional Animation Films #1      Top

Beauty and the Beast (1991), Directors: Gary Trousdale, Kirk Wise, rated G

The most beautiful love story ever told.

Film ClipStarring (voices): Paige O'Hara, Robby Benson, Richard White, Jerry Orbach, David Ogden Stiers, Angela Lansbury, Rex Everhart, Jesse Corti

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★★ - perfect

"Oh, it's no use. She's so beautiful, and I'm... Well, look at me!" - Beast

Why watch this? This magical Disney effort just made the world seem right again.

Plot Summary: In this fairy tale, the beautiful Belle offers her freedom to a cursed prince who has been transformed into a Beast. The Beast, along with his castle and its enchanted staff, are under a spell that can only be broken if he learns to love and be loved in return. Belle gradually gets to know the Beast and sees beyond his outward appearance, while the Beast strives tame his impatient temper.

  Dad's Preview: Disney animation had a quality problem in the 1980's. This film changed all that immediately. It's exciting, funny and a beauty to behold. There are many memorable characters and incredible musical numbers. Memorable characters include the French candlestick Lumiere, the British tea kettle Mrs. Potts and the unforgettably conceited huntsman Gaston. This musical is big and bold, yet tender and intimate. It restored Disney's reputation as a quality producer of cinematic animation.  


Walt Disney Feature Animation; Buena
Vista Pictures Distribution, Inc.