Whilst certainly not a blanket rule,animationhas typically been seen as a mediumaimed at families and younger audiences. Given that children often have shorter attention spans, it’s rare to find animated movies that revel in the same levels of grandeur and epic scale asacclaimed filmslikeThe GodfatherorTitanic.
However, this needn’t be the case.Animation is an art form that allows for endless possibilities—unbounded by the constraints of live-action filmmaking. While crafting animated films can often be a more time-consuming and technically demanding process, with the right vision, they can, without a doubt, explore complex narratives, rich emotional depth, and sweeping cinematic scope just as powerfully as their live-action counterparts.
10’Akira' (1988)
124 Minutes
The release ofAkirain 1988 was a monumental moment in the history of animation, sparking a surge in the popularity of Japanese anime and manga-style animation in the West—a trend that continues to this day. Its groundbreaking visuals, complex narrative, and mature themes captivated audiences, introducing them to a level of animation sophistication that had rarely been seen before.
‘Akira’ Lit the Fuse for the Anime and Manga Explosion in the West
Today, Japanese anime and manga have become integral parts of pop culture worldwide, withAkiraremaining a symbol of their enduring impact—inspiring countless subsequent works and fostering appreciation for the unique storytelling and artistic qualities of the medium.
9’Spirited Away' (2001)
125 Minutes
Spirited Away
LikeAkirabefore it, the release ofSpirited Awaymarked a turning point in the animation industry. Not only did it introduce Japanese anime to an even bigger global audience, but it also proved that animation could be both whimsical and imaginative, yet artistically sophisticated and emotionally resonant for audiences of all ages. After spending over two hours with Chihiro “Sen” Ogino, audiences feel a deep emotional connection with her, sharing every personal win and every emotional setback, rooting for her in a way rarely seen in animated movies.
‘Spirited Away’ Was Groundbreaking
The movie changed the way the world perceived animated films, specifically Japanese-produced ones, paving the way for countless movies that followed. Now one of themost beloved and iconic animated movies of all time, it held the record for the highest-grossing Japanese film for nearly 20 years and broke new ground by becoming the first-ever non-English-language movie to win an Oscar for Best Animated Feature.
8’Incredibles 2' (2018)
126 Minutes
Incredibles 2
Following the huge success ofThe Incredibles, the sequel hit theaters in 2018, reuniting viewers with the Parr family after they find themselves in trouble following a battle with the villainous Underminer, which caused untold property damage to their town. This sparks a backlash toward the superhero community, and they soon see their funding pulled. Help arrives in the form of two wealthy siblings who call on Helen (Elastigirl) to help reinvent the image of a superhero. While initially a PR campaign, her actions put her face-to-face with a new villain, the Screenslaver, who is looking to control people through their mobile devices.
‘Incredibles 2’ Is the Perfect Superhero Comedy for the Whole Family
Incredibles 2is one of the rare examples of a movie—animated or otherwise—that arguably supersedes the original.With the originalIncredibles, Pixar ingeniously entered the superhero genre with a film that acts just as much as a sharp satire of sitcom-like suburban life as it does an homage to the great comic book heroes of Marvel and DC.Incredibles 2focuses its attention on what made the original so enjoyable: there is more time spent on the heroes’ home lives and more of the hilarious and adorable Jack-Jack, which, combined with improvements in technology resulting in sharper animation, makes it one of the greatest superhero movies of all time.
The sheer amount of action, comedy, and animated chaos on offer makes its relatively long runtime fly by, resulting in a thoroughly enjoyable viewing experience for audiences of all ages.
7’The Wind Rises' (2013)
The Wind Rises
Based on his 2009 manga of the same name,The Wind Risesis a historical drama that focuses on the life of Japanese aeronautical engineer Jiro Horikoshi. Starting with his time at the University of Tokyo in 1923 and concluding with the first test flight of the infamous warplane, the Mitsubishi Ka-14,The Wind Risesis a beautifully animated story of ambition and sacrifice that also explores the moral complexities of creating warplanes during times of conflict.
‘The Wind Rises’ Takes a Few Creative Liberties
While the crux of the story is rooted firmly in history, a few creative liberties were taken to craft a more compelling narrative, including a fictional romantic subplot. Despite these moments of fiction, Horikoshi’s contributions to aviation are never overshadowed, resulting in an educational, entertaining, and poignant viewing experience.
6’The Lord of the Rings' (1978)
132 Minutes
The Lord of the Rings
Anyone familiar with J.R.R. Tolkien’s classic novel of the same name is unlikely to be surprised by the epic runtime of this 1978 animated adaptation. The novel built an entire world with its own history, languages, cultures, and lore—much of which is carried forward into the movie.
Despite Its Ambition, ‘The Lord of the Rings’ Received Mixed Reviews
At over two hours long,The Lord of the Ringswas a highly ambitious piece of work, notable for its combination of traditional cel animation and rotoscoped live-action footage. In trying to convey the complex themes and narrative of its source material in a family animation, it did, however, unfortunately lose much of the book’s charm along the way. That’s not to say it’s not worth a watch for avid fans of the book or those who appreciate animation as an art form.
5’Fantasia' (1940)
120 Minutes
Fantasiaflips every convention associated with the animated genre on its head and still manages to be a huge critical and commercial hit. There’s no linear narrative to speak of, there’s no real dialogue, and the runtime far exceeds those typically associated with the medium. Instead, audiences are treated to a gorgeously animated collection of mesmerizing musical sequences that manage to evoke a plethora of powerful emotions with barely a single word being uttered.
‘Fantasia’ Is One of the Most Influential Movies Ever Made
Fantasiapushed the boundaries of animation, reinventing what could be done with the medium. It inspired future animators and filmmakers to explore the limitless possibilities of animation, with its influence even spilling intothe world of rock ’n’ rollwith the likes ofThe Beatles’Yellow SubmarineandPink Floyd’sThe Wall—two films sharing similarities withFantasiain their experimental approach to using animated sequences with music.
4’Princess Mononoke' (1997)
134 Minutes
Princess Mononoke
Princess Mononokeis a fantasy epic set in the Muromachi period of Japanese history. Viewers are immediately immersed in this beautifully animated world of wonder and wickedness as they follow Ashitaka, a young Emishi prince who embarks on a perilous journey to find a cure for his cursed arm. During his journey, he must overcome a plethora of dangerous obstacles and encounters as he becomes embroiled in the conflict between Irontown and the forest of the gods, as well as a bitter feud between Lady Eboshi and a young girl raised by wolves.
‘Princess Mononoke’ Failed to Resonate with Younger Western Audiences
Despite widespread global critical acclaim,Princess Mononokefailed to replicate its native box office success in America. The movie, which combines fun-filled fantasy with Japanese cultural history, may have had all the ingredients for the perfect family film, but many were likely put off by its long runtime. Needless to say, for those with a full evening free ahead of them,Princess Mononokeis the perfect form of escapism—full of action, adventure, emotion, and intrigue.
How the Disney Studio Has Strayed From the Original Vision
For many of us, Disney’s films feel like a decline from what we used to see from the House of Mouse.
3’Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse' (2023)
140 Minutes
Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse
In 2018,Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verseblew everyone’s minds by delivering a visually stunning, emotionally sophisticated take on the classic superhero IP. Focusing on Miles Morales and his Spider-Man alter ego, it’s just as much a teen drama as it is a superhero action flick, combining emotion and heart with high-flying, web-slinging adventure. The movie was a runaway hit with critics and audiences alike and won the Oscar for Best Animated Feature Film.
‘Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse’ Is Even More Ambitious Than Its Predecessor
WhereInto the Spider-Verseintroduced the concept of multiple parallel dimensions—each with its own version of Spider-Man—Across the Spider-Verseexpanded on that idea, with Miles’s Spider-Man freely traveling between those universes in his pursuit to take down the evil supervillain, The Spot. Keeping the same beautiful, comic book–inspired hybrid animation style, it was, once again, a huge hit, leaving fans eagerly awaiting the sequel,scheduled for release in 2027.
2’The Tragedy of Man' (2011)
160 Minutes
At a staggering 160 minutes in length, this Hungarian-produced epic is the longest animated movie in the Western world—which is hardly surprising, considering its story spans from Biblical creation to 50,000 BC to the distant future. The story loosely revolves around Adam, Eve, and the Devil as they explore humanity and the meaning of life.
‘The Tragedy of Man’ Is an Ambitious Animation Project Set Over Multiple Time Periods
Somber and reflective, the characters’ burden is expressed beautifully through the minimalistic yet expressive animation style, as they move in a slow, almost dreamlike fashion through some of the planet’s most nightmarish moments. Certainly not for everyone,The Tragedy of Manis an epic, experimental piece of work that deserves admiration for its sheer ambition alone.
1’Space Battleship Yamato' (1983)
163 Minutes
In the 1970s,Space Battleship Yamatowas arguably the biggest animated series in Japan, drawing huge audiences and receiving high critical praise. It follows an international space team as they embark on an interstellar mission to save the world from the spreading radiation poisoning the Earth after it was bombed by hostile aliens.
The Success of the Show Spawned a Total of 5 Feature Film Spin-offs
Following the show’s immense success, five films were released between 1977 and 1983, with the longest beingSpace Battleship Yamato: Final Chapter, clocking in at a jaw-dropping 163 minutes. Audiences bear witness to the titular battleship and its crew facing a new alien threat. With plenty of action, adventure, and compelling story arcs, the film somehow manages to keep every moment feeling fresh and exhilarating without ever dragging, despite its momentous runtime.
