Coming off the 2000s with companies such as DreamWorks (The Road to El Dorado, Shrek, Kung Fu Panda), Studio Ghibli (Spirited Away, Howl’s Moving Castle) and Pixar (Monster’s Inc., Finding Nemo, The Incredibles, Ratatouille, WALL-E, Up…pretty much everything they made) redefining how far animation can go both cinematically and plot-wise, the 2010s had some big shoes to fill. Has the decade been able to continue such greatness? Well…it did, then it didn't, and now it has again. Throughout 2010-11, animation continued to meet expectations; then a slump hit in 2012, and there became a sudden yet steep drop in quality animated films. Such a decline lasted nearly two years with average to sub-par animation coming out, even from the innovative Pixar. With the start of Disney’s Frozen however, it seems the wake up bell has been hit, as 2014 has brought with it a resurgence of energy, ideas, and the feeling that animation studios are once again back on track.
And that’s where I come in; I've seen 41 animated films released during 2010-14 and, with the exception of Ernest & Celestine (which I cannot for the life of me find), seen every one that’s received critical acclaim…and a bunch that didn't. With the decade at its half way mark, what better way to celebrate than by revealing my 10 favorite animated films of the decade so far!
The rules of my list are simple:
- The film had to be released during January 1st, 2010 to July 23rd, 2014 (the date of this posting)
- The majority of the film (not the entire film) has to be completely animated
- Films sent direct to DVD are indeed eligible for picking (as long as they meet rules one & two’s requirements)
Now, onto the list! Placed in numerical order from 10th to 1st (Links provided in the title of...well the 3 I've reviewed: #s 7, 6, & 4).
#10: Batman: Under the Red Hood
Release Date: 2010
Country of Origin: United States
Rating: PG-13
Starting off my list is Batman: Under the Red Hood, and to put it bluntly, is so far my favorite Batman film made during the 2010s (and yes I’m including The Dark Knight Rises). Batman: Under the Red Hood dives into the morality of Batman and his greatest self-imposed rule “never to kill” by using the premise to one of his greatest failures; the death of Jason Todd. While other Batman films have dealt with his no kill policy (sometimes completely ignoring it…cough, Tim Burton’s Batman, cough), this one dissects the very idea; peeling back the psychology of Bruce Wayne in a utterly riveting way. The film also effectively examining several other characters such as the mysterious Red Hood and the mad clown Joker (voiced surprisingly well here by John DiMaggio, also the voice of Bender and Jake the Dog). The film contains some entertaining fight sequences along with some pretty sharp animation considering it’s a DVD release (especially after seeing DC’s latest animated film Son of Batman, which looked sub-par at best). With enjoyable action, fluent animation, superb voice acting, and a bone-chilling tale of Gotham’s most interesting, Batman: Under the Red Hood was a thrilling treat to view.
Starting off my list is Batman: Under the Red Hood, and to put it bluntly, is so far my favorite Batman film made during the 2010s (and yes I’m including The Dark Knight Rises). Batman: Under the Red Hood dives into the morality of Batman and his greatest self-imposed rule “never to kill” by using the premise to one of his greatest failures; the death of Jason Todd. While other Batman films have dealt with his no kill policy (sometimes completely ignoring it…cough, Tim Burton’s Batman, cough), this one dissects the very idea; peeling back the psychology of Bruce Wayne in a utterly riveting way. The film also effectively examining several other characters such as the mysterious Red Hood and the mad clown Joker (voiced surprisingly well here by John DiMaggio, also the voice of Bender and Jake the Dog). The film contains some entertaining fight sequences along with some pretty sharp animation considering it’s a DVD release (especially after seeing DC’s latest animated film Son of Batman, which looked sub-par at best). With enjoyable action, fluent animation, superb voice acting, and a bone-chilling tale of Gotham’s most interesting, Batman: Under the Red Hood was a thrilling treat to view.
#9: Frankenweenie
Release Date: 2012
Country of Origin: United States
Rating: PG
I was surprised at what a touching film Frankenweenie was to view. Judging simply from the trailers, gave me the impression of your typical boy and his dog story (only with the twist being the dog’s undead) with what appeared to be some unfunny gags. This was my own error of poorly judging a film by its trailer (something I often do to films that end up being great); as when I actually took the time to view Frankenweenie, I discovered the bond between the boy (Victor) and his dog (Sparky) to be both beautifully well done and emotionally satisfying, particularly for anyone who’s ever owned a pet they hold/held dear. Even with the primary focus on drama, the film contains an abundance of witty comedy (apparently the trailers decided to only show the worst jokes) incorporated into the film’s affectionate tribute towards classic monster films. Along with some highly imaginative artwork and animation (that gets more creative the further the film progresses) Tim Burton directs one of his best films in years and, in my opinion, his good film this decade (at least as of now).
#8: How to Train Your Dragon
Release Date: 2010
Country of Origin: United States
Rating: PG
Another story of a boy and his dog…only the dog can fly, breath fire, and acts more similar to a cat. By all accounts it’s a story told dozens of times before, yet works as if told for the very first time. There’s a bunch of reasons for that: the pacing is great, the main character is enjoyably quirky, the supporting characters are entertaining, their facial expressions are full of life, the soundtrack is lovely, THE ANIMATION IS ABSOLUTELY GORGEOUS, and the film doesn't indulge younger viewers; becoming a family film that isn't afraid to have scenes without conversation. One of my favorite scenes involves Hiccup getting to know the dragon Toothless; no words are spoken, instead using visuals and facial designs to accurately express the situation. Here’s a family film that dares to use audience alienating techniques to give the story depth, which pays off in the end with a wonderful story that tackles clichés and turns them into something fresh and delightful.
Release Date: 2013* (Wide U.S. Release in 2014)
Country of Origin: Japan
Rating: PG-13
I've heard that The Wind Rises is to be Miyazaki's last feature length film; if so then I’m glad he was able to end on such a great note. Here Miyazaki tries something different from the rest of his films and succeeds in creating serene beauty and calming destruction. The earthquake scene creates an inferno of blazing red fire that engulfs Tokyo in horrific beauty, filled with just the right amount of shocked silence. Then there’s the wedding scene that’s as tranquil as it is gorgeous; surrounded by a beautiful night backdrop of glowing stars and tree petals falling near identical to light snowflakes. Beautifully artistic and intricately mature in setting, character, and moral, The Wind Rises still feels as true to Miyazaki's style as any of his other films; which may allow those hesitant to still enjoy his final feature in their own unique way.
Director: Dean DeBlois
Release Date: 2014
Country of Origin: United States
Rating: PG
How to Train Your Dragon 2 is better in every way to the original; with rich animation, fantastic pacing, wonderful music, a beautifully animated world with a life of its own, and a new, mature story to back it all up. It’s the Empire Strikes Back of the series; it’s darker, more entertaining, and expands its universe (along with the characters) to new levels. It’s a superior sequel to an already wonderful film and is both one of the best animated features to come out since 2011, and one of the best films of 2014.
#5: Kung Fu Panda 2
Director: Jennifer Nelson
Release Date: 2011
Country of Origin: United States
Rating: PG
When I first saw Kung Fu Panda 2 in theaters, I was pleasantly surprised at how well DreamWorks Animation crafted a sequel as delightful, entertaining, and heartwarming as the original. Watching it again, I realize how much I've underrated the sequel’s greatness. Kung Fu Panda 2 creates a refreshing new chapter in the life of Po the panda; following the first’s direction with beautiful animation, lovely music, a variety of fun and exciting action scenes, wonderful Eastern philosophy, and a healthy dose of comedy. The sequel goes to new heights in trying to best its original; further developing Po’s character in a natural, yet mature and bittersweet way through the revealing of his origins. Lord Shen (an albino peacock voiced magnificently by Gary Oldman) is the film’s highest achievement however; creating a villain whose ruthless, diabolical, and cunning nature is only made better by his backstory, moral intricacy and complex relationships. He’s one of those great villains that can go from funny to deliciously evil to sympathetic to ax-crazy all while being a highly entertaining character. Along with Shrek 2 and How to Train Your Dragon 2, DreamWorks Animation proves that animated sequels can continue the story while being as refreshing as ever; Kung Fu Panda 2 hits that level as a great film that surpasses the already wonderful original.
Directors: Phil Lord and Christopher Miller
Release Date: 2014
Countries of Origin: United States/Australia/Denmark
Rating: PG
Everything is INDEED awesome. After two viewings what I found truly impressive is The Lego Movie has something there for everyone; an idea enforced by viewing the film with two different groups. While the majority of scenes were mutually enjoyed, specific parts and/or smaller jokes gave more delight to different viewers. The film is packed so full of greatness that for every joke that doesn't work, there’s a contrasting joke right after to make up for it (followed by a barrage of twenty other jokes in the next few minutes). The cast is great, the comedy’s hilarious, the action’s awesome and the setting’s impressive; yet it’s the last third where The Lego Movie goes from really good film to spectacular achievement. I won’t spoil it, but I will say it brings a whole new level of depth and emotion. Suddenly, everything before has more complexity and what could have been a typical ending becomes something entirely new and refreshingly pleasant. More than that, the ending combines it’s other ideas to create morals that children, teens and even adults can learn from. With a great plot, fine morals and a cast of colorful characters all rolled into one big epic stop-motion animation, The Lego Movie succeeds far beyond any expectations; becoming one of the best animated films to be released in years.
#3: Rango
Director: Gore Verbinski
Release Date: 2011
Country of Origin: United States
Rating: PG
Let me start right off the bat by saying Rango is a drop dead gorgeous film; with beautiful artistry, a style that mixes realism and grittiness into its animation, and scenes (such as the atoning highway scene) that are given double the emotional weight and meaning through cinematography alone…yet Rango is also a strange film. For starters, one would assume a film created by Nickelodeon studios would be aimed more at children, yet a good deal of its humor stems more on the adult side of comedy; which while I find hilarious, might fly over the heads of most kids. Both characters and plot also boarder towards more PG-13 maturity (the gritty feel helps with that), which I guess is expected when you hire a director who’s mostly directed PG-13 films; so then it’s a film aimed at teenagers right? Perhaps it might have been if not for all the movie references (such as the Dollars Trilogy, Cat Ballou, China Town, Apocalypse Now, Star Wars, Raiders of the Lost Ark, Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, etc…) that I both appreciated and adored yet the majority of young adolescences, along with even some adults, wouldn’t get. This leads me to conclude that Rango is a film aimed towards people who love and appreciate the cinema, a theory that’s backed up by the acclaim it received from critics. It may not be the film for everyone, but for me it’s a wonderful film full of hilarious jokes, great characters, tons of fun references, and the best looking animation I’ve seen this decade!
#2: L'illusionniste (The Illusionist)
Director: Sylvain Chomet
Release Date: 2010
Countries of Origin: United Kingdom/France
Rating: PG
The Illusionist, the entire film, is visual proof how animation can express so much with so little dialogue. There's hardly any talking in The Illusionist (and when there is, it’s mostly gibberish), yet the raw emotion that's shown (rather than told) from its characters, plot, and environment brings the film to a whole new level. Based on an unproduced script by French filmmaker Jacques Tati, The Illusionist tells the story of a magician, struggling to find work during changing times, while taking care of a young lady who’s convinced his magic is real. The magician is a one-of-a-kind character, full of depth and personality all seen through animation; such as his constant professional attitude even when others treat him as a joke, yet his determination to support the young lady even if it costs him his dignity. The magician is a tragic character and one of the most interesting individuals I've seen in animation; even side stories, such as him and his pet rabbit (who’s bad-temper likely stems from being placed in a hat one too many times) ends on a strikingly heart-wrenching scene. The animation is gloriously unique and able to express so much with nearly mute characters, creating a beautiful, mature, and melancholy tale that left me close to tears by the end.
#1: Toy Story 3
Director: Lee Unkrich
Release Date: 2010
Country of Origin: United States
Rating: G
I will admit, I have a clear bias towards this film. The original Toy Story was one of the first films I can remember seeing in theaters...and it scared me half to death (I was only 3 at the time). Still, both Toy Story and its sequel Toy Story 2 (which I watched more often) left a positive impact on me while growing up. Toy Story 3 came out in the summer of 2010; I just finished high school and was getting ready to leave home for my first year in college, preparations that were both exciting and nerve-racking. Toy Story 3 just so happened to also be dealing with college, with Andy (no longer a child) preparing to leave for his first year. Toy Story 3 affects me on multiple levels: from nostalgia of the film series I’d grown up alongside to the theme of moving along in life while keeping the fond memories of the past. Watching it again makes me profound on how relatable the film is on a personal level, yet it doesn’t stop there, as Toy Story 3 is one of Pixar’s finest crafted films: containing beautiful animation, a wonderful cast of characters full of life and personally, and a story anyone (whether adult or child) can enjoy. It’s sweet, hilarious, nostalgic, shocking, mature, tear-jerking, touching, meaningful, highly entertaining and my favorite animated film of the 2010s...well, so far at least. We've still got 5 more years to go, and who knows maybe Rio 3 will become that unbridled masterpiece Blue Sky Studios' have been waiting for!
And since I love stats…here are some stats!
- Out of all 5 years, 2010 holds the spot for most films on my list with 4, while 2013 has the least amount with only 1 that technically didn't have a wide U.S. release till 2014 (so I'm stubbornly counting it as a 2014 release).
- DreamWorks has produced the most films on my list with 3, while Pixar (who could have easily held several spots during the 00-04/05-09 years) only has 1.
- 3 out of the 10 listed films are sequels, with How to Train Your Dragon 2 being the only film to appear with its original (likewise, Dean DeBlois is the only director to have multiple films make my list).
- 2 out of the 10 films are foreign language (though I saw The Wind Rises dubbed) while Batman: Under the Red Hood is the only direct to DVD.
- Out of the 10 films, only Toy Story 3 received a G rating from the MPAA. 7 films got a PG rating while 2 of them are PG-13.
