Top 10 Most Beautiful Animated Movies

The completely oil painted feature-length movie, "Loving Vincent," is the first of its kind. The story chronicles the journey of a young man tasked with delivering Vincent van Gogh's last letter to his brother. Performers such as Saoirse Ronan, Chris O'Dowd and Douglas Booth lend both their voices and likenesses to the film. Over 100 painters from across the globe employed their talents to bring the project to life, which took all of 6 years to finish. From a Kickstarter campaign to an Oscar nomination for Best Animated Feature, "Vincent" is the very definition of a passion project.

Year after year, Pixar churns out meaningful, well-written and stunning hits. From "WALL-E" to "Soul," the studio is known for crafting some of the most visually captivating films in the animation genre. In 2017, they amazed audiences yet again with "Coco." When 12-year-old aspiring musician Miguel accidentally ends up in the Land of the Dead, the young boy uncovers a secret that will forever change his family's legacy. A poignant portrayal of grief and death, "Coco" brings the dead back to life (literally) through its tear-jerking score and vibrant color palette.

With its PG-rating, "Coraline" might just be the first horror movie made for kids. The dark and twisted fantastical flick is about a young girl who journeys to an alternate reality that eerily parallels her own life. From the stop motion animation to the strange narrative landscape, it has just the right amount of creepiness without going overboard. Based on the Neil Gaiman novel, the film was adapted and directed for the big screen by Henry Selick. Best-known for directing "The Nightmare Before Christmas," Selick is the king of family-friendly horror, and “Coraline” only further proves this. Years after its release, this movie continues to have an influence on the genre, as is evident with other stop motion achievements like “Kubo and the Two Strings”.

Based on Charles Perrault's fairy tale, Disney’s 1959 "Sleeping Beauty" is a true princess classic. Riding high on the success of "Cinderella," Walt Disney and his team of animators felt the pressure to surpass everyone's expectations. The development and production of the feature film lasted nearly a decade as the team experimented with new and exciting technology. What resulted was a beautifully-crafted fantastical epic that has become a fan favorite generation after generation. We can’t mention “Sleeping Beauty” without also acknowledging the charm of other hand-drawn Disney classics like “Fantasia” and, later, “Pocahontas”.

Wes Anderson is beloved by audiences for his unique aesthetic. A cross between whimsical and quirky, his signature style lent itself well to animation, and in particular, the quirkiness of "Fantastic Mr. Fox." Based on the Roald Dahl novel of the same name, the stop motion picture was a true labour of love. Animators used puppetry to capture every strand of fur and hair in order to really bring the fuzzy characters to life. Stacked with an all-star cast led by George Clooney and Meryl Streep, this 2009 flick is an artistic triumph that is a sight to behold.

The 1988 "Akira" has it all: Action, drama and stunning artwork that packs a mighty punch. Inspired by director Katsuhiro Otomo's (cutsooHE-RO OHH-tuhmoh) own manga, the movie is a dystopian motorcycle adventure set in Tokyo. It cost a whopping $9 million, which was the biggest budget for an anime film at the time. Hailed by both critics and fans, the “Akira” is credited with helping popularize anime on a global scale. Although the genre has come a long way since, "Akira" remains as influential and prominent as it was over 30 years ago.

In the late 90s, a trio of young and eager artists from Ireland came together to create a studio known as Cartoon Saloon. Since then, Tomm Moore, Nora Twomey (TOOmee) and Paul Young have earned international acclaim for their work, most notably their awe-inspiring "Irish Folklore Trilogy." The collection is made up of three films: "The Secret of Kells," "Song of the Sea," and "Wolfwalkers." Each of the movies explores a different Celtic myth with great care and respect. Utilizing hand-drawing to tell these epic tales, the visuals are a dazzling feat that is perfect for both film buffs and connoisseurs of mythology alike.

Everyone's favorite friendly neighborhood superhero received the animated treatment in 2018 with "Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse." The flick follows Peter Parker's successor, Miles Morales. After getting bitten by a radioactive spider–you know the drill–the teen journeys across parallel universes where he joins other versions of his alter-ego to defeat the evil Kingpin. The animation captures the splashy aesthetic of comic books, which results in action-packed visuals that pop right off the screen. The film went on to win Best Animated Feature at the 2019 Oscars and earn the praises of both fans and critics. With sequels and spinoffs in the works, the "Spider-Verse" doesn't appear to be slowing down its web-slinging anytime soon.

Inspired by the broad theme of love, director of “5 Centimeters Per Second” and “Your Name” Makoto Shinkai wrote, directed and edited the 2013 anime "The Garden of Words." The drama follows the budding friendship between an adolescent shoemaker and a school teacher after they meet in Tokyo's famous Shinjuku Gyoen (SHIN-joo-koo gyoWHEN) National Garden. This film will keep your eyes captivated from start to finish as it employs several different animation styles, including hand-drawn, rotoscoping and CGI. Between the heartfelt narrative to the awe-inspiring visuals, "The Garden of Words" is an emotionally stirring story that is a must-watch for all fans of animation.

Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.

“Paprika” (2006)
This Sci-Fi Action Adventure Was Said to Have Inspired Christopher Nolan’s “Inception”

“The Book of Life” (2014)
An Epic Story about a Young Bullfighter Set Against the Backdrop of the Day of the Dead

“Moana” (2016)
You’ve Heard Animating Hair & Water is Difficult… & Moana Has a Whole Lot of Both

“The Lion King” (1994)
From the Scenery to the Fluidity of Movements, This Film Is Breathtaking

“Le Petit Prince” (2015)
The Combo of Stop Animation & CGI Is Awesome

Since 1985, Studio Ghibli has changed the ways audiences see animation. The Tokyo-based animation studio has paved the way by producing hit after hit, such as “My Neighbor Totoro” and “The Tale of Princess Kaguya.” (KAgoo-ya) In 2001, Studio Ghibli outdid itself with "Spirited Away." The story follows a young child, Chihiro, as she attempts to save her parents from a world where they’ve been transformed into pigs. Inspired by Japanese folklore, the motion picture is a soaring epic that is a true feast for the eyes. Over 20 years after its debut, "Spirited Away's" legacy is still riding high and even received a stage adaptation in early 2022. No matter its medium, this Oscar-winning flick continues to take the animation genre to new heights.