15. The Triplets Of Belleville
Sony Pictures ClassicVisually striking, Sylvian Chomet's The Triplets of Belleville tells the story of a grandmother called Madam Souza who sets out to rescue her grandson Champion from gangsters who kidnapped him for his cycling ability in a gambling scam. Accompanied by music hall singers the Belleville Triplets and her dog, this wonderful fast-paced animated feature trades dialogue for slapstick. In an era when animated movies are largely made up of CGI, The Triplets of Belleville's predominant use of traditional cel animation makes a welcome change. Chomet's approach to humour is a breath of fresh air, too - clearly influenced by French comedy giant Jacques Tati, the gags are often subtle and clever and all the more appealing because of it, while the grand finale, in which the gangsters hotly pursue Champion and the old ladies, is a real hoot. Chomet went on to make the glorious L'Illusioniste with Tati in the central role, quite literally reanimating the legendary comic actor many years after his death.