15. Ghost in the Shell (1995)
Ghost in the Shell was a 1995 animation based off the manga by Masamune Shirow that revolutionised the way Japanese animation was perceived as well as influencing future sci-fi blockbusters, most notably The Matrix. The film follows a cyborg named Major Motoko Kusanagi, a police officer who is tasked with finding an elusive hacker named The Puppet Master. The animation blends a combination of computer generated characters against a hand drawn background, giving the distinct impression that you are watching more than a simple cartoon. The film boasts some incredibly impressive production values, those of which were equal to the Hollywood blockbusters of the time. The attention to detail coupled with the endless barrage of action sequences give the film an aesthetic beauty. This aesthetic also includes film-noir traits, with shadows and darkened tones to evoke the futuristic setting. Ghost in the Shell is not an animation for the humorist; its gritty Japanese city setting evokes a darker atmosphere, something that is particularly common with worlds set in the future. What is provided however is a stunningly beautiful piece of sci-fi animation that contains sex, violence and enough action to boast of its impressive visual aesthetic.
14. Up (2009)
Up was the 2009 film released by Pixar to critical and commercial acclaim. The film follows a recluse named Carl, who shunning society, decides to finally make the trip that he and his childhood sweetheart Ellie always dreamed off. To his surprise, he finds a youth scout name Russell who has accidentally made his way aboard the flying house. Up begins with one the most bittersweet moments in animated cinema, showing the relationship between Carl and his late wife Ellie from their meeting as enthusiastic fans of explorer Charles Muntz, to the realisation that reality has caught up with them. Its beautifully constructed, with the progression of time feeling seamless and accommodating the most important moments of their lives, good or bad. It could easily stand out on its own as a respective short, with very little dialogue, simply music and the visual to evoke what is happening. Its a magical sequence. The rest of the story follows the trials and tribulation of the relationship and narrative associated with Carl and Russell. They traverse the forest, find a mythical creature and stumble across the famed Charles Muntz who has become twisted and evil, thus becoming the films antagonist. The animation is also particularly impressive with the film showcasing an incredibly vivid colour palette making the film glow beautifully. While the film arguably couldnt match its masterful opening scenes, there is certainly enough heart and warmth contained in the relationship between Carl and Russell that their adventure is worthy of the acclaim is has since generated.
13. WALL-E (2008)
Wall-E was the 2008 release by Pixar and is arguably one the greatest silent films ever made with the opening half of the film purely focused on the day to day activity of Wall-E, who crosses the now abandoned earth, still attempting to clean up the mess humans left behind. A quirky friendship with a cockroach and a compartment filled with little objects, pieces of memorabilia and items for repair demonstrate the resourcefulness but also extended personality of Wall-E, who is shown having a fondness for a scene in the 1969 musical Hello Dolly. The animation contained within the film is again impressive from the legendary studio. Attention to detail in the design of each character aswell as again finding a colour palette that just seems to fit the movie perfectly. The browns and yellows of a dusty, inhospitable earth, to the dark blues and black contained within space. Add to that the impressively designed ship with thousands of inhabitants whizzing by at one time provides you with the sort of scale the animation accomplishes brilliantly. In addition to providing one the greatest social commentaries ever put into an animated film, apparently due to our culture of excess and desires of superficial, materialistic needs, were all going to end up as overweight slobs using machines to do our bidding, Wall-E provides a brilliantly inventive, creative and majestic slice of animated gold.
12. The Incredibles (2004)
Brad Birds final appearance on this list and naturally his contribution here is as stunningly brilliant as his others. The 2004 Pixar release The Incredibles featured a group of former superheroes who are forced to don their outfits again thanks to the emergence of an old foe with the film bounding along at a turbulent pace, concluding with an utterly preposterous climatic battle. The animation is typically impressive, something that has now come to be expected from Pixar, the action feels slick, the characters are able to impress an emotion convincingly and the antagonist has a particularly Bond villain-esque lava hideout which makes for a number of fantastic situational scenes. There are brilliantly constructed scenes of wit, satirising the contrast of domestic bliss to the obligations of the superhero, for example, frustration with Mr Incredibles job and his sabbatical providing a few extra pounds around the waist. Add to that action sequences that are genuinely thrilling, most notably those featuring Dash who utilizes his ultra human speed to provide a particularly frenzied and swift getaway. The Incredibles is an authentically thrilling addition to the superhero genre with the only surprise being in that in an age of Hollywood films dominated by the superhero genre, Bird and Pixar havent been tempted to create a sequel. Lets hope they do - only time will tell.
11. Grave of the Fireflies (1988)
Grave of the Fireflies was a 1988 animated release by Studio Ghibli and was directed by Isao Takahata. In respect to subject matter, Grave of the Fireflies is certainly one of the bleaker narratives on this list, with the story following the effects of war through the eyes of children. The story is endlessly evocative, showing a deep sense of love between the relationship of protagonists Seita and Setsuko, while demonstrating traits of sacrifice and loss. Set during the final months of World War 2, the tale follows brother and sister Seita and Setsuko as they are forced to fend for themselves after becoming homeless. With their father away fighting in the army and their mother badly injured, the two must venture on their own to survive. Its truly a film laced with grief and so far removed from any of the other emotional moments featured here. The animation is typically indicative of the period the film is set, with landscapes set beautifully across the background as our two protagonists are given contemporary Japanese animated features. While there is nothing revolutionary about the style of drawing in the characters, the simple fact of shifting the tone of the film allows the animation to provide a greater sense of ideal rather than interpretation and allow the film to move itself away from mere cartoon drawing. Its a stunning achievement. Grave of the Fireflies is most certainly a message to evoke the atrocities of war, to demonstrate that sheer scale of the damage war causes. As a piece of anti-war material, it is brutal in highlighting the emotional effects, the plight of the people and the way it leaves a country devastated. A harrowing but beautiful piece by Studio Ghibli that arguably shifts the preconceptions of how evocative a piece animation can be.