15 animated movies that completely broke the mold

While a lot of mainstream animation can start to feel straight after a while, there are some movies that dare to be different. Animation offers filmmakers unlimited possibilities to explore. Given the medium’s potential, it’s a shame to see so many big-budget animated movies stick to the same playbook. However, some outstanding movies have broken the mold and influenced the entire industry.

The history of animation is marked by several trendsetters who helped advance the medium. for example, Toy Story Ushered in the age of computer animation. Often, the most interesting animated movies aren’t the ones that come from big, established studios. Independent animation has been a reliable source of creativity over the years, with many groundbreaking experimental movies questioning the orthodoxy of animation.

15

Toy Story (1995)

Pixar’s first feature was a leap forward for computer animation

Toy Story was the first fully computer animated movie. Today, the landscape of big-budget Western animation is largely homogenized, with Pixar, Disney, Illumination, DreamWorks and more studios all producing 3D computer-animated movies, so it’s hard to quantify how different they are. Toy Story Looked at the time. Pixar’s progression can be measured by comparing the different Toy Story movies, because the studio has repeatedly revolutionized the technology behind their movies. Toy Story 5 Promises still boldly leap forward.

14

Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1938)

Disney’s first animation was a game-changer

Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs Holds an important place in the history of animation as the first feature-length animated film to be produced in the United States and The first cel animated movie. Before snow white, Animation is still in its infancy, with very few films being more than a few minutes long. Snow White Set a new industry standard that lasted for decades, which is why it did so well despite being over 80 years old. Snow White is now getting a live-action remake, bringing it up with Disney’s latest trend.

13

Who Framed Roger Rabbit? (1988)

Who Framed Roger Rabbit is an impressive blend of animation and live action

There were several experiments before that Who Framed Roger Rabbit? Which combined elements of live-action and animation, but none had ever been so smooth. There are a few minutes Who Framed Roger Rabbit? When the live-action characters interact with the cartoons in ways that don’t seem possible. These moments seem like magic tricks that the animators perform in front of the audience. Any subsequent movie or TV show that has combined animation and live-action has inevitably had to endure comparisons to Who Framed Roger Rabbit? Not many have stood up to these comparisons.

12

The Triplets of Belleville (2003)

The Triplets of Belleville uses very little dialogue

The Triplets of Belleville Breaks some rules of animation that are so universal that they are only visible when they are not followed. for example, The Triplets of Belleville Plays with extreme perspectives, giving characters elongated features as they cross towards the camera. Every movement is drawn with intention and emotion behind it, so that there are no wasted spaces. While The Triplets of Belleville Of course sometimes a lot of the movements to the swinging soundtrack, The specific genre of the music also affects how the character behavesAs if they were physical manifestations of this health.

11

Waking Life (2001)

Richard Linklater’s animations led the way in rotoscope animation

Richard Linklater is one of a handful of directors who excels in live-action and animation. Each of his animated movies were made with rotoscope animation. Many other animated movies have used rotoscoping, including classic Disney movies as far back as Snow White. The key difference with Linklater’s approach is that his characters look exactly like the actors who portray them. He has a very thin line between animation and live-actionWhich draws attention to the flatness of the animation. This gives his animated movies the look of a comic book.

10

Mad God (2022)

Mad God makes the horrific and macabre seem surprisingly lifelike

Phil Tippett developed a reputation as a visual effects specialist, winning awards for his work on blockbusters such as Jurassic Park And the original Star Wars Trilogy. Mad God is his passion project, a stop-motion animated horror movie that spent 30 years in development. While stop-motion animation is nothing new, Tippett’s great contribution to the form is his gruesome creature designs and his remarkable lighting techniques. Animation isn’t the best medium for horror, because it’s hard to evoke a visceral reaction with something so obviously fabricated. Mad God is an exception to this rule.

9

Yellow Submarine (1968)

The Beatles embark on a psychedelic tour

Yellow submarine is the perfect visual accompaniment to The Beatles’ musicBut its status as a landmark of creative animation makes it worth watching even for those who don’t consider themselves fans of the band. Yellow submarine Uses photographs in the background, in a style that will be familiar to fans of Monty Python who have seen Terry Gilliam’s animations. At a time when animation was set in its ways, Yellow submarine Showcased a surreal flair, with a procession of bright, psychedelic images that complement both the story and the music.

8

Paprika (2006)

Paprika uses dreams as a boundless playground

Paprika Journeys into the world of dreams, and it has the creativity to explore the world without restraint. Many critics have cited Paprika As an inspiration for Christopher Nolan InceptionSince there are so many similarities between the two movies. One major difference is that PaprikaThe visuals are perfectly aligned with his themes. The distortion and danger of the dreamscape are reflected in the movements of the characters, and this can only be achieved through animation. PaprikaMuch like his dream world, is densely layered and filled with magical surprises.

7

Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse (2018)

The Spider-Verse movies lead a new wave of animation

Spider-Man: In the Spider-Verse Came at a time when most big studios were stuck animating in similar styles, and Its unique visuals have shaken up the industry. The Spider-Man movie takes inspiration from comic books, Saturday morning cartoons and street art to create an unorthodox swirl of color and snappy movements. Since In the spider-verse Being a multiverse movie, it also features several completely different art styles to represent the different characters and their origins. Over the Spider-Verse Continuing the tradition, and the third movie in the trilogy, Over the Spider-Versewill likely add to this rich tapestry.

6

The Adventures of Tintin (2011)

Spielberg creates a winning blend of motion-capture realism and cartoonish fun

Motion capture animation has been used to insert non-human characters into live-action movies for years, such as Gollum in the Lord of the Rings Trilogy, for example. Movies fully animated using motion capture technology are somewhat rarer. Robert Zemeckis has often made a path with this technology, although many of his movies sit deep in the sad valley. Steven Spielberg The Adventures of Tintin Succeeded III Beowulf And A Christmas Carol Not otherwiseMostly because it shows an understanding of the limitations of the technology. The Adventures of Tintin Uses motion capture to feel more kinetic and weighty, but the characters are only as real as they are in Hergé’s graphic novels.

5

The Red Turtle (2016)

The Red Turtle is an international collaboration that produces a unique style

The red turtle is one of Studio Ghibli’s most underrated movies, although it is sometimes excluded from conversations about the studio’s production since it was a co-production with several Western studios. The different influences on The red turtle Giving it a unique look quite unlike most Ghibli movies. It uses a lot of wide shots and high angles to show the endless expanse of the ocean, and its color palette is evocative of soft watercolors. The red turtle Uses no dialogue To tell his story, which puts extra emphasis on the interesting visuals.

4

Loving Vincent (2017)

Loving Vincent’s hand-painted approach is the perfect tribute

Dear Vincent Received a lot of attention when it was first released due to its unprecedented animation style. In tribute to the great Dutch painter, each frame of Dear Vincent is hand-painted to mimic Van Gogh’s techniques. The result is a film about the death of Van Gogh that bristles with the inspirational genius of his life. Dear Vincent was a monumental undertaking, with hundreds of artists from all over the world. It certainly won’t become the new standard for animated movies, however Its success proves that there is a lot of room for innovation in animation.

3

Fantastic Planet (1973)

Fantastic Planet presents a far-off world

While some animation is designed to enhance the human characteristics of non-human characters, Fantastic planet does the opposite. On a moon orbiting the planet Igam, humans are kept as pets by huge aliens or else fighting for survival in the desert. The drugs, as the aliens are called, resemble humans in some ways, but they have a unique way of moving and communicating. Fantastic planets boundlessly inventive animation creates scenes of defiantly unrelatable landscapes. In this psychedelic legend there is little to stop, and the mystery of ​​it all contributed to the appeal of the film over the decades.

2

Fantastic Mr. Fox (2009)

Roald Dahl and Wes Anderson make the perfect pair

Wes Anderson has always sought to exert supreme control over the mise-en-scene of his movies, even before he dipped his toe into animation. Some of his movies flaunt the precision and color coordination of animation. After first experimenting with a few creatures in The Aquatic Life with Steve Zissou, Anderson created his first fully animated movie with Fantastic Mr. Fox. The resulting product is one of Wes Anderson’s best movies, with every inch of every frame hand-crafted to his liking. Fantastic Mr. Fox Also broke new ground in animation by recording his dialogue on locationWith actors in similar environments to their characters.

1

Ruben Brandt, Collector (2019)

A film about art, overflowing with references to famous artists

Ruben Brandt, collector is about a tortured art therapist who assembles a crew to steal the famous artworks that haunt his dreams. To match its themes, the movie is an inventive mash-up of different art styles. The most obvious influence is that of Pablo Picasso, as the misshapen faces of the characters reflect his cubist paintings. There are also nods to Warhol, Hopper, Vermeer and countless other iconic artists. Ruben Brandt, collector is a treasure trove of artistic referencesBut they somehow come together in a harmonious whole, with an exciting story to match.