Nausicaa

You're right, it's not really surprising at all. It's definitely more of a cult movie for animators. I guess I shouldn't expect anyone to have heard of it, for the reasons you mentioned.

Check out the 2007 "recobbled" cut if you ever do decide to see it. The animation is exquisite, though there are some questionable scenes.

visitor Q

Thank you!

If Gits could be judged on its technical merits alone (nevermind the impact it had on anime's increased popularity in the west) it would easily be on any top 20 list.

TomOpus

No Urotsukidōji = no sale!

Jon2

Yeah... I don't think much of the opinions of Yahoo users.

For a list in no particular order it's not bad, but if it's meant to represent best being number one and going down from there then it is in serious need of rearrangement.

wewantflair

Agree with those who say that Akira is influential but a failure, and Iron Giant should be represented somewhere. Am I the only one who likes South Park: BLU to put it in my top 30?

B5Erik

Heavy Metal

It's the first title I think of when I see a top animated movies list.

I don't think it's necessarily the best, but it's damned entertaining and pretty darned cool!

Jon2

Also... any list that doesn't have the top 10 to 20 spots dominated by Disney and/or Pixar titles is seriously out of touch with reality. They are the "gold standard" of animation past and animation present. IMHO.

Dreamworks (minus Ardman stuff) is a shipwreck for the most part. Take out the pop culture references and the Disney bashing from any Shrek, and what have you got? Oh yeah, they're funny, but still...

And, if they aren't bashing Disney, they appear to be slavishly imitating them. What was the point of El Dorado or Sinbad? Or Prince of Egypt for that matter. Why animate the 10 Commandments?

Or Anastasia? Yeah... I know that one wasn't Dreamworks, but my point being why use the wonder, beauty and richness of animation on such mundane stories... particularly stories that have already been told with live action... and much better at that. What a waste of time and effort.

And if you think my taste is too limited, I saw most everything by Bakshi... when it was originally released in theaters. Most anima appears to be severely lacking... IMHO Akira is way overrated and Castle in the Sky was a big disappointment, but I was absolutely delighted by Kiki's Delivery Service. Go figure.

As for stop motion and claymation, it could be said that I worship at the alters of Harryhausen, Burton, Sellick, Ardman and Vinton. AFAIC, there shouldn't even be a comparison between them and traditional cel or CG animation. It's like comparing apples and oranges.

Just my 2¢

big whoppa

How could it be a Top 30 and not include this masterpiece?

Giles

if you can see it in the theatre or on DVD, I strongly recommend you see the 2005 sequel Kirikou and the Wild Beasts

Giles

no... here too ...

and what no: Yellow Submarine, Watership Down, Twice Upon A Time, The Last Unicorn, A Boy Named Charlie Brown, Snoopy Come Home, or even the puppetry of Thunderbirds are GO!, Team America: World Police or Kihachiro Kawamoto's 2005 film 'Book of the Dead'?

Michael Corvin

Have you seen the Land Before Time recently? You may think of it fondly but I don't think it holds up all that well. I've seen it a bunch recently (my 3 y.o. daughter loves it), and everything about it is pretty mediocre. The animation, the story, the voice acting, etc. There really isn't anything special about it at all. It just came along at the right time while Disney was in the dumps. Same with an American Tail.

Why the hell is Shrek so high on all these lists? I'll give you the fact that it is the most successful non Disney animated flick, but that doesn't make it good in the least. Take out all the lame pop culture references (that are already outdated, mind you) and you have a shell of a movie. Again, this movie just came along at the right time.

Michael Corvin

As great as both of those are, in my world those were TV specials not films.

Giles

I have a fondness for the 1977 "Raggedy Ann & Andy: A Musical Adventure" - which has a great score from Sesame Street's Joe Raposo

even though flawed - there's some charm to "Little Nemo: Adventures in Slumberland" (the film sadly was cut for it's American release and was shorn of some pretty intense scenes that would have pushed the film into the PG rated realm.)

Giles

different strokes for different folks - I thought Waking Life was a pretentious ego-tistical head fuck of a film - I soooo wanted to walk out on the film.

fumanstan

I disagree, I think Shrek holds up just fine and knock on the series for pop culture references has been exaggerated greatly since the 2nd and 3rd in the series are worse in that regard. The first did a better job of the twisted fairy tale aspect.

Giles

I hate to admit this since I'm a Bill Plympton fan but I haven't seen his feature length animated features:

- The Tune (1992)
- Hair High (2004)

kstublen

[QUOTE=Michael Corvin]Have you seen the Land Before Time recently? You may think of it fondly but I don't think it holds up all that well. I've seen it a bunch recently (my 3 y.o. daughter loves it), and everything about it is pretty mediocre. The animation, the story, the voice acting, etc. There really isn't anything special about it at all. It just came along at the right time while Disney was in the dumps. Same with an American Tail. /QUOTE]

Yes I have. I saw it just about a month ago, and it was just as good as I remember it. I can understand why people wouldn't agree, but I think it is one of the best animated movies of our time.

toddly6666

GILES,
Thanks, but I saw Kirikou and the Wild Beasts - it was okay. Same with Azur et Asmar, just okay...Actually, if I had to update my list, I would also add Ocelot's Princes and Princesses. That and Kirikou and the Sorceress are his two best films...

superdeluxe

Seconded on Akira.

Michael Corvin

Holding up fine and belonging in the top 5 of all-time animated flicks are two totally different discussions.

fumanstan

Eh, I just used that phrase because everyone talks about it's gags being outdated. It's still funny, the animation still looks good, and I enjoy the heck out of it. There's no way it should be in a Top 5 list (I don't see how Disney, Pixar, and probably a Miyazaki film aren't taking up those spots) but it would probably make my top 10 or 15.

Michael Corvin

There you go. I can go with that. I'd say it does has a place in the top 25, albeit closer to 25 than 5.

Shannon Nutt

If ENCHANTED qualifies, why no love for:

fumanstan

That's a really cool poster.

kstublen

That's what I said. I put it in my Top 30. Don't get me wrong, I love Enchanted, but I don't think I can classify it as a cartoon, whereas Who Framed Roger Rabbit has animation throughout.