Top 5 Animated Films

As an in-house illustrator/animator at Dashboard, much of the motion design I complete is inspired heavily by animated films. Soaking in the character movements, environments, and even the story lines to many of these films fuels my passion like gasoline on an open flame! My love for animated films has been strong for many years and much of the inspiration I embody to complete the work that I do can be related to these top five favourite films. Though this list changes from time to time, these films are pretty consistent over all. Let’s have a read.

1: Ninja Scroll

With a strong story, characters and a breathtaking environment, nothing in this film is overlooked. Though the content is a bit mature for some, the attention to detail is unlike any movie I’ve seen before. Even the hair on each character is designed which is not often put into production due to the cost. This film always gets my adrenaline flowing and puts me into a positive artistic mindset unlike any other film. A definite must see for the older crowd.

2: Tekkonkinkreet

The backgrounds in this film are exceptional and the roughness of the animated characters helps bring balance to the incredible detail contained throughout. Nothing is compromised in the slightest and many of the background elements were redone over and over to get the look required for each scene. This film is a visual feast unlike any other so if you hunger for extreme craftsmanship then be sure to review this film in a big way.

3: Coraline

Coraline amplifies stop motion techniques and uses a style that is very unique for it’s purpose. It’s a bit darker compared to some animated features, but is a breath of fresh air when it comes to character design. Each personality is unique and the animation is seamless especially for the length of the film. The creativity involved is very specialized, as you would expect from Neil Gaiman. With the same director as the Nightmare Before Christmas, it’s certainly a feature to check out.

4: How To Train Your Dragon

This is a CG film that I enjoyed extensively from beginning to end. The characters are bubbly but it also has a lot of humour peppered throughout. I love dragons and the different abilities given to each are very interesting. You can tell a lot of research went into this film not only in how the dragons function but in how they look which is really impressive. The variety in shape and size with these characters is incredible and the characterization in each persona is incredible! The story always brightens up a bad day so if you’re feeling down or un-energized, this flic is a good pic!

5: Summer Wars Summer

Wars has a very intricate story, as you would expect from a Japanese film. There are tons of interestingly animated characters and the avatars in the online world are very imaginative and random. The amount of characters animated at parts of the movie is just mesmerizing. It won several awards for ‘best animated feature’ and there is no doubt as to why. The details captivate those with a keen eye and the visuals are incredible! Though the film is new, it’s a definite must see. Everyone in this industry has different inspirations. Animation is one of the many passions that drive what I do here at Dashboard. Seeing your work positively affecting others has been one of the best and most fulfilling aspects of my job. What are some of your favourite animated films? Comment on this post and let us know!