The top contains exclusively 3D animation. I think you can't compare 2D and 3D animation. I wanted to include 2D features in this top at first, but in a moment of total honesty with myself, I realized I would need a top 100 to be able to include 2D features. And it would be cruel. Not that I'm not... :D Anyway, my superbiased and supersubjective opinion is that... even if 2D animation can sometimes have a graphical appeal advantage, 3D animation is superior in most, if not all aspects, including filmmaking, but mostly related to the level of polish, accuracy, detail... that can go into this work. A lot of this stuff is impossible to achieve in handdrawn animation.
I'm not judging these films in terms of story, or idea, because here, arguably, I think we can sort of safely assume these kids/family movies don't really have such deep, spectacular ideas to start with. They're a lot of time about some conflict between characters. And they're commercial movies anyway, they have to appeal to an extremely wide audience... so not very deep stuff. Arguable, because some of them actually do touch some acute issues of human life and sometimes go very deep inside our emotional world.
So why am I then only considering commercial movies like these and why don't I widen my angle of view? Because I'm judging these films from an animation stand point, the quality of the character animation, first of all, and no animated movie outside major US studios can match that level of quality. Period. Not yet at least. :D So for example Fantastic Mr. Fox or pretty much any Aardman film are brilliant, witty, superb films, but the quality of the animation is not on a par with that found in a Pixar feature.
Also, since this is such a subjective top anyway, I have to admit that I'm also judging storytelling. This is essentially different from story, as a certain brilliant animator dude, Kevin Koch, points out in his articles. Storytelling is the way you tell a story, not the content or the idea of the story per se, and it actually has a lot to do with animation and acting, as well as filmmaking, so that's why I keep an eye on that when choosing among these awesomest of features. :)
Ehm, OK, maybe... I'd add a little bit of sparkle to the recipe and say... I'd also vote for the creativity, the ability of the movie to tickle that inner child thing... So yeah, I'm not voting so much for the idea, but I do vote for the "magic" factor. Did the film sweep me away on a magical ride, or did it just... have great detailed animation :P
Oh, last thing, it's just a short list of 10 films, so it pains me to throw away some really amazing films... like Ice Age, one of my absolute all time favorites (tickled the hell out of that inner child), or Robots, or most Pixar movies, but hey, life is tough, cruel, and unfair... in a top 10 list :P
OK, let's start. I should start with the number 10 I guess... as tradition requires.
10. Chicken Little. Fun little movie, awesome and very creative animation, better, in my eyes, than what followed at Disney's. Although Bolt and The Robinsons are pretty much on a par. Chicken little shines through with great, superfun, and superfunny characters.
OK, so if until now my choices were a bit uncertain... like I was not sure if I want to place Horton before or after Madagascar or Madagascar before or after The Incredibles... these last 4, well, in fact, first 4 choices are rock solid and I have absolutely no doubt (this moment now :P ), that they are the first 4 bestest of the bestest of computer animation. Ever. :P In the world! (:D to quote a certain Despicable person, which btw, seems to be such a great animated feature, it should probably be in this top... but I haven't seen it yet :) so... laters... :P) Anyway, let's get goin'! Pop it D-man! :P
4. Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs. Back to fun land. If Madagascar was fun, if Horton was fun, Cloudy is Fun!!! As in Fun times Fun!!! :D (Which is infinitely more fun than Fun times 2... or N...). Really genius level animation work, best animated comedy ever, and... just... wow... the characters are so interesting and the whole movie is so entertaining, it's crazy!!! Well, it is actually... pretty crazy :P In a good way... :)
Damn, this movie is amazing! Subtle animation that just blows your mind. Is this the bestest of the bestest of all animations on Earth? I believe... in many people's books... it is :)
So what can I say more? The panda rules!!!
OK, OK. A few words... The Panda's really expressive facial animation, subtle and so alive acting, the superb shapes... whatever, this is nonsense! The Panda is pure awesomeness!!! You can't compare the Panda with anything! :P
But you already knew that. :|
Can there even be such a number, after that much awesomeness???
Well, I'm ashamed to say that... yes, I do have a movie that I find even more awesome, with even subtler and more impressive acting... that is just absolute, pure fun and insanely entertaining, creative, awesome, and... even more awesome...! :P
Ladies and gentlemen, allow me to present the winner of this..well... useless top 10...
the !!!
simply best animated movie of all times!
(according to me!)
...
OK, wait for it...
...wait for it...
...wait fo it...
:P
hihihi
:D
OK, where was I?
Oh, no, there isn't a 1st place... it didn't get awarded...
Oh, no, wait, there is. There is. OK, OK.
Number One Animated Feature Film. Of all time. Ever... In the world.... (until I get to see Despicable Me at least...) and that's it, I've got no more to say, I've already said everything I wanted to say about it... there is no animation that ever topped this, most subtle and compelling and impressive and 'real' and alive... animated experience you'll ever experience... (and no, not because of the exotic location, not because of the spectacular water, but because of the unique character performance...)
ladies and gents...
from Sony Animation...
1. Surf's Up