Animated films are some of the most celebrated and cherished films in history. From “Toy Story,” to “Snow White,” to “Shrek,” these movies are heartfelt masterpieces that have stood the test of time. I mean they’ve done things and told stories that can’t be matched up to live action films. Emotional, mystifying, colorful and oh so lovely to watch, animated movies are the pinnacle of bravura filmmaking. So, what animated movies have we got coming up?
Well, we just had “The Boss Baby” a week ago. Oh…right. With a 49 percent on rotten tomatoes and some pretty scathing reviews from critics, I’m going to say you should pass on that. But don’t worry, let’s look to the future because this Friday the amazing and long awaited animated juggernaut we’ve all been itching for is hitting the big screen: “Smurfs: The Lost Village.” Nah, no one wants to see that.
But don’t worry, even if you can’t go to the theaters for your animated fix you can definitely experience some great cartoon storytelling right from your home with a couple of personal recommendations from this nerdy movie lover. I’m not going to go as far as to name a few of the all time greats. No, that’s too hard. Instead, I’ll be mentioning a few films you might not have seen or heard of that have been released in the past few years.
So, from international cinema to stop motion dramas, here’s a few animated movies you should definitely check out to please your animation palate.
“The Wind Rises”
A complex and beautifully crafted film, this was legendary filmmaker Hayao Miyazaki’s last film before his alleged “retirement.” (Surprise, he’s not done yet.) If you know anything about Miyazaki then you know that his movies have been rooted in international pop culture history for years, being celebrated over and over. I mean he literally founded Studio Ghibli. Lush in color and bolstering with emotional moments, if you want a wonderfully sentimental powerhouse movie, this one’s for you. (Oh, and make sure to catch six of Miyazaki’s other movies heading back to theaters this year for a few special engagements. Exciting.)
“Fantastic Mr.Fox”
My man, Wes Anderson, literally changed the animation game with this adorable, mature stop motion movie. Based on the Roald Dahl children’s novel of the same name, this quirky piece of work is something that’s constantly overlooked when it comes to naming great animated movies. I mean Wes Anderson’s style was literally made for animation and he uses every possible trick in his book to create a funny, exciting animated adventure. Oh, and you have George Clooney, Bill Murray and Meryl Streep voicing cute animal creatures, you seriously want to check this one out.
“Winnie the Pooh” (2011)
Oh boy, this one’s all about the nostalgia, but that’s OK. “Winnie the Pooh” is a sweet, short film showcasing our favorite characters from the Hundred Acre Wood. When Disney set out to make this adaptation of the beloved films and books, John Lasseter said he wanted to make a movie that would “transcend generations,” a movie that would truly be stuck in time and give a warm fuzzy feeling to anyone that watched it. Well, let me tell you, that is exactly what this movie does. Brining back classic storylines and melding them with new ones, this joyously simple and inconsequential film is something just to watch for the feeling. Just to feel like you’re a little kid again. If you want immense nostalgia and teary moments of childhood joy, then please watch this. I promise you it’ll lift your spirits.
“Anomalisa”
Don’t let your kids watch this, because Charlie Kaufman’s stop motion drama is a full on adult film that just happens to be animated. From the mind that brought us “Being John Malkovich”, “Adaptation” and “Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind” comes this little seen character study about loneliness, success and what truly makes one happy. Expect a lot of Charlie Kaufman staples like deep themes, grand ideas and sad, sad people. But it’s beautiful in every way. The great things about Charlie Kaufman is that his films seem to be layered with a sort of melancholy that leaves you smiling after you watch it. It’s unusual and rarely happens in other films, but it’s something that Kaufman and “Anomalisa” pull off with ease.
“Mary and Max”
I had never heard of or even knew that this film existed until three years ago when I was browsing the IMDB top 250. I trustworthy source, I decided to check out the film due to how much it was being praised. Well, let me tell you, this film hit me so hard emotionally it was ridiculous. Starring the wondrous Toni Collette and the talented Phillip Seymour Hoffman, this movie is about two complete strangers that live on the opposite side of the world that make a connection through letters they send to each other. Filmed in contrasting, beautiful dark colors and dealing with heavy themes like mental illness, suicide, depression and other various mature ideas, Mary and Max is for the movie lover that wants to be challenged. Pick this up, and I promise you won’t ever forget it.
