The past three decades have thus been home to some of the greatest animated films of all time.
It’snot exactly a bleak film.
It’s a beautifully complex film with some gorgeously ugly stop-motion animation.
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Profoundly unsettling yet in no way exploitative,Perfect Blueis the “obsessed artist” character study par excellence.
Somehow, they did.Shrek 2, beyond any memes or jokes, is unironic animated perfection.
That’s until its first sequel,Across the Spider-Verse, came along.
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Most recently, this happened withThe Boy and the Heron.
It’s complex yet delightful, serious yet family-friendly, dark yet full of color and life.
Even then, though,The Incredibleswas an unparalleled achievement for them.
An argument can be made even today that it remains their best work ever.
No other film has done it since.
It’s one of the best films of the 2000s, animated or otherwise.
Spirited Awayperfectly embodies everything that great animation could be.
Unbelievably gorgeous to the point of being hypnotic.
Complex and artful for grown-ups, yet also an atmospheric delight for the little ones.
The characters?Some of Ghibli’s best.
The beauty, artistic quality, and immense creativity ofSpirited Awaycannot be understated.
No more proof should be needed that animation is at its best in the modern age.
KEEP READING:The Best Villains in Animated Movies, Ranked
Image via Rex Entertainment
Image via DreamWorks Pictures
Image via DreamWorks Pictures
Image via Sony Pictures Releasing
Image via Paramount Pictures
Image via Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
Image via Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
