Animated Movies That Broke The Mold

Animation has some major creative possibilities!

Breaking The Mold In Animation

Not all animated films are made the same, some truly leave audiences mesmerized by what they get to see. There is a certain, remarkable vision that is needed to change an entire industry. It's hard to do something revolutionary, however, there have been some movies that completely changed the animation world.

Animation Evolution Through The Decades

There's always something interesting to talk about. If you look at some of the oldest animations you realize that things haven't been exactly the same and with these newer forms we've gone through so many crazy transformations. Toy Story helped change things when it came out.

You see this incredible animated film used 3D as an essential element, paving the way for even more epic movies. In fact, if you watch any Pixar film, you are likely to be blown away by the effects and special visual effects they produce!.

• The incredible talent behind these movies never seems to disappoint. They make every movie special!
• "Toy Story" is known as an iconic film! Fans were blown away, and still adore it even to this day. But we don't get to stop there. This movie opened a new door in animation. We even have another one coming out, called "Toy Story 5."

It seems animation takes a whole lot of innovation! What made animation such a great art form was a groundbreaking move to use the latest technology and even take inspiration from the early styles and turn them into something modern.

Snow White And The Seven Dwarfs was another one of those groundbreaking projects, showing an appreciation of the time period and bringing a new level of magic to the screen!

• Snow White And The Seven Dwarfs changed everything!
• Disney really changed animation and took on this "cel" style, making these animated features even more popular with audiences!
• What really pushed it further? Well, before this the only animated films were so short and no one would have thought that this format was going to have a legacy that continues to be around 80 years later.
• Disney made these movies something worth seeing and these new adaptations were able to use their incredible style! These projects even changed animation history, including new versions of "Snow White," which are taking this same classic movie to a new age, blending classic and modern in the perfect way!

That means there is always an innovative move being made and animation is more popular than ever.

A Groundbreaking Hybrid

What's better than one form of storytelling. When two forms, become one, audiences really have something special to enjoy.

• "Who Framed Roger Rabbit?" is truly a revolutionary movie.
• This film takes live-action actors and gives a super innovative look to animated characters.
• This amazing movie blended these two formats seamlessly.

There were a few attempts made before "Who Framed Roger Rabbit" and they were interesting, but this was super epic and blended them better than anyone else. What is also amazing is the incredible ability these artists had to create a real moment! This is truly a moment where the lines of the real world blend with a super vibrant and cool, creative animated world. This show will forever stand the test of time! It was the big test for combining those two forms and the movies and shows that followed always had to be compared to "Who Framed Roger Rabbit."

That makes animation more dynamic and gives directors an awesome way to tell compelling stories. Animation truly goes in different directions! Even when those genres might have a similarity it gives these "filmmakers" some really special, interesting moments that fans of animation love! What makes this a game-changer in animation?

Animated Movie Masterpieces

What really defines great films? There's often something incredibly inspiring from movies that don't follow any particular genre! This movie, "The Triplets of Belleville," has a distinctive style, and a way that it brings those awesome features of animation together.

• "The Triplets of Belleville" really does go to the core and changes what the usual elements of "animation" should have!
• It's truly a visual experience. In a special style and that takes those awesome character aspects and brings to light some interesting perspectives that audiences may not be used to. It also features some exaggerated, distinctive designs.
• "The Triplets of Belleville" does something with its animations, giving those characters an even deeper emotion!

Even with the movie's unique blend of styles. "The Triplets of Belleville really moves with such precision and gives fans an unforgettable ride and shows how far animation can go! This is a super example of how animation goes beyond those initial thoughts about its history!

Animation is much more complex!

• "Waking Life" - it was one of the most interesting to watch for a while. It made fans ponder what it truly meant to be in this animated film. The animation that was used for "Waking Life" was very, very specific!
• What we got with the film’s director "Richard Linklater" made fans love the uniqueness. It wasn't about an entirely new form. It was more about an incredibly clever, innovative blend! He took this technique that had been in "animation", called "rotoscoping," for a really long time, which was actually something Disney had already used! But here is where Linklater changes everything!
• This artist took it to another level by adding the human form with incredible realism.

It almost seemed like he had the potential to blend "live-action" and "animation."

It really did feel like these movie scenes were taken out of the pages of a "comic book," giving the characters their true animated spirit, but in this case, it really was super cool how he blended those two aspects! It was a unique mix!

An Amazing Take On Horror:

You might have never seen animation mixed with horror in this unique way.

What really stands out with "Mad God," and this special kind of animation, is its approach!

It's the perfect blend to create a spooky experience for anyone who is a big fan of scary movies, horror movies, or just really crazy, disturbing stories.

• This film came out in 2022, making this truly one of the most recent and coolest. You won't have to look too far to find Phil Tippett's name if you are looking for someone who works with visual effects. He is the mastermind! Fans will see he was the big name behind amazing special effects, working with some of the biggest franchises, like "Jurassic Park" and "Star Wars". Tippett's real masterpiece! This movie spent 30 years in production!
• He's a big name in the business of movie making with all sorts of experience.
• "Mad God was also created using stop-motion animation, showing the world's creative energy in making the film's horrifying and disturbing imagery!
• "Mad God" features a host of terrifying creatures that will send you on a trip! The design for these figures was another remarkable innovation.

This movie really set the bar! As the horror genre isn't usually for the animated format. It tends to lack the ability to make you feel like you're in that world!

Mad God shows those naysayers how truly talented animators and storytellers can create truly incredible, frightening worlds! If anything the success of this film truly emphasizes that there is a major connection to a genre like horror. What really defines a scary story.

Surreal Animation:

Here comes an interesting blend of art, sound, and visual design. The visuals are mind-blowing with an eclectic blend of amazingness!

You won't have to look too far for those amazing sounds of the Beatles when you hear them in "Yellow Submarine!" A movie made in the 1960s.

• "Yellow Submarine" is a crazy journey.
• It really combines animation to bring their super cool, awesome songs to a whole new audience! This psychedelic and imaginative film took animation on a real trip. It features an incredible, crazy style that brought "animation to life in the 1960s, when animation wasn't as revolutionary, giving everyone a great visual ride!
• That means the style is a tribute to what is considered, a visual artist, called "Terry Gilliam" for those who loved "Monty Python."

What’s really neat about "Yellow Submarine" was how these creators blended animation with real-world images, blending those two formats into an incredibly inspiring piece. There's nothing else like it!

Dreams in Animation:

If you like some crazy dreams! Then, "Paprika is a film you will adore.

• It's one of those super memorable movies.
• The world in this film looks incredible. It has such incredible depth, the characters are super distinctive.
• A major movie for anyone who's been wowed by "Inception," since there is a remarkable, striking resemblance in its world, even the overall vibe that's being captured.

But there are also those small details and differences in "Paprika" and those details matter for anyone who is a big fan of these great movies!

• There are moments that stand out!
• If you like crazy stories that go into some dark places "Paprika," will have you at the edge of your seat. Those big moments and twists, are brought to life because of its animation.

The real highlight is the fact that the visual and special effects truly mirror what's being depicted in this unique, powerful, animated movie. For fans of "Inception," "Paprika" offers even more!

Spider-Verse Animated Film:

There are so many big animated studios! They do their best to bring these superheroes to the screen, but some try to bring a little more into that creative world of visual effects.

In fact, "Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse" had that power and took on the creative direction to give audiences a style no one else has seen.

• "Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse" is inspired by so much! It took an inspiring approach.
• This super-cool animated movie pulled from "comic books", gave the movie an almost animated show kind of look, a Saturday morning cartoon type of design, all while borrowing some awesome imagery from street art. What makes it so memorable?

You get to go through multiple universes as it explores those different spaces and realms.

• The "Spider-Verse, really comes alive with its incredible art.
• The movie even has some variations and uses styles of art to bring each individual, amazing, unique world together.

It's super crazy, too. There's more in store as "Across the Spider-Verse" will show everyone how dynamic it can really be.

Fans of this franchise will get even more epic adventures! As the latest in the series called "Beyond the Spider-Verse," comes to the screen. It is surely going to have everyone saying WOW! as they go on this thrilling animated journey!

An Incredible Animation Experience

What makes this an animated classic, was its amazing blend of technology and how to represent those elements on screen! The amazing world of "The Adventures of Tintin" uses motion capture!

It's a super unique combination, a process that really shows us how artists have gotten a lot better with creating human-looking, real world animated characters in the past. It may make it feel strange!

• That has been one of the biggest issues with movies, it ends up with the "uncanny valley." But here's the most epic element of "The Adventures of Tintin."

If you know about "The Adventures of Tintin" there's something very special in this movie! The way they use "motion capture" is inspired. The director behind "Steven Spielberg" knew this would bring a lot of energy to the project!

The animated figures seem more lifelike and full of intensity. It was a real break through to make this into a great animated film that wasn't stuck in the "uncanny valley" or in a place where the characters looked unnatural, making this feel even more realistic! And they truly made those animated figures look like the characters that are depicted in these original "comic books!"

There are a few special animated movies from different companies and there's something special in "The Red Turtle!"

• A big highlight for everyone that follows "Studio Ghibli", and may even be a bit surprising because it was part of a production process with companies all around the world.

This unique blending gives audiences a movie experience they can't really find in the world of animated films.

• What really makes this such a remarkable movie? You will want to see the stunning visuals that came together! It uses a lot of those big wide angles and views.
• There's this truly amazing way that it shows an open ocean that seems so deep, using super bold, amazing colors!
• "The Red Turtle" doesn't use any dialogue at all. In fact, its storyline relies on its visual language and there's a compelling, deep connection to the audience.

Animation can do so much. You won't want to miss a big movie from Studio Ghibli and get ready to enjoy all of the artistry.

There's an extraordinary story behind the creation of this awesome movie. "Loving Vincent" is really unique! What stands out?

• The animators who worked on this project went above and beyond to take it to the highest levels, and had so much respect for this incredible artist, "Van Gogh"
• They were trying to bring this amazing art to life and really showcase what made the world such a fantastic and unique space to live and play in.

Every frame was done with amazing skill. These animators were truly masters at replicating all of the techniques that "Van Gogh used!

That brought to life something magical and a movie that audiences loved.

It took an immense number of animators to work around the clock!

With hundreds of amazing artists they got the chance to really show how much they appreciate an artist like "Van Gogh." It may be the most unique movie made and definitely not one you can easily make. If anything this truly demonstrates how animation is never about those standardized features that have defined this genre, this was a true test for its innovative style, but it's been such an inspirational film that anyone who has seen it!

Fantastic Planet Animated Classic

"Fantastic Planet," takes audiences on a true mind trip with those wild animated moments, that capture imagination, the surreal beauty of animation!

This movie features some pretty memorable scenes and a wild take on the future of animation. "Fantastic Planet," which came out in 1973, is definitely going to show just what made animation, such a compelling force! The movie gives a story that takes those creative visuals to an amazing, interesting direction!

It truly captures a whole new dimension to those awesome visuals of this great genre, using animated humans.

That makes "Fantastic Planet", even more powerful as these characters and their world don't quite resemble the everyday ones we experience!

• This film's most amazing element, the incredible creatures called "Draags!" They don't just look different.
• It features so many elements of these extraordinary creatures and it seems to show us a vision of what makes their movements distinctive.

In fact, it shows everyone what the world might be like on a far-away, strange moon!

• The incredible "Fantastic Planet" doesn't allow you to feel at home!

Those of you that love to get those awesome mind trips, the weird and wacky in a film, "Fantastic Planet" is the best movie you might be able to watch, adding this amazing story, this mysterious movie to the best that this animated genre has to offer! It is truly something special and a perfect film for the sci-fi lover, and those who want to really test the limits of what animation can do!

Wes Anderson Fantastic Mr. Fox

Wes Anderson always brings to the screen, something really cool. Wes Anderson is an incredibly talented artist who truly defines film style! He brings the amazing elements that made him an auteur into the animation realm. He truly brings to life, that world!

It was truly remarkable the way he did things a bit differently! He takes us to a new place where it appears we are able to experience his art with all its distinctive, beautiful aspects!

• He first played with animation in a smaller role.
• There are these fantastic creatures he brought into this awesome movie called "The Life Aquatic With Steve Zissou."

And that paved the way for this unique project that no one would have thought about.

The result?

• It was "Fantastic Mr. Fox!". An animated masterpiece from "Wes Anderson," which brought that same eye for incredible details that are all about bringing together the characters, and the sets and giving a great amount of effort to make sure everything looks great!.
• "Fantastic Mr. Fox," really highlights that attention to detail!
• The film is one of the most incredible things "Wes Anderson" has done!

What was super amazing is the process for making this movie.

• "Wes Anderson" did something extraordinary with the audio recordings for this special "Fantastic Mr. Fox" film!
• The team that worked with him brought in talented actors, so they could actually get that amazing sound on location! That meant being able to take an innovative approach. He brought all these characters into these cool locations, adding another, incredible, cool element that makes animation that much more authentic and more like a "real" experience.

An Artful Approach:

Get ready for another great movie! What stands out about "Ruben Brandt, Collector," is the combination of an art therapist. You might know the "Art" as one of the ways to help people. In fact, "Ruben Brandt, Collector" is the therapist who assembles this cool, impressive crew. These are not ordinary people and the collection they're making isn't just about creating a bunch of money for their effort, but to take something that is really interesting and make it their mission! They're taking an entire set of artwork. Their targets. Art that’s known all over the world!

What makes this "Ruben Brandt, Collector," a must see?

• You get this crazy, awesome visual style that changes to a new art style.
• "Ruben Brandt" pays tribute to an iconic artist, the art and those characters!

It’s as if this movie was able to step into the shoes of an artist, the one they depict!

This was definitely one of the best of these innovative movies.

Fans of art will enjoy its special touches and an homage to these famous, inspiring artists!

• It might bring you a a journey back in time with Pablo Picasso!
• There is a super creative visual style that's one of the biggest parts of this film.
• There's so much for audiences who adore the work of these famous artists to be enthralled with the "Ruben Brandt, Collector" animation style.

To find some inspiration, be sure to check out the awesome "Ruben Brandt"! A film that will give audiences more than just a few minutes of entertainment. This is a super artistic piece, full of awesome colors. But also a creative blend of all the ways art and animation can come together in a super exciting and fun way. Make sure to add this to your "to-watch" list!