Top 10 Most Famous Animated Movies in the World

When we talk about the legendary animated film The Lion King, released by Disney in 1994, we are referring to an iconic masterpiece that stands tall not only in the film industry but also in the hearts of audiences worldwide. As the highest-grossing animated film of 1994, The Lion King became a timeless classic, beloved by people of all ages. The film earned critical acclaim for its story, deep philosophical themes, and stunning music, with 92% positive reviews on Rotten Tomatoes. It achieved monumental success at the box office, grossing $952 million (as of 2011), and remains the highest-grossing traditional animated film. It ranks second overall among animated films, only behind Toy Story 3 (a 3D computer-animated film).

Set against the wild backdrop of Africa, the film builds an entire society of animals, complete with conflicts, struggles, and love, mirroring the human world. The story follows Simba, a young lion who must overcome the tragic death of his father, caused by the treachery of his uncle Scar. Simba embarks on a courageous journey to reclaim his rightful place as king, bringing peace to the land after Scar’s reign of fear and death. Along the way, Simba befriends the carefree meerkat Timon and warthog Pumbaa, whose companionship helps him heal from his grief. With bravery and wisdom, Simba ultimately defeats Scar, fulfilling his father Mufasa’s legacy and restoring peace to the animal kingdom.

Beauty and the Beast (original title: Beauty and the Beast, also known as Người đẹp và quái thú in Vietnamese) is a 1991 American animated film with musical and romantic fantasy elements, produced by Walt Disney Animation Studios and released by Walt Disney Pictures. It is Disney's 30th animated feature film and the third released during the Disney Renaissance period. The film is based on the classic fairy tale by French author Jeanne-Marie Leprince de Beaumont (whose name is not credited in the English version but is in the French version) and also inspired by the 1946 French film directed by Jean Cocteau. The voice cast includes Richard White, Jerry Orbach, David Ogden Stiers, and Angela Lansbury.

Set in an ancient European fairy tale context, Disney brought this enchanting story to life, offering a film that appeals to both children and adults alike. Although the film centers on a romantic tale, Disney skillfully weaves in lighthearted moments and valuable lessons about family love, courage, compassion, and forgiveness, making it both entertaining and educational. The story follows a poor merchant with three beautiful daughters who, after a shipwreck, ends up staying in an enchanted castle. There, he is captured by a fearsome Beast, who demands that his youngest daughter come in exchange for her father’s freedom. Out of love and devotion to her father, she bravely enters the castle and slowly grows to love the Beast. Her sincerity and warmth ultimately transform the Beast, breaking the curse that bound him and turning him back into a handsome prince. They marry and live happily ever after.

In 2001, Studio Ghibli and director Hayao Miyazaki produced the greatest anime in Japan’s history. This film won numerous awards, including the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature, and was hailed as the most successful Japanese film of all time. It broke all box office records in Japan and is widely regarded as the best animated movie of the 21st century. Directed and written by Miyazaki, the film was produced by Studio Ghibli for Tokuma Shoten, Nippon Television Network, Dentsu, Buena Vista Home Entertainment, Tohokushinsha Film, and Mitsubishi, with Toho responsible for its distribution. The voice cast includes Hiiragi Rumi, Irino Miyu, Natsuki Mari, Naito Takeshi, Sawaguchi Yasuko, Kamijō Tsunehiko, Ono Takehiko, and Sugawara Bunta.

The film tells the story of Chihiro Ogino (Hiiragi), a 10-year-old girl who, while moving to a new home, gets lost in the spirit world of Japanese Shinto folklore. After her parents are turned into pigs by the witch Yubaba (Natsuki), Chihiro must work at Yubaba's bathhouse to find a way to free her parents and return to the human world. The film conveys the important message that children should be cautious with promises to avoid trouble, while also emphasizing the importance of filial piety and enduring friendships. With themes of bravery, compassion, and selflessness, the film captivated audiences and won the Oscar for Best Animated Film in its release year. The challenges faced by Chihiro reflect societal issues, conveyed through subtle metaphors and an outstanding storyline. There is no criticism for the film’s plot, characters, or animation. With its profound themes, it is a must-watch!

Also known simply as Ratatouille, this film tells the story of a small rat with a big dream of becoming a chef. From sneaking peeks at cooking shows on TV to dozing off, to helping a clumsy young chef get a job in a famous restaurant, the film offers a wonderful message for anyone afraid of failure. On June 22, 2007, Ratatouille had its global premiere at the Kodak Theatre in Los Angeles, where Pixar representatives collected audience feedback. Disney’s CEO Bob Iger announced a 3D re-release of the film during shareholder meetings in March 2014. Commercial screenings began a week later, with a short film, Lifted, shown before Ratatouille in theaters. Earlier that year, Lifted had received an Oscar nomination for Best Animated Short Film.

At the 80th Academy Awards, Ratatouille won the Oscar for Best Animated Feature and earned four additional nominations: Best Original Score (lost to Ratatouille), Best Sound Editing, Best Sound Mixing (both lost to The Bourne Ultimatum), and Best Original Screenplay (lost to Juno). At the time, it set the record for the most Oscar nominations for a computer-animated film, breaking the previous record held by Monsters, Finding Nemo, and The Incredibles. In 2008, Wall-E broke this record with six nominations. By 2013, Ratatouille, Up, and Toy Story 3 tied for the second-highest number of Oscar nominations for animated films. Beauty and the Beast still holds the record for the most nominations for an animated film, with six nominations.

Wall-E (original English title: WALL·E) is a 2008 computer-animated film, blending science fiction and romance, produced by Pixar Animation Studios. The story, created by director Andrew Stanton, takes place on a dying Earth, buried under mountains of garbage, after humanity has abandoned the planet. Wall-E, a robot designed to clean up waste, is the film's protagonist. This was the first film to feature minimal dialogue and few human appearances, relying mostly on robots amidst the crumbling remnants of modern industry. Wall-E tells a heartwarming and tender love story between Wall-E and his companion, “the round egg,” while offering a cautionary tale about the dangers of over-reliance on technology and the loss of human engagement.

After the success of *Finding Nemo*, Stanton wanted to create a film set in space. While most of the characters in the film do not speak human languages, they communicate through gestures and characteristic robot sounds, a challenge handled by sound designer Ben Burtt. The film also marked Pixar's first use of motion capture for animated sequences. *Wall-E* premiered in the United States and Canada on June 27, 2008, grossing $23.1 million on its opening day and $63 million in its first week, making it the third highest-grossing film of its opening weekend in July 2008. As is customary with Pixar films, *Wall-E* was accompanied by a short film, *Presto*, and the Blu-ray and DVD releases featured an additional short, *BURN-E*. On Rotten Tomatoes, *Wall-E* received an impressive 96% approval rating from critics.

Up is a computer-animated film produced by Pixar Animation Studios and released by Walt Disney Pictures. It premiered on May 9, 2009, in North America and became the opening film at the 2009 Cannes Film Festival. The UK release followed on October 9, 2009. *Up* is the second feature film directed by Pete Docter, following *Monsters, Inc.*, and features the voices of Edward Asner, Christopher Plummer, Bob Peterson, and Jordan Nagai. It is the 10th feature-length film from Pixar and the first to be released in Disney Digital 3-D, with some screenings in Dolby 3D. *Up* won a Golden Globe Award for Best Animated Feature and Best Original Score. It also received five Academy Award nominations, including Best Picture, making it the second animated film in history to earn such a nomination, after *Beauty and the Beast* in 1991.

The film tells the story of a cheerful, adventurous boy scout, Russell, and the heartwarming love story of an elderly couple, Carl and Ellie. Though Ellie couldn't have children, Carl loved her deeply, and after her passing, Carl decides to use thousands of balloons to lift his house and journey to the Paradise Falls that Ellie always dreamed of visiting. Along the way, Carl is accompanied by a talking dog, Dug, who offers a humorous look at loyalty and the bond between humans and animals. *Up* combines light-hearted fun for children with profound life lessons for adults. The film received critical acclaim, with a 98% rating on Rotten Tomatoes (the highest of 2009), and grossed over $723 million globally, making it Pixar’s second highest-grossing film, after *Finding Nemo*.

Finding Nemo (2003) is a highly acclaimed animated film from the United States, produced by Pixar and Walt Disney. Written by Andrew Stanton and directed by Stanton and Lee Unkrich, it quickly became a classic. The film earned $936 million worldwide, far surpassing its $96 million production budget. It became a favorite among both children and adults. In 2008, the American Film Institute named it one of the top 10 animated films ever made. Notably, it was the first Pixar film not to be released in November.

Historically, animation was seen as a genre primarily for children, but *Finding Nemo* broke that mold. Through its captivating adventure and clever humor, it appealed to audiences of all ages. The film focuses on the profound love a father has for his son. Marlin, a cautious clownfish, embarks on a perilous journey to rescue his son, Nemo, who has been captured by a fisherman. Along the way, Marlin meets Dory, a forgetful fish, and together they navigate thrilling challenges. The phrase “Fish are friends, not food,” spoken by three vegetarian sharks, later became a symbol for animal rights campaigns.

Released on November 22, 1995, *Toy Story* became a groundbreaking hit, topping the North American box office during its opening week. The film grossed over $361 million globally, earning widespread acclaim for its innovative animation and sharp, witty script. It is hailed as one of the best animated films of all time. *Toy Story* earned three Academy Award nominations and won a special Oscar for its achievements. In 2005, the film was preserved in the National Film Registry for its cultural, historical, and aesthetic significance. This was Pixar's first feature to use 3D animation and the first fully computer-animated feature film in history. Prior to *Toy Story*, Pixar created a short film, *Tin Toy* (1988), which caught the attention of Disney and led to the creation of the full-length film.

Directed by John Lasseter, *Toy Story* tells the emotional story of toys that feel abandoned when children outgrow them. The film follows Woody, a cowboy doll, and Buzz Lightyear, a space ranger, as they embark on a daring escape from a group of troublesome kids. The film encourages us to appreciate and care for our toys, rather than discard them. *Toy Story* spawned two successful sequels, *Toy Story 2* (1999) and *Toy Story 3* (2010). In November 2014, Disney announced the development of *Toy Story 4*, directed by John Lasseter.

Tom & Jerry is a classic American animated series featuring the never-ending rivalry between Tom the cat and Jerry the mouse, which has entertained audiences for decades. Created by William Hanna and Joseph Barbera for MGM, the series began in the 1940s and ran until 1958, producing 114 short films. The original *Tom & Jerry* won seven Academy Awards for Best Animated Short Film. It became a cultural icon, beloved worldwide by people of all ages, and was recognized as one of the greatest shows in TV history by *TIME* magazine in 2000.

After the original series ended, Hanna-Barbera continued to produce *Tom & Jerry* throughout the 1970s and early 90s. Two feature films, *Tom and Jerry: The Movie* (1993) and *Tom & Jerry: The Mansion Cat* (2000), further solidified the series' popularity. The show portrays the amusing dynamic between the mischievous Tom, the clever and affectionate Jerry, and their sometimes-heroic nemesis, Spike the dog, who often helps Jerry and becomes Tom's worst nightmare. *Tom & Jerry* remains a favorite among all generations, providing endless laughter with no sign of an ending in sight.

Mickey Mouse is a beloved animated character from the United States, created by animator Ub Iwerks in 1928 and voiced by Walt Disney. Mickey made his first appearance in *Steamboat Willie*, one of the first animated films with synchronized sound, released on November 18, 1928. Despite having appeared earlier in *Plane Crazy* (a silent film), *Steamboat Willie* officially marked his debut alongside his girlfriend Minnie Mouse. Since then, Mickey has become a global icon, known not only for his immense box office success but also as a marketing symbol, earning significant royalties just like top film stars.

Mickey is instantly recognizable for his large, round ears, big eyes, white gloves, and petite body, paired with his long legs and oversized shoes. His playful demeanor, often seen with his hands in his pockets while whistling cheerfully, adds to his charm. Mickey often finds himself in humorous predicaments due to his mischievous nature, but his quick thinking and bravery always help him escape. He is loyal to his dog Pluto and is deeply in love with Minnie Mouse, whom he adores and always impresses with his cute antics. Mickey is also brave and heroic, always ready to face off against his enemy Pete to protect Minnie and their love.