Here are the top 10 animated movies of 2021 published by MovieWeb.
Over the past 20 years, the animation industry has undergone a modern renaissance with the resurgence of animated films.
The importance and popularity of the animation medium has become evident as more studios realize the growing demand for animated films.
It also makes sense: Animated films are vital to the film industry and have been one of the main genres that audiences have enjoyed watching throughout film history.
The 2020 lockdowns and ongoing global pandemic have made it difficult for audiences to go to movie theaters.
Still, studios and filmmakers are determined to get their work seen, so 2021 saw a surge in the number of films throughout the year.
Of course, there are plenty of films to be happy about, and ten feature films stand out in the animation genre.
10 Raya and The Last Dragon
Raya and The Last Dragon is a story of seeking common ground while reserving differences, and it deftly engages in cultural critique and social awareness.
Although the story takes place in a gorgeous fantasy country, there is no doubt that the real country and cultural background that inspired the kingdom of Longyou are indispensable.
Southeast Asian regions such as Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, and the Philippines clearly have significant influence on Raya and The Last Dragon.
The film is gorgeous and engrossing, and the many details that give it that charm are intricate and intricate, and it shows the power of animation in mainstream media.
The film is especially refreshing given Disney’s penchant for telling the same types of stories with the same types of characters.
9 Batman: The Long Halloween Part 1 & Part 2
Writers Jeph Loeb and Tim Sale pared down the original comic book story and retraced some of the established plots to highlight Batman’s strong emotions.
Compared to previous live-action Batman, “Batman: The Long Halloween” presents Bruce Wayne’s detective image more specifically.
It faithfully follows the comic book canon while eschewing the copy-paste of past Batman animations.
This two-part film brings together familiar murder mystery and crime themes through scripted superhero animation and is captivating from start to finish.
“Batman: The Long Halloween Part 1 & Part 2” is crafted and performed with heart, raising the bar for the DC animated universe.
8 The Mitchells vs. The Machines
Even if you watch it many times over, The Mitchells vs. The Machines will still keep you entertained, and there’s a funny, warm and moving familial feeling that lingers throughout.
“The Mitchells vs. The Machines” is full of creativity, dazzling animation, hilarious and insanely funny.
Crazy rhythm, brilliant use of color and vivid imagination make this playful film even more pleasing to the eye.
The parent-child interaction that collides with reality also makes this film enough to resonate with any audience.
“The Mitchells vs. The Machines” is a masterpiece with an endearingly endearing production style, with its weird, wild, hilarious renditions.
7 The Witcher: Nightmare of the Wolf
When asked if Western culture should continue to create anime, The Witcher: Nightmare of the Wolf gave a resounding yes.
The Witcher: Nightmare of the Wolf switches the perspective from Geralt of Rivia to Vesemir in a dark fantasy world filled with brutal and terrifying monsters, giving us a deeper understanding of this chaotic universe.
Story themes are fraught with pain and moral ambiguity, which is what makes The Witcher series so engaging and complex.
The combination of gruesome gore violence and striking animation style may undercut The Witcher: Nightmare of the Wolf’s impact on The Witcher series, delivering a disturbing experience.
But for fans waiting for The Witcher’s second season, it’s certainly an exciting spin-off movie.
6 Belle: The Princess of Dragons and Freckles
This ultra-modern version of Beauty and the Beast measures the impact of cyberbullying from a more modern perspective, exploring an important issue that continues to affect the mental health of those online.
Director Mamoru Hosoda delivers Belle: The Princess of Dragons and Freckles’ inclusiveness by refining the aesthetic, keeping his finger on the pulse of today’s pop culture scene.
While occasionally a little confusing, Belle: The Princess of Dragons and Freckles manages to keep its own identity alive, impressively marrying an old tale with technology that the real world has yet to achieve.
Free-spirited creativity is enough to make Belle: The Princess of Dragons and Freckles stand out in a class of its own.
5 Encanto
Warm and cultural, Encanto is full of family reconciliation. It tells the audience to accept who they are without being forced to be who they are.
Visually pleasing, Encanto brings out the charisma of animation through its colorful characters and use of color, which at the same time is important to the film’s theme.
While it feels a bit similar to Disney’s other animated productions of the same year, the story does have a deep emotional feel and leave a lasting impression.
Using the traditional Disney model from a more diverse perspective can undoubtedly create a series of stories that even attract audiences beyond the target audience.
4 Luca
While Luca may be less ambitious than Pixar’s previous work, it’s comforting in its minimalist style of enjoying everyday life throughout the film.
The film tells a touching story that celebrates friendship, finds brilliance in simplicity, and is filled with a beautiful tone of sincerity and generosity from beginning to end.
The inquiry into identity projects a warm, tender empathy for the weak and the outcast while criticizing the negative energy of prejudice.
“Luca” will make audiences reminisce their childhood with joy and immerse themselves in the joy of childhood.
This charming, endearing animated feature is certainly a summer treat.
3 Paw Patrol: The Movie
Paw Patrol: The Movie is an excellent traditional G-rated family movie that even little kids can watch.
In the film, these rescue dogs demonstrate the selflessness of the profession they represent and continue to encourage preschoolers to do good wherever and whenever they want.
Frankly, we didn’t expect too much from this kind of TV animation, but the truth is, this harmless but entertaining movie will never let you get bored.
Paw Patrol: The Movie is light-hearted, appealing to audiences of all ages, and delivers a good message of self-acceptance, the importance of mental health, and teamwork.
2 Ron’s Gone Wrong
“Ron’s Gone Wrong” still shows the dialectical relationship between human beings and the love-hate relationship, and the situation that artificial intelligence is about to overwhelm the technology field.
The film is soberly aware of its time, and while its imagination may be contested, it excels in its witty humour and likable thematic style.
This playful animated film reflects how today’s children grow up in the digital age, but without overcomplicating it, it manages to root its own message of awareness in the story.
The eccentric style presented by the creators underscores the film’s appeal, and sparks a debate about how the public perceives big tech companies.
1 Batman: Soul of the Dragon
Compared to other conventional Batman stories, Batman: Soul of the Dragon expands the superhero genre in an unconventional way.
This DC animation deviates from the plotline that has been repeated over the past few decades, enriching the Batman theme with originality.
The atmosphere of the film clearly leans towards the style of 1970s movies, and it is equipped with a strong voice cast.
More intense fight scenes add to the thrill of a superhero movie, and Batman: Soul of the Dragon pays homage to the kung fu movie that was a major influence on it, and it’s full of nostalgia from start to finish.
