Five Animated Films That Inspire Me Artistically
At one point, I wanted to go into animation. After all, animated movies are a favorite part of my childhood. Here is a list of five films that have made a mark on me, as an artist and human. Yet a common misconception is that animated media is only for children, which is sad to hear because animation encompasses so many aspects of the art industry; it is a testament to human ingenuity.
Look Back movie poster
Look Back (2024) is a film adaptation of a single-chapter manga (a Japanese comic) by Tatsuki Fujimoto. In it, he explores two young girls, Fujino and Kyomoto, who love creating manga. The story follows themes of friendship, rivalry, ambition, and life’s unexpected tragedies. Fujimoto was inspired to create this after the 2019 arson attack on Kyoto Animation Studio.
Panel from the original manga
I, much like Fujimoto, see myself in both girls depicted in the story. While Fujino is more extroverted, I related to her perseverance. And Kyomoto, who struggles with a fear of human interaction so intense that she opts for homeschooling, I related to her passion and hard work. The film is grounded, refreshing, and powerful- asking and answering the question of “Why do we bother creating art”.
Spirited Away Poster
Spirited Away (2001) is a critically acclaimed film directed by Hayao Miyazaki under Studio Ghibli. It follows Chihiro, a ten-year-old girl, who, while moving to a new town, wanders into a mysterious spirit realm where a witch turns her parents into pigs. To save them, she must work at the witch Yubaba's bathhouse for spirits, learning bravery, kindness, and responsibility. With help from Haku and other spirits she meets along the way. She eventually finds the strength to rescue her family and return to the human world.
Scene from the film
The film is enchanting and gorgeous. You can see the common principle of animating “mistakes” to create a film that breathes reality. Every scene is full of organic movement. Supplemented by Joe Hisaishi’s soundtrack, every millisecond is magical. It is no wonder that the film won the Oscar for Best Animated Feature Film at the 75th Academy Awards in 2003.
Cinderella Poster
Cinderella (1950) is a film from Disney’s “Silver Age”. It tells the classic story of a young girl who suffers as a servant under her evil stepmother and two stepsisters. One night, she sneaks off to a royal ball with the help of her fairy godmother, who magically transforms her reality into a dream come true. Cinderella enchants the handsome Prince Charming at the ball, but must face the wrath of her enraged stepmother and sisters when the spell wears off at midnight.
Scene from Cinderella
This was my favorite film as a child. There was a time when I would refuse to go to bed without watching it. The scene where Cinderella and Prince Charming dance and walk the palace grounds was my favorite- the use of lighting and color always enchanted me.
Pinocchio Poster
Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio (2022) is a dark, stop-motion animated reimagining of the classic story set in fascist Italy. Grieving woodcarver, Geppetto, creates a wooden puppet, Pinocchio, who is brought to life by a magical sprite. He goes on a journey learning about life, death, and humanity while defying authority and experiencing the horrors of war. In the end, he finds meaning in love, imperfection, and sacrifice rather than becoming a "real" boy.
From the MoMA echibition
From the MoMA exhibition
The film is haunting and beautiful. You can tell the characters are sculpted with so much precision and love. While Disney’s Pinocchio was not my favorite film as a child, Guillermo del Toro’s retelling drove me to tears. I had the pleasure of seeing the film’s special exhibition at the MoMA several years ago, and it brought an entirely new appreciation of the stop-motion art form to my family and me.
Coraline Poster
Coraline (2009) is a stop-motion film produced by Laika Studios based on Neil Gaiman’s book of the same name. It details the story of a daring girl who feels neglected by her busy parents in a new home. During one of her explorations, she discovers a secret door to a vibrant, idealized parallel world with "Other" parents who have buttons for eyes. This other world turns sinister when the Other Mother tries to force Coraline to stay by sewing buttons onto her eyes. She traps Coraline's real parents and the souls of previous child victims for consumption. Coraline must brave this dark fantasy, aided by a talking cat, to find her parents and the lost souls, eventually outsmarting the Other Mother to escape and save her family from the menacing world.
Coraline with a transformed “Other Mother”
It’s a common joke that this film traumatized an entire generation of children. The film has a creepy yet charming quality, evident in its use of color, movement, and overall scene design. Among all aspects of the film, the wonky character designs are my favorite.
