The American Film Institute’s 10 Top 10 list curates a collection of the greatest movies in 10 different categories, including animation. These selections showcase enduring artistry, top-tier voice casts, and stories that continue to resonate with audiences decades after their original release dates.
Finding Nemo (2003)
Pixar Animation Studios released Finding Nemo in 2003, following a nervous clownfish named Marlin (voiced by Albert Brooks) on a journey across the ocean to find his captured son, Nemo (Alexander Gould). Along the way, Marlin teams up with the forgetful, lovable Dory (voiced by Ellen DeGeneres). Co-directed by Andrew Stanton and Lee Unkrich, the film earned four Academy Award nominations and won the 2004 Oscar for Best Animated Feature.
Cinderella (1950)
Walt Disney Studios’ animated adaptation of Charles Perrault’s fairy tale tells the story of a young woman who defies her cruel stepmother with the help of a Fairy Godmother, mice Gus and Jaq, and a touch of magic. Directed by Wilfred Jackson, Hamilton Luske, and Clyde Geronimi, Cinderella received three Academy Award nominations in 1951. Despite winning no Oscars, the film remains an enduring adaptation.
Shrek (2001)
DreamWorks Animation’s Shrek is a satirical, revisionist fairy tale about an ogre whose swamp is flooded with exiled fairytale creatures by Lord Farquaad (John Lithgow). To reclaim his property, Shrek embarks on a quest to rescue a princess. The voice cast features Mike Myers as Shrek, Cameron Diaz as Princess Fiona, and Eddie Murphy as Donkey. The film launched a major franchise with multiple sequels and spinoffs.
Beauty and the Beast (1991)
Walt Disney Animation Studios achieved major box-office success with Beauty and the Beast in the 1990s. The film follows a cursed prince who must win a young woman’s love to break his spell, featuring musical numbers like “Be Our Guest.” Co-directed by Gary Trousdale and Kirk Wise, it earned six Academy Award nominations in 1992 and won two Oscars, for Best Original Song and Best Original Score.
Toy Story (1995)
Pixar Animation Studios released Toy Story in 1995 as the first computer-animated movie. Directed by John Lasseter, it centers on toys that come to life when humans are absent, focusing on the rivalry between Woody (Tom Hanks) and Buzz Lightyear (Tim Allen). The movie sparked a massive franchise including four follow-up films, television series, holiday specials, and spin-offs.
Bambi
Bambi stands apart in the Disney canon for lacking a traditional plot or a clear human villain, operating instead as a visual study of the natural world. The film follows a young deer from birth through maturity, echoing the generational structure later seen in The Lion King. Despite a tragic offscreen moment involving hunters, the film endures for its detailed animation and portrayal of the natural cycle.
Worth a look