Every Non-Pixar Movie To Win Best Animated Feature, Ranked By Letterboxd

Every Non-Pixar Movie To Win Best Animated Feature, Ranked By Letterboxd

Animation has been struggling to be a recognized medium in the Academy Awards for many years. In fact, the first animated film to ever be nominated for an academy award for Best Picture was Beauty and the Beast in 1991. It wasn’t until 2001 that the Academy added the Beast Animated Feature category to their awards ceremony.

The major conception with the category is that Pixar has dominated it since its inception. But that’s not true, Pixar has lost a healthy number of times to other animated films. These animated films are beloved in their own way and Letterboxd is a good measurement for why that is.

Happy Feet (2006) – 2.8/5

Every Non-Pixar Movie To Win Best Animated Feature, Ranked By Letterboxd

The animated penguin movie, Happy Feet, is about a young penguin who’s the only penguin in his colony who can’t sing. Instead, he can dance. Happy Feet won the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature at the 79th annual awards show. The George Miller-directed animated film beat out both Cars and Monster House for the award.

Letterboxd users are a little harsh when it comes to this movie. They’ve found it unappealing and a little nonsensical. Although the film does have its fans and some would defend any film directed by George Miller, perhaps this was one year Pixar should have won.

Frozen (2013) – 3.4/5

Frozen Songwriter Reacts To Girl Singing Let It Go In Ukrainian Shelter

Frozen has been a cultural obsession since it was released. To this day, it’s one of the rare Disney animated films to receive a theatrical sequel and it’s one of their highest grossing. The Ice Queen adaptation about Anna and Elsa, the best siblings, learning to cope with Elsa’s ice powers through sisterly love beat out The Croods, Despicable Me 2, Ernest & Celestine, and The Wind Rises at the 86th annual Academy Awards.

While recently it can feel that this movie is little overrated, Letterboxd users at the time of its release really loved it. Some more recent reviews on the site still claim the movie as one of their favorites in the Disney animated canon. Frozen has made a cultural impact the likes of which few have made, so it’s no wonder that it won.

Rango (2011) – 3.5/5

Gore Verbinski’s animated film Rango saw Johnny Depp play a lizard who was lost on the side of the road. He comes to a small town and becomes the sheriff where the animals of the town want him to get the snake outlaw that’s been terrorizing them. Rango was an impressive technological feat that beat out A Cat in Paris, Chico and Rita, Kung Fu Panda 2,  and Puss in Boots for the award at the 84th awards show.

It’s crazy to think that Rango is almost 10 years old. This film has become kind of a cult hit these days. It was underappreciated at the time but the user reviews on Letterboxd praise the stunning animation. The story might a little messy but there’s plenty to love in this animated cult classic.

Wallace And Gromit: The Curse Of The Were-Rabbit 3.6/5

Wallace Gromit Curse Were-Rabbit

The Wallace and Gromit franchise has been delighting audiences for decades, and Wallace and Grommit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit is no different. The delightful Aardman film distributed by Dreamworks Animation follows the titular characters as they face off against the mythical Were-Rabbit. It was only up against two films, Corpse Bride and Howls Moving Castle, and beat them both.

Aardman films are generally well-liked on Letterboxd. There’s just something that film fans seem to enjoy about stop motion animation over the industry standard of 3D. This film easily charmed Letterboxd users and is often considered one of the best Wallace and Gromit stories.

Zootopia (2016) – 3.7/5

Nick and Judy talking in Zootopia

The 2016 Disney animated film Zootopia is about Judy Hopps as she heads out to the big city of Zootopia. There she hopes to make a difference as a cop, and with the help of Nick Wilde, she takes down a plot to dismantle the peace the city was built to preserve. Zootopia ended up beating Kubo and the Two Strings, Moana, My Life as a Zucchini, and The Red Turtle at the 89th annual awards show.

This funny and heartfelt film has been delighting audiences ever since its release. Zootopia handles some hard topics and does so in a family-friendly package that makes it easy for all ages to enjoy. Letterboxd users are constantly impressed with the story and animation of this timeless classic.

Big Hero 6 (2014) – 3.8/5

Hiro flying with Baymax over the city in Big Hero 6.

Even though historically speaking, superhero films don’t get the recognition many think they should, Big Hero 6 managed to claim the win over The Boxtrolls, How to Train Your Dragon 2, Song of the Sea, and The Tale of the Princess Kaguya. The Disney animated film loosely based on the Marvel comic of the same name followed Hiro as he copes with the loss of his brother by turning him and his friends into superheroes.

Letterboxd users often claim this as one of the better Marvel movies to come out. Somehow this story of a boy befriending an inflatable robot managed to be super relatable to many. The heartfelt story and inventive animation were a major surprise to be sure. It may not have proven to be popular enough for a sequel, but there is a TV show follow-up on Disney+.

Shrek (2001) – 4/5

Shrek and Donkey standing by a sunflower field

Shrek is a DreamWorks animation classic at this point. The story of an Ogre finding love with a beautiful princess has been a staple in people’s households for years. It was also the first animated film to win the award for Best Animated Feature. At the 74 annual awards show, it was able to edge out Monsters Inc. and Jimmy Neutron for the inaugural award.

Shrek was a breath of fresh air when it was first released. Many people saw it as a meta takedown of Disney which had dominated the animation industry for decades. Letterboxd users still find much to love about the first installment in the long-running franchise.

Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse (2018) – 4.4/5

The various Spider-Men in Spider-verse standing in Miles' dorm

Miles Morales finally got a big-screen adaptation in the animated film Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse. He’s not alone though, because Gwen Stacey and a few different Peter Parkers are there to help him take down Kingpin from destroying the multiverse. The film pushed the animation industry forward and easily beat the likes of The Incredibles 2Isle of DogsMirai, and Ralph Breaks the Internet.

Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse felt like a moment in film history, especially if the Letterboxd reviews are anything to go by. To this day, it’s considered the best Spider-Man movie and Letterboxd users can’t get enough of it. With so many superhero films, it sure felt great to see one push the medium in new ways.

Spirited Away 4.5/5

Chihiro and Haku in Spirited Away

While other Hayao Miyazaki films have been nominated, Spirited Away was the only one that managed to take home a win. The story of Chihiro who becomes trapped in a strange new world of spirits managed to beat Ice AgeLilo & StitchSpirit: Stallion of the Cimarron, and Treasure Planet at the 75th awards ceremony. Which makes it the second film to win the award and the only foreign film to do so at this point.

Studio Ghibli has been a fan favorite for decades. With beautiful animation and a story more complex than its competition, Letterboxd users were quick to fall in love with Spirited Away. Some have even gone so far as to claim it as the best Studio Ghibli film.