Anthomation Assesses The Top 5 Animated Films of 2020

Howdy guys, Anthomaton here. Today I shall review the best of the best from this past year. 

While films were harder to produce and distribute than usual, the films we did get turned out to be worthwhile. Whether they came out early or later in the year, if they were well known and looked over, it’s the job of this critic to celebrate those animation highlights.

5. Over the Moon

When Fei Fei (voice of Cathy Ang) was a young girl, her now-deceased mother told her the story of Chang’e, a moon goddess of Chinese mythology who is waiting on the moon for her one and only true love. Her friends and family think it’s just a silly myth, so the 13-year-old girl, who’s a STEM-proficient student, decides to build a rocketship herself so she can find Chang’e and prove the story is true. Directed by Glen Keane, former animator at the House of Mouse, this film was released by Netflix. In my full review of the film, I referred to the animation being as colorful as the World of Color show at Disneyland. The story is well thought out in the first half, but falters in the second half making it a decent, but not great film.

Score:

6/10

4. The Willoughbys

Convinced they’d be better off raising themselves, the Willoughby children hatch a sneaky plan to send their selfish parents on vacation. The siblings then embark on their own high-flying adventure to find the true meaning of family. Based on the Lois Lowry book of the same name, this was another Netflix animation release. In my opinion, this is the most underrated film on this list. The film was critically acclaimed, but didn’t receive the praise of other films. It has bright and stylized animation, likeable characters, and a laughably silly plot.

Score:

7/10

3. Onward 

In a suburban fantasy world, two teenage elf brothers, Ian and Barley Lightfoot, go on a journey to discover if there is still a little magic left out there in order to spend one last day with their father, who died when they were too young to remember him. Like any good quest, their journey is filled with magic spells, cryptic maps, impossible obstacles and unimaginable discoveries. When the boys’ fearless mom, Laurel, realizes that her sons are missing, she teams up with the legendary winged-lion-scorpion former warrior — The Manticore — and heads off to find them. Perilous curses aside, this one magical day could mean more than any of them ever dreamed. The tasty Pixar appetizer to later mentioned entree, it was wonderful animation, characters to root for, and emotionally impactful climax.

Score:

7/10

2. Wolfwalkers

In a time of superstition and magic, a young apprentice hunter, Robyn Goodfellowe, journeys to Ireland with her father to wipe out the last wolf pack. While exploring the forbidden lands outside the city walls, Robyn befriends a free-spirited girl, Mebh, a member of a mysterious tribe rumored to have the ability to transform into wolves by night. As they search for Mebh’s missing mother, Robyn uncovers a secret that draws her further into the enchanted world of the “Wolfwalkers” and it risks turning into the very thing her father is tasked to destroy. This film was directed by Tomm Moore, who had previously directed hidden gems such The Secret of Kells (2009) and Song of the Sea (2014). As someone who loves traditional handdrawn animation, it is very refreshing to see it done extremely well in the modern day. Along with the animation, the film also features great characters and a story full of intriguing Irish lore.

Score:

8/10

1. Soul

Joe Gardner is a middle-school band teacher whose life hasn’t quite gone the way he expected. His true passion is jazz — and he’s good. But when he travels to another realm to help a soul, named 22, find their passion, he soon discovers what it means to have a soul. Being the late year entree of Pixar, this is a film that truly lived to its hype. It was directed by Pete Doctor, director of such films like Up (2009) and Inside Out (2015). That should tell you enough if the film will be good. The animation is fantastic, ranging from realistic to stylized, the characters are well-constructed, and the story has so much emotional integrity. It is just a well-thought-out film.

Score:

8/10