Can Wall-E beat Toy Story? This list of the best computer-animated movies ever made many finally answer that question. Though it is far-reaching and includes films representing a variety of studios, nations and animation styles, it's undeniable that tastes seem to overwhelming lean towards the work of two studios in particular: Disney's Pixar Animation Studio and DreamWorks Animation. Pixar, in particular, tends to dominate the public's perception of contemporary animation style and form. This is unsuprising in some ways, considering the studio's track record for popular event films, and the fact that they initially popularized the idea of computer-animated features with Toy Story in 1995.
CGI stands for computer-generated imagery. Computer animation dates back to the 1940s and 1950s, though in this era the technique was relatively experimental. There are rare examples of the use of computer animation (often then called "computer graphics") in mainstream film and TV projects, notably the opening credit sequence of Alfred Hitchcock's film Vertigo. By the 1970s, more films - including George Lucas' Star Wars - were finding ways to utilize computer animation within the context of other, more practical special effects. (The 3D models of the Death Star, for example.)
By the early 1990s, computer animated sequences were popularly being used within live-action films to create characters that would not otherwise be possible, such as the Jurassic Park dinosaurs or the liquid metal antagonist of Terminator 2: Judgement Day. It was not until Pixar released Toy Story in 1995, however, that the world got to see a completely computer-animated feature. The genre has been massively popular ever since, with a number of the highest-grossing American films each year being entirely computer-animated. In 2012, Pixar released its 13th feature animated film, "Brave."
What are the best CGI animated movies? This list will answer that question.
[Click here for a more complete list of all computer-animated films.]
11,026502Despicable Me
Steve Carell, Jason SegelReleased: 2010
Directed by: Pierre Coffin, Chris Renaud
Despicable Me is a 2010 American 3D computer-animated comedy film directed by Pierre Coffin... more
2819710WALL-E
Sigourney Weaver, Laraine NewmanReleased: 2008
Directed by: Andrew Stanton
WALL-E is a 2008 American computer-animated science-fiction comedy film produced by Pixar... more![The Incredibles]()
3860805The Incredibles
Samuel L. Jackson, Holly HunterReleased: 2004
Directed by: Brad Bird
The Incredibles is a 2004 American computer-animated superhero film directed by Brad Bird. A... more![Despicable Me 2]()
4747264Despicable Me 2
Russell Brand, Steve CarellReleased: 2013
Directed by: Pierre Coffin, Chris Renaud
Despicable Me 2 is a 2013 computer animated comedy film written by Ken Daurio and Cinco Paul.... more![Toy Story]()
5881677Toy Story
Tom Hanks, Tim AllenReleased: 1995
Directed by: John Lasseter
Toy Story is a 1995 American computer-animated buddy-comedy adventure film produced by Pixar... more![Finding Nemo]()
6747731Finding Nemo
Ellen DeGeneres, Willem DafoeReleased: 2003
Directed by: Andrew Stanton, Lee Unkrich
Finding Nemo is a 2003 American computer-animated comedy-drama adventure film produced by... more![Monsters, Inc.]()
7715680Monsters, Inc.
Billy Crystal, John GoodmanReleased: 2001
Directed by: David Silverman, Pete Docter, Lee Unkrich
Monsters, Inc. is a 2001 American computer-animated comedy film directed by Pete Docter,... more![Up]()
8711711Up
Christopher Plummer, Ed AsnerReleased: 2009
Directed by: Pete Docter
Up is a 2009 American 3D computer-animated adventure comedy-drama film produced by Pixar... more9
623754How to Train Your Dragon
Gerard Butler, Kristen WiigReleased: 2010
Directed by: Dean DeBlois, Chris Sanders
How to Train Your Dragon is a 2010 American 3D computer-animated action-fantasy film by... more![Minions]()
10647223Minions
Sandra Bullock, Jon HammReleased: 2015
Directed by: Pierre Coffin, Kyle Balda
Minions is a 2015 American 3D computer-animated comedy film directed by Pierre Coffin and Kyle... more![Toy Story 3]()
11586709Toy Story 3
Tom Hanks, Whoopi GoldbergReleased: 2010
Directed by: Lee Unkrich
Toy Story 3 is a 2010 American 3D computer-animated comedy film, and the third film in the Toy... more12
506670Toy Story 2
Tom Hanks, Kelsey GrammerReleased: 1999
Directed by: John Lasseter, Lee Unkrich, Ash Brannon
Toy Story 2 is a 1999 American computer-animated comedy adventure film produced by Pixar... more![Ratatouille]()
13530715Ratatouille
Peter O'Toole, Janeane GarofaloReleased: 2007
Directed by: Brad Bird, Jan Pinkava
Ratatouille is a 2007 American computer-animated comedy film produced by Pixar Animation... more![Shrek]()
14557742Shrek
Cameron Diaz, Eddie MurphyReleased: 2001
Directed by: Andrew Adamson, Vicky Jenson
Shrek is a 2001 American computer-animated fantasy-comedy film produced by PDI/DreamWorks,... more15
18588Despicable Me 3
Steve Carell, Kristen WiigDirected by: Pierre Coffin and Kyle Balda
Despicable Me 3 is a 2017 3D computer-animated comedy film produced by Illumination... more![Tangled]()
16449656Tangled
Mandy Moore, Ron PerlmanReleased: 2010
Directed by: Nathan Greno, Byron Howard
Tangled is a 2010 American computer animated musical fantasy-comedy film produced by Walt... more17
190174Zootopia
Ginnifer Goodwin, Jason BatemanReleased: 2016
Directed by: Byron Howard, Rich Moore, Jared Bush
Zootopia is a 2016 American 3D computer-animated comedy film directed by Byron Howard and Rich... more![Finding Dory]()
18117109Finding Dory
Ellen DeGeneres, Albert BrooksReleased: 2016
Directed by: Andrew Stanton
Finding Dory is a 2016 American 3D computer-animated comedy adventure film directed by Andrew... more![Wreck-It Ralph]()
19383558Wreck-It Ralph
Sarah Silverman, Jane LynchReleased: 2012
Directed by: Rich Moore
Wreck-It Ralph is a 2012 comedy animation family film written by Phil Johnston, Jennifer Lee... more![Kung Fu Panda]()
20448696Kung Fu Panda
Angelina Jolie, Lucy LiuReleased: 2008
Directed by: John Stevenson, Mark Osborne
Kung Fu Panda is a 2008 American computer-animated action comedy martial arts film produced by... more21
9521,073How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World
Jay Baruchel, Cate BlanchettReleased: 2019
Directed by: Dean DeBlois
How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World is a 2019 American 3D computer-animated action... more![Big Hero 6]()
22245373Big Hero 6
Jamie Chung, Maya RudolphReleased: 2014
Directed by: Chris Williams, Don Hall
Big Hero 6 is a 2014 American 3D computer-animated superhero action comedy film produced by... more23
4743Avengers: Infinity War
Robert Downey Jr., Chris HemsworthReleased: 2018
Directed by: Anthony Russo, Joe Russo
Avengers: Infinity War is a 2018 American superhero film directed by Anthony and Joe Russo.... more![Ice Age]()
24409744Ice Age
Jack Black, Ray RomanoReleased: 2002
Directed by: Chris Wedge, Carlos Saldanha
Ice Age is a 2002 American computer-animated comedy adventure film directed by Carlos Saldanha... more![Frozen]()
25281504Frozen
Kristen Bell, Idina MenzelReleased: 2013
Directed by: Chris Buck, Jennifer Lee
Frozen is a 2013 American 3D computer-animated musical fantasy–comedy film produced by Walt... more
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