With films such as Shrek and How To Train Your Dragon under their belt, Dreamworks Animation has become a serious tour de force in the entertainment world. With 41 movies released to the public, the future looks bright for future projects from the studio. For instance, this year, Dreamworks Animation will release The Bad Guys and the long-awaited Puss in Boots sequel, Puss in Boots: The Last Wish.
Needless to say, Dreamworks Animation has found fans over on the social media app Letterboxd. Whether users are revisiting a childhood favorite or checking the films out for the first time, some Dreamworks projects tended to shine bigger and brighter than others over on the social media app.
Megamind - 3.5
Megamind follows a supervillain who wants to defeat his nemesis, Metro Man. But when he finally does, he loses his purpose and looks to create a new nemesis only to become the hero he fought against all his life.
Many of DreamWorks' animated films took people by surprise, especially when they deconstruct a genre like Megamind did with superhero films. If Megamind was released in a post-MCU world, then perhaps it would get its due as being a genuinely great movie. The film sports an impressive voice cast like Will Ferrell and Brad Pitt, but some users questioned what the cast is bringing besides just celebrity. Still, the sharp and witty script was enough to put this film over the rest.
Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron - 3.6
One of the few 2D animated films that DreamWorks put out, Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron is a nostalgic favorite for many. Directed by Kelly Asbury & Lorna Cook, the film follows the adventures of a stallion named Spirit when America was settling in the west. Spirit befriends a man named Little Creek and together they escape to get Spirit home.
Many on Letterbox call this film an underrated classic. Even though the film has received a spin-off series on Netflix and a new movie was released last year, Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron seems to have been lost to time. The animation on display in the film is a constant standout for many of the viewers who review the film and the well-written plot took many revisiting the film by surprise.
Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit - 3.6
The second film that DreamWorks collaborated with Aardman was Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit. Aardman is well known for doing stop-motion animation so this makes for a unique film within DreamWorks catalog. The film follows Aardman's classic characters Wallace and Gromit as they have a run-in with the Were-Rabbit who threatens to ruin the annual veggie-growing contest.
Wallace and Gromit already had several short films to their name so there was a large fanbase willing to go along for a feature-length ride. The purity of the film resonated with many on Letterboxd as they point out how true the film feels to the central characters.
Kung Fu Panda - 3.6
Kung Fu Panda follows the adventures of a panda named Poe. Poe is chosen to be the fabled Dragon Warrior and has to train with the best martial artists in the land to stop the coming of the evil Tai Lung. The film came out in 2008 and would go on to inspire two sequels, and a few spin-off shows.
Letterboxd users find this film endlessly quotable, especially lines from great Master Oogway. More than anything, the film seemed to take many by surprise, giving a great love letter to kung-fu movies with a deeply heartfelt plot. It sports an impressive voice cast, a well-written villain, and very well choreographed martial arts sequences. All this made Kung Fu Panda one of the best DreamWorks Animated films.
How to Train Your Dragon 2 - 3.6
A few years after the first film was a surprise hit, How To Train Your Dragon 2 sees the return of Hiccup and his friends. Now that dragons have become an accepted part of the culture on Burk, Stoic, one of the best fathers, is looking to train Hiccup to be the next chief. The sudden return of Hiccup's long thought dead mother and a terrifying new villain, create many new problems for the Dragon Riders.
Many users felt the second installment in the franchise sported impressive animation but ultimately the story didn't resonate as much as the first film did. Nonetheless, it was still seen as a fun addition to the world that introduced cool new dragons and fun new characters to the series.
How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World - 3.6
The third and final entry in the How to Train Your Dragon franchise, How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World sees Hiccup as chief of Burk. This time around, the Dragons are in danger, and Hiccup and the whole of Burk look for a way to save them. Meanwhile, Toothless meets a Lightfury Dragon whom he falls in love with.
This film is tied with the second film mainly because it suffers from the same issues. While the story was an interesting progression and once again sports great animation, the film left many viewers cold. The ending was something that many Letterboxd reviewers had an issue with as it didn't feel like a satisfying resolution to the nine-year-old franchise.
Shrek 2 - 3.8
Now that Shrek has received his happily ever after with Fionna, it's time to explore what's after the happy ending. Shrek 2 answers that very question. Shrek and Fionna are called to the land of Far Far Away to meet Fionna's parents, the king, and queen. All the while, the magical Fairy Godmother and her son Prince Charming are scheming for a way to steal Fionna away from Shrek.
Shrek 2 is considered one of the best sequels and adds a bunch of new characters to the lore of Shrek, which Letterboxd fans instantly became fans of. Many point to Puss in Boots and Donkey's relationship as a highlight for the film. While, for some, it doesn't quite reach the heights of the original, many consider it just as good as the first.
The Prince of Egypt - 3.8
DreamWorks' first 2D animated film and their second film overall Prince of Egypt tells the story of Moses leading his people out of Egypt and away from the Pharaoh's rule. This movie is a passionate adaptation of the famous Bible story of Moses and Ramses' brotherhood.
The film's melodramatic look at the story of Moses and Ramses is at the heart of what many found to be appealing. There's a lush musical soundtrack with songs still remembered by fans today. The 2D animation is top-notch and the musical score by Hanz Zimmer is something that many Letterboxd users note in their reviews.
Shrek - 3.9
At the time of its release, Shrek made more money than anything else DreamWorks had put out up until then. Shrek follows the title character as he's tasked with bringing Princess Fionna back from the castle she's trapped in. Along the way, he falls in love and decides he doesn't want to be alone in his swamp forever.
Since Letterboxd didn't exist in 2001, most of the reviews for Shrek are of those rewatching the film, but its 3.9 score means it continues to resonate with many. Most of the reviews for this film label it as a classic and point to the character of Shrek as a big reason for that. Some have pointed out its impact on the animation film industry. What's clear is that, according to users of Letterbox, this film ages very well.
How to Train Your Dragon - 3.9
2010 saw the release of three DreamWorks films but How to Train Your Dragon was the one that took many by surprise. The film follows Hiccup, a young Viking who wants to prove that he's got what it takes to slay dragons so that his father will take him seriously. Through the story, he learns the truth about dragons and befriends Toothless, becoming the first dragon rider.
The Letterboxd reviews are filled with reviews of people who love this movie. Its heart and humor are often pointed to as the one that lifts the movie up above the rest. The animation on display in the film is some of the best that DreamWorks had put out up until then and the score by John Powel just can't be beaten. The only thing stopping the movie from reaching the full five stars seems to be a few naysayers who find the film overrated.