The overwhelming success of Minions: The Rise of Gru this year has continued to prove that other studios like Illumination and Dreamworks have what it takes to compete with the might of Disney Animation Studios, especially in the realm of 3D CGI animation. With that seemingly being the norm, big-budget 2D-animated movies have become a lot rarer in recent years.
Luckily, there have already been plenty of incredible non-Disney examples over the years, including classics like The Prince of Egypt and The Iron Giant. Animation fans on Ranker voted up their favorite movies in this category to discern the very best 2D classics that didn't come from Disney.
Note: Ranker lists are live and continue to accrue votes, so some rankings may have changed after this publishing.
FernGully: The Last Rainforest (1992)
A beautifully colorful musical adventure with an environmental message that hasn't gotten any less relevant with time, it's easy to see why FernGully: The Last Rainforest still feels like one of the strongest 2D competitors to Disney's best efforts. It tells the tale of a human mistakenly getting shrunk down and discovering the world of fairies living in an Australian rainforest.
The movie features a star-studded cast that includes Tim Curry, Samantha Mathis, Christian Slater, and Robin Williams, making it a showcase of some serious talent. That highlights the movie as a popular choice but the animation itself isn't quite up to some of its Disney contemporaries and that's likely why the movie isn't any higher in the poll.
The Secret of NIMH (1982)
The great animated directorial debut of the legendary Don Bluth, who was responsible for a number of Disney's best competitors after leaving the company, The Secret of NIMH is a delightful animal adventure story. Based on a popular children's book, the movie has all the charming touches it needs to sell its story of a field mouse in trouble.
Its rich detail evoked memories of an even older generation of classic 2D animation and that's a big part of why it was met with acclaim as well as commercial success. Though that has developed into a loyal fanbase that will vote up the movie at any opportunity, it's also a movie that can be quite visually disturbing, putting off some potential fans.
Balto (1995)
The final film produced by Steven Spielberg's UK-based Amblimation studio before it turned into DreamWorks Studios, which now boasts some of the best animated movies, Balto is based on the real-life story of a dog that became a hero after helping deliver life-saving medicine in the 1920s.
Kevin Bacon and Bridget Fonda head up a likable cast that helps to sell its heartfelt story of heroism, and the animation is more than competent. Although Balto's release was overshadowed by Disney Pixar's Toy Story, it slowly found its audience over time and they made their voice heard on Ranker.
An American Tail (1986)
An American Tail was made as Don Bluth was beginning to hit his stride as an animated director. Thanks to its great songs, sparkling humor, and the draw of its iconic main character Fievel Mousekewitz, it became a huge critical and commercial success. It also broaches some serious themes that make it resonate with many.
There is also a sense of wonder portrayed in the movie's visuals throughout that may be the result of Steven Spielberg's involvement in the movie's production. An American Tail spawned an entire franchise with Fievel as its face but it seems unlikely many would forget the iconic character anyway, as the movie is still the best the mouse has featured in as far as fans on Ranker are concerned.
All Dogs Go To Heaven (1989)
In its story of a murdered dog that returns to earth to seek revenge only to discover something far more important instead, All Dogs Go to Heaven managed to capture the hearts and imaginations of a generation. What's impressive is that it did this despite performing poorly on release, competing directly with the more visually impressive The Little Mermaid, which also had the better songs.
All Dogs Go to Heaven discovered its audience on VHS however, meaning many ended up watching the movie many years after its release. That's why it found even more enduring fans on Ranker than movies that had far stronger box office returns and the visual charm of its dog characters likely helped make it an easy choice to vote for too.
The Land Before Time (1988)
It's no surprise that the animated movie that spawned an entire media franchise as well as formed an important part of so many people's childhoods would prove a popular choice on Ranker. The first movie in the Land Before Time franchise, the film did an impressive job of humanizing dinosaurs, presenting the prehistoric journey of the young Littlefoot.
Any kids' movie that opens with a death scene is likely to have a big impact and that was the case for The Land Before Time. It didn't hurt the movie's positive critical reception though and it helped it touch the hearts of kids everywhere. It's that all-important connection that made it a beloved film and garnered it so many votes on Ranker.
The Iron Giant (1999)
The directorial debut of Brad Bird, who went on to direct Ratatouille and both Incredibles movies for Pixar, The Iron Giant stands out as it actually made use of the 2D animation medium to create stunning sci-fi visuals that couldn't be found anywhere else. Along with a beautiful story adapted from Ted Hughes' novel, it's a movie that's often underrated.
Luckily, the film buffs of Ranker like to ensure great movies get the recognition they deserve, which is why The Iron Giant received so many votes. With its director later making movies under Disney's wing, it makes sense that the movie is one of the best animated efforts outside of their umbrella.
Anastasia (1997)
Although it's perhaps most famous for its titular character often being mistaken for a Disney princess, Anastasia is a movie rightfully recognized for a lot more than that by fans on Ranker. Don Bluth's most successful movie, the film could easily be mistaken for a Disney title with its fairytale plot and beautiful visuals.
It's also helped by an all-star voice cast that includes the likes of Meg Ryan, John Cusack, Kelsey Grammer, and Christopher Lloyd, which is the kind of star talent that could appeal to any movie buff. Along with its expansive and intriguing plot, it's easy to see why the movie is so well-appreciated by voters on Ranker.
The Prince of Egypt (1998)
Although the studio now boasts several fan-favorite animated properties, The Prince of Egypt is easily Dreamworks' best 2D movie thanks to its epic biblical plot and the passion that was clearly put into crafting its beautiful re-telling. With a breathtaking soundtrack to match, it's no surprise the movie was a critical and commercial success.
While this alone means it would inevitably draw a lot of votes from movie fans on Ranker, it's also helped by an almost unmatched voice cast that includes Val Kilmer, Michelle Pfeiffer, Ralph Fiennes, Sandra Bullock, Jeff Goldblum, and many more, as well as fan-favorite comedians Steve Martin and Martin Short. As a result, the movie very nearly took the top spot on the poll.
The Road To El Dorado (2000)
Telling the story of two charismatic con artists who find a map to the mythical lost city of El Dorado, The Road to El Dorado is a good, old-fashioned adventure movie and its smooth, colorful animation makes it immediately stand out. Perhaps due to the rise of great 3D animated movies, it was a commercial disappointment at the time of its release.
Along with mixed reviews, the movie was seen as a failure for a long time until it developed a cult following loyal to the movie's distinctive brand of fun. It's a testament to just how big this re-evaluation of the movie has been over the years that it now ranks as the top non-Disney 2D animated movie among the movie fans of Ranker.