Movie companies have been working hard to find creative ways to add different layers and elements to their films. One way they do this is by having different types of animation on top of each other, like in the recent release Chip 'N Dale: Rescue Rangers.
Some movies have live-action with animated characters involved, while others have different types of animation all throughout. Regardless, this style has been heavily utilized by different movie companies over the years. Some have created movies that quickly became popular specifically for this reason, while others still are working to be noticed.
Wreck-It Ralph (2012)
Streaming On Disney+
It only makes sense that a movie that is about a bunch of different video games has different animation styles. Wreck-It Ralph tells the story of bad guy Ralph who feels he could do so much more than wreck things. As the story takes place in the games of an arcade, it brings a wide variety of different characters together.
While the animation style seems to be similar when they all come out of their games after the arcade closes, there are still distinctive differences that help them keep their unique look from their game. The movie does a careful job of making each game look how it is to the players when the kids are playing it too. Overall, the many animation styles come together wonderfully and help keep the characters and story alive.
The Lego Movie (2014)
Streaming On Fubo TV
Lego has come a long way since they were first created as literal building blocks. With countless movies, shows, and video games out, Lego has become a big part of the film industry. The Lego Movie might have been one big ad, but the animation style deserves to be recognized.
The movie uses a variety of Legos to create the town of Bricksburg, as well as the different characters helped to give it the dynamic feel it has. Combining the smaller, and more complex Legos with the bigger Legos that are usually intended for small children helped give it a familiar air for those that have used the building blocks before. Between the different types of Legos and entering into the real world, the movie has a lot to benefit from going back and forth in animation styles.
Who Framed Roger Rabbit (1988)
Streaming On Disney+
One movie that is particularly popular for its combination of live-action with animation is Who Framed Roger Rabbit. The movie came out in the late 80s and was a hit instantly.
The combination of animated characters working with live-action characters was wildly popular and used in the mid to late twentieth century. The CGI effects weren't anywhere where they are today, but fans seemed to enjoy seeing some of their favorite animated characters come to life. Seeing Eddie immersed in Toontown, and watching the town's inhabitants come to earth was something that added an extra layer to the comedy film.
Space Jam: A New Legacy (2021)
Streaming On HBO Max
Another movie that utilized the live-action combined with animated characters was the 1996 classic Space Jam. Its sequel, Space Jam: A New Legacy may not have lived up to the hype that fans expected as a follow-up to the first movie, but it used more animation styles making it unique.
Not only did it have the live-action and animation side-by-side, but it had parts that were all the classic Looney Tunes style. Seeing all the characters go through the usual blunders that a Looney Tune can go through gave it a classic feel. It may have been the use of CGI on the Looney Tunes that made fans feel disappointed as some of the classic characters has some changes that fans were not happy about.
James And The Giant Peach (1996)
Streaming On Disney+
Claymation and stop-motion films were the starts of something big when they first came out. Many movies from the 90s had a strange animation style and James and the Giant Peach, is no exception.
James and the Giant Peach starts off as live-action and then transitions into stop-motion in a beautiful way. The bugs may come off as creepy since they are bugs and most people don't like them, but it's the little details, like their clothing and their docile personalities, that make them likable. The combination made it truly feel as though James was immersed in a story that came to life.
The Spongebob Squarepants Movie (2004)
Streaming On Paramount+
Since the series first started in 1999, Spongebob Squarepants has utilized a variety of different animation styles to keep the show lively. From the theme song which has the lips of a painting moving like they're real, to different drawing styles used throughout, the show is legendary for its use of different art styles.
This is carried over into The Spongebob Squarepants Movie where more live-action sequences are used. The use of live-action adds the silly aspect that the show is always heavy on, but it also holds some of the most emotional scenes, like when Patrick and Spongebob dry out. Showing the strong use of the different styles goes to show that the franchise knows how to switch styles to convey emotions and add to the story.
Monty Python And The Holy Grail (1975)
Available To Rent On Apple TV
The Monty Python franchise grew tremendously between the 70s and 80s. Monty Python and the Holy Grail is not only one of the best movies about King Arthur, but its animation styles are unparalleled.
From the animation in the transitions to various other moments, like the monster attacking in the cave, the film is filled with moments of animation that add to the level of humor, as well as the overall story. Even the animation of God talking to the knights was a different type of animation, but it all worked together to tell the story.
The Little Prince (2015)
Available To Rent On Apple TV
A story within a story is always something that has to be done delicately to be carried out well, and The Little Prince managed to hit it out of the ballpark. The movie could have just told the story that the book (which has the same title) told, but it might have lost the emotional depth that adding the extra layer added.
By telling a story within a story, it allowed the film to utilize two different types of animation. The main story uses a more modern animation style, while the story being told uses a claymation style, giving it more of a story being told feel.
The Mitchells Vs. The Machines (2021)
Streaming On Netflix
A normal road trip to college turned into the adventure of a lifetime when all the electronics in the world came to life and began attacking humans. The Mitchells Vs. The Machines has many relatable moments, jokes, and plenty of action to match the wide variety of animation styles it uses.
The movie managed to portray the story so well by animating things to match a comic-book sort of style. Adding the layered animation styles, the breaking of the third wall, and adding elements that give The Mitchells Vs. The Machines the authentic comic book feel. The style was no surprise when viewers saw it was created by the same people that created Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse, which is well known for its many animation styles combined into one.
Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse (2018)
Streaming On Fubo TV
Four years ago, Marvel fans were given a Spider-Man movie that totally changed the game for the franchise. The story itself was top-tier, but the animation style, or styles really, is what left fans so mesmerized. The multiverse came together in Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse as multiple Spider-people were sucked into Miles Morales' universe.
Keeping each unique animation style from each character's universe was just one part of the incredible animation in the film. The main animation style had many parts that gave it a classic comic-book style feel, as well as really added to the shocking elements in the story. Jarring transitions, bright colors, and text bubbles are just a few of what gave this movie the feel of the comics.