The Oscars have loved to hype up the nominees for Best Animated Feature ever since movies of the genre have taken off in popularity. The 2022 ceremony saw Encanto take home the gold statuette to join several others that have had the honor of winning the prize at the grandest awards ceremony.
It’s interesting to stack these up against each other to see which ones fans loved the most. IMDb is the best indicator for such a ranking because it’s based on thousands upon thousands of votes from fans across the world to provide a relatively impartial rating. With all of these movies receiving nods from the Academy, viewers should binge them all based on their respective scores.
Brave (2012) - 7.1 - Stream On Disney+
This fantasy film is about Princess Merida as she looks to go against the medieval Scottish tradition of marrying when she’s of age. Merida’s attempts to sway her mother’s wishes inadvertently leads to the latter turning into a bear, which Merida has to find a way to fix.
While not among Pixar’s greatest-ever efforts, Brave still won over the Academy in the year to claim the top prize. Viewers have generally liked the film for its bold protagonist, although it still ranks lower compared to many other efforts because of the lack of edge in the premise.
Encanto (2021) - 7.3 - Stream On Disney+
The most recent recipient of the Oscar award for animation, Encanto has a unique story about a multigenerational Colombian family with magical powers. The one exception, Mirabel, sets out to find the solution to her family’s troubles when they start losing their magic.
Significant acclaim has gone toward Encanto’s soundtrack, which goes a long way in establishing the bond between the family members. In addition, each character’s distinct attributes surprisingly works very well, which in itself is a huge achievement since there are so many onscreen. Encanto’s focus on emotional depth and family values is certain to influence a new trend in animation as well.
Frozen (2013) - 7.5 - Stream On Disney+
Taking the world by storm, Frozen proved to be a massive box office bonanza. The story goes to show that Disney princesses can very well be heroes, as Anna looks to bring her ice-powered sister Elsa back to their kingdom and home.
The movie was seen as a natural winner at the Oscars mainly because of the commercial success that was too big to ignore. On its own, Frozen easily delights younger viewers with the dazzling graphics on display, while audiences of all ages can enjoy the songs that have become classics by now.
Toy Story 4 (2019) - 7.7 - Stream On Disney+
The fourth installment in Pixar’s tentpole series is an intimate story where Woody is reunited with former love interest Bo Peep. The pair have to escape a carnival while Woody’s best friend Buzz tries to look for him. It’s unknown if it’s the last Toy Story film, but the ending has a note of finality that brings in the tearjerking quality.
Much like previous installments, Toy Story 4 was a critical smash, going on to claim the Oscar award with no clear competitors. Interestingly, its IMDb score is relatively low given the unanimous acclaim from critics, which is most likely due to the lofty standards set by earlier entries that draw inevitable comparisons.
Big Hero 6 (2014) - 7.8 - Stream On Disney+
While there are some really powerful characters in Big Hero 6, it’s a heartwarming movie about the friendship between a boy and the healthcare robot his late brother left for him. Here, Hiro turns the robot Baymax into his sidekick as they form a superhero team to fight the villain responsible for his brother’s death.
The Academy appreciated Big Hero 6’s themes of family and friendship enough to reward it with the Oscar. Fans also love the hard-hitting action just as much as the relationship between Hiro and Baymax, which never fails to pull on viewers’ heartstrings.
Zootopia (2016) - 8.0 - Stream On Disney+
There aren’t as many Disney movies as quotable as Zootopia is, but the movie is memorable for more than just its wit. Its quirky premise of rabbit police officer Judy teaming up with Fox con artist Nick might sound simple, but there’s a deeper story of prejudice and judgment presented in a family-friendly atmosphere.
Viewers instantly took to Zootopia for successfully conveying the plot point of the divide in the community while retaining a comedic tone. The Oscars granted it the winners’ spot for the year, which didn’t surprise many since the film’s box office success and audience reception were still fresh in everyone’s minds.
Soul (2020) - 8.1 - Stream On Disney+
Pixar managed to communicate to younger viewers about questions concerning life and death in Soul. The film is about Jazz musician Joe, who refuses to pass away and befriends an unborn soul in heaven to try and return to his body so he can pursue his musical ambitions.
Unlike many other animated Oscar winners, Soul veers more into dramatic territory than comedy. Its mature premise is meant to be as complex and emotional, as it comes across to make viewers appreciate their own lives. It was an easy choice as the Animated Feature winner at the Oscars and still ranks highly in retrospect.
Inside Out (2015) - 8.2 - Stream On Disney+
Pixar took a spin on the Toy Story concept to create a movie where human emotions are sentient. Inside Out is about the five emotions within preteen Riley’s mind, with the leader Joy and outcast Sadness journeying to make it back to the center of Riley’s consciousness to lead her through life.
Inside Out garnered near-perfect scores with critics and lands quite high in terms of audience response as well. Viewers love the way each emotion brings out a different facet in Riley’s personality, and the Oscars clearly felt the same way, as the movie snagged the top honor in what was a foregone conclusion.
Coco (2017) - 8.4 - Stream On Disney+
Animated movies have shifted toward presenting different cultures in the backdrop of their stories, and Coco deserves a lot of credit for that. It follows young Miguel as he’s transported to the Land of the Dead where he looks to find his great-great-grandfather and receive his blessing to follow his passion for music.
Coco stays true to Pixar’s knack for bringing in as much entertainment value as there are tearful moments as the protagonist learns about his family and heritage. With so much backing from critics and viewers, it’s easy to see why the Academy went with Coco as the winner, as the film remains among the very best in the last ten years.
Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse (2018) - 8.4 - Stream On ITunes
Not many would have thought that a superhero movie by Sony could beat the big guns of Disney and Pixar, but Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse defied all odds. The movie opens up the multiverse, and Miles Morales encounters multiple Spider-People from different universes who help him take down the Kingpin.
It was acclaimed for its creative graphical design, focus on characterization, and vocal performances, all of which made it akin to live-action movies of the same genre. Moreover, viewers really took to Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse and there was a huge campaign for the Oscars to recognize the film’s worth. Many fans were delighted when the Academy obliged to set a new standard for animated superhero movies to come.