Is ‘The Lion King’ the Greatest Animated Movie of All Time?

When I was a little kid, I loved watching The Lion King. It had everything I wanted in a movie; there was action, adventure, a little romance, and a ton of jokes. I was certainly not alone in this venture.

The original movie made $981,708,285 at the worldwide box office, and was thrust into the cultural lexicon with songs like “Hakuna Matata” and “The Circle of Life”. It spawned some straight-to-DVD sequels, a ‘live-action’ reboot, and now a prequel.

All of this, plus the impending Mufasa movie, got me thinking… Is The Lion King the greatest animated movie of all time?

So, today, I want to sort through this question and find the answer.

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What is The Greatest Animated Movie of All Time?

Animation is one of my favorite mediums in all of filmmaking. It can open a lot of doors that live action simply cannot. From creative places to put the camera to anthropomorphized characters, the possibilities are endless.

Between Pixar and Disney, animation has produced some of the highest grossing movies of all time.

And some of the most emotional ans best movies in general.

You don’t have to be a huge company for that. Or even American. Those Studio Ghibli movies have conquered the world, and I love the Laika films as well.

So how can you sit and boil down what the greatest movie made in a singular medium can be?

Well, it’s always going to be subjective, because film is a subjective medium.

So, what’s the criteria I’d base it on?

I’d probably think about the story first, its emotional impact, then the cultural impact of the release, the box office, and whether or not the film stands the test of time.

What Are the Contenders for The Greatest Animated Movie of All Time?

I sat down to think about which movies would fit the bill when it came to being considered the greatest in the medium.

I wanted to take into account every era and while these are not all-encompassing, I think it’s a good pool to pull from.

The Classics:

• Pinocchio (1940): This Disney masterpiece set the standard for animation and story.
• Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937): To me, this is one of the most beautiful movies ever made. It ticks all the boxes with charming characters, memorable songs, and a story that is part of our lexicon.
• My Neighbor Totoro (1988): A heartwarming and imaginative film from Studio Ghibli about two young girls who befriend a magical forest spirit. With charming characters and beautiful animation, it’s a gentle story that celebrates the wonders of childhood.

Modern Films:

• Spirited Away (2001): A masterpiece from Studio Ghibli, this film is a visually stunning and emotionally resonant coming-of-age story.
• The Lion King (1994): Our contender, it’s a Disney classic with epic storytelling, memorable characters, and relatable themes resonate with audiences of all ages.
• Toy Story (1995): Pixar’s groundbreaking film launched a new era of computer animation. It has a huge cultural impact, massive box office, and is timeless.
• Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse (2018): Its groundbreaking animation style, diverse characters, and action-packed story, it’s a must-see for animation and superhero fans alike.

So, which is it?

The more and more I sit and think about which animated film I’d pick, the more I keep reworking my argument in my head.

And that’s why I’m not picking The Lion King.

While it was so important to me as a child, and remains a movie I love dearly, I think The Lion King was the end of an animated era. It marks maybe Disney’s last great hand drawn animation done the old way.

Because for me, the best animated movie of all time is Toy Story.

Toy Story is the Best Animated Movie of All Time

For my money, Toy Story is the most important modern animated movie. It will stand the test of time; it’s become part of the cultural lexicon, it made a ton of money, spawned a bunch of sequels, and has an excellent story.

Toy Story was a marvel of innovation, allowing computers to take animation to a new place. It was the first fully computer-animated feature film, paving the way for Pixar and the animation industry as a whole.

From a storytelling perspective, it dealt with mature themes of jealousy, spite, agiging, and inadequacy, and told them through the eyes of childhood toys.

This was hard to do and could have failed many different times over, yet it never does because the movie was tested from the ground up over and over to make sure it wasn;t just pretty to look at.

It had to be soulful and energetic as well.

The ability for every generation to picture the toys that played with was unparalleled intimacy. It is a movie that creates a universal experience and can speak to anyone on multiple levels.

Toy Story holds a 100% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, a testament to its lasting impact. And at the 1995 box office, the movie made $394,436,586.

To me, it is a perfect movie. And one that I think should hold the title for the best animated feature film ever.

This is just my opinion, but hopefully, I’ve backed it up with some facts. I know you probably have your own opinions as well, and I want to hear them.

Let the great animation debate begin. And tell me what you think in the comments.