Animation Infatuation: My Top 3 Animated Movies
Animated movies don’t get nearly enough credit. Sure, they’re usually made for kids, but watching them as an adult hits different. Back then we missed the lessons and wisdom tucked into the stories, but now we actually get to soak them in.
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Plus, they’re nostalgic, healing, and full of simple truths that stick with you. And I love that with animation, anything you can imagine can come to life.
My top three animated movies so far all have female leads who exhibit traits I admire and just find adorable. And I love these movies just as much for the animation style, the story, and the overall vibe that matches my own.
3) Alice in Wonderland
Disney’s Alice in Wonderland (1951) follows a young girl who falls into a chaotic Wonderland after chasing her curiosity in the form of a white rabbit. Once she enters this upside down world, she doesn’t panic or shut down. She keeps questioning, observing, and staying open to every bizarre character she meets.
I love that about her because it teaches a real life lesson: we can’t control the world or the people in it, but we can choose to stay curious as we navigate it.
The style of animation is classic Disney with its vibrant colors and whimsy vibe. It's no wonder many associate this movie with psychedelics because it feels like a world you’d imagine while tripping.
And maybe it’s just me, but the “Eat Me” cookies look so good I wish I could reach through the screen and grab one.
2) The Night is Short, Walk on Girl
Masaaki Yuasa’s The Night is Short, Walk on Girl (2017) is a Japanese animated romantic comedy about Kurokami, a college sophomore who embarks on one wild night in Kyoto.
She drifts through a string of surreal encounters with the city’s nightlife, completely unaware that her classmate is trailing behind her, determined to win her heart.
Kurokami is easy to love because she’s smart, kind, and determined. Even though the story is a romance, she’s barely focused on love. She’s searching for connection. Yet, love still finds her.
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I adore this movie’s animation style because it’s artistic, playful, and always in motion. The way the colors shift from bold neon to gentle pastels perfectly matches the energy of the story. I could watch this movie without even following the plot and still be entertained by how visually appealing it is.
1) Spirited Away
Hayao Miyazaki’s Spirited Away (2001) is a beloved Studio Ghibli fantasy about Chihiro, a young girl who wanders into a world ruled by witches and spirits and has to find a way to survive with the help of new friends.
Chihiro is not like Alice because she is fearful and panics when she enters the spirit world. Still, her pure heart and innocence attract friends who help guide her through challenges that were meant to make her fail.
I love Chihiro because she’s driven by love and that’s what gives her strength in a world that views her as weak and out of place.
The animation style is also a classic, like Alice in Wonderland, but it includes rich details inspired from Japanese folklore. Like the unique spirit characters (I love the Radish spirit!) and in settings like the bathhouse, where spirits come to relax and cleanse themselves.
