Happy Tuesday, dear readers! Each week, we’ll rank the top 10 films in a specific category. While we aim to tie these lists to big releases, that won’t always be the case. Our goal? For you to enjoy, share your own lists, and join in on a lively, friendly debate. This is an interactive space to build community here at The Contending.
No fancy intros, no long essays – just a category and a list. Sound good?
This weekend marks the 25th anniversary of Shrek, the wildly beloved animated fairy tale featuring the voices of Mike Myers, Eddie Murphy, Cameron Diaz, and John Lithgow. The film premiered in competition at the Cannes Film Festival before opening in theaters on May 18, 2001, and went on to become the first winner of the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature. It also scored a rare nomination for an animated film in Adapted Screenplay. The CG-animated hit’s enormous popularity led to a slew of sequels, spinoffs, television specials, and even a Broadway musical, with Shrek 5 set to arrive in 2027, adding Zendaya to the cast.
Introduced at the 74th Academy Awards, Best Animated Feature was created to recognize a popular form that had long gone unawarded. Prior to the introduction of the category, the Academy had only occasionally recognized animated films through its Special Achievement Award, honoring Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Who Framed Roger Rabbit, and Toy Story. It remained the Academy’s most recent new category until the introduction of Best Achievement in Casting last year.
To celebrate Shrek’s re-release in select theaters, I’m ranking the ten greatest winners in the Best Animated Feature category.
10. Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio (2022)
9. The Incredibles (2004)
8. Shrek (2001)
7. Ratatouille (2007)
6. Finding Nemo (2003)
5. Up (2009)
4. WALL-E (2008)
3. Toy Story 3 (2010)
2. Spirited Away (2002)
1. Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse (2018)
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