Animation is a unique medium with abilities that are completely its own. Capable of telling highly imaginative stories with virtually no visual limitations, animated movies are the perfect blank canvas for filmmakers to paint their most creative stories. Very often, the stories that these filmmakers tell are meant to appeal to children’s sense of wonder and their belief in magic.
Since its inception, animation has been used to tell coming-of-age stories. Colorful and lively, the medium is perfect for holding kids' attention and letting their imaginations roam free. Every now and then, filmmakers are even bold enough to make animated coming-of-age movies that are a lot more mature and tailored for adults' tastes. From Studio Ghibli to DreamWorks Animation, many ofthese animated coming-of-age films have gone down in history as timeless classics.
10’Whisper of the Heart' (1995)
Directed by Yoshifumi Kondô
Back in 1995, Studio Ghibli was still a relatively young animation studio, but they had already spent ten years building up an outstanding filmography. This year saw the addition of one of their most beloved outings:Whisper of the Heart, a love story between a book-loving girl named Shizuku and a boy who has checked out all the books she chooses at the library.
The vibrant animation is lovely,Yoshifumi Kondô’s direction is unique, and Shizuku is by far one ofthe best characters in Ghibli’s body of work. Though definitely aimed at kids,Whisper of the Heartapproaches its young audience with respect and no trace of patronizing. The result is a beautiful coming-of-age story that manages to ring equally true with children and adults alike, thanks to a fantastic script telling a bittersweet yet all-too-relatable tale of love.
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9’The Boy and the Heron' (2023)
Directed by Hayao Miyazaki
It feels that for many years, every newHayao Miyazakimovie has been marketed as his last.The Boy and the Heronwas no exception, and though it ended up not being the anime master’s farewell, it certainly feels like a beautiful swan song to his work. As magical and enveloping as fans could expect from any Miyazaki film, the film follows a headstrong boy who, in the wake of his mother’s death and father’s remarriage, accidentally ventures into a world shared by the living and the dead.
The director’s style tends to be characterized by ample use of atmospheric surrealism, but it has never been stronger than here.The Boy and the Heronis absolutely gripping,telling a touching story that feels like Miyazaki handing off the baton to the next generation of filmmakers. Thanks to its enchanting animation and magical tone,The Boy and the Heronis one ofthe best fantasy animated filmsof recent years and a genuine step forward for the medium.
The Boy and the Heron
8’Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse' (2018)
Directed by Rodney Rothman, Peter Ramsey, and Bob Persichetti
No one really expected a Sony Animation Spider-Man movie to become the massive pop culture phenomenon thatSpider-Man: Into the Spider-Verseproved to be. It’s one ofthe most rewatchable sci-fi movies of all time, telling the tale of teenager Miles Morales, who becomes his universe’s Spider-Man and must join forces with other Spider-People from other dimensions to save reality.
Action-packed and a pioneer of an animation style that has made a huge impact on the industry,Into the Spider-Verseis a rousing tale about finding one’s inner strength. It’s a message that will hit hard for not just families, but any Spider-Man fan, no matter their age. The high-energy story, providing plenty of superhero thrills, is just the cherry on top of an already thought-provoking and rewarding superhero adventure.
Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse
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7’Alice in Wonderland' (1951)
Directed by Clyde Geronimi, Wilfred Jackson, and Hamilton Luske
Delightfully bizarre and psychedelic,Alice in Wonderlandis Disney’s interpretation ofLewis Carroll’s iconic story. It’s about Alice, a girl who stumbles into the dreamlike world of Wonderland. There, the Queen of Hearts tries to ensure that she doesn’t make it back home.Alice in Wonderlandis a timeless classic for plenty of good reasons: it’s surreal, atmospheric, and utterly unforgettable, featuring some of the studio’s most wacky characters.
Alice’s journey toward maturity is deeply compelling, acting as the movie’s beating heart.It’s this relatable yet eccentric journey that gets her into all sorts of bizarre situations, providing a real treat for audiences to follow. From meeting a mischievous talking cat to eating a cookie that makes her grow disproportionately, Alice’s adventures are enthralling, funny, and slightly disturbing. The film may not make much sense for children, but it’s a magical journey for viewers of any age.
Alice In Wonderland (1951)
6’Pinocchio' (1940)
Directed by Norman Ferguson, T. Hee, Wilfred Jackson, Jack Kinney, Hamilton Luske, Bill Roberts, and Ben Sharpsteen
Disney’s second feature film,Pinocchio, is about a puppet who has been brought to life by a fairy. With the help of a cricket as his conscience, he must prove himself worthy of becoming a real boy, facing threats and temptations along the way.Pinocchiohas been adapted for the big screenplenty of times, but there’s something undeniably bewitching about this classic that just doesn’t allow it to age.
With dazzling animation, a charming script, and a fair share of genuinely scary scenes,Pinocchioteaches children (and adults who need the reminder) that while good things come from being honest and upright, horrible ones may arise if one is selfish and insincere.This message will never go out of date; mixed with some of the most fun characters in Disney’s catalog and a charming story about growing up, it’s no wonder why 1940’sPinocchiois still remembered as one of the best adaptations of the story.
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5’The Lion King' (1994)
Directed by Roger Allers and Rob Minkoff
1994’sThe Lion Kingis often praised as not just one ofthe best animated movies of the 20th centurybut possibly Disney’s magnum opus. Inspired by African folktales and evenShakespeare’sHamlet, it’s about a young lion prince exiled from his kingdom by his treacherous uncle Scar, who killed his father and took the throne for himself. What ensues isa profound and occasionally philosophical coming-of-age talewhere the lion prince Simba must return to his home to make things right.
The Lion Kingis about not forgetting one’s place and individuality, even in the face of great tragedy. It’s about living life to the fullest, a message that’s boosted by some of the most beautiful animations of the ’90s. Coupled with an airtight script and one ofHans Zimmer’s best scores, and one gets what’s undoubtedly the peak of Disney’s creative and narrative talents as a studio.
The Lion King
4’The Tale of the Princess Kaguya' (2013)
Directed by Isao Takahata
Isao Takahatawas the second face of Ghibli along with Miyazaki, and he made some of the studio’s most iconic (and occasionally underappreciated) triumphs. One such gem isThe Tale of the Princess Kaguya, told in gorgeous watercolor animation. Based on a tale from Ancient Japan, it initially follows a bamboo cutter and his wife, who find a little girl inside a bamboo stalk. They raise her as their own, and eventually, the girl grows up to be a beautiful princess courted by nobles from all over the country, even though she doesn’t love any of them.
The Tale of the Princess Kaguyahas it all:touching romance, a unique visual style, family drama, a coming-of-age character study, and one of thebest musical scores in animation. It’s much better suited for teens' and adults' patience and life experiences, though that doesn’t stop it from being a visually dazzling and exceptional watch for the whole family. Mature, complex, and thoroughly entertaining,The Tale of Princess Kaguyais one of Studio Ghibli’s best works and Takahata’s masterpiece.
3’How to Train Your Dragon' (2010)
Directed by Chris Sanders and Dean DeBlois
DreamWorks Animation may be pretty hit-or-miss more often than not, but they’ve made some of the best andmost memorable animated movies of the 21st century. Still, their best film is arguablyHow to Train Your Dragon, the tale of young Viking boy Hiccup, the son of the leader of a town that prides itself on hunting dragons. After Hiccup unexpectedly befriends one of the creatures, he discovers that there’s a lot more to them than people think.
How to Train Your Dragonis a story of forbidden friendship, romance, courage, and fathers and sons. At its core, though,it’s a beautiful coming-of-age tale about a boy who finds the true meaning of manhood and courage,which may not exclusively lie in hunting dragons but rather in leading with patience, empathy, and humility.How to Train Your Dragontells a very emotionally resonant story with a hard-hitting third act, displaying all that makes family fantasy movies so magical.
How to Train Your Dragon
2’Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse' (2023)
Directed by Joaquim Dos Santos, Justin K. Thompson, and Kemp Powers
AfterInto the Spider-Versetook the world by storm, its long-awaited sequel had a lot of weight on its shoulders. To no one’s surprise, it delivered — and then some.Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verseis one of those preciousanimated films that are perfect from start to finish, following Miles, now a year deep into his Spider-Man tenure. Thrust into a multiverse-hopping adventure populated by faces both familiar and new, friendly and not so much, Miles must redefine what it means to be a hero; what it means to be Spider-Man.
The film is a perfect study of the titular character as a concept, how it has changed over the years,and what it means in the modern superhero genre landscape to be Spider-Man. This remarkable and fresh approach comes to life through one of the most action-packed and narratively riveting stories the genre has seen in forever, led by a fascinating protagonist who’s learning how to become his own man.
Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse
1’Spirited Away' (2001)
Spirited Awayis amongthe animated movies that charmed the Oscarswhen it came out, becoming the second-ever winner of the Best Animated Feature category — and thus far, the first of only two foreign films to earn the honor. Widely hailed as Hayao Miyazaki’s magnum opus, it tells the story of Chihiro, a childish young girl who stumbles upon a world ruled by gods, witches, and spirits. There, she must finally grow up to save her parents, who have been turned into pigs.
Bold and thoughtful,Spirited Awayfeels like an encapsulation of all the best things that make each of its genres magical. The film’s uses of fantasy are intelligent and enchanting; its elements of surrealism are perfectly employed,and the coming-of-age tale at its core is probably the most effective in Ghibli’s history. Chihiro is a charming character, and following her journey is an absolute delight, whether it’s viewers' first time or their hundredth.
