In 1994, a falling out betweenJeffrey KatzenbergandMichael Eisnerled to Katzenberg’s departure from Disney and, withSteven SpielbergandDavid Geffen,the founding of DreamWorks. They quickly established themselves as a rival animation company withAntzin 1998, actively competing with Pixar’sA Bug’s Life. Their upward trend continued in the 2000s when DreamWorks overtook Disney in a few places and established some of the most beloved animated franchises with films likeShrekandKung Fu Panda.
While not every DreamWorks film has been a winner, their best stand out as true game-changing titans of the animated medium. They’re a company that isn’t afraid to take risks, resulting in a very diverse catalog of creative ideas, ensuring that as many audience members as possible can find one that resonates with them. A few of DreamWorks' movies might even be considered perfect, thanks to their amazing mix of heartfelt character development, hilarious comedy, and stylistic animation.
10’Orion and the Dark' (2024)
Directed by Sean Charmatz
Orion (Jacob Tremblay) is a young boy plagued by a long list of irrational fears, but his greatest is the dark. One night, the power goes out in Orion’s house, and he is confronted by Dark (Paul Walter Hauser), the manifestation of darkness, who is frustrated with having to hear Orion’s complaints. Dark offers to take Orion on a journey through the nighttime to show that it’s not all scary, introducing him to personifications of nighttime concepts.
Orion and the Darkdoes for the abstract concept of nighttime what Pixar’sInside Outdid for emotions. It is a highly ambitious andcritically acclaimed filmthat shows how difficult it can be to overcome one’s fears and the importance of having positive and negative aspects of life, as too much of one or the other leads to discomfort. Using a very clever plot twist,Orion and the Darkshows how universal certain fears are, regardless of a person’s age or generational divide.
Orion and the Dark
9’Megamind' (2010)
Directed by Tom McGrath
When the supervillain Megamind (Will Ferrell) defeats his longstanding rival, Metro Man (Brad Pitt), he takes over Metro City and goes on a massive crime spree. However, he finds that his life lacks purpose without a rival and sets out to create a new hero using some of Metro Man’s DNA. Meanwhile, he also accidentally forms a partnership with reporter Roxanne Ritchi (Tina Fey), developing into a romantic attraction.
Megamindis abeautiful parody of the superhero genrethat explores what happens when the villain defeats the hero and what it means to be a hero or villain. At its core, it’s a film thatshows that actions define us more than labelsand how everyone can be a hero and a villain depending on their choices. The writing is also hilarious, especially when Megamind interacts with his loyal Minion (David Cross) or anytime Megamind flexes his villainy.
8’How to Train Your Dragon' (2010)
Directed by Chris Sanders and Dean DeBlois
Hiccup (Jay Baruchel) is a small, scrawny Viking living in a village that is constantly under attack by raiding dragons. When his father, Chief Stoick the Vast (Gerard Butler), sets off to find and destroy their nest, he enrolls Hiccup in dragon training so he can learn to kill the beasts. Unknown to everyone, Hiccup manages to shoot down a deadly Nightfury, but rather than kill it, he befriends the dragon, names him Toothless (Randy Thom), and learns more about them than any Viking thought possible.
How to Train Your Dragonis a phenomenal film that touches on themes of prejudice, the importance of cooperation, and overcoming problems with ingenuity instead of brute force.Hiccup is a reluctant but phenomenal protagonistthanks to his relatable story about trying to find his place, and his friendship with Toothless is sweet.The animation during the flying scenes is some of the most immersiveever put to film, making the audience feel like they’re soaring through the clouds alongside the dragons.
How to Train Your Dragon
7’How to Train Your Dragon 2' (2014)
Directed by Dean DeBlois
Five years after Hiccup befriended Toothless, the Vikings of Berk have learned to co-exist with dragons, and Stoick feels it’s time for Hiccup to succeed him as chief. However, the Vikings face new enemies in the form of dragon trappers working for the warlord Drago Bludvisk (Djimon Hounsou), who seeks to use dragons in his army. Meanwhile, Hiccup also meets his long-lost mother, Valka (Cate Blanchett), who rescues dragons from Drago and leads them to a hidden sanctuary.
How to Train Your Dragon 2took everything good about the first film and amplified it. The story is more mature and forces Hiccup to accept that not every situation can be solved with diplomacy, while the moments between Valka and Stoick give the Viking chief to show his softer side. The film also introduces even moreamazing dragons toHow to Train Your Dragon, such as the ice-breathing Bewilderbeast, who can control lesser species. It’s rare when a sequel surpasses the original, butHow to Train Your Dragonsomehow manages to improve upon perfection.
How to Train Your Dragon 2
6’Kung Fu Panda' (2008)
Directed by John Stevenson and Mark Osborne
Po (Jack Black) is a panda living in the Valley of Peace, who loves everything having to do with kung fu. While trying to witness a tournament to see which of the local masters, the Furious Five, will be chosen as the Dragon Warrior, Po lands in front of Master Oogway (Randall Duk Kim), who decides Po himself will receive the title. The Five’s trainer, Master Shi Fu (Dustin Hoffman), is initially dismissive of Po and tries to get rid of him, but Oogway tells him that he needs to give up the illusion of control.
Kung Fu Pandablew all expectations thanks to its gorgeous animation, creative fight scenes, and wonderful storytelling. Po cemented himself asone of DreamWorks' best protagoniststhanks to his childlike wonder and relatable struggle to overcome his self-loathing, beautifully brought to life by Jack Black’s relatable and endearing voice work.Kung Fu Pandaalso did a wonderful job of presenting Chinese culture and artwork to Western audiences.
Kung Fu Panda
5’Shrek' (2001)
Directed by Andrew Adamson and Vicky Jenson
When Lord Farquaad (John Lithgow) rounds up all the fairy tale creatures and expels them from his land, they are forced onto the land of Shrek (Mike Myers), an ogre who just wants to be left alone. Led by a talking donkey (Eddie Murphy), he confronts Farquaad, who agrees to give Shrek back his land if he retrieves Princess Fiona (Cameron Diaz) for him to marry. Unfortunately, the princess is held in a volcanic fortress and guarded by a fire-breathing dragon.
Fewanimated movies have exceeded expectationsmore spectacularly thanShrek, a true before-and-after in the medium. It found universal praise on release thanks to its satirical take on fairy tales and how brazenly it challenged Disney. Years later,this perfect satire is still well-loved for its humor and characters, especially Shrek himself. He is a wonderful character who is content with who he is and won’t let anyone change him. However, Shrek also struggles with insecurity due to how judgmental others can be, a universal struggle for all audiences.
4’Kung Fu Panda 2' (2011)
Directed by Jennifer Yuh Nelson
As Po attempts to find inner peace, he and the Furious Five learn of a new villain named Lord Shen (Gary Oldman), who plans to conquer China with a new weapon. They travel to Gongmen City to stop him, but Shen’s army is much larger than anticipated. Worst yet, Po has flashbacks to his infancy when he sees Shen, hinting that the peacock has a connection to his past.
Kung Fu Panda 2continues Po’s story by having him face his past traumas and find peace in the present. Family ties also play an important role in the story: Po is desperate to find information about his past and where he comes from, but ultimately still identifies as the son of Mr. Ping (James Hong), the goose who raised him. Finally, Lord Shen is one of DreamWorks' best villains thanks to his elegant design,his complex rivalry with Po, and Oldman’s performance, which makes him both menacing and pitiable.
Kung Fu Panda 2
3’The Prince of Egypt' (2018)
Directed by Brenda Chapman, Steve Hickner, and Simon Wells
When Pharaoh Seti (Sir Patrick Stewart) orders the death of newborn Hebrew boys, Yocheved (Ofra Haza) sends her infant son down the Nile River, where he is found by Queen Tuya (Helen Mirren) and named Moses (Val Kilmer). He grows up alongside Seti’s son, Prince Rameses (Ralph Fiennes), and the two become inseparable. However, when Moses learns the truth about his heritage and accidentally kills an Egyptian slave driver, he flees into the desert, starting him on a path that will see his people liberated at great cost.
The Prince of Egyptmight bethe most epic animated filmto date, thanks to its grand scale, fantastic animation, and epic musical numbers, which work together to bring to life this biblical tale. The movie’s true heart is the character drama between Moses and Rameses, as both brothers find themselves on opposite ends of the conflict. It’s heartbreaking to see two men who love one another forced to be enemies due to divine providence and pride, exemplified by Kilmer and Fiennes' stellar performances.
The Prince of Egypt
2’Shrek 2' (2004)
When Shrek and Fionacome back from their honeymoon, they are invited by Fiona’s parents, King Harold (John Cleese) and Queen Lillian (Julie Andrews), to the kingdom of Far Far Away to receive Harold’s blessing. Unfortunately, Harold and Shrek ruin dinner due to their mutual stubbornness, and Shrek decides to try and change for Fiona’s sake. Meanwhile, Fiona’s Fairy Godmother (Jennifer Saunders) wants the ogress to marry her son, Prince Charming (Rupert Everett), so she forces Harold to hire the famed ogre killer, Puss in Boots (Antonio Banderas), to deal with Shrek.
Shrek 2somehow managed to outdo the first film and even become one of the highest-grossing animated films. It includes more of everything good about the first film: the jokes are non-stop and hilarious, the new characters are memorable, the story delves even deeper into Shrek’s character and how much he loves Fiona, and the satire of fairy tale clichés gets incredibly creative.The climax is one of the most iconic in any animated film, thanks in no small part to Saunders' cover ofBonnie Tyler’s"Holding Out for a Hero."
1’Puss in Boots: The Last Wish'
Directed by Joel Crawford
After leaving Shrek, Puss in Boots lives an adventurer’s life until he learns that he only has one of his nine lives remaining. He is almost killed by a mysterious wolf (Wagner Moura), sending him into early retirement as a housecat until he learns of a map that leads to a wishing star. Joining forces with his old flame, Kitty Softpaws (Salma Hayek Pinault) and a happy little dog (Harvey Guillén), Puss sets off to use the wish to regain his eight lost lives, but he must overcome others after the wish and the dangers of the Dark Forest.
Puss in Boots: The Last Wishwas originally seen as nothing, being a sequel to the lacklusterPuss in Boots,but audiences were amazed atthe film’s high-quality animation and writing. The film’s art style looks like a storybook brought to life, and the story focuses onthemes of death, self-reflection, and the importance of enjoying life. It also possesses several of DreamWorks' most iconic villains, from the terrifying Wolf to the unhinged Big Jack Horner (John Mulaney), a hilariously evil villain who shows no remorse for his actions. Animated movies don’t get much better thanPuss in Boots: The Last Wish.
