Sony Pictures Animation just a few years ago was a laughing stock of the animation industry, releasing the critically banned and overly mocked The Emoji Movie. Since then, the company has really rebranded itself as one of the up-and-coming titans of the animation industry, releasing some great animated features within the last few years. The future is bright for this company and if the early praise for Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse has indicated anything, it is that the studio’s streak isn’t stopping anytime soon. While the latest adventures in the Spider-Verse is likely to rank high on my list but for now, here are my top 5 picks for the best Sony Pictures Animation movies prior to Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse.
5. Pirates: The Band of Misfits
When Dreamworks Animation severed their partnership with Aardman Animations, the animation studio looked for another studio partner to produce their films and that search led them to Sony Pictures Animation. This proved to be a good move for Sony to pick up the studio, as that partnership has generated multiple films on our list, starting with Pirates: The Band of Misfits. While it may not be Aardman’s strongest film by any means, it is nonetheless a cute, light and quirky little movie filled to brim with the lovely British humor audiences have come to love from the studio.
4. The Mitchells vs The Machines
This selection may lead to some blowback from having it this low on the list. The Mitchells vs The Machines is a beloved movie. It features an original premise for an animated movie and its animation is just out of this world. The Mitchells are all really likable and their cross-country journey is very entertaining. That being said, I just found the plotting to be familiar and it treads familiar themes that audiences have encountered countless times before. Despite some personal issues, it is still a fun movie that is totally worth a watch. Another plus is for those who happen to be big movie buffs, they will relate to Katie Mitchell in more ways than one.
3. Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs
On paper, this film should have been awful. Now why adapt a children’s story as simple as Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs into a ninety-minute animated film? How much padding is one going to have to do? Phil Lord and Chris Miller, two men responsible for Sony Pictures Animation’s good reputation, put together a film that shouldn’t work and somehow makes it work incredibly well. This film brings back a zany cartooniness that’s been missing in a lot of CGI animated films, as well with a witty script, and a genuine poignancy that never undermines the purpose of the original source material.
2. Arthur Christmas
I told you Aarmand would show back up on the list. Arthur Christmas is a hidden gem that many consider to be one of the best Christmas movies of all time. The film explores and dissects the role of Santa Claus in an incredibly subversive way. The film, while poking fun at Christmas trite traditions, never feels cynical and instead feels loving to the Holiday and the way it can bring family together. In the end, it is an inventive film that’s also incredibly sweet and charming to boot.
1. Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse
Yeah, you guys already know this had to be number one. Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse is a game changer for animation and comic book storytelling. There hasn’t been a single film that has nailed the comic book aesthetic than this film has and the animation has had a trickle effect across the animation industry. The film made funny, winking meta narratives with CGI that had a more 2D aesthetic with bright bold colors and a genuine sense of fluidity. However, it wouldn’t have been as beloved as it is today if it wasn’t for its narrative structure, which provides a perfect hero origin story with genuine pathos behind it. Presenting the Spider-Man origin story audiences have seen time and time again, the film does something new with it.
Here’s to hoping Sony Animation can continue to create game changing and inventive animated features in the future!
stills courtesy of Sony Pictures Animation
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