Rotten Tomatoes Crowns the Best Animated Films of 2023
Since 1999, Rotten Tomatoes, the go-to source for film and TV reviews, has been recognizing cinematic achievement with its Golden Tomato Awards. Now celebrating its 25th anniversary, Rotten Tomatoes unveiled its highly anticipated list of the best films and series of 2023 on January 9th. These awards celebrate critical darlings across a variety of categories, including not only Best Movie, Best Wide Release, Best Limited Release, and Fan Favorite.
Rotten Tomatoes also shines a light on specific genres, awarding the best in Action & Adventure, Animated Movie, Comedy, Documentary, Drama, Horror, International Film, Musical, Mystery & Thriller, Romance, Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Sports Movie, and Superhero Movie categories. This comprehensive approach ensures that exceptional films across the spectrum receive the recognition they deserve. Notably, among the top 10 animated films recognized, a significant portion has already captivatedaudiences.
Let’s delve into Rotten Tomatoes’ selection of the best animated movies of 2023, complete with their insightful reviews:
The year boasted a stunning lineup of animated features, including highly anticipated works from animation giants like Hayao Miyazaki, Makoto Shinkai, Pixar, and Aardman Animations. The list also featured a surprise hit with “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem.” However, the superhero saga “Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse” swung to the top, mirroring the success of its predecessor. Time will tell if it will replicate the awards season dominance of “Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse.”
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#1: Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse
“Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse” delivers the same visual feast as the original, and the grand action sequences will leave you on the edge of your seat.
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#2: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem
“Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem” features bold animation full of unique visual style, and its story perfectly captures the spirit of the franchise, delivering a truly family-friendly animated movie.
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#3: The Boy and the Heron
“The Boy and the Heron” represents yet another masterpiece from the mind of Hayao Miyazaki, and its brilliant animation explores thought-provoking themes with a level of emotion you won’t soon forget.
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#4: Suzume
While Makoto Shinkai’s “Suzume” cannot quite reach level of his most excellent pieces, the film is still visually excellent and packs such an emotional punch that most people won’t find themselves dissapointed.
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#5: The First Slam Dunk
“The First Slam Dunk” is a thrilling and expertly crafted manga adaptation.
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#6: Nimona
“Nimona” is a hilarious animated adventure that delves into deep emotional places through unique animation and a thought-provoking allegory.
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#7: Elemental
“Elemental” falls just short of Pixar’s best, but its rock solid story and eye-popping visuals still result in a high level of satisfaction.
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#8: Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget
In “Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget”, while its popularity has waned compared to the original, still gives audiences plenty of lighthearted comedy and beautiful animation to chew on.
#9: Leo
Featuring excellent animation and catchy songs, in addition to an excellent voice cast featuring Adam Sandler, the film “Leo” masterfully balances warmth and pure satire.
#10: The Inventor
Featuring beautifully animated historical lessons, “The Inventor” remains fun to watch, but it sometimes has an identity crisis regarding its target audience.