14. Sita Sings the Blues (2008)
Nina Paley, you really outdid yourself for this animated masterpiece.
Independently animated and put together, Sita Sings the Blues is a marvel that must be seen to be believed (in fact it easily can be - the whole feature is free to view on YouTube. I got a DVD of it from Amazon). Described as a musical romantic comedy drama, it incorporates so many different art styles and techniques without it being forced, bloated, pretentious, or unnecessary. Slice and splice and layering never looked so beautiful. The story of Ramayana is retold from a feminist perspective, is commented on by shadow puppets, and is mirrored through a period of Paley's own life when she experienced her own heartbreak. Betrayed by a man who you trusted and whom you were so certain would love you forever.
Funny, magical, lush, weird, spiritual, and downright charming in its experimentation and presentation. One person - one woman - animated all of Sita Sings the Blues. One woman made it all possible. The only real downside to it is that it doesn't really pass the Bechdel Test (I hope I don't have to explain what that is in this day and age), and neither Sita nor Nina seem to have female friends or relatives onscreen. But the universal female power of heartbreak, rage and justice is shown through the animation, which bursts like a dark red blossom in the night, like fireworks.
I bet not many people had heard of Annette Hanshaw before seeing Sita either.
Nina seems happy and content now, as an artist, without a man. One hopes that Sita had found her own true happiness at some stage, too. Why is it that women are always fated to be mistreated by men? Oh yeah, patriarchy.
13. Coraline (2009)
My type of movie! Stop motion animation, vibrant and meaningful colours, a moody, imperfect and unconventional female lead, creepiness, a lesson about bravery that genuinely challenges kids, playful scenarios, a witchy, ethereal feel and atmosphere, and a black cat.
The original Coraline book is one of my favourite children's books, and it is the perfect fit for an animated adaptation. The movie does push boundaries (and conservative sensibilities, as Laika likes to do, and I applaud them for it) - adults can enjoy it as much as kids. To be a little scary is to be thrilling, and to teach a life lesson that not everything is as it seems. Most of the time if something is too good to be true, it probably is.
With this and The Princess and the Frog, Keith David was on fire in animated feature length films in 2009.
Coraline can be watched - and read - again and again. It's a shame that Laika, after the success of their first film, to this date hasn't made another with a female protagonist. It worked brilliantly the first time, why not do it again?
12. Kiki's Delivery Service (1989)
A lovely, wholesome movie. Oh, my heart! What can I say without spoiling any of the magic of this deceptively simple, unpretentious masterpiece by Hayao Miyazaki? No plot, no recognisable structure - just Kiki the thirteen-year-old witch living her life in a new town alongside her talking black cat Jiji (a witch convention that never gets old and I love it).
It is her coming of age tale; her passions, her independence, her struggles, her creativity block and subsequent depression that we are made privy to. Kiki is so real and relatable it's almost scary - the only witchy thing she actually does is fly on her broomstick, and when she suddenly can't do that after facing some of life's disappointments, she feels she can't do anything else. The thing she is good at, what defines her, is lost to her. She will also learn that not everyone in the world is friendly and understanding. No one is all good and all bad in Kiki's Delivery Service - they just are. They are everyday humans we interact with on a daily basis.
Kiki's Delivery Service is about the self; specifically what it is like to begin life as a teenage girl, in all its messy, confusing glory.
Slice-of-life is magic. A more mature version of Kiki can be found in the manga The Flying Witch. But this sweet and charming anime film can be loved and appreciated by all ages, for all time.
An extract of what I wrote about Kiki in a previous post from years ago:
Her simple, slice-of-life story as a teen witch moving to a new town is a wonderful metaphor for growing up, accepting change, and finding yourself again, after issues with self-confidence and self-esteem get you down. She is just like every young teen girl in reality. Because magic or not, cartoon or not, Kiki is a real girl. Her talents lie within herself; she only has to believe in her own capabilities. Witches - they are all women and girls in general. Beautiful. Important representation.
11. The Secret of NIMH (1982)
One of the most unique, dark, thrilling and gripping animated films ever made, let alone from the '80s.
The Secret of NIMH blends fantasy, science fiction, and real life issues together, in a film starring talking rodents. The protagonist is truly unique, especially in western animation: Mrs. Brisby is a widowed, single mother who is clearly frightened by all the danger and the suddenness of a new world around her she never knew existed before. But her character defines what it means to be brave: She will keep trying, and will keep striving to achieve what she needs to for the sake of her children; their safety is what matters to her more than anything.
Timid and modest, Mrs. Brisby mourns the loss of her husband, who died before the start of the film, but she will not be defined by him and his previous heroics. The Secret of NIMH is her story, without a shadow of a doubt. She will become a hero in her own right. She will become powerful. She will ask for nothing in return other than her children, alive and well.
Because you do not fuck with mothers, ever, even mouse mothers.
Never call females hysterical, either. You will pay dearly. Women who tell the truth are heroes, and they must be listened to.
Auntie Shrew is great, too.
How magnificent that Don Bluth's first feature length film as director contains a female protagonist such as Mrs. Brisby. Sixteen years later Anastasia will save his studio, albeit temporarily, in a decade full of flops. It's almost as if female led animation isn't a risky business and a guarantee of failure. Why does Hollywood never pay attention? Oh yeah, sexism and the patriarchy.
Every single aspect of NIMH's uniqueness will be completely undone in the abominable direct-to-video sequel, The Secret of NIMH 2: Timmy to the Rescue, possibly the worst animated sequel ever made. But let's forget that disgrace ever happened and remember The Secret of NIMH and Mrs. Brisby.
We have a lot to learn from NIMH and Wolf Children. Great stories.
10. The Breadwinner (2017)
Read my short review here. One of the best animated films ever made, period.
9. Alice in Wonderland (1951)
Colourful, vibrant, wacky, creative, and manages to stay faithful to the content and the nonsensical spirit of the source material, while being its own fresh thing. And: 1951, and Disney's first movie where the female lead isn't a princess, and who doesn't have a love interest. She's an independent freethinker with a kitten!
Read no. 20 on a previous list here for more information.
8. Frozen (2013)
Nuff said.
Still the highest grossing animated film of all time. Co-written and co-directed by a woman.
More of my thoughts on no. 18 here, plus my dossiers and analyses on Elsa, one of Disney's greatest heroines, a queen after every woman's frozen and thawed out heart, here and here (no. 6).
7. Howl's Moving Castle (2004)
Another unique fantasy animated masterpiece by Miyazaki-sensei.
A stubborn and intrepid English milliner girl is cursed into old age, and from there she journeys on, away from her comfortable and boring life, and learns about magic, war, diabolical plots, love, loyalty, and compassion. It is a coming of age fairy tale about personal growth - turned on its turnip head! As well as growing up and maturing in the internal sense, not just external, there's time travel in Howl's Moving Castle too!
Beautiful, sumptuous animation, rich in exquisite detail, as usual from Studio Ghibli. Howl is beyond charming, joyful, and poignant.
Read more of my thoughts here (no. 11 on the list).
6. Moana (2016)
Read here for my thoughts on Moana from another list I've done (sorry, I just don't like repeating myself), and here for my Moana character analysis.
5. Chicken Run (2000)
Again, already talked in great detail about this gemstone. One of my favourite films and animated films. Read why here (at no. 6). It's stop motion Aardman animation, containing great, universal appeal, flawless comedy and drama, and it is feminist as flock. A British classic.
4. Brave (2012)
How often have I talked about this one? Too often.
Okay, gathering up my records:
Read here,
And here (a list: read no. 16),
And here (no. 15).
3. Millennium Actress (2001)
Another female experience, another enchanting masterpiece. Everyone should see it.
The best and most charming and subtly symbolic anime by the late great Satoshi Kon. Psychological, yet in reality fairly simple. A real life fairy tale. To say that the 2D animation is groundbreaking is an understatement. I love it so much.
Years later a book with a similar premise titled The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid came out. Coincidentally, it is one of my favourite books of all time.
Read my review of Millennium Actress on a previous list here (no. 9).
2. Beauty and the Beast (1991)
Like with Moana and Brave, Beauty and the Beast is a Disney film that I have praised to the heavens and all the way down to hell and back and all over again. To the point where I'm getting redundant, no matter how passionate I am about it. My favourite Disney film, and my favourite hand drawn and 2D animated film.
Read no. 3 on my list here for more information that I had given before,
and for more analyses on the beautiful, remarkable, capable, and timeless bookworm outcast Belle - my ultimate cartoon heroine - read no 3. here, and here as part of my Heroines of Legend series.
We do not talk about the live action remake of this, either. It can rot in hell along with the other lazy, cynical, un-creative cash grabs by Disney.
And my number one pick for the greatest animated film starring a female protagonist is...
1. Inside Out (2015)
My favourite movie ever. Everything I love about film and storytelling in general is in Inside Out. Colourful, charming, cognitive, super poignant, relatable, sweet, multilayered, and suitable for all ages, containing such a unique message in film.
Is the protagonist Joy or Riley? It doesn't really matter: both go through their personal journeys - together, with Riley not even knowing of Joy's existence. Joy, who cares about Riley so much, is an emotion who is like a conscientious Tinkerbell and an overprotective mother. It is easy to see why she is like Woody from the Toy Story quadrilogy. Joy is literally of a child's mind. She has childlike sensibilities, and as positive as she tries to be, she too fears change and losing her place in life. She too will learn to grow up. To grow from the inside out.
Inside Out - a movie about childhood, and growing up and change, and accepting it as a part of life. It is Pixar, doing what they do best.
Read the rest of my thoughts from years ago in a favourites list here, at no. 1.
Whoa, what a ride! Hope you all enjoyed this list.
Have a lovely, wonderful moonlit night, and a happy, joyful Christmas, full of promise and love.
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