Contributed by Robert Blaine, Catalogs.com Top 10 Guru

All children love animated movies, even grown children. Because there’s a kid in all of us, there will always be a place for the magical stories of far away lands, talking animals and valiant heroes and heroines.

Since 1937, animators have been working painstakingly to perfect their craft, bringing us year upon year of masterpieces, some brilliant, others historic. And sure some sucked, too. However, the best have managed to leave their dazzling influence on generations of people, children and families. Let’s count down ten of the best animated movies of the century, regarding skill and animation, plot and theme, as well as overall impact on the world. Let it roll:

10. Snow White and the Seven Dwarves

Nowadays, this movie may seem old, however, seventy-four years ago (yikes, that is old) imagine the wonder! Snow White and the Seven Dwarves was the movie that started it all – the very first full-length animated movie in history. Even to this day, it manages to captivate viewers and do justice to one of the most famous fairy tales we’ve heard. Perhaps it also teaches an important lesson to children to never accept gifts from jealous strangers.

9. The Nightmare Before Christmas

The Magnus opus of clay animation, Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas, quite a sick depiction of an otherwise jolly holiday, is a pure classic in its most impure sense, a deliciously grim story where Halloween meets Christmas.

8. Lady and the Tramp

Maybe the sweetest talking animal movie Disney has produced, Lady and the Tramp follows the romance of a pampered Cocker Spaniel and a rough street dog, which probably helped popularize the whole “princess and the bad boy” love story. In fact, even kids whose parents weren’t born when this film came out can remember the famous spaghetti dinner scene.

7. Shrek

As “the greatest fairy tale never told”, Shrek, the hilarious story of a green ogre falling in love with a princess, garnered its immense success by simply spoofing other fairy tales, often viciously. Starring superstars Mike Myers, Eddie Murphy and Cameron Diaz, Shrek is quite possibly the best animated satire of our era.

6. Spirited Away

With movies like Spirited Away, it’s difficult to dislike anime. This anime milestone is not only one of the most respected films of its genre, being the most successful and highest-grossing movie in Japanese history, but also a true work of art, a creative, exhilarating, often scary, yet powerfully tender film, about a little girl who embarks into a dangerous world of monsters and spirits to save her beloved parents from doom.

5. Beauty and the Beast

The first movie of Disney’s Renaissance, the first Disney movie to actually use a screenplay and the first animated movie in history to be nominated for an Academy Award for Best Picture, Beauty and the Beast tells the story of a beautiful princess’ unlikely romance with a horrendous, ugly beast. And no, he wasn’t a pick up artist.

4. Animal Farm

Quite possibly the most powerful, socially analytical cartoon of the 20th century, Animal Farm is a brilliant 1955 adaptation of George Orwell’s classic novel, dramatically slamming its fist on world issues, addressing democracy, Communism and proletarianism in such a masterful way, it can bring tears to the eyes of the brave and inspire hope in the hearts of the oppressed. Without a doubt, Animal Farm is one of those ageless films one simply must see in his/her lifetime.

3. Finding Nemo

Heartwarming, hilarious and charming, Finding Nemo is a beautiful story placed deep in the ocean where a protective clownfish journeys across the sea to search for his missing son, Nemo. As engaging as this film is, Nemo is definitely not the only one who’s “lost” in the movie. Pixar’s fifth masterpiece is a tale of friendship, trust and selfless love, where we can all be left smiling, maybe even crying, knowing there is nothing to fear.

2. The Lion King

One of the highest grossing animated blockbusters of all time, The Lion King invites us in the drama of a monarchy of lions in the African jungle. Much like an animated Shakespearean tragedy, equip with a backstabbing uncle and some domestic violence (if you can call it that), The Lion King proves to be a very unforgettable musical, both exciting and heart-warming.

1. Toy Story trilogy

The pride and joy of Pixar, Toy Story 1, 2 and 3 have combined to make the greatest animated trilogy cinema has ever seen. These movies breathed life into a child’s toys, created legends out of the characters Woody and Buzz Lightyear, and took a monumental first step in CGI computer animation, securing Pixar’s place in movie history and delighting generations of children and adults alike. Toy Story has given us masterpiece upon masterpiece of fast-paced adventure, madcap comedy and uplifting, tender drama that “toys” with our hearts so brilliantly, it makes us remember why we love movies. And just when you think you’ve seen the best animated movie ever filmed, a sequel comes out.