Top 5 Best Animated Movies Of 2008

Added: 2026-05-30

[00:00:00]Every year without fail, Hollywood and other foreign markets bring unforgettable cinematic experiences to the masses, feeding our senses with creativity, imagination, and in rare instances, the impossible. In many cases, we're spoiled when it comes to liveaction offerings. But what about animation? Today, we're looking back on 2008, the year Twilight Mania sank its teeth deep into romantic fans with the first of five feature films based on Stephanie Meyer's best-selling series.

[00:00:32]Poris Head returned after an 11-year hiatus with their underrated album, Third, and Heath Ledger shocked the world with his untouchable performance as the Joker in Christopher Nolan's The Dark Knight. Looking back, there are any number of wild pop culture milestones to mark the year Katy Perry kissed a girl and liked it. Still, today we're setting our sights on the greatest animated films of 2008 with a top five list that's sure to make you feel nostalgic and appreciative of the leaps we've made in the cinematic art form since then.

[00:01:13]Number five, Batman Gotham Knight. No Batman animated movie is likely to overshadow the quality, story, and classic feel of 1993's Batman Mask of the Fantasm. Still, the six-part anthology Batman Gotham Knight is a thrilling, varied adventure from multiple Japanese animation studios that presents the Cape Crusader with an anime edge. Set within the Dark Knight trilogy, specifically between Batman Begins and The Dark Knight, Gotham Knight features interlocking short films from Studio 4 Degrees, Madhouse, Production IG, and B Train, all of which are responsible for some of the most groundbreaking anime of all time.

[00:02:02]Naturally, the stories in Batman Gotham Knight find the melancholic crime fighter using his sharpened detective skills to combat thugs, street toughs, gang members, crime bosses, urban legends, and select villains from the Dark Knight's colorful rogues gallery, such as Scarecrow, and Killer Croc. What makes this release listworthy is its slick animation, variety of art styles, hypnotic atmosphere, and unconventional approach to a timehonored hero that's been a part of the pop culture zeitgeist for generations. It's not the best animated Batman movie by any stretch.

[00:02:41]Still, it packs plenty of visual punches and tells a fun story while letting Batman and animators from across multiple studios play with all of his wonderful toys.

[00:03:01]Number four, Kung Fu Panda.

[00:03:05]One of the smartest things DreamWorks Animation ever did after Shrek Mania receded into the swamp was to snatch Jack Black up for Kung Fu Panda before the stocky superstar became too busy to attach himself to another enduring franchise. In Kung Fu Panda, Black Voices Poing, a hapless panda bear destined to become the dragon warrior and a pillar of an elite fighting force tasked with protecting China from evil forces. As the affable Poe, Black leads a film series that blends wooa fantasy with Chinese mythology and martial arts action for a traditional tale of good versus evil. In addition to featuring a starry cast including Annne McShane, Angelina Jolie, Dustin Hoffman, Jackie Chan, Seth Rogan, Lucy Louu, David Cross, James Hong, Randall Duck Kim, and more. Kung Fu Panda urges audiences not to judge a book by its cover. Heroes come in all forms, and with a little discipline, patience, understanding, and noodles, even the most unlikely warrior can become the stuff of legend.

[00:04:25]Number three, Ponyo.

[00:04:29]When it comes to crafting fairy tales that last the test of time, few do it better than the godfather of animation, Haya Miyazaki.

[00:04:37]Four years after dazzling audiences with How's Moving Castle, Miyazaki returned with his eighth animated feature, Ponyo, which tells the enigmatic story of a goldfish-like creature who escapes from the ocean while dreaming of becoming a human girl. Partly inspired by Hans Christian Anderson's The Little Mermaid novel, Ponyo takes audiences on a magical odyssey about identity, desire, and the delicate balance between humanity and nature. The bulk of the story revolves around Ponyo and her human friend Sasuke. Together, the duo defies their respective kingdoms by fostering an unnatural friendship that's difficult for others to accept. However, through the power of love, Ponyo and Sasuke prove that friendship knows no bounds when hearts are pure. Ponyo is an enchanting story that puts a new spin on a classic tale while doing plenty with the concept to make it feel fresh and memorable. Ponyo is sometimes overshadowed by other films in Miyazaki's legendary career, though it remains an essential part of his gifts to the art of animation.

[00:05:57]Number two, Ghost in the Shell 2.0.

[00:06:02]It's almost unfair to include Ghost in the Shell 2.0 on this list, given that it's a remake of Mamo Oshi's 1995 original film, widely hailed as one of the greatest anime films of all time.

[00:06:17]However, it's my list and you can't stop me. I'm doing it. This updated version of Ghost in the Shell breathes new life into the original art and animation using state-of-the-art digital technologies such as 3D CGI and a re-recorded soundtrack that makes the classic tunes scream with quality and clarity. In Ghost in the Shell 2.0, You know, Major Moko Kosanagi, a female cyborg cop, and her partner Bato hunt a hacker known as the puppet master.

[00:06:53]Oshi's Ghost in the Shell is one of the most influential anime films ever made with filmmakers drawing inspiration from it for generations.

[00:07:02]While I admit it's a bit of a cheat to include this film on the list, I'll take any opportunity to celebrate Oshi's messmerizing story, engrossing characters, and drop deadad gorgeous visuals and near prophetic glimpse of a future poisoned by artificial intelligence and paranoia.

[00:07:30]Number one, Wall-E.

[00:07:33]After shocking audiences with his underwater physics in Finding Nemo, filmmaker Andrew Stanton took his talents to the cosmos for Wall-E, a cautionary tale about consumption, waste, hope, and finding love in the most unlikely of places. In a future where humans have temporarily abandoned Earth, a trash compacting robot falls in love with a flying droid and helps her on her quest to restore hope to humankind. I consider Wall-E to be among Pixar's best and most impactful films.

[00:08:08]It warns us about our wicked ways and how complacency and convenience pave a wicked path toward ruin. I can't help but see humanity reflected in the people slothing around the by and large a haven of products, calories, and corporate greed. It's challenging us to look at what we've done to the world and think about Wall-E's message of preservation and caring enough to make lifeable for future generations.

[00:08:37]When the film isn't urging us to stop and take a look at all the destruction we continue to cause, it tells one of the animation studios best love stories with Wall-E and Eve sharing a love so powerful that it's almost impossible not to shed a tear as they defy impossible odds. If I were making a best of Pixar list, Wall-I would certainly be near the top. There you have it, folks. What do you think about our top five animated films of 2008 list? Are your favorite films represented here? Are there any grievous omissions? Leave us a comment and let us know what your top five animated films of 2008 are. Until next time, cheers.

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