Best Animated Children's Movies: From Disney To Dreamworks

There are many animated children's movies out there, but not all of them are good movies. As parents, we want movies that captivate our children and we look for children's animated movies that are entertaining. Throughout the years, I've had the opportunity to view almost every animated movie ever made.

As the mother of four (now grown) children, I've seen many movies more than once or twice. I remember standing in line at the video store the day The Lion King was released on video (that was before DVD's). I came home with the movie and that's all that we watched for a week - or two. That's how much my kids loved the movie. They still don't know I went to see The Lion King in theaters long before it was released on video.

The Best Animated Children's Movies:

Shrek:
Shrek came out in 2001 and since that time, it's been my "feel good" movie. No matter what mood I'm in, I know when I watch Shrek, it's going to make me laugh. Of course, I enjoy the entire Shrek franchise, so I recommend all of them. Your children will laugh themselves silly as they follow Shrek, Donkey, Fiona, and a cast full of fairytale creatures on a most excellent adventure.

Shrek is an ogre whose land has been overrun by fairytale creatures and a talking donkey. Wanting his privacy and land back, he and Donkey travel to Duloc to talk to Lord Farquaad. They find themselves in the middle of a tournament where the winner will have the privilege of rescuing Princess Fiona from the tower and dragon that guards it. No problem. Shrek just wants his property back and the fairytale creatures gone.

When they arrive at the castle where Fiona is held, Donkey distracts the dragon while Shrek seeks out Fiona. She's all kinds of excited and pretends to be asleep (you know, like those fairytale princesses who are in a deep sleep until they are blessed with true loves first kiss). Hey, Shrek is just there for one reason. Kissing anyone is the last thing on his mind, no matter how beautiful they are.

After a mad dash through the castle to get away from the dragon, they finally make it across the bridge to safety. As they make their way to Duloc and Farquaad, they come upon Robin Hood and his merry men. Fiona totally kicks butt!

Shrek and Fiona begin to get close, but then the night before Shrek is to turn Fiona over to Farquaad, Shrek overhears she and Donkey talking. Seems Fiona has a secret. Thinking Fiona is talking about him, Shrek arrives bright and early the next morning with Farquaad and his men, happy to be relieved of Fiona - who basically tells Farquaad the sooner they get married the better.

Will Shrek come to his senses? Sure. He and Donkey rush to Duloc and with the help of Dragon (hey, where did she come from?), stop the wedding. After the fall of Farquaad, Shrek kisses Fiona who then turns into a beautiful...ogre? That's right, kids. Fiona's secret is when the sun goes down each night she turns into an ogre. True loves first kiss determines whether she will stay human or become an ogre. Shrek is indeed her one true love.

Giving these characters their voices are: Mike Myers (Shrek), Eddie Murphy (Donkey), Cameron Diaz (Princess Fiona), John Lithgow (Lord Farquaad), and many more.

Snow White and the Seven Dwarves:
Snow White and the Seven Dwarves was released in 1937. I've always enjoyed watching this movie and is another one that my own children grew up with. This is a perfect movie for those children who like to see the action played out. Although I love to read, I'm also a very visual person, so watching this movie really brought all those characters to life for me.

This movie is about a beautiful girl, Snow White, who has a jealous stepmother (who also happens to be witch). The stepmother wants Snow White dead but the Huntsman just can't go through with killing the girl. Snow White rushes into the woods and finds refuge in a cabin. Unknown to her, seven men (dwarves) live there and they come home to find Snow White has taken up residence and has cleaned house. Though she is safe from her stepmother for the time being, one day she is approached by an old hag - err, stepmother in disguise.

The old woman gives her a shiny red (poisoned) apple. One bite causes Snow White to fall into a deep sleep. The forest animals rush to the seven dwarves who are away from home working at the diamond mine. The dwarves rush to Snow White and find it's too late to save her. They place the girl in a glass coffin and begin mourning her. The Prince - who has fallen in love with Snow White - soon arrives and after planting a kiss on her lips, Snow White wakes up.

Voices for Snow White and the Seven Dwarves are: Adriana Caselotti (Snow White), Lucille La Verne (Queen/Witch), Roy Atwell (Doc), Eddie Collins (Dopey), Pinto Colvig (Sleepy and Grumpy), Billy Gilbert (Sneezy), Otis Harlan (Happy), Scotty Mattraw (Bashful).

Ah, yes. Then there is The Lion King that roared into theaters in 1994.

The Lion King is about a young cub, Simba, who witnesses his father's death. His Uncle Scar convinces Simba the whole thing was his fault and he goes into self-imposed exile. Meanwhile, Scar tells the pride Simba was killed alongside his father, Mufasa.

Timon, a meerkat, and Pumbaa, a jolly warthog, find Simba unconscious. The pair take him in as one of their own and raises him.

As an adult lion, Simba meets a beautiful lioness, Nala, and they fall in love. Nala tells Simba that Scar has turned the Pride Land into a wasteland and asks him to return. Simba refuses, but when Rafiki, a mandrill-baboon, asks him return (and with the help of his Mufasa in the stars), Simba relents and decides to return home.

Once there, he witnesses Scar hitting his mother. After announcing his return, Scar informs the pride that it was Simba who killed his father. After being cornered by Scar, Simba slips over the edge. As he dangles there, Scar decides to fess up that it was he who killed Mufasa. Angered by what he is hearing, Simba makes his way back up to solid ground and leaps on top of Scar, a battle ensues between the pair as well as between the hyenas and lionesses. Scar begs Simba for forgiveness and puts the blame on the hyenas. When Simba sends his uncle over the edge of a cliff, he survives but is immediately surrounded by a pack of angry hyenas that kill him.

Giving the characters of The Lion King their voices are: Jonathan Taylor Thomas (young Simba), Matthew Broderick (adult Simba), James Earl Jones (Mufasa), Jeremy Irons (Scar), Moira Kelly (Nala), Nathan Lane (Timon), and Ernie Sabella (Pumbaa).

Through the years, from the time I was a little girl, to present day, I have had my favorite animated movies that I enjoy watching. My youngest daughter and I often watch them when they air, and I'm known to watch them by myself. It just goes to show that we are never too old to watch these movies and have fun doing it; besides, when we watch these movies with our children or grandchildren, we are strengthening bonds with those who are most important to us in our lives. Happy viewing!

Sources:
Moviegoer, Animated Movie fan, Mom of four who has seen these movies many times