The Most Significant Animation Studios

Animated films have made an indelible impression on the American landscape, as the recent success of such films as "Tangled" and the numerous Pixar productions has made abundantly clear. Behind all of these cinematic masterpieces are the studio giants that have come to dominate the world of animated feature films. The following five studios have become synonymous with quality animated films of both the past and the present.

Walt Disney Studios

It is no exaggeration to say Walt Disney Studios has become the most recognizable name in animation history. From its first feature-length film "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs" to the critical and commercial powerhouses that were "The Lion King" and the recent "Tangled," Disney has shown it can provide contemporary audiences with a heady mix of fantasy and dazzling animation that makes the studio one of the true giants in the production of quality animated films. With the recent return to more traditionally animated pictures, it is reasonably certain we can expect more dazzling confections from this venerable movie studio.

Pixar

In recent years, Pixar has come to the fore as both a challenger and an ally to traditional Disney animation. From its early success with "Toy Story" to its powerhouses such as "Up" and "WALL-E," Pixar stretches and blurs the boundaries between animation and films that supposedly belong in the "real world." We come to identify with the characters in Pixar films in a way we rarely do in other animated films, even when those characters happen to be robots. Pixar manages to mix the magic of animation with the human magic that has always been an integral part of cinema.

DreamWorks Animation

Although not quite the powerhouse as its larger competitors, DreamWorks Animation has still managed to produce some very high-quality productions, many of which have been commercial successes. These include both the popular "How to Train Your Dragon" and "Kung Fu Panda." The lushness of the computer-generated animation is hard to beat, and DreamWorks imbues its films with a sense of humor and wit that is not always found in some of the high-brow productions created by Disney and Pixar.

Don Bluth Films, Inc.

Anyone who grew up in the 1980s is no doubt familiar with the dark and sometimes downright sinister films of Don Bluth. Ranging from the grim but happily ending "An American Tail" to the heart-wrenchingly sad "The Land Before Time," Bluth excelled at bringing an adult and contemporary edge to the animated film. Although his studios hit their heyday in the 1980s and early 1990s, the films produced in that period richly deserve their place among the best animated films ever released in theaters.

Blue Sky Studios

Although fairly young compared to some of its competitors, Blue Sky Studios has nevertheless managed to generate one of the most successful animated film franchises to hit theaters. The popular "Ice Age" films have generated a great deal of revenue for this studio and are also lovely gems that combine humor and lush computer-generated imagery. Although Blue Sky has produced films other than the "Ice Age" franchise, those three films are certainly its most noteworthy accomplishments.

Clearly animation and animated feature films occupy a particularly important and cherished part in the American cultural consciousness. Whether it is the lush traditional animation of a Disney classic or the glossy and glitzy CGI of a new Pixar release, both children and adults continue to flock to the theater to see these particular movies. As we move into the second decade of the 21st century, it remains to be seen whether the animated film will retain its popularity. I rather think it will.

Heading to the movies? Get an instant mobile coupon to use at select theaters for free popcorn!