# List of most expensive animated films

The following are lists of animated feature films that were the most expensive to make.

## Definition

For purposes of awarding Academy Awards, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences defines an animated film as
   a motion picture in which movement and characters' performances are created using a frame-by-frame technique, and usually falls into one of the two general fields of animation: narrative or abstract. Some of the techniques of animating films include but are not limited to hand-drawn animation, computer animation, stop-motion, clay animation, pixilation, cutout animation, pinscreen, camera multiple pass imagery, kaleidoscopic effects created frame-by-frame, and drawing on the film frame itself. Motion capture and real-time puppetry are not by themselves animation techniques.
Further, at least 75 percent of the film's running time must contain animation. Narrative animated films must also include a significant number of animated major characters.
The Academy defines a feature film as one with a running time of more than 40 minutes.

## Most expensive animated feature films

The years 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2016 are the most represented, with three films each.
Pixar is the most represented studio with fourteen films. Shrek is the most represented franchise with three of its four main films on the list, followed by Cars with two of its three main films.
Most expensive animated feature films :
| Rank | Title | Year | Studio | Budget (est.) (millions) |
| 1 | Tangled | 2010 | Disney | $260 |
| 2 | The Lion King | 2019 | Disney | $250 |
| 3 | Toy Story 3 | 2010 | Pixar | $200 |
| 3 | Cars 2 | 2011 | Pixar | $200 |
| 3 | Monsters University | 2013 | Pixar | $200 |
| 3 | Finding Dory | 2016 | Pixar | $200 |
| 3 | Incredibles 2 | 2018 | Pixar | $200 |
| 3 | Toy Story 4 | 2019 | Pixar | $200 |
| 3 | Lightyear | 2022 | Pixar | $200 |
| 3 | Elemental | 2023 | Pixar | $200 |
| 3 | Inside Out 2 | 2024 | Pixar | $200 |
| 11 | Brave | 2012 | Pixar | $185 |
| 12 | WALL-E | 2008 | Pixar | $180 |
| 13 | Cars 3 | 2017 | Pixar | $175 |
| 13 | Coco | 2017 | Pixar | $175 |
| 13 | Monsters vs. Aliens | 2009 | DreamWorks Animation | $175 |
| 13 | Up | 2009 | Pixar | $175 |
| 13 | A Christmas Carol | 2009 | ImageMovers | $175 |
| 13 | Inside Out | 2015 | Pixar | $175 |
| 13 | The Good Dinosaur | 2015 | Pixar | $175 |
| 13 | Ralph Breaks the Internet | 2018 | Disney | $175 |
| 19 | How to Train Your Dragon | 2010 | DreamWorks Animation | $165 |
| 19 | Shrek Forever After | 2010 | DreamWorks Animation | $165 |
| 19 | Wreck-It Ralph | 2012 | Disney | $165 |
| 19 | Big Hero 6 | 2014 | Disney | $165 |
| 19 | The Polar Express | 2004 | ImageMovers | $165 |
| 25 | Shrek the Third | 2007 | DreamWorks Animation | $160 |
| 26 | Mars Needs Moms | 2011 | ImageMovers | $150 |
| 26 | Bee Movie | 2007 | DreamWorks Animation | $150 |
| 26 | Bolt | 2008 | Disney | $150 |
| 26 | Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa | 2008 | DreamWorks Animation | $150 |
| 26 | Ratatouille | 2007 | Pixar | $150 |
| 26 | Frozen | 2013 | Disney | $150 |
| 26 | Kung Fu Panda 2 | 2011 | DreamWorks Animation | $150 |
| 26 | Chicken Little | 2005 | Disney | $150 |
| 26 | Shrek 2 | 2004 | DreamWorks Animation | $150 |
| 26 | Zootopia | 2016 | Disney | $150 |
| 26 | Moana | 2016 | Disney | $150 |
| 26 | Frozen II | 2019 | Disney | $150 |
| 26 | Soul | 2020 | Pixar | $150 |

### Traditional animation

Disney is the most represented studio with 14 films on the list. Winnie the Pooh is the most represented franchise with four films on the list. 2002 is the most represented year with four films.
| Title | Year | Studio(s) | Budget (est.) |
| Treasure Planet | 2002 | Disney | $140,000,000 |
| Tarzan | 1999 | Disney | $130,000,000 |
| Atlantis: The Lost Empire | 2001 | Disney | $120,000,000 |
| Home on the Range | 2004 | Disney | $110,000,000 |
| The Hunchback of Notre Dame | 1996 | Disney | $100,000,000 |
| The Princess and the Frog | 2009 | Disney | $100,000,000 |
| The Road to El Dorado | 2000 | DreamWorks Animation | $95,000,000 |
| Mulan | 1998 | Disney | $90,000,000 |
| Titan A.E. | 2000 | Fox Animation | $80,000,000 |
| Hercules | 1997 | Disney | $80,000,000 |
| Fantasia 2000 | 1999 | Disney | $80,000,000 |
| Lilo & Stitch | 2002 | Disney | $80,000,000 |
| Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron | 2002 | DreamWorks Animation | $80,000,000 |
| The Simpsons Movie | 2007 | Gracie | $75,000,000 |
| The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge Out of Water | 2015 | Nickelodeon Movies | $74,000,000 |
| The Prince of Egypt | 1998 | DreamWorks Animation | $70,000,000 |
| Sinbad: Legend of the Seven Seas | 2003 | DreamWorks Animation | $60,000,000 |
| The Boy and the Heron | 2023 | Studio Ghibli | >$53,300,000 |
| The Tale of the Princess Kaguya | 2013 | Studio Ghibli | $53,300,000 |
| Anastasia | 1997 | Fox Animation | $50,000,000 |
| The Iron Giant | 1999 | WB | $50,000,000 |
| Curious George | 2006 | Universal | $50,000,000 |
| Brother Bear | 2003 | Disney | $46,000,000 |
| Piglet's Big Movie | 2003 | Disneytoon | $46,000,000 |
| The Lion King | 1994 | Disney | $45,000,000 |
| Asterix: The Land of the Gods | 2014 | M6 Studio / Belvision / Mikros Image | $43,000,000 |
| The Little Mermaid | 1989 | Disney | $40,000,000 |
| Quest for Camelot | 1998 | WB | $40,000,000 |
| The Bob's Burgers Movie | 2022 | 20th Century Studios | $38,000,000 |
| The Pagemaster | 1994 | Hanna-Barbera | $34,000,000 |
| Ponyo | 2008 | Studio Ghibli | $34,000,000 |
| Eight Crazy Nights | 2002 | Happy Madison | $34,000,000 |
| Cats Don't Dance | 1997 | WB | $32,000,000 |
| Oliver & Company | 1988 | Disney | $31,000,000 |
| Balto | 1995 | Amblimation | $31,000,000 |
| The Wind Rises | 2013 | Studio Ghibli | $31,000,000 |
| Redline | 2009 | Madhouse | $30,000,000 |
| Pokémon: The First Movie | 1998 | Oriental Light and Magic (OLM) | $30,000,000 |
| Pokémon: The Movie 2000 | 1999 | Oriental Light and Magic (OLM) | $30,000,000 |
| Rugrats in Paris: The Movie | 2000 | Klasky Csupo | $30,000,000 |
| The Tigger Movie | 2000 | Disneytoon | $30,000,000 |
| The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie | 2004 | Nickelodeon Movies | $30,000,000 |
| Winnie the Pooh | 2011 | Disney | $30,000,000 |
| The Thief and the Cobbler | 1993 | Completion Bond Company | $28,000,000 |
| Aladdin | 1992 | Disney | $28,000,000 |
| Thumbelina | 1994 | Don Bluth | $28,000,000 |
| From Up on Poppy Hill | 2011 | Studio Ghibli | $28,000,000 |
| Steamboy | 2004 | Sunrise / Bandai Visual | $26,000,000 |
| Asterix and the Vikings | 2006 | A. Film A/S / M6 Studio / 2d3D Animations | $26,000,000 |
| Beauty and the Beast | 1991 | Disney | $25,000,000 |
| The King and I | 1999 | Rankin/Bass | $25,000,000 |
| The Wild Thornberrys Movie | 2002 | Klasky Csupo | $25,000,000 |
| Rugrats Go Wild | 2003 | Klasky Csupo | $25,000,000 |
| FernGully: The Last Rainforest | 1992 | Kroyer | $24,000,000 |
| Howl's Moving Castle | 2005 | Studio Ghibli | $24,000,000 |
| Arrietty | 2010 | Studio Ghibli | $23,000,000 |
| My Neighbors the Yamadas | 1999 | Studio Ghibli | $21,000,000 |
| The Swan Princess | 1994 | Rich Animation Studios | $21,000,000 |
| Princess Mononoke | 1997 | Studio Ghibli | $20,000,000 |
| Recess: School's Out | 2001 | Disney Television | $20,000,000 |
| Return to Never Land | 2002 | Disneytoons | $20,000,000 |
| The Jungle Book 2 | 2003 | Disneytoons | $20,000,000 |
| Yu-Gi-Oh! The Movie: Pyramid of Light | 2004 | Gallop / 4Kids Entertainment | $20,000,000 |
| Pooh's Heffalump Movie | 2005 | Disneytoons | $20,000,000 |

### Stop-motion

The following films are all stop motion animated films that cost over $10 million to create. 2012 are the most represented years with 3 films each.
Laika is the most represented studio with 5 films. Wallace and Gromit is the most represented franchise with two films on the list.
| Title | Year | Studio | Budget (est.) |
| Missing Link | 2019 | Laika | $100,000,000 |
| The Little Prince | 2015 | ON Animation Studios | $77,500,000 |
| Coraline | 2009 | Laika | $60,000,000 |
| ParaNorman | 2012 | Laika | $60,000,000 |
| The Boxtrolls | 2014 | Laika | $60,000,000 |
| Kubo and the Two Strings | 2016 | Laika | $60,000,000 |
| The Pirates! In an Adventure with Scientists! | 2012 | Aardman | $55,000,000 |
| Chicken Run | 2000 | Aardman | $45,000,000 |
| Corpse Bride | 2005 | Tim Burton | $40,000,000 |
| Fantastic Mr. Fox | 2009 | AEP | $40,000,000 |
| Frankenweenie | 2012 | Tim Burton | $39,000,000 |
| James and the Giant Peach | 1996 | Tim Burton | $38,000,000 |
| Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit | 2005 | Aardman | $30,000,000 |
| Shaun the Sheep Movie | 2015 | Aardman | $25,000,000 |
| The Nightmare Before Christmas | 1993 | Tim Burton | $18,000,000 |

### Anime

| Title | Year | Studio(s) | Budget (est. ¥) | Budget (est. $) |
| The Boy and the Heron | 2023 | Studio Ghibli | >¥5,200,000,000 | >$53,300,000 |
| The Tale of the Princess Kaguya | 2013 | Studio Ghibli | ¥5,200,000,000 | $53,300,000 |
| Stand by Me Doraemon | 2014 | Shirogumi / Robot Communications / Shin-Ei Animation | ? | $35,000,000 |
| Ponyo | 2008 | Studio Ghibli | ¥3,400,000,000 | $34,000,000 |
| Space Pirate Captain Harlock | 2013 | Toei Animation / Marza Animation Planet | ¥3,000,000,000 | $31,000,000 |
| The Wind Rises | 2013 | Studio Ghibli | ¥3,000,000,000 | $31,000,000 |
| Pokémon: The First Movie | 1998 | Oriental Light and Magic (OLM) | ? | $30,000,000 |
| Pokémon: The Movie 2000 | 1999 | Oriental Light and Magic (OLM) | ? | $30,000,000 |
| Steamboy | 2004 | Sunrise / Bandai Visual | ¥2,400,000,000 | $26,000,000 |
| Howl's Moving Castle | 2005 | Studio Ghibli | ¥2,400,000,000 | $24,000,000 |
| Arrietty | 2010 | Studio Ghibli | ? | $23,000,000 |
| My Neighbors the Yamadas | 1999 | Studio Ghibli | ¥2,360,000,000 | $21,000,000 |
| Princess Mononoke | 1997 | Studio Ghibli | ¥2,350,000,000 | $20,000,000 |
| From Up on Poppy Hill | 2011 | Studio Ghibli | ¥2,200,000,000 | $28,000,000 |
| Yu-Gi-Oh! The Movie: Pyramid of Light | 2004 | Gallop / 4Kids Entertainment | ? | $20,000,000 |
| Tales from Earthsea | 2006 | Studio Ghibli | ¥2,200,000,000 | $19,000,000 |
| Spirited Away | 2001 | Studio Ghibli | ¥2,000,000,000 | $19,200,000 |
| Pokémon 3: The Movie | 2000 | Oriental Light and Magic (OLM) | ? | $16,000,000 |
| When Marnie Was There | 2014 | Studio Ghibli | ¥1,200,000,000 | $11,300,000 |
| The Red Turtle | 2016 | Studio Ghibli / Why Not Productions / Wild Bunch | ? | $11,000,000 |
| Akira | 1988 | Tokyo Movie Shinsha (TMS Entertainment) | ¥700,000,000 | $5,500,000 |
| Metropolis | 2001 | Madhouse | ¥1,000,000,000 | $15,000,000 |
| Dragon Ball Super: Broly | 2018 | Toei Animation | ? | $8,500,000 |
| Robotech: The Movie | 1986 | Tatsunoko Production / Harmony Gold USA / AIC | ? | $8,000,000 |
| Porco Rosso | 1992 | Studio Ghibli | ¥900,000,000 | $7,100,000 |
| Street Fighter II: The Animated Movie | 1994 | Group TAC / SEDIC / Sony Music Entertainment Japan | ? | $6,000,000 |
| Kiki's Delivery Service | 1989 | Studio Ghibli | ¥800,000,000 | $5,800,000 |
| Royal Space Force: The Wings of Honnêamise | 1987 | Gainax / Bandai Visual | ¥800,000,000 | $5,531,000 |
| Dragon Ball Z: Resurrection 'F' | 2015 | Toei Animation | ? | $5,000,000 |
| Castle in the Sky | 1986 | Studio Ghibli | ¥800,000,000 | $4,700,000 |
| Interstella 5555: The 5tory of the 5ecret 5tar 5ystem | 2003 | Toei Animation / Daft Life / Wild Bunch / BAC Films | ? | $4,000,000 |
| The Castle of Cagliostro | 1979 | Tokyo Movie Shinsha | ¥500,000,000 | $2,300,000 |
| In This Corner of the World | 2016 | MAPPA | ¥400,000,000 | $3,750,000 |
| Macross: Do You Remember Love? | 1984 | Studio Nue / Artland / Topcraft / Tatsunoko Production | ¥400,000,000 | $2,000,000 |
| Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind | 1984 | Studio Ghibli | ¥400,000,000 | $2,000,000 |
| Farewell to Space Battleship Yamato | 1978 | Academy Productions / Group TAC | ¥360,000,000 | $3,600,000 |
| Paprika | 2006 | Madhouse | ¥300,000,000 | $4,000,000 |
| Tokyo Godfathers | 2004 | Madhouse | ¥300,000,000 | $2,400,000 |
| Millennium Actress | 2002 | Madhouse | ? | $1,200,000 |
| Space Battleship Yamato | 1977 | Academy Productions / Group TAC | ¥200,000,000 | $745,000 |
| Biohazard 4D-Executer | 2000 | Visual Science Laboratory | ¥150,000,000 | $1,400,000 |
Back-to-back film productions :
| Title(s) | Year(s) | Studio | Budget (est. ¥) | Budget (est. $) | Ref |
| Fist of the North Star: The Legends of the True Savior | 2006–2008 | TMS Entertainment | ¥2,500,000,000 | $24,300,000 | |
| My Neighbor Totoro and Grave of the Fireflies | 1988 | Studio Ghibli | ¥1,200,000,000 | $9,400,000 | |

## Timeline of most expensive animated films

The following is a timeline of the most expensive animated films since 1937.
| Title | Established | Budget (est.) (millions) | Studio |
| Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs | 1937 | $1.49 | Disney |
| Pinocchio | 1940 | $2.29 | Disney |
| Cinderella | 1950 | $2.9 | Disney |
| Peter Pan | 1953 | $4 | Disney |
| Sleeping Beauty | 1959 | $6 | Disney |
| The Black Cauldron | 1985 | $44 | Disney |
| The Lion King | 1994 | $45 | Disney |
| Pocahontas | 1995 | $55 | Disney |
| The Hunchback of Notre Dame | 1996 | $100 | Disney |
| A Bug's Life | 1998 | $120 | Pixar |
| Tarzan | 1999 | $130 | Disney |
| Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within | 2001 | $137 | Square Pictures |
| Treasure Planet | 2002 | $140 | Disney |
| Shrek 2 | 2004 | $150 | DreamWorks Animation |
| The Polar Express | 2004 | $165 | ImageMovers |
| WALL-E | 2008 | $180 | Pixar |
| Toy Story 3 | June 2010 | $200 | Pixar |
| Tangled | November 2010 | $260 | Disney |

### Timeline of most expensive computer–animated films

| Title | Established | Budget (est.) (millions) | Studio |
| Toy Story | 1995 | $30 | Pixar |
| Antz | October 1998 | $42 | DreamWorks Animation |
| A Bug's Life | November 1998 | $120 | Pixar |
| Dinosaur | 2000 | $127.5 | Disney |
| Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within | 2001 | $137 | Square Pictures |
| The Polar Express | 2004 | $165 | ImageMovers |
| WALL•E | 2008 | $180 | Pixar |
| Toy Story 3 | June 2010 | $200 | Pixar |
| Tangled | November 2010 | $260 | Disney |

### Timeline of most expensive traditionally animated films

| Title | Established | Budget (est.) (millions) | Studio |
| Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs | 1937 | $1.49 | Disney |
| Pinocchio | 1940 | $2.29 | Disney |
| Cinderella | 1950 | $2.9 | Disney |
| Peter Pan | 1953 | $4 | Disney |
| Sleeping Beauty | 1959 | $6 | Disney |
| The Black Cauldron | 1985 | $44 | Disney |
| The Lion King | 1994 | $45 | Disney |
| Pocahontas | 1995 | $55 | Disney |
| The Hunchback of Notre Dame | 1996 | $100 | Disney |
| Tarzan | 1999 | $130 | Disney |
| Treasure Planet | 2002 | $140 | Disney |

### Timeline of most expensive stop-motion animated films

The following is a timeline of most expensive stop-motion animated films of all time. Laika is the most represented studio with four films.
| Title | Established | Budget (est.) (millions) | Studio |
| The Nightmare Before Christmas | 1993 | $18 | Tim Burton |
| Chicken Run | 2000 | $45 | Aardman |
| Coraline | 2009 | $60 | Laika |
| ParaNorman | 2012 | $60 | Laika |
| The Boxtrolls | 2014 | $60 | Laika |
| The Little Prince | 2015 | $77.5 | ON |
| Missing Link | 2019 | $100 | Laika |