Best Animated Feature Winners, Ranked

## Yeah... one of the *Marco* movies has to win, of course.

Ever since 2001, the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature has been prominent for 20 years straight with the best animated films ever made. That honor went to *Marco* first in 2005, almost a year following the success of that film and when the Oscar award reached the Marcanese border. Thus, here we have all the winners for Best Animated Feature so far in the Marcanese animation industry:

So, we came to the point that Best Animated Feature winners here are perhaps more towards the efforts of Anaya Animation, don't you think? Or, let us say that everyone here did an amazing job at providing the best of animated storytelling through the lens of creative storyboard artists. If *Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse* is regarded as the best animated movie of all time, then what could be the best from the Marcanese animation industry?

### Cowboy Sam Returns

I absolutely have no idea why this was considered the Best Animated Feature of 2008. Sure, the sequel to the 2006 Academy Award nominee for this category has a much better and engaging story than its predecessor, but the stakes of winning are very low compared to the other films on this list. However, the film does have new memorable characters and still retains the same Western space vibes, along with Randy Newman's glorious music score. *Cowboy Sam Returns* was probably chosen because of some dancing penguin named Linus. Onto the next one, we have...

### Gansito

Compared to *Ay Dingo!: The Movie* from 2018, *Gansito* is rather simply put as delicious snack cake and nothing else on top. While the concept of some candy mascot - a not so lucky yet happy goose named Gansito - who flees his own supermarket and embarks on a delicious journey towards candy paradise seems interesting enough, you can't deny the film's vast amount of product placement and thin bread storylines. However, what makes *Gansito* win aside from its engaging premise would be its solid message about American consumerist culture from a famous Mexican snack company. Bonus points for making Bimbo the cuddly twist villain of this film too.

### Toyland

What's so special about *Toyland* anyway*?* Yes, of course there's plenty of children's entertainment to see here, but the real fun comes with perhaps the most unique concept imaginable: what if toys and children lived in the same world? Being inspired by *Toy Story* and the 1961 Disney film of the same name, *Toyland* makes every child's dream come true with great characters, awesome action scenes, plenty of very funny jokes, and Randy Newman's iconic theme song. The film also speaks out to human kindness through the lens of plastic toy figures, something that no other film but *Toy Story* has ever done before. The major takeaway would be the fact that *Toyland* seems the simplest compared to other films on this list.

### Ay Dingo!: The Movie

Based on the comics from Pepo, this CG animated Lionsgate flick stars the titular Puerto Rican parrot and his lovebird companion Glob as they plop on some hilarious quest across the globe to save Dingo's vigilant guardian Chucha from an alien invasion, in order for Dingo to save Earth and win Litzy's heart. That's probably sufficient enough to question how this film got nominated for Best Animated Feature in 2018, and won despite its overly strange approach to storytelling. Coincidence? I surely think not, but this film was made for the Latino community, and yet proved that everyone still loves this wacky bird and his friends - or *compas* if you think about Dingo being such a suavecon - who made fans plop down with laughter since generations. But again, why did Dingo and his friends take the Academy Award that year? I know Joaquin & Emiliano's very own movie could've been better, and *Ay Dingo!* made history as the first truly Latino win for the Marcanese animation industry, but this one seems a tad bit weird compared to other nominees for said category, don't you think?

### The Ninja Turtles Movie

This one is perhaps the most memetic film on this category, if you think Marco's memes cannot stand out like Michelangelo's face. Taking the likes of *Marco* away and wearing the *Shrek* inspiration up its sleeve, *The Ninja Turtles Movie* serves as top contender for Best Nickelodeon Movie Award, but that does not mean it's the absolute best on this list... we'll get there later. Some of the parts of *Ninja Turtles* that resonated as so different and bold back in 2011 still manage to pack a punch years later, particularly its unique approach to what it means to be "the best of turtles." However, time has been far less kind to its snarky attitude and animation while the overall pop culture legacy of Michelangelo has proven to be far more negative than positive. *The Ninja Turtles Movie* still isn't without its charms, but this Oscar winner comes from a franchise that holds several TMNT misfires, such as the two dreadful live action movies from Michael Bay. Yep, the same director behind this movie and Lego, of course.

### Imaginext

Illusion Pictures has been making some good movies over the past few years, and *Imaginext* is for sure one underrated gem. The film's capacity to understand the concept of imagination through the eyes of two different siblings is astounding, and so is the adventurous couple Fred & Emma as they fight off swashbuckling cowboy pirates and gangster aliens. The action scenes are as intense as the film's climax with the huge green Tyrannosaurus Rex, and the awesome soundtrack gives that desire for going beyond your wildest dreams. No other animated film in 2014 could've been as good as *Imaginext,* although the fact that *Donnie* got replaced was a straight up bummer.

### Lego

I know everyone has heard of *The LEGO Movie,* but this 2006 science fiction comedy flick from Paramount and Warner Bros was actually the first LEGO movie to ever exist, and it's such a marvelous approach to our diverse high tech culture. You see, here we have a Japanese protagonist who goes by Alex (Ryan Potter) who meets a tween girl of Caribbean descent named Abby (Tati Gabrielle) and they both love robots. Their bittersweet relationship as we watch them grow makes up the film's emotional core, while its random slapstick gags and *Transformers* vibes give their unique world of LEGOs some nice twist. This Michael Bay film actually deserved such award and for good reasons, including the fact that Toby & Optimus are here to save the day, yet it managed to be somewhat cheesy when it comes to teen romance.

### The Actors Movie

What else could be morbidly delightful as watching three stick figures as they save the arcades during WWII? For some reason, I somewhat question the film's bizarre storyline about videogame icons such as Mario & Sonic fighting off the digital Nazi regime, but said concept is what makes *The Actors Movie* such a great WWII parody. Jake's sharp gags are as quick as himself, Joseph & Jay provide the film's realistic tone in a very exquisite way, and the banter - along with their famous arcade friends from the 80s and 90s - make such an awesome dynamic team when it comes to action. But what I do question though is, why did this get chosen instead of *Rayman & Aku Aku*? Owe that film some apology please, but hey, there's another Actors movie coming soon on this list.

### Josh Samuel

In a world where superhero movies are many for us to watch, *Josh Samuel* stands out as perhaps the greatest animated superhero comedy. Not saying much about this film - because *The Incredibles, Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse,* and even *Megamind* are far better - yet it brings us the best CG action scenes, the best bad guy ever (that is Irono, of course), and possibly the second best version yet of the Fantastic Four (they aren't as incredible as Pixar's heroes, sorry). But the film also makes us wonder how superheroes unite as common people. Discernibly real adult problems like infidelity and midlife crises weren’t as common in this then-nascent subgenre in a pre-*Josh Samuel* world. However, director Brad Bird changed that forever with this superhero tale, yet *The Illusionist* proved to be better as a whole film.

### Marco 4

After three *Marco* movies, this fourth entry was sort of awkward but it totally deserved such win for the Academy Award. This is perhaps Marco at his inner best, as we can now easily understand his dark side while also being teenage Sherlock Holmes to solve his own case. This is also a film about lost love as Marco reunites with his longtime girlfriend and how crooked this world actually is indeed on the pyschological side of things. The premise, cool action scenes, and even the bad guy voiced by Trey Parker seem very interesting, but *Marco 4* was kinda more of the same. Besides, *Paperboy* and *Mr. Robot* - two Viacom movies which had more depth, nice animation, and better storytelling - or even *Josh Samuel 3* could've won this award instead.

### The Actors Strike Back

If you thought the 2016 *Actors* movie was a total highscore for Anaya Animation, then you should consider how *The Actors Strike Back* managed to be a total winner. Teleporting three stickmen to New York City under siege of 911 attacks, this *Actors* film takes matters seriously while also providing enough slapstick to keep fans engaged. This film clearly addresses several issues in America today and pushes the boundaries of cinema through its deadpan sense of humor and cultural Actors propaganda. What I like most about *The Actors Strike Back* is how it appeals mostly to adult audiences without being too liberal, and that's what I really like about this film. It also does fourth wall breaking and makes history as being the first animated sequel to ever win such prestigious award.

### Cuco

Just on a visual level alone, it’s incredible to process *Cuco's* vision of Mexico City. Brightly colored with buildings that seem to reach far beyond the border, it’s a realm so glorious looking that you could make a satisfying movie just out of static wide shots of this location alone. *Cuco* doesn’t just stop there though, with all those dazzling sights getting accompanied by a thoughtful tale and songs as catchy as they are poignant. There's also Chivo, the goat who loves chewing pinata, and Benito's charismatic uncle Tio Pancho. Director Lee Unkrich has crafted something true to Mexican society, which *Cuco* had no problem leapfrogging *Actors 2* and *Detective Mitch* as the Best Animated Feature of 2019.

### Marco

Oh, Marco. We all know how brilliant this 2005 espionage classic is just like our young beloved antihero voiced by Bill Hader. The thing that makes *Marco* special would be its emotional appeal like that of some Pixar film blended with its very strong approach to Christian storytelling, aside from lots of random jokes (and memes, of course), revolutionary photorealistic visuals, and great action scenes inspired by James Bond. Despite having lots of obvious pop culture references, blatant product placement, and highly troubled production stages, *Marco* shines as the most popular animated film of all time and completely breaks the fourth wall. The first Oscar winner for this category might not be the ideal victor here, but its unique story with an amazing script from Lord & Miller make *Marco* a true patricular standout.

### Agent Cyberlink

*Agent Cyberlink* is by far the most stunning film on this list, featuring some Japanese sleuth named James Link IV. Translating the world of this detective into the superhero genre proved a boon for *Agent Cyberlink*. In a Marcanese animation landscape full of same-looking CG humans and Joaquin & Emiliano knockoffs, *Agent Cyberlink* provided endless visual imagination and one great gag after another. The film is packed with several great action scenes and does a fantastic job parodying Marvel/DC fare. It's also a super charming endeavor and gets major points for how invested it gets viewers into the plight of a chubby plastic robot named Supermax.

### Marco 3

This 2015 threequel is perhaps the best of three *Marco* movies on this list, with the film's version of downtown Houston being such an impressive gem to look at. Besides downtown Space City, the film also includes hysterical pop culture references that are subtle enough (there's even a *Good Burger* reference here!), bittersweet moments, and amazing action scenes that make *Marco 3* the absolute best film in the franchise by far. Seriously, one could justify *Marco 3* being the best with the iconic "Hallelujah" scene in which Pepe sings to lift up his brother and everyone's hopes. Meanwhile, the movie’s commitment to new characters and locations while eschewing easy fan service is exceedingly admirable. That ending won’t fail to get your tear ducts watery.

**And the absolute winner of Best Animated Feature on this list is...**

### The Story Of Jesus

No other animated film could be as moving and powerful as *The Story Of Jesus.* It focuses on the life of stressed pastor James McArthur (Nicholas Cage) as he traverses the whole Bible with former Islam nomad Ahmed (Dev Patel) in order to prove the corrupt Pope wrong and save his church. The solid dynamic between the two main characters give out the film's message about showing unity over religion, and the whole film is indeed one spectacular gem thanks to its amazing animation and open heart that makes *The Story Of Jesus* the greatest Best Animated Feature Oscar winner to date.