In 1938, American audiences were introduced to their first animated film with the release of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. This was only the first of many animated classics made to entertain audiences across the board. Sleeping Beauty, Cinderella, Alice in Wonderland, The Lion King, and The Little Mermaid soon became classics among children and the generations to come. Nevertheless, these movies don’t always get the appreciation they deserve from adults or awards ceremonies; to date, only three animated movies have been nominated for the Academy Award for Best Picture: Beauty and the Beast, Up, and Toy Story 3. These films hold important lessons that moviegoers could learn from, if they selected to watch them over the next installment in their favorite action or horror franchise. Here is why animated films are such an important piece of cinematic history.

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Coming-of-Age Themes

     Walt Disney Studios

Thanks to Pixar, Disney movies are now crisper, cleaner, and more beautiful to see, but that’s not all Pixar offers. As more of these films release, important coming of age issues are shown through them. Toy Story focuses on the universal theme of friendship; Walle-E makes an important commentary on people’s need for relationships; A Bug’s Life depicts the harrowing effects of a totalitarian government, and how it shapes the growing experience for an entire society. Frozen focuses on the importance of love between family members during one’s childhood, and how lack of it can affect a person’s ability to create healthy relationships.

Relatable Characters

     Pixar 

In recent years, the animated hero has become more relatable. Toy Story’s 3 Andy exemplifies the stepping stones young adults take when leaving home for the first time; Inside-Out’s Riley experiences the emotional stages children undergo as they transition into adolescence. Every member in The Incredibles reflects the importance of family unity, no matter the shape and differences among its members.

The Unconventional Hero

     Buena Vista Pictures Distribution

Classic animated films usually featured a princess and prince as its heroes. But with the closing of the 20th Century, a shift occurred. The Hunchback of Notre Dame was one of the first animated films to introduce an atypical hero in Quasimodo. Quasimodo is a social outcast shunned by most people, the opposite of animation’s hero archetype. Frozen has two princess heroines instead of a prince and a princess. Brave features a princess with no prince; similarly to Elsa, Merida favors independence over finding her happily ever after with Prince Charming. Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse deals with teenage, web-slinging superhero Miles Morales battling multiverse villains to save his own world.

Generational Changes

Generational changes are pivotal in animated films. From the damsel in distress, a hero who goes from rags to riches, to siblings learning to better connect, animated films feature an array of character archetypes and family structures. In Up, Russell lives with his single mother and grows an unlikely friendship with Carl, a childless widow. In Lilo and Stich, the narrative focuses on two sisters dealing with the grieving process after losing their parents, devoid of whimsical fairytale aspects. These stories are great instruments for generations to better understand each other’s struggles.

The Evolving Princess

Even with the changing of times, animation isn’t forgoing the princess formula anytime soon. The princess archetype is evolving at a steady pace. From the hardworking Tiana in Princess and the Frog, the spunky and bold Rapunzel in Tangled, to the artistic and resourceful Suzu in Belle; princesses no longer need to be saved, and most of the time are the ones doing the saving themselves. What a way to showcase equality for every type of heroine.

Different Cultures

     Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures

A criminally under-looked aspect of animation is cultural diversity. From classics like Howl’s Moving Castle and Spirited Away to recent films like Moana, The Mitchells Vs. The Machines, and Belle, animation shows the beauty in all shapes and colors, allowing audiences to indirectly travel the world and experience different people through its stories. Coco is a touching tale of cultural diversity where its lead character, Miguel, embraces the magic of Mexican folklore and music to mend his familial conflicts. Encanto dwells into the expectations of matriarchs over younger descendants, and the importance of forgiveness when these expectations are rejected in place of individualism.

Unity

     Marvel Studios/Pixar/Netflix/GKids

Lastly, the old as time reason why the animated film is so important is its ability to unite people. Whether its teenagers watching the next The Lego movie, young adults bonding over a foreign language animated film, or entire families making their way to the cinema to enjoy the next Pixar installment, animation brings people together like magic. Any movie is better in the company of loved ones.