The Best Animated Movie Every Year Of The ’90s, According To Letterboxd

There’s no doubt that the 1990s were a special time for animated movies. Disney’s Renaissance Era was in full swing, Pixar set a new standard for visual effects and emotional storytelling within the genre, and Studio Ghibli was still putting out its classics. That makes it all the more difficult to find the best of the bunch.

Looking at each year of the decade, the reviews from the users on Letterboxd can help someone figure out the best. Some years can be tough as they feature multiple classics and it makes for stiff competition to see which animated films had the highest rating of their given year.

1990 – The Magician’s Hat (3.76)

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For the most part, the first year of the decade didn’t feature any iconic animated films that fans still talk about today. The most notable are likely The Rescuers Down Under, Ducktales The Movie, and a few entries in the Dragon Ball Z franchise.

So, the one to rank the highest is the little-known The Magician’s Hat, known as Čarobnjakov šešir in its native country, Yugoslavia. A sequel to The Elm-Chanted Forest, this film sees a magician team with his animal friends to take on witches and an evil emperor.

1991 – Beauty And The Beast (3.89)

Stream On Disney+

One thing that Disney has had major success with is retelling legendary fairy tales and arguably, their best attempt at it is Beauty and the Beast. The plot follows a sweet girl who becomes the prisoner of a prince cursed to look like a beast, only for them to fall in love.

Not only is Beauty and the Beast one of the best Disney animated movies ever but it also made history. The film became the first animated release to get nominated for Best Picture at the Academy Awards. It has great music, gorgeous visuals, and it still holds up well decades later.

1992 – Porco Rosso (3.90)

Stream On HBO Max

It might come as a surprise to many that Aladdin isn’t the highest-rated animated movie from 1992. The iconic film is a staple of the Disney Renaissance Era and is still beloved to this day. There’s just something special about the movies to come from Studio Ghibli though.

Written and directed by legendary filmmaker Hayao Miyazaki, Porco Rosso tells the story of a fighter pilot who is cursed to look like a pig and his adventures as a bounty hunter going after air pirates. The odd premise is a Miyazaki specialty so he made it work spectacularly.

1993 – Patlabor 2: The Movie (4.05)

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One of the most shocking top films is Patlabor 2: The Movie. That has nothing to do with the tremendous quality of that film but 1993 is also home to animated films like The Nightmare Before Christmas and Batman: Mask of the Phantasm, which are both held in high esteem.

The lesser-known Patlabor 2: The Movie is a continuation of a popular franchise and is an action movie unlike other animated features to be the best of their year. Combining political themes, massive robot fighting, and more, the reviews for this release were sparkling.

1994 – The Lion King (4.20)

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While Walt Disney Animation Studios has certainly put out some blockbuster hits, it could be argued that The Lion King is their greatest success. Not only did it make more than $1 billion at the box office but it spawned a massive franchise that included sequels, TV shows, a Broadway adaptation, and a live-action remake.

The original film focuses on a lion cub who runs away from his home after he’s blamed by his uncle for the death of his father, before ultimately returning to save his people and homeland. The Lion King is endlessly rewatchable, won two Oscars, a slew of other awards, and is often mentioned among the greatest films in history.

1995 – Toy Story (4.16)

Stream On Disney+

For a long time, Pixar mostly focused on short films but when they entered the realm of feature films, they dominated. Pixar has produced some incredible movies in its history and it all started with Toy Story, which sparked a franchise that includes four films to date.

Toy Story focuses on the relationship between a cowboy toy and a space ranger toy as they jockey for position as the favorite of their owner, Andy. It takes them on an adventure that turns them from rivals to best friends. The film was groundbreaking for its visuals but the heartwarming story is where Pixar shined and continues to do so to this day.

1996 – The Hunchback Of Notre Dame (3.58)

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Without any major release from Pixar or Studio Ghibli, 1996 belonged to Disney with The Hunchback of Notre Dame. It has the lowest average rating of any annual winner but still scored better than other releases like James and the Giant Peach and Space Jam.

Another adaptation of a memorable tale, this film focuses on a deformed outcast who struggles to be accepted by society and works with a kind-hearted gypsy to overthrow a tyrannical leader. Praise was given to the visuals, dark themes, and music, including the iconic “Hellfire” villain theme.

1997 – Neon Genesis Evangelion: The End Of Evangelion (4.41)

Stream On Netflix

Neon Genesis Evangelion is typically mentioned among the top anime series ever. The franchise is filled with high-quality stuff in most categories and the same could be said about the films based on it, including Neon Genesis Evangelion: The End of Evangelion.

The End of Evangelion works as a parallel ending to the iconic anime series following the controversy surrounding the original ending. This was considered a huge improvement that has gone down as one of the best-rated animated films on Letterboxd.

1998 – Mulan (4.03)

Stream On Disney+

Most early Disney animated movies followed the trope of a princess falling in love almost effortlessly and often needing to be saved by the man in the story. One film that totally bucked that trend was Mulan, which saw a female stand up to fight in a war so her elderly dad wouldn’t have to.

The movie features a strong female character who is still beloved today, great action sequences, and one of the better Disney soundtracks ever put together. Mulan was nominated at both the Oscars and Golden Globes, while it won an Annie Award, and got a live-action remake in 2020.

1999 – The Iron Giant (4.17)

Stream On HBO Max & Hoopla

It takes something truly impressive to beat a Toy Story movie but that’s just what The Iron Giant pulled off in 1999, topping Toy Story 2. The Warner Bros. Feature Animation film is the directorial debut of Brad Bird, who would go on to helm The Incredibles years later.

The Iron Giant is set in 1957 and follows a young boy who befriends a giant alien robot. The bond they form together is incredibly endearing and there are moments in this film that will have pretty much anyone in tears. It struggled at the box office but is a cult classic and considered an all-time great animated film.

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