Established in 1988, the National Film Preservation Board of the Library of Congress works to ensure the survival, conservation, and increased public availability of America’s film heritage. Every year since 1989, the National Film Preservation Board has inducted 25 films showcasing the range and diversity of American film heritage as a way to increase awareness for its preservation.
As of 2023, there have only been fifteen animated movies included on the list, with the oldest being Disney’s “Snow White the Seven Dwarfs.” The newest: Pixar’s “WALL-E.” Disney is highly represented in this list, and I’d even argue absolutely over represented. Disney has absolutely created some of the biggest animated movies of all time, influencing so many, but while they dominate other amazing animated movies have waited in the wings deserving of a spot on the list. The Registry’s deadline is on August 15th, and I’m listing five (among so many) animated movies that deserve a spot in the National Film Registry to ensure curating and immortality.
These five films have not only proven to be influential and innovative, but they also deliver on statements and social commentary. They’re works of art begging to be re-assessed. The deadline for Public Voting ends on August 15th.
Gulliver’s Travels (1939)
The Fleischer Brothers get a leg up on the Disney studios by adapting the classic Jonathan Swift fantasy novel. This animated film is still a marvel of the medium, mixing old fashioned animation alongside the Fleischer’s classic rotoscoping. The rotoscoping technique is still a larger than life method that makes “Gulliver’s Travels” such a mesmerizing and engaging fantasy tale almost a hundred years later. Sam Parker, who plays the model for Gulliver is remarkable, and his presence helps elevate the tale considerably. It’s a shorter film than most Disney epics, but it’s a powerful and entertaining adaptation.
American Pop (1981)
Ralph Bakshi’s rotoscoped animated ode to motion and music is a brilliant journey through the medium, as well as the way music can enhance and affect the way that we absorb the animated medium. Bakshi has a clear love for music here, depicting all kinds of music from various eras and how they parallel the an immigrant family’s lives through the American landscape. Bakshi places emphases on rock, though, featuring music from Joan Jett, Bob Seger, Pat Benatar, Peter Paul and Mary and so many more. It’s an affecting and still visually memorable utilization of animation, and Bakshi molds what could be considered his best.
An American Tail (1986)
Don Bluth’s epic tale of the contemporary Jewish immigrant is an important and still relevant peak in to the vast journey that involves moving to a new land. Fievel is partially inspired by the journey of Steven Spielberg’s grandfather who came to America in search of opportunity and greener pastures. With our mouse hero Fievel, we’re able to venture in to this massive world wherein his depiction of being a small mouse is allegorical for emphasizing how large this new world would be to so many coming from a different land. “An American Tail” is still such a relatable and often optimistic coming of age adventure.
The Land Before Time (1988)
Don Bluth was a wonderful antidote to the Disney animation factory allowing for unique tales, and wonderful movies about family, and the heart. “The Land Before Time” takes the historical event of the mass deaths of the dinosaurs and transforms it in to a rich, heartbreaking, and often engrossing journey where a group of small dinosaurs venture to “The Great Valley” in hopes to finding a second chance at life. “The Land Before Time” was wildly influential and garners easily one of the most heartbreaking animated deaths ever conceived, one that arguably rivals the deaths of Bambi’s mom and even Mufasa.
Kubo and the Two Strings (2016)
Laika Studios has proven itself time and time again as a studio that can compare with and stand alongside heavyweights like Studio Ghibli and Dreamworks. Their output has been modest, but their work has been nothing but spectacular. Basing so much of their storytelling on the power of folktales and mythology, “Kubo and the Two Strings” carries that formula beautifully, centering on a lovable hero who is tasked with almost impossible odds against horrifying villains. Travis Knight’s amazing stop motion animation is an absolute marvel, punctuating the excellent narrative of young Kubo and his battle against the wicked Moon King and the absolutely creepy, relentless Sisters. While it’s tough to pick just one from Laika, as there simply is no bad movie from Laika to date, “Kubo and the Two Strings” stuck out for me.