Pixar and Studio Ghibli have long been considered the two best animation studios in the world today, but Hollywood has picked a clear winner. Though the Japanese company debuted around a decade before Pixar, the two studios have often gone head-to-head when it comes to releasing top-notch films. Both have done a lot to elevate animation as a storytelling medium.

Pixar’s association with Disney has allowed the groundbreaking studio to find worldwide appeal, and they have created ongoing franchises like Toy Story that are just as popular as Disney’s classic animated movies. Conversely, Studio Ghibli has crafted beloved family films like My Neighbor Totoro, which has gone on to become their icon and a symbol of Japanese popular culture.

The 21st century has been kind to both studios, with Pixar and Ghibli releasing many of the movies that have cemented their place in history. While they aren’t really direct competition because they exist on opposite continents, Pixar and Ghibli’s films are often compared when looking for the best of what animation has had to offer since the year 2000.

The New York Times‘ 100 Best Movies of the 21st Century list has offered key insights into what industry professionals think about movies from the last 25 years, and it isn’t surprising that Ghibli and Pixar both appeared. The list is also an excellent way to determine which studio is more highly favored by those who truly know cinema.

3 Pixar Movies Are Among The 100 Best Movies Of The 21st Century – But Spirited Away Outranks Them All

It’s A Matter Of Quantity & Quality Between The Two Studios

Because the New York Times 100 Best Movies of the 21st Century list was voted on by industry professionals, there was a natural bias toward Hollywood movies. However, this isn’t the only reason that three Pixar films graced the list, and there’s no denying that Ratatouille, Up, and WALL-E are some of the best films of the last 25 years.

Despite the fact that those three movies placed well, Studio Ghibli’s Spirited Away not only ranked higher, but blew them out of the water. Pixar’s three entries ranked 73rd for Ratatouille, 50th for Up, and 34th for WALL-E, but Spirited Away cracked the top 10 at number nine. It ranked miles above Pixar’s movies, but also dozens of celebrated classics.

By making the top 10, Spirited Away garnered tons of votes, which were not easy to come by for any animated movie. Animation was largely left off the list, though there are a plethora of excellent films from all over the world that have been released since 2000. Only Pixar’s three entries and Spirited Away were deemed good enough.

Pixar Might Have More Mainstream Coverage, But Hollywood Still Thinks Of Ghibli As Higher Art

Animation From The West Isn’t Taken As Seriously

Spirited Away‘s stunning success on the NYT list is a ringing endorsement of the overall quality of the movie, but it also reflects the way that the Studio Ghibli film is viewed by industry professionals. Pixar’s three movies are arguably the studio’s best work, but they are also their most inherently cinematic.

Unlike Ghibli, which has never been afraid to stray away from family-friendly territory, Pixar’s films have all been oriented toward younger viewers. However, their best movies are also essential viewing for adults too, which is why Pixar has the reputation as the best animation studio in the West. Despite Pixar’s vaunted status, Western animation is still looked down upon.

Conversely, Eastern animation is seen as high art by Western viewers, largely because Eastern audiences view it that way as well. Pixar and Ghibli films are representative of their respective cultures, and the cinema intelligentsia has responded accordingly. If animation was taken more seriously in the United States, Pixar probably would have ranked higher.

Unshackled from biases against animation, Ghibli is better able to push the boundaries of the medium, while still delivering a quality product that has international appeal. That’s not the only reason why Spirited Away is considered better than Pixar’s offerings, but it certainly helps. The film’s rich storytelling and visual language can’t be denied, but Pixar’s movies have that too.

Spirited Away’s Impact Is Still Shaping The Animation Industry

It’s Also Shaping Live-Action Cinema Too

Studio Ghibli’s high-concept fantasy story was wholly unlike anything that had been seen in animated cinema before, and Spirited Away is undeniably the studio’s greatest legacy. Hayao Miyazaki’s direction is so assured and steady, and it never drops any of its cinematic aspects while weaving a narrative that dips into absurd and even frightening territory.

Much like the groundbreaking animation of the ’70s and ’80s, Spirited Away eschews expectations by using the medium to tell the story without being bound by conventions. Chihiro’s journey is one of self-discovery and growth, so it manages to fold in a coming-of-age narrative on top of the fantastical parts of the story.

Nearly every animated movie since 2001 owes a debt of gratitude, mainly because of how Spirited Away tells its story. Studio Ghibli films emphasize the mundane aspects of the real world, so that they can later contrast that with the fantasy elements of the narrative. All cinema is about escapism, but animation is the medium that best captures that idea.

Spirited Away made the list because it is not only an excellent animated film, but a terrific movie in general. Some of Miyazaki’s filmmaking techniques have not only inspired other cartoons, but also live-action films. Conversely, Pixar is best at delivering quaint and emotional animated movies, but they can often fall behind in terms of pure cinema.

Spirited Away

10/10

Release Date

July 20, 2001

Runtime

125 minutes

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