One of the most successful animation studios in the history of American cinema is DreamWorks Animation. With a long list of box office hits, many of his productions have also achieved critical acclaim, becoming cultural landmarks.
That said, we decided to list the 10 best DreamWorks films according to critics. As a criterion we used the scores attributed to films by the main film review aggregators and cinema-focused websites.
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Furthermore, we have decided to exclude films produced in collaboration with the British company Aardman Animations. Although these works have been critically acclaimed, indistinguishable artistic authorship is attributed to Aardman, a production company specializing in the stop-motion technique.
Dreamworks: the best films
Written by Charlie Kaufman, one of the most renowned screenwriters of his generation (“Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind,” “Being John Malkovich,” “Anomalisa”), the animated film “Orion and the Dark” received praise from most part of the experts.
The film follows Orion, a very fearful boy with a fertile imagination. He embarks on a great journey when he is visited by his greatest fear: the Darkness.
In addition to financial success, the second film in the “Kung Fu Panda” series was well received by critics in general. The film received an Oscar nomination for Best Animated Feature at the 84th awards.
In the plot, an evil peacock emerges with a plan to conquer China and eradicate kung fu using a powerful secret weapon. Panda Po and his allies from the Furious Five must stop the villain.
Unlike most DreamWorks films, which use computer graphic animation techniques, the feature film “The Prince of Egypt” is animated in a traditional manner. The film won Best Original Song at the 71st Academy Awards and the Critics’ Choice Movie Award for Best Animated Feature Film.
Adapted from the Book of Exodus, the film follows the life of Moses, a prince of Egypt who later becomes a prophet chosen by God to save the Jews from slavery.
The third film in the “How to Train Your Dragon” series received generally enthusiastic reviews from experts. Additionally, it has been nominated for numerous awards, including the Oscar, Annie Awards, and Golden Globe.
In the plot, Hiccup searches for a utopian place for dragons known as the “Hidden World”, and the dragon Toothless encounters a female of his rare species. They will also have to stop a terrible dragon hunter.
The second film in the “How to Train Your Dragon” series was well received by critics and received numerous awards. The animation won the Golden Globe for Best Animated Feature and six Annie Awards.
Five years after the previous film, the plot follows the Viking village of Berk, where dragons and humans live in harmony, thanks to Hiccup and his dragon Toothless. However, problems arise when a villain appears with a plan to control an army of dragons and take over the world.
Well received by specialized critics, the first film in the “Kung Fu Panda” series received an Oscar nomination in the Best Animated Film category. Additionally, the animation was the third highest-grossing film in 2008 and started a series of films.
The film follows Po, a panda who works in his family’s noodle shop and dreams of becoming a martial arts master. However, his life changes when he is chosen by chance as the legendary Dragon Warrior, destined to save his village from an evil snow leopard.
In addition to being praised by critics, “Shrek 2” was a financial phenomenon. The film is the highest-grossing film of 2004 and to date in DreamWorks history. Additionally, the animation received two nominations at the 77th Academy Awards.
Shrek, Fiona and Donkey go to the Kingdom of Far Far Away. The invitation came from Fiona’s parents, the king and queen. However, things go wrong when they discover that the two are orcs.
Furthermore, the king had arranged with the evil Fairy Godmother that Fiona should marry his son, Prince Charming. Now, the evil one will do anything to get in the way of Shrek and Fiona.
The second Puss in Boots film was a real success. The “Shrek” spin-off was a resounding critical and box office success, as well as being nominated in the Best Animated Feature category at the 95th Academy Awards.
In the plot, Puss in Boots discovers that he has already spent eight of his nine lives. From there, he embarks on an adventure to find “the last wish” and restore his nine lives.
Considered one of the most influential animated films in history, the first film in the “Shrek” series received widespread acclaim from specialized critics. Additionally, the animation won the first Oscar for Best Animated Feature at the 74th Academy Awards.
In the plot, Lord Farquaad exiles several fairy-tale creatures, who end up in the ogre Shrek’s swamp. Antisocial, Shrek makes a deal with Farquaad to restore his swamp: save a princess imprisoned in a tower.
The first film of the successful “How to Train Your Dragon” series received widespread acclaim from specialized critics. The animation received two nominations at the 83rd Academy Awards ceremony, in the categories of Best Animated Film and Best Original Score.
The film is set in the Viking universe, where humans and dragons are enemies. The plot follows Hiccup, a young Viking who fails to live up to the expectations of becoming a dragon slayer.
However, things change when Hiccup wounds a Night Fury, the deadliest dragon species. However, the two become friends, questioning consolidated traditions.
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Source: Olhar Digital
Rose James is a Gossipify movie and series reviewer known for her in-depth analysis and unique perspective on the latest releases. With a background in film studies, she provides engaging and informative reviews, and keeps readers up to date with industry trends and emerging talents.
