An animated feature film is defined as a motion picture with a running time of more than 40 minutes, in which movement and characters’ performances are created using a frame-by-frame technique. Motion capture by itself is not an animation technique. In addition, a significant number of the major characters must be animated, and animation must figure in no less than 75 percent of the picture’s running time.
—Rule Seven - Special Rules For The Animated Feature Film Award : I. Definition[citation needed]
The following are lists of animated films that were the most expensive to make.
2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2016 are the most represented years with three films each.
Pixar is the most represented studio with fourteen films. Shrek is the most represented franchise with three of its four main films on the list, followed by Cars with two of its three main films.
Disney is the most represented studio with 14 films on the list. Winnie the Pooh is the most represented franchise with four films on the list. 2002 is the most represented year with four films.
The following films are all stop motion animated films that cost over $10 million to create. 2012 are the most represented years with 3 films each.
Laika is the most represented studio with 5 films. Wallace and Gromit is the most represented franchise with two films on the list.
Title | Year | Studio | Budget (est.) | Ref |
---|---|---|---|---|
Missing Link | 2019 | Laika | $100,000,000 | [113] |
The Little Prince | 2015 | ON Animation Studios | $77,500,000 | [114] |
Coraline | 2009 | Laika | $60,000,000 | [115] |
ParaNorman | 2012 | [116] | ||
The Boxtrolls | 2014 | [117] | ||
Kubo and the Two Strings | 2016 | [118] | ||
The Pirates! In an Adventure with Scientists! | 2012 | Aardman | $55,000,000 | [119] |
Chicken Run | 2000 | Aardman | $45,000,000 | [120] |
Corpse Bride | 2005 | Tim Burton | $40,000,000 | [121] |
Fantastic Mr. Fox | 2009 | AEP | [122] | |
Frankenweenie | 2012 | Tim Burton | $39,000,000 | [123] |
Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit | 2005 | Aardman | $30,000,000 | [124] |
Shaun the Sheep Movie | 2015 | $25,000,000 | [125] | |
The Nightmare Before Christmas | 1993 | Tim Burton | $18,000,000 | [126] |
Title | Year | Studio(s) | Budget (est. ¥) | Budget (est. $) | Ref |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
The Tale of the Princess Kaguya | 2013 | Studio Ghibli | ¥5,200,000,000 | $53,300,000 | [73] |
Stand by Me Doraemon | 2014 | Shirogumi / Robot Communications / Shin-Ei Animation | ? | $35,000,000 | [127] |
Ponyo | 2008 | Studio Ghibli | ¥3,400,000,000 | $34,000,000 | [73][83] |
Space Pirate Captain Harlock | 2013 | Toei Animation / Marza Animation Planet | ¥3,000,000,000 | $31,000,000 | [128] |
The Wind Rises | Studio Ghibli | ¥3,000,000,000 | $31,000,000 | [73] | |
Redline | 2009 | Madhouse | ¥3,000,000,000 | $30,000,000 | [86] |
Pokémon: The First Movie | 1998 | Oriental Light and Magic (OLM) | ? | $30,000,000 | [87] |
Pokémon: The Movie 2000 | 1999 | Oriental Light and Magic (OLM) | ? | $30,000,000 | [88] |
Steamboy | 2004 | Sunrise / Bandai Visual | ¥2,400,000,000 | $26,000,000 | [129][95] |
Howl's Moving Castle | 2005 | Studio Ghibli | ¥2,400,000,000 | $24,000,000 | [73][104] |
Arrietty | 2010 | ? | $23,000,000 | [83] | |
My Neighbors the Yamadas | 1999 | ¥2,360,000,000 | $21,000,000 | [105][106] | |
Princess Mononoke | 1997 | ¥2,350,000,000 | $20,000,000 | [107] | |
From Up on Poppy Hill | 2011 | ¥2,200,000,000 | $28,000,000 | [73] | |
Yu-Gi-Oh! The Movie: Pyramid of Light | 2004 | Gallop / 4Kids Entertainment | ? | $20,000,000 | [111] |
Tales from Earthsea | 2006 | Studio Ghibli | ¥2,200,000,000 | $19,000,000 | [73][130] |
Spirited Away | 2001 | ¥2,000,000,000 | $19,200,000 | [131] | |
Pokémon 3: The Movie | 2000 | Oriental Light and Magic (OLM) | ? | $16,000,000 | [132] |
When Marnie Was There | 2014 | Studio Ghibli | ¥1,200,000,000 | $11,300,000 | [73] |
The Red Turtle | 2016 | Studio Ghibli / Why Not Productions / Wild Bunch | ? | $11,000,000 | [133] |
Akira | 1988 | Tokyo Movie Shinsha (TMS Entertainment) | ¥700,000,000 | $5,500,000 | [134] |
Metropolis | 2001 | Madhouse | ¥1,000,000,000 | $15,000,000 | [135][136] |
Dragon Ball Super: Broly | 2018 | Toei Animation | ? | $8,500,000 | [137] |
Robotech: The Movie | 1986 | Tatsunoko Production / Harmony Gold USA / AIC | ? | $8,000,000 | [138] |
Porco Rosso | 1992 | Studio Ghibli | ¥900,000,000 | $7,100,000 | [73][139] |
Street Fighter II: The Animated Movie | 1994 | Group TAC / SEDIC / Sony Music Entertainment Japan | ? | $6,000,000 | [140] |
Kiki's Delivery Service | 1989 | Studio Ghibli | ¥800,000,000 | $5,800,000 | [141][142][143] |
Royal Space Force: The Wings of Honnêamise | 1987 | Gainax / Bandai Visual | ¥800,000,000 | $5,531,000 | [144] |
Dragon Ball Z: Resurrection 'F' | 2015 | Toei Animation | ? | $5,000,000 | [145] |
Castle in the Sky | 1986 | Studio Ghibli | ¥800,000,000 | $4,700,000 | [73][146] |
Interstella 5555: The 5tory of the 5ecret 5tar 5ystem | 2003 | Toei Animation / Daft Life / Wild Bunch / BAC Films | ? | $4,000,000 | [147] |
In This Corner of the World | 2016 | MAPPA | ¥400,000,000 | $3,750,000 | [148][149] |
Macross: Do You Remember Love? | 1984 | Studio Nue / Artland / Topcraft / Tatsunoko Production | ¥400,000,000 | $2,000,000 | [150][151] |
Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind | 1984 | Studio Ghibli | ¥400,000,000 | $2,000,000 | [73][151] |
Farewell to Space Battleship Yamato | 1978 | Academy Productions / Group TAC | ¥360,000,000 | $3,600,000 | [152] |
Paprika | 2006 | Madhouse | ¥300,000,000 | $4,000,000 | [153][154] |
Tokyo Godfathers | 2004 | ¥300,000,000 | $2,400,000 | [155][156] | |
Millennium Actress | 2002 | ? | $1,200,000 | [156][157] | |
Space Battleship Yamato | 1977 | Academy Productions / Group TAC | ¥200,000,000 | $745,000 | [158] |
Biohazard 4D-Executer | 2000 | Visual Science Laboratory | ¥150,000,000 | $1,400,000 | [159][160] |
Title(s) | Year(s) | Studio | Budget (est. ¥) | Budget (est. $) | Ref |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Fist of the North Star: The Legends of the True Savior | 2006–2008 | TMS Entertainment | ¥2,500,000,000 | $24,300,000 | [161][157] |
My Neighbor Totoro and Grave of the Fireflies | 1988 | Studio Ghibli | ¥1,200,000,000 | $9,400,000 | [73][143] |
The following is a timeline of the most expensive animated films since 1937.
Title | Established | Budget (est.) (millions) |
Studio | Ref |
---|---|---|---|---|
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs | 1937 | $1.49 | Disney | [162] |
Pinocchio | 1940 | $2.29 | [163] | |
Cinderella | 1950 | $2.9 | [164] | |
Peter Pan | 1953 | $4 | [165] | |
Sleeping Beauty | 1959 | $6 | [166] | |
The Black Cauldron | 1985 | $44 | [167] | |
The Lion King | 1994 | $45 | [78] | |
Pocahontas | 1995 | $55 | [168] | |
The Hunchback of Notre Dame | 1996 | $100 | [169] | |
A Bug's Life | 1998 | $120 | Pixar | [170] |
Tarzan | 1999 | $130 | Disney | [171] |
Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within | 2001 | $137 | Square Pictures | [172] |
Treasure Planet | 2002 | $140 | Disney | [57] |
Shrek 2 | 2004 | $150 | DreamWorks Animation | [173] |
The Polar Express | 2004 | $165 | ImageMovers | [174] |
WALL-E | 2008 | $180 | Pixar | [18][19] |
Toy Story 3 | June 2010 | $200 | [6][7] | |
Tangled | November 2010 | $260 | Disney | [1][2][3][4] |
Title | Established | Budget (est.) (millions) |
Studio | Ref |
---|---|---|---|---|
Toy Story | 1995 | $30 | Pixar | [175] |
Antz | October 1998 | $42 | DreamWorks Animation | [176] |
A Bug's Life | November 1998 | $120 | Pixar | [170] |
Dinosaur | 2000 | $127.5 | Disney | [177] |
Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within | 2001 | $137 | Square Pictures | [171] |
The Polar Express | 2004 | $165 | ImageMovers | [40] |
WALL•E | 2008 | $180 | Pixar | [18][19] |
Toy Story 3 | June 2010 | $200 | [6][7] | |
Tangled | November 2010 | $260 | Disney | [1][2][3][4] |
Title | Established | Budget (est.) (millions) |
Studio | Ref |
---|---|---|---|---|
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs | 1937 | $1.49 | Disney | [162] |
Pinocchio | 1940 | $2.29 | [163] | |
Cinderella | 1950 | $2.9 | [164] | |
Peter Pan | 1953 | $4 | [165] | |
Sleeping Beauty | 1959 | $6 | [166] | |
The Black Cauldron | 1985 | $44 | [167] | |
The Lion King | 1994 | $45 | [78] | |
Pocahontas | 1995 | $55 | [168] | |
The Hunchback of Notre Dame | 1996 | $100 | [169] | |
Tarzan | 1999 | $130 | [171] | |
Treasure Planet | 2002 | $140 | [57] |
The following is a timeline of most expensive stop motion animated films of all time. Laika has hold the record the most with four.
Title | Established | Budget (est.) (millions) |
Studio | Ref |
---|---|---|---|---|
The Nightmare Before Christmas | 1993 | $18 | Tim Burton | [126] |
Chicken Run | 2000 | $45 | Aardman | [120] |
Coraline | 2009 | $60 | Laika | [115] |
ParaNorman | 2012 | $60 | [116] | |
The Boxtrolls | 2014 | [117] | ||
The Little Prince | 2015 | $77.5 | ON | [114] |
Missing Link | 2019 | $100 | Laika | [113] |