The 21st century has countless phenomenal animated movies, but according to those in Hollywood, all of them pale in comparison to Studio Ghibli’s Spirited Away — which was recently named the best animated film of the century so far!
Spirited Away is a masterpiece of animation. As are most all Studio Ghibli projects, from Howl’s Moving Castle, to Ponyo, to Princess Mononoke, and beyond. But there’s something about 2001 movie Spirited Away that sets is apart from the crowd. The spellbinding movie is a work of artistic mastery. Its unique atmosphere, emotional beats, and ethereal story cement it as a certified masterpiece.
Ratings speak for themselves, and look no further than the movie boasting a staggering 96% on Rotten Tomatoes. Plus, back in 2003, the movie took home the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature. It became the highest-grossing Japanese film in almost 20 years.
So what 2025 report has Spirited Away down as the #1 animated movie of the 21st century? That would be The New York Times, in a report that sought the opinions of 500 actors, directors & other notable voices in Hollywood. Not only did the interactive report cement Spirited Away as the greatest animated feature of the century, but it also featured the film as the ninth best film of the century, period. For those interested, Parasite was named the greatest film of the 21st century so far.
“It’s a film for any child who’s lost their parents in a department store or large crowd. It’s that pit in your stomach. It’s one of my daughter’s favorite films,” actor John Turturro said of Spirited Away in the New York Times report. “There’s a lot of things you have to watch when you’re a parent, and it’s really interesting to discover something with them at the same time.”
The preceding animated movie in the list is Pixar masterwork WALL-E, coming in at 34. Other animated movies on the list include Up (#50) and Ratatouille (#73). Speaking specifically of animation, which movies would you include in the list? Tell us in the comments down below!
