HBO Max has a solid collection of animated movies. Their Studio Ghibli collection is such a large draw that it has its own shortcut in the service's main menu. Mixing things up are many great DC animated movies and Warner Bros. Animation titles as well. So, what are the best ones available?
Luckily, fans of these films took to IMDb and conveniently found the ten best animated recommendations available now on HBO Max. In the case of the multiple ties among movies, the number of votes for each film will be the tie-breaker. In a fun turn of events, all ten of these films are traditionally animated.
Batman: The Dark Knight Returns, Part 1 (2012) - 8.0
Based on the first two issues of Frank Miller's 1986 miniseries of the same name, The Dark Knight Returns Part 1 was quickly seen as one of the best DC animated films ever made. It closely follows the comics, as many of the animated adaptations do.
The film was directed by Jay Oliva and written by Bob Goodman and features the voices of Peter Weller as Batman, Ariel Winter as Carrie Kelley, David Selby as Gordon, Wade Williams as Two-Face, and Michael Emerson as the Joker. It earned rave reviews, getting a 100% critics' consensus plus a 93% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes.
Castle In The Sky (1986) - 8.0
Hayao Miyazaki's third film, Castle in the Sky, was technically the first film released under the Studio Ghibli banner though it's now considered to be the second (more on that later). The film's original script was written by Miyazaki, and the late great Isao Takahata produced it.
The film follows the children Pazu and Sheeta who find themselves on the run from pirates and the army, and all the while the mysterious floating island of Laputa remains a goal for multiple characters. The film is considered an early example of steampunk and is often considered one of the greatest anime films of all-time.
Justice League: The Flashpoint Paradox (2013) - 8.1
Based on the limited series Flashpoint by Geoff Johns and Andy Kubert, this film focuses on Barry Allen as he goes back in time to save his mother, but accidentally creates a darker future. Captain Cold is a hero, Thomas Wayne is a murderous Batman, and the Atlanteans and Amazons are at war. Barry now has to figure how to reset the timeline.
Flashpoint had a massive impact on DC Comics, creating a similar but altered continuity that led to DC Comics' New 52 initiative. The film did the same, teasing the events of future DC Animated Movie Universe (DCAMU) entries that concluded with the grand finale Justice League Dark: Apokalips War.
Batman: Under The Red Hood (2010) - 8.1
As with the comics, Under the Red Hood details the emergence of the vigilante Red Hood in Gotham and the revelation that he is a vengeful Jason Todd. Todd was the second Robin, and he was supposedly killed by the Joker years earlier. Now, Batman has to face the embodiment of his greatest failure in a tragic confrontation neither he or Jason wanted. Deservedly, this film is often listed among the best DC animated adaptations of all time.
Directed by Brandon Vietti, this adaptation was written by Judd Winick himself. Previously, Winick wrote the original Batman storyline "Under the Hood" for DC. The voice cast included Bruce Greenwood as Batman, Jensen Ackles as Red Hood, Neil Patrick Harris as Nightwing, John DiMaggio as the Joker, and Jason Isaacs as Ra's al Ghul.
Nausicaä Of The Valley Of The Wind (1984) - 8.1
Based on Miyazaki's manga of the same name, Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind was the second feature from director Hayao Miyazaki, and it is retroactively considered to be the first Studio Ghibli film. The studio was not known by that name at the time, but the same creative team worked on Nausicaä and went on to rename their workplace Studio Ghibli.
The film follows the title character as she desires to find ways for humans and nature to work together, as the world has been overtaken by a toxic jungle. While Nausicaä and many others want peace with the creatures of the jungle, others seek to use violence to reclaim the world.
My Neighbor Totoro (1988) - 8.2
One of the absolute classics in Studio Ghibli and anime history, My Neighbor Totoro is the ultimate display of everything fans love about Miyazaki's works. It's funny, serious, fantastical, and tells a coming-of-age story all in one. Sisters Satsuki and Mei move to a new home with their father while their mother is sick in the hospital. While adjusting to these changes, they meet three forest spirits, the largest of which identifies itself as Totoro.
Many scenes and images became iconic and instantly recognizable. Whether it be waiting at the bus stop in the rain, the Catbus, or the tree-growing scene, the film's imagery leaves an impact. Totoro became the company's mascot, eventually appearing in the logo of every Ghibli movie the way the Luxo Lamp does for Pixar.
Howl's Moving Castle (2004) - 8.2
While a terrible war rages, a young woman named Sophie meets the wizard Howl, who is summoned to fight in the war. Sophie is also cursed and turned into an old woman. Sophie soon s Howl in his massive, walking home. She also meets Calcifer, who makes the castle move, and Markl, Howl's apprentice.
While the film is traditionally animated, the titular castle is done with breathtaking digital animation. The castle had over 80 moving pieces, which give it life in each scene. The film was released in North America in 2005 and was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature in 2006. Based on the 1986 novel by British author Diana Wynne Jones, Miyazaki made his anime adaptation as an anti-war film.
Batman: The Dark Knight Returns, Part 2 (2013) - 8.4
The second part of The Dark Knight Returns was once again written by Bob Goodman and directed by Jay Oliva. The sequel and conclusion to the adaptation received great reviews, earning a 94% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes.
The highlight of this follow-up is the legendary fight between an aged Batman and Superman. The two didn't clash in their classic meeting in Superman: The Animated Series, and Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice -- which draws heavily from Miller's work -- was still in the works, so there was a lot of hype going into this fight. Not only did this film mark the first on-screen battle between the two, but it did so without disappointing fans.
Princess Mononoke (1997) - 8.4
Princess Mononoke follows a prince named Ashitaka, whose arm harbors a strange curse. He seeks help from the Great Forest Spirit but also meets Lady Eboshi along the way, who is having forests cut down to fortify her town and harvest iron. These actions are met with resistance from a wolf pack, who are ed by a woman named San, who was raised by wolves and hates humans. It's up to Ashitaka to stop the inevitable clash of civilization and nature -- a common theme in Miyazaki films. Speaking of environmental themes, James Cameron named this film as one of his influences for Avatar.
3D rendering was mixed in with traditional animated for the film, including the curse on Ashitaka's arm. Princess Mononoke received an Annie Award nomination for Best Animated Feature.
Spirited Away (2001) - 8.6
Spirited Away is not only the highest-rated animated film on HBO Max according to IMDb, but it's also the highest-rated animated film on IMDb, period. It's also ranked 27th on IMDb's Top 250 of All-Time. Written and directed by Hayao Miyazaki, Spirited Away is his sixth film on this list. Spirited Away follows Chihiro, a young girl who ends up working in a bathhouse that receives otherworldly and supernatural visitors to pay off her family's debt.
The film is filled with memorable characters, great writing, and a wonderful score from Joe Hisaishi. Spirited Away won the 2003 Oscar for Best Animated Feature after a North American release in 2002. It remains the only anime to win that Oscar, but it was the first of six Studio Ghibli films to be nominated. It also won the Annie Award for Best Animated Feature the same year.
