Greatest Animation Movie Posters

by Helen Earnshaw | 14 September 2014

Animation is one of the cinema's great genres as it transports you to other worlds and brings character to life in a way that no other genre does.

Over the years, animation movies have undergone a major transformation; going from the hand drawings to the CGI driven moves that we enjoy today.

We take a look at some of our favourite animation movie posters... this was a really difficult choice.

- The Little Mermaid

The Little Mermaid hit the big screen back in 1990 and was based on the story by Hans Christian Anderson.

The movie follows a mermaid who dreams of living a human life about the waves... and that is what this beautiful and rather haunting poster depicts.

Designed by John Alvin, this is a film that captures the vastness of the sea, but also highlights the fact there could be another life for Ariel away from what she knows.

In this simple drawing, Alvin captures and conveys everything that this character desires.

- Toy Story

Toy Story celebrates its 20th anniversary next year - yes, it really was released back in 1995 - and it was the movie that changed the direction of animation forever.

Toy Story was the first collaboration between Pixar and Walt Disney, and it was the first feature length computer animated film to hit the big screen.

The movie played on the idea that all kids have... that their toys come to life when they are not around. Woody and Buzz are two of the greatest animation characters of all time, and we are introduced to them for the first time with this great poster.

- The Iron Giant

The Iron Giant was an animation offering from Warner Bros and hit the big screen back in 1999.

Directed by Brad Bird - who went on to direct Ratatouille and The Increcibles for Pixar - the movie is based on the book by Ted Hughes and follows a boy who befriends a lonely giant alien robot.

This is a touching more of friendship and accepting those that are different, and that is something that this great poster really does convey.

- Waltz With Bashir

Waltz With Bashir is one of the best animation movies that I have ever seen, and it was released back in 2008.

The movie saw Ari Folman return to the director's chair in what was his most personal film to date.

Folman was a soldier during the Lebanon War back in 1982, and the movie is about his search for his memories of that time.

Waltz With Bashir is a movie that is animation, war, documentary, and fantasy and the wonderful animation really does capture all of this.

It is a visually stunning piece of work and this poster really does capture the look of the film.

- Aladdin

We have already looked at one of John Alvin's posters, but he was someone who did a lot of work for Disney - his artwork really is spectacular.

And he is behind this poster for 1993 Disney smash Aladdin, which was based on the Arab folktale.

This poster was really just a teaser for the film, but the minimalist style that Alvin has designed really is quite beautiful.

Without giving anything a way, Alvin promises a world of mystery and wonder... and that is what the movie delivers.

- Wall-E

We have already looking and heaped praise on this poster for Wall-E as a great piece of sci-fi film artwork, but I really had to return to it.

This piece of artwork remains my favourite of all of the Pixar posters that we have been treated to over the years.

Wall-E is a robot who is left behind to clean up the Earth, but this lonely life has led him to dream about being amongst the stars.

It is stunning and simple and is a poster that really does tug at the heartstrings.

- The Triplets of Belleville

The Triplets of Belleville or Belleville Rendez-vous was a French animation movie that was released back in 2003 and really was a joy to watch.

Directed by Sylvain Chomet, The Triplets of Belleville is one of the unique styles of animation films to hit the big screen in recent years. It rich story and animation really did captivate and transport audiences.

The poster used the same style of animation and sees the The Triplets of Belleville - music hall singers - take centre stage.

- My Neighbour Totoro

Studio Ghibli is one of my favourite animation studios and they have delivered some wonderful movies over the years.

My Neighbour Totoro is one of the best and most heartwarming, with Totoro becoming an iconic character in the Studio Ghibli world.

The movie was directed by animation master Hayao Miyazaki, and this poster - which features Satsuki and Totoro - and is one of the film and the studio's most enduring images.