List of most expensive animated films

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The following are lists of animated feature films that were the most expensive to make.

Definition

For purposes of awarding Academy Awards, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences defines an animated film as

a motion picture in which movement and characters' performances are created using a frame-by-frame technique, and usually falls into one of the two general fields of animation: narrative or abstract. Some of the techniques of animating films include but are not limited to hand-drawn animation, computer animation, stop-motion, clay animation, pixilation, cutout animation, pinscreen, camera multiple pass imagery, kaleidoscopic effects created frame-by-frame, and drawing on the film frame itself. Motion capture and real-time puppetry are not by themselves animation techniques.[1]

Further, at least 75 percent of the film's running time must contain animation. Narrative animated films must also include a significant number of animated major characters.[1]

The Academy defines a feature film as one with a running time of more than 40 minutes.[1]

Most expensive animated feature films

The years 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2016 are the most represented, 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.

More information Rank, Title ...
Most expensive animated feature films
Rank Title Year Studio Budget (est.)
(millions)		 Ref
1 Tangled 2010 Disney $260 [2][3][4][5]
2 The Lion King 2019 Disney $250 [6]
Toy Story 5 2026 Pixar [7]
3 Toy Story 3 2010 $200 [8][9]
Cars 2 2011 [10][11][12]
Monsters University 2013 [13]
Finding Dory 2016 [14]
Incredibles 2 2018 [15]
Toy Story 4 2019 [16]
Lightyear 2022 [17]
Elemental 2023 [18]
Inside Out 2 2024 [19]
11 Brave 2012 $185[a] [20]
12 WALL-E 2008 $180 [21][22]
13 Monsters vs. Aliens 2009 DreamWorks Animation $175 [23][24][25]
Up Pixar [26][27]
A Christmas Carol Disney [28][29]
Inside Out 2015 Pixar [30][31]
The Good Dinosaur [32][33]
Cars 3 2017 [34]
Coco
Ralph Breaks the Internet 2018 Disney [35]
19 The Polar Express 2004 ImageMovers $165 [36]
How to Train Your Dragon 2010 DreamWorks Animation [37][38][39]
Shrek Forever After [40]
Wreck-It Ralph 2012 Disney [41]
Big Hero 6 2014 [42][43]
25 Shrek the Third 2007 DreamWorks Animation $160 [44]
26 Shrek 2 2004 $150 [45]
Chicken Little 2005 Disney [46]
Flushed Away 2006 Aardman [47]
Bee Movie 2007 DreamWorks Animation [48]
Meet the Robinsons Disney [49]
Ratatouille Pixar [50]
Bolt 2008 Disney [51]
Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa DreamWorks Animation [52]
Kung Fu Panda 2 2011 [53]
Mars Needs Moms Disney [54]
Frozen 2013 Disney [55][56]
Moana 2016 [57][58]
Zootopia [59]
Frozen II 2019 [60]
Soul 2020 Pixar [61]
Close

Traditional animation

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.

More information Title, Year ...
Title Year Studio(s) Budget (est.) Ref
Treasure Planet 2002 Disney $140,000,000 [62]
Tarzan 1999 $130,000,000 [63]
Atlantis: The Lost Empire 2001 $120,000,000 [64]
Home on the Range 2004 $110,000,000 [65]
The Hunchback of Notre Dame 1996 $100,000,000 [66]
The Princess and the Frog 2009 [67]
The Road to El Dorado 2000 DreamWorks Animation $95,000,000 [68]
Mulan 1998 Disney $90,000,000 [69]
Hercules 1997 Disney $80,000,000 [70]
Fantasia 2000 1999 [71]
Titan A.E. 2000 Fox Animation [72][73]
Lilo & Stitch 2002 Disney [74]
Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron DreamWorks Animation [75]
The Simpsons Movie 2007 Gracie $75,000,000 [76]
The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge Out of Water 2015 Nickelodeon Movies $74,000,000 [77]
The Prince of Egypt 1998 DreamWorks Animation $70,000,000 [78]
Sinbad: Legend of the Seven Seas 2003 $60,000,000 [79]
The Boy and the Heron 2023 Studio Ghibli >$53,300,000 [80]
The Tale of the Princess Kaguya 2013 $53,300,000 [81]
Anastasia 1997 Fox Animation $50,000,000 [82]
The Iron Giant 1999 WB [83]
Curious George 2006 Universal [84]
Brother Bear 2003 Disney $46,000,000 [85]
Piglet's Big Movie Disneytoon [86]
The Lion King 1994 Disney $45,000,000 [87]
The Little Mermaid 1989 Disney $40,000,000 [88]
Quest for Camelot 1998 WB [89]
The Bob's Burgers Movie 2022 20th Century Studios $38,000,000 [90]
The Pagemaster 1994 Hanna-Barbera $34,000,000 [91]
Eight Crazy Nights 2002 Happy Madison [92]
Ponyo 2008 Studio Ghibli [93]
Cats Don't Dance 1997 WB $32,000,000 [94]
Oliver & Company 1988 Disney $31,000,000 [95]
Balto 1995 Amblimation [96]
The Wind Rises 2013 Studio Ghibli $31,000,000 [81]
Pokémon: The First Movie 1998 Oriental Light and Magic (OLM) $30,000,000 [97]
Pokémon: The Movie 2000 1999 [98]
Rugrats in Paris: The Movie 2000 Klasky Csupo [99]
The Tigger Movie 2000 Disneytoon [100]
The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie 2004 Nickelodeon Movies [101]
Winnie the Pooh 2011 Disney [102]
Evangelion: 3.0+1.0 Thrice Upon a Time 2021 Studio Khara $29,992,000
Aladdin 1992 Disney $28,000,000 [103]
The Thief and the Cobbler 1993 Completion Bond Company [104]
Thumbelina 1994 Don Bluth [105]
From Up on Poppy Hill 2011 Studio Ghibli $28,000,000 [81]
Steamboy 2004 Sunrise / Bandai Visual $26,000,000 [106]
Asterix and the Vikings 2006 A. Film A/S / M6 Studio / 2d3D Animations [107][108][109]
Beauty and the Beast 1991 Disney $25,000,000 [110]
The King and I 1999 Rankin/Bass [111]
The Wild Thornberrys Movie 2002 Klasky Csupo [112]
Rugrats Go Wild 2003 [113]
FernGully: The Last Rainforest 1992 Kroyer $24,000,000 [114]
Howl's Moving Castle 2005 Studio Ghibli [81][115]
Arrietty 2010 $23,000,000 [93]
My Neighbors the Yamadas 1999 $21,000,000 [116][117]
The Swan Princess 1994 Rich Animation Studios $21,000,000 [118]
Princess Mononoke 1997 Studio Ghibli $20,000,000 [119]
Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence 2004 Production I.G.
Recess: School's Out 2001 Disney Television [120]
Return to Never Land 2002 Disneytoons [121]
The Jungle Book 2 2003 [122]
Yu-Gi-Oh! The Movie: Pyramid of Light 2004 Gallop / 4Kids Entertainment [123]
Pooh's Heffalump Movie 2005 Disneytoons [124]
Close

Stop-motion

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.

More information Title, Year ...
Title Year Studio Budget (est.) Ref
Missing Link 2019 Laika $100,000,000 [125]
The Little Prince 2015 ON Animation Studios $77,500,000 [126]
Coraline 2009 Laika $60,000,000 [127]
ParaNorman 2012 [128]
The Boxtrolls 2014 [129]
Kubo and the Two Strings 2016 [130]
The Pirates! In an Adventure with Scientists! 2012 Sony Pictures Animation/Aardman $55,000,000 [131]
Chicken Run 2000 DreamWorks Animation/Aardman $45,000,000 [132]
Corpse Bride 2005 Tim Burton $40,000,000 [133]
Fantastic Mr. Fox 2009 AEP [134]
Frankenweenie 2012 Tim Burton $39,000,000 [135]
James and the Giant Peach 1996 Tim Burton $38,000,000 [136]
Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit 2005 DreamWorks Animation/Aardman $30,000,000 [137]
Shaun the Sheep Movie 2015 Aardman/Liongate $25,000,000 [138]
The Nightmare Before Christmas 1993 Tim Burton $18,000,000 [139]
Close

Anime

More information Title, Year ...
Title Year Studio(s) Budget (est. ¥) Budget (est. $) Ref
The Boy and the Heron 2023 Studio Ghibli >¥5,200,000,000 >$53,300,000 [80]
The Tale of the Princess Kaguya 2013 ¥5,200,000,000 $53,300,000 [81]
Stand by Me Doraemon 2014 Shirogumi / Robot Communications / Shin-Ei Animation ? $35,000,000 [140]
Ponyo 2008 Studio Ghibli ¥3,400,000,000 $34,000,000 [81][93]
Evangelion: 3.0+1.0 Thrice Upon a Time 2021 Studio Khara ¥3,260,000,000 $29,992,000
Space Pirate Captain Harlock 2013 Toei Animation / Marza Animation Planet ¥3,000,000,000 $31,000,000 [141]
The Wind Rises Studio Ghibli [81]
Pokémon: The First Movie 1998 Oriental Light and Magic (OLM) ? $30,000,000 [97]
Pokémon: The Movie 2000 1999 ? [98]
Steamboy 2004 Sunrise / Bandai Visual ¥2,400,000,000 $26,000,000 [142][106]
Howl's Moving Castle 2005 Studio Ghibli ¥2,400,000,000 $24,000,000 [81][115]
Arrietty 2010 ? $23,000,000 [93]
My Neighbors the Yamadas 1999 ¥2,360,000,000 $21,000,000 [116][117]
Princess Mononoke 1997 ¥2,350,000,000 $20,000,000 [119]
From Up on Poppy Hill 2011 ¥2,200,000,000 $28,000,000 [81]
Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence 2004 Production I.G. ¥2,000,000,000 $20,000,000
Yu-Gi-Oh! The Movie: Pyramid of Light 2004 Gallop / 4Kids Entertainment ? $20,000,000 [123]
Tales from Earthsea 2006 Studio Ghibli ¥2,200,000,000 $19,000,000 [81][143]
Spirited Away 2001 ¥2,000,000,000 $19,200,000 [144]
Pokémon 3: The Movie 2000 Oriental Light and Magic (OLM) ? $16,000,000 [145]
When Marnie Was There 2014 Studio Ghibli ¥1,200,000,000 $11,300,000 [81]
Metropolis 2001 Madhouse ¥1,000,000,000 $15,000,000 [146][147]
Evangelion: 3.0 You Can (Not) Redo 2012 Studio Khara ? $13,000,000
Weathering with You 2019 CoMix Wave Films $11,100,000
The Red Turtle 2016 Studio Ghibli / Why Not Productions / Wild Bunch $11,000,000 [148]
Suzume 2022 CoMix Wave Films
Akira 1988 Tokyo Movie Shinsha (TMS Entertainment) ¥700,000,000 $5,500,000 [149]
Ninja Scroll 1993 Madhouse ? $10,000,000
Evangelion: 2.0 You Can (Not) Advance 2009 Studio Khara ?
Dragon Ball Super: Broly 2018 Toei Animation ? $8,500,000 [150]
Robotech: The Movie 1986 Tatsunoko Production / Harmony Gold USA / AIC ? $8,000,000 [151]
The End of Evangelion 1997 Gainax, Production I.G. ? $7,500,000
Porco Rosso 1992 Studio Ghibli ¥900,000,000 $7,100,000 [81][152]
Evangelion: 1.0 You Are (Not) Alone 2007 Studio Khara ? $7,000,000
Street Fighter II: The Animated Movie 1994 Group TAC / SEDIC / Sony Music Entertainment Japan ? $6,000,000 [153]
Kiki's Delivery Service 1989 Studio Ghibli ¥800,000,000 $5,800,000 [154][155][156]
Royal Space Force: The Wings of Honnêamise 1987 Gainax / Bandai Visual ¥800,000,000 $5,531,000 [157]
Jin-Roh: The Wolf Brigade 1998 Production I.G. ? $5,000,000
Dragon Ball Z: Resurrection 'F' 2015 Toei Animation ? [158]
Castle in the Sky 1986 Studio Ghibli ¥800,000,000 $4,700,000 [81][159]
Interstella 5555: The 5tory of the 5ecret 5tar 5ystem 2003 Toei Animation / Daft Life / Wild Bunch / BAC Films ? $4,000,000 [160]
The Castle of Cagliostro 1979 Tokyo Movie Shinsha ¥500,000,000 $2,300,000 [161][157]
In This Corner of the World 2016 MAPPA ¥400,000,000 $3,750,000 [162][163]
Macross: Do You Remember Love? 1984 Studio Nue / Artland / Topcraft / Tatsunoko Production ¥400,000,000 $2,000,000 [164][165]
Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind Studio Ghibli ¥400,000,000 [81][165]
Your Name 2016 CoMix Wave Films ¥370,000,000 ?
Farewell to Space Battleship Yamato 1978 Academy Productions / Group TAC ¥360,000,000 $3,600,000 [166]
Paprika 2006 Madhouse ¥300,000,000 $4,000,000 [167][168]
Tokyo Godfathers 2004 ¥300,000,000 $2,400,000 [169][170]
Millennium Actress 2002 ? $1,200,000 [170][171]
The Case of Hana & Alice 2015 Steve N' Steven ¥250,000,000 ?
Patlabor 2: The Movie 1993 Production I.G ¥220,000,000 ?
Space Battleship Yamato 1977 Academy Productions / Group TAC ¥200,000,000 $745,000 [172]
Biohazard 4D-Executer 2000 Visual Science Laboratory ¥150,000,000 $1,400,000 [173][174]
The Garden of Words 2013 CoMix Wave Films ?
Close
More information Title(s), Year(s) ...
Back-to-back film productions
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 [175][171]
My Neighbor Totoro and Grave of the Fireflies 1988 Studio Ghibli ¥1,200,000,000 $9,400,000 [81][156]
Close

Timeline of most expensive animated films

The following is a timeline of the most expensive animated films since 1937.

More information Title, Established ...
Title Established Budget (est.)
(millions)		 Studio Ref
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs 1937 $1.49 Disney [176]
Pinocchio 1940 $2.29 [177]
Cinderella 1950 $2.9 [178]
Peter Pan 1953 $4 [179]
Sleeping Beauty 1959 $6 [180]
The Black Cauldron 1985 $44 [181]
The Lion King 1994 $45 [87]
Pocahontas 1995 $55 [182]
The Hunchback of Notre Dame 1996 $100 [183]
A Bug's Life 1998 $120 Pixar [184]
Tarzan 1999 $130 Disney [185]
Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within 2001 $137 Square Pictures [186]
Treasure Planet 2002 $140 Disney [62]
Shrek 2 2004 $150 DreamWorks Animation [187]
The Polar Express 2004 $165 ImageMovers [188]
WALL-E 2008 $180 Pixar [21][22]
Toy Story 3 June 2010 $200 [8][9]
Tangled November 2010 $260 Disney [2][3][4][5]
Close

Timeline of most expensive computer–animated films

More information Title, Established ...
Title Established Budget (est.)
(millions)		 Studio Ref
Toy Story 1995 $30 Pixar [189]
Antz October 1998 $42 DreamWorks Animation [190]
A Bug's Life November 1998 $120 Pixar [184]
Dinosaur 2000 $127.5 Disney [191]
Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within 2001 $137 Square Pictures [185]
The Polar Express 2004 $165 ImageMovers [36]
WALL•E 2008 $180 Pixar [21][22]
Toy Story 3 June 2010 $200 [8][9]
Tangled November 2010 $260 Disney [2][3][4][5]
Close

Timeline of most expensive traditionally animated films

More information Title, Established ...
Title Established Budget (est.)
(millions)		 Studio Ref
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs 1937 $1.49 Disney [176]
Pinocchio 1940 $2.29 [177]
Cinderella 1950 $2.9 [178]
Peter Pan 1953 $4 [179]
Sleeping Beauty 1959 $6 [180]
The Black Cauldron 1985 $44 [181]
The Lion King 1994 $45 [87]
Pocahontas 1995 $55 [182]
The Hunchback of Notre Dame 1996 $100 [183]
Tarzan 1999 $130 [185]
Treasure Planet 2002 $140 [62]
Close


Timeline of most expensive stop-motion animated films

The following is a timeline of most expensive stop-motion animated films of all time. Laika is the most represented studio with four films.

More information Title, Established ...
Title Established Budget (est.)
(millions)		 Studio Ref
The Nightmare Before Christmas 1993 $18 Tim Burton [139]
Chicken Run 2000 $45 Aardman [132]
Coraline 2009 $60 Laika [127]
ParaNorman 2012 $60 [128]
The Boxtrolls 2014 [129]
The Little Prince 2015 $77.5 ON [126]
Missing Link 2019 $100 Laika [125]
Close

See also

Notes

  1. [a]
    Officially acknowledged figure.

References

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