Neuland Favorite: Animated Movies
Welcome to the Neuland Favorites where we delved into the team’s top picks! For the inaugural Neuland Favorite feature, we’re exploring the team’s “Favorite Animated Movie.”Join us and discover the animated treasures that have won our hearts.
Arina Wang - Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind (1984)
“One of my all-time favorite animated films is Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind. Not only the story and music are stunning, but I find it incredible when Miyazaki can craft such a unique and whimsical world while still keeping a nostalgic sense in it. My favorite sequence is as Nausicaa explores the Sea of Corruption she finds the shell of Ohmu, a sacred insect. She eventually lays inside the translucent bug shell and enjoys the corrupted yet beautiful forest.”
-Arina Wang
Nancy Liu - Ne Zha (2019)
“My favorite animated film is Ne Zha. It was the very first Chinese animated movie I’ve ever seen
and I was impressed by it. As a kid who grew up reading Chinese legends, Nezha is definitely
one of my favorite stories. The movie keeps the soul of the original story and brings it to the next
level, which doesn't only rebuild and bring Chinese childhood to the big screen but also starts a
new chapter for Chinese animated film.”
-Nancy Liu
Christine Park - Mirai (2018)
“It's literally impossible for me to pick my favorite animated film. If I had to choose, I feel like I'm very in the moment where I lean towards ones that I've recently resonated with whether it was new or a rewatch. Currently, I really like the movie Mirai by Mamoru Hosoda. It was a kind and heartwarming movie of empathy and familial bonds through memories of the past and future. It reminded me of my yearning to know more about my family's experiences and my deep appreciation for them and their life. I also rewatched Cars and fell in love again, the grandness the film was able to capture is something I feel I haven't seen in recent years and always makes me cry.”
-Christine Park
Torsten Schrank - The Secret of Nihm (1982)
“Even though the story is a bit slow and some of the character arcs are underdeveloped, I LOVE the atmosphere and slightly dark feel of this flick. One can feel the vibe of the early 80`s fantasy movie style like i.e. "Dark Chrystal" combined with really classic, masterful 2d hand-drawn animation. It is Bluth`s best piece.”
-Torsten Schrank
Brax Li - The Prince of Egypt (1998)
“The Prince of Egypt is a great film that tells a classic bible story with beautiful visual expressions. I first watched it when I was 5 and I still watch it from time to time. I love its story a lot because it adds lots of emotional expression in a brilliant art style. I can feel the struggle of Moses when he chose between love for his brother and duty to his people.”
-Brax Li
Luis Gadea - The Iron Giant (1999)
“It is hard to choose my favorite animated movie, but I think at the top of the list has to be The Iront Giant. I remember the impact it had on me at the time. I was impressed by the scale between the giant and Hogarth (the child). Even today there are aspects of character design that impress and inspire me that are worth studying.”
-Luis Gadea
Vincent Bisschop - Princess Mononoke (1997)
“My favorite animated movie would have to be Princess Mononoke, I remember seeing it for the first time, being quite young, I didn't know what to expect, it didn't really seem like a kid’s film, and I had little to no previous experiences with anime. The first time I saw it I didn't really know if I liked it, but it stuck with me. Upon rewatching it years later, I realized how rich of an experience the film really is, it is beautiful, brutal, and touching.”
-Vincent Bisschop
