List of most expensive animated films


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

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.
RankTitleYearStudioBudget
1Tangled2010Disney$260
2The Lion King2019Disney$250
3Toy Story 32010Pixar$200
3Cars 22011Pixar$200
3Monsters University2013Pixar$200
3Finding Dory2016Pixar$200
3Incredibles 22018Pixar$200
3Toy Story 42019Pixar$200
3Lightyear2022Pixar$200
3Elemental2023Pixar$200
3Inside Out 22024Pixar$200
11Brave2012Pixar$185
12WALL-E2008Pixar$180
13Monsters vs. Aliens2009DreamWorks Animation$175
13Up2009Pixar$175
13A Christmas Carol2009ImageMovers$175
13Inside Out2015Pixar$175
13The Good Dinosaur2015Pixar$175
13Cars 32017Pixar$175
13Coco2017Pixar$175
13Ralph Breaks the Internet2018Disney$175
19The Polar Express2004ImageMovers$165
19How to Train Your Dragon2010DreamWorks Animation$165
19Shrek Forever After2010DreamWorks Animation$165
19Wreck-It Ralph2012Disney$165
19Big Hero 62014Disney$165
25Shrek the Third2007DreamWorks Animation$160
26Shrek 22004DreamWorks Animation$150
26Chicken Little2005Disney$150
26Flushed Away2006DreamWorks Animation/Aardman$150
26Bee Movie2007DreamWorks Animation/Aardman$150
26Meet the Robinsons2007Disney$150
26Ratatouille2007Pixar$150
26Bolt2008Disney$150
26Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa2008DreamWorks Animation$150
26Kung Fu Panda 22011DreamWorks Animation$150
26Mars Needs Moms2011ImageMovers$150
26Frozen2013Disney$150
26Moana2016Disney$150
26Zootopia2016Disney$150
26Frozen II2019Disney$150
26Soul2020Pixar$150

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.
TitleYearStudioBudget
Treasure Planet2002Disney$140,000,000
Tarzan 1999Disney$130,000,000
Atlantis: The Lost Empire2001Disney$120,000,000
Home on the Range2004Disney$110,000,000
The Hunchback of Notre Dame1996Disney$100,000,000
The Princess and the Frog2009Disney$100,000,000
The Road to El Dorado2000DreamWorks Animation$95,000,000
Mulan1998Disney$90,000,000
Hercules1997Disney$80,000,000
Fantasia 20001999Disney$80,000,000
Titan A.E.2000Fox Animation$80,000,000
Lilo & Stitch2002Disney$80,000,000
Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron2002DreamWorks Animation$80,000,000
The Simpsons Movie2007Gracie$75,000,000
The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge Out of Water2015Nickelodeon Movies$74,000,000
The Prince of Egypt1998DreamWorks Animation$70,000,000
Sinbad: Legend of the Seven Seas2003DreamWorks Animation$60,000,000
The Boy and the Heron2023Studio Ghibli>$53,300,000
The Tale of the Princess Kaguya2013Studio Ghibli
Anastasia1997Fox Animation$50,000,000
The Iron Giant1999WB$50,000,000
Curious George2006Universal$50,000,000
Brother Bear2003Disney$46,000,000
Piglet's Big Movie2003Disneytoon$46,000,000
The Lion King1994Disney$45,000,000
The Little Mermaid1989Disney$40,000,000
Quest for Camelot1998WB$40,000,000
The Bob's Burgers Movie202220th Century Studios$38,000,000
The Pagemaster1994Hanna-Barbera$34,000,000
Eight Crazy Nights2002Happy Madison$34,000,000
Ponyo2008Studio Ghibli$34,000,000
Cats Don't Dance1997WB$32,000,000
Oliver & Company1988Disney$31,000,000
Balto1995Amblimation$31,000,000
The Wind Rises2013Studio Ghibli
Pokémon: The First Movie1998Oriental Light and Magic $30,000,000
Pokémon: The Movie 20001999Oriental Light and Magic $30,000,000
Rugrats in Paris: The Movie2000Klasky Csupo$30,000,000
The Tigger Movie2000Disneytoon$30,000,000
The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie2004Nickelodeon Movies$30,000,000
Winnie the Pooh2011Disney$30,000,000
Aladdin1992Disney$28,000,000
The Thief and the Cobbler1993Completion Bond Company$28,000,000
Thumbelina1994Don Bluth$28,000,000
From Up on Poppy Hill2011Studio Ghibli
Steamboy2004Sunrise / Bandai Visual$26,000,000
Asterix and the Vikings2006A. Film A/S / M6 Studio / 2d3D Animations$26,000,000
Beauty and the Beast1991Disney$25,000,000
The King and I1999Rankin/Bass$25,000,000
The Wild Thornberrys Movie2002Klasky Csupo$25,000,000
Rugrats Go Wild2003Klasky Csupo$25,000,000
FernGully: The Last Rainforest1992Kroyer$24,000,000
Howl's Moving Castle2005Studio Ghibli$24,000,000
Arrietty2010Studio Ghibli$23,000,000
My Neighbors the Yamadas1999Studio Ghibli
The Swan Princess1994Rich Animation Studios$21,000,000
Princess Mononoke1997Studio Ghibli$20,000,000
Recess: School's Out2001Disney Television$20,000,000
Return to Never Land2002Disneytoons$20,000,000
The Jungle Book 22003Disneytoons$20,000,000
Yu-Gi-Oh! The Movie: Pyramid of Light2004Gallop / 4Kids Entertainment$20,000,000
Pooh's Heffalump Movie2005Disneytoons$20,000,000

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.
TitleYearStudioBudget
Missing Link2019Laika$100,000,000
The Little Prince2015ON Animation Studios$77,500,000
Coraline2009Laika$60,000,000
ParaNorman2012Laika$60,000,000
The Boxtrolls2014Laika$60,000,000
Kubo and the Two Strings2016Laika$60,000,000
The Pirates! In an Adventure with Scientists!2012Sony Pictures Animation/Aardman$55,000,000
Chicken Run2000DreamWorks Animation/Aardman$45,000,000
Corpse Bride2005Tim Burton$40,000,000
Fantastic Mr. Fox2009AEP$40,000,000
Frankenweenie2012Tim Burton$39,000,000
James and the Giant Peach1996Tim Burton$38,000,000
Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit2005DreamWorks Animation/Aardman$30,000,000
Shaun the Sheep Movie2015Aardman/Liongate$25,000,000
The Nightmare Before Christmas1993Tim Burton$18,000,000

Anime

TitleYearStudioBudget Budget
The Boy and the Heron2023Studio Ghibli>¥5,200,000,000>$53,300,000
The Tale of the Princess Kaguya2013Studio Ghibli
Stand by Me Doraemon2014Shirogumi / Robot Communications / Shin-Ei Animation$35,000,000
Ponyo2008Studio Ghibli$34,000,000
Space Pirate Captain Harlock2013Toei Animation / Marza Animation Planet
The Wind Rises2013Studio Ghibli
Pokémon: The First Movie1998Oriental Light and Magic $30,000,000
Pokémon: The Movie 20001999Oriental Light and Magic $30,000,000
Steamboy2004Sunrise / Bandai Visual$26,000,000
Howl's Moving Castle2005Studio Ghibli$24,000,000
Arrietty2010Studio Ghibli$23,000,000
My Neighbors the Yamadas1999Studio Ghibli
Princess Mononoke1997Studio Ghibli$20,000,000
From Up on Poppy Hill2011Studio Ghibli
Yu-Gi-Oh! The Movie: Pyramid of Light2004Gallop / 4Kids Entertainment$20,000,000
Tales from Earthsea2006Studio Ghibli
Spirited Away2001Studio Ghibli$19,200,000
Pokémon 3: The Movie2000Oriental Light and Magic $16,000,000
When Marnie Was There2014Studio Ghibli
Metropolis2001Madhouse$15,000,000
The Red Turtle2016Studio Ghibli / Why Not Productions / Wild Bunch$11,000,000
Akira1988Tokyo Movie Shinsha $5,500,000
Dragon Ball Super: Broly2018Toei Animation$8,500,000
Robotech: The Movie1986Tatsunoko Production / Harmony Gold USA / AIC$8,000,000
Porco Rosso1992Studio Ghibli
Street Fighter II: The Animated Movie1994Group TAC / SEDIC / Sony Music Entertainment Japan$6,000,000
Kiki's Delivery Service1989Studio Ghibli
Royal Space Force: The Wings of Honnêamise1987Gainax / Bandai Visual$5,531,000
Dragon Ball Z: Resurrection 'F'2015Toei Animation$5,000,000
Castle in the Sky1986Studio Ghibli
Interstella 5555: The 5tory of the 5ecret 5tar 5ystem2003Toei Animation / Daft Life / Wild Bunch / BAC Films$4,000,000
The Castle of Cagliostro1979Tokyo Movie Shinsha$2,300,000
In This Corner of the World2016MAPPA$3,750,000
Macross: Do You Remember Love?1984Studio Nue / Artland / Topcraft / Tatsunoko Production
Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind1984Studio Ghibli
Farewell to Space Battleship Yamato1978Academy Productions / Group TAC$3,600,000
Paprika2006Madhouse$4,000,000
Tokyo Godfathers2004Madhouse$2,400,000
Millennium Actress2002Madhouse$1,200,000
Space Battleship Yamato1977Academy Productions / Group TAC$745,000
Biohazard 4D-Executer2000Visual Science Laboratory

TitleYearStudioBudget Budget
Fist of the North Star: The Legends of the True Savior20062008TMS Entertainment
My Neighbor Totoro and Grave of the Fireflies1988Studio Ghibli

Timeline of most expensive animated films

The following is a timeline of the most expensive animated films since 1937.
TitleEstablishedBudget
StudioRef
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs1937$1.49Disney
Pinocchio1940$2.29Disney
Cinderella1950$2.9Disney
Peter Pan1953$4Disney
Sleeping Beauty1959$6Disney
The Black Cauldron1985$44Disney
The Lion King1994$45Disney
Pocahontas1995$55Disney
The Hunchback of Notre Dame1996$100Disney
A Bug's Life1998$120Pixar
Tarzan1999$130Disney
Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within2001$137Square Pictures
Treasure Planet2002$140Disney
Shrek 22004$150DreamWorks Animation
The Polar Express2004$165ImageMovers
WALL-E2008$180Pixar
Toy Story 3June 2010$200Pixar
TangledNovember 2010$260Disney

Timeline of most expensive traditionally animated films

TitleEstablishedBudget
StudioRef
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs1937$1.49Disney
Pinocchio1940$2.29Disney
Cinderella1950$2.9Disney
Peter Pan1953$4Disney
Sleeping Beauty1959$6Disney
The Black Cauldron1985$44Disney
The Lion King1994$45Disney
Pocahontas1995$55Disney
The Hunchback of Notre Dame1996$100Disney
Tarzan1999$130Disney
Treasure Planet2002$140Disney

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.
TitleEstablishedBudget
StudioRef
The Nightmare Before Christmas1993$18Tim Burton
Chicken Run2000$45Aardman
Coraline2009$60Laika
ParaNorman2012$60Laika
The Boxtrolls2014$60Laika
The Little Prince2015$77.5ON
Missing Link2019$100Laika