The 50 Greatest Cartoons - As Selected by 1,000 Animation Professionals
by majfoalbkeopaza | created - 17 May 2019 | updated - 17 May 2019 | Public- Instant Watch Options
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1. What's Opera, Doc? (1957)
Approved | 7 min | Animation, Short, Comedy
Elmer Fudd is again hunting rabbits - only this time it's an opera. Wagner's Siegfried with Elmer as the titular hero and Bugs as Brunnhilde. They sing, they dance, they eat the scenery.
Director: Chuck Jones | Stars: Mel Blanc, Arthur Q. Bryan
Votes: 10,507
2. Duck Amuck (1953)
Approved | 7 min | Animation, Short, Comedy
The short-tempered Daffy Duck must improvise madly as the backgrounds, his costumes, the soundtrack, even his physical form, shifts and changes at the whim of the animator.
Director: Chuck Jones | Star: Mel Blanc
Votes: 9,436
3. The Band Concert (1935)
Approved | 9 min | Animation, Short, Comedy
Mickey is a frustrated bandleader dealing with obnoxious peanut vendor and flute player Donald, who tries to persuade the band to play "Turkey in the Straw," and a cyclone hits before his concert of "William Tell Overture" is completed.
Director: Wilfred Jackson | Stars: Pinto Colvig, Clarence Nash
Votes: 3,949
4. Duck Dodgers in the 24½th Century (1953)
Approved | 7 min | Animation, Short, Comedy
Duck Dodgers and Marvin Martian wage war over Planet X.
Director: Chuck Jones | Star: Mel Blanc
Votes: 6,438
5. One Froggy Evening (1955)
Approved | 7 min | Animation, Short, Comedy
A man futilely struggles to make his fortune with a frog that sings and dances, but only when it is alone with the owner.
Director: Chuck Jones | Star: William Roberts
Votes: 6,108
6. Gertie the Dinosaur (1914)
Not Rated | 12 min | Animation, Short, Comedy
The cartoonist, Winsor McCay, brings the Dinosaurs back to life in the figure of his latest creation, Gertie the Dinosaur.
Director: Winsor McCay | Stars: Winsor McCay, George McManus, Roy L. McCardell, Thomas A. 'Tad' Dorgan
Votes: 3,655
7. Red Hot Riding Hood (1943)
Approved | 7 min | Animation, Short, Adventure
The characters of the traditional fairy tale demand a new approach to the story as a sexy urban comedy with Red as a nightclub singer.
Director: Tex Avery | Stars: Elvia Allman, Sara Berner, Daws Butler, Pinto Colvig
Votes: 2,751
8. Porky in Wackyland (1938)
Approved | 7 min | Animation, Short, Comedy
Porky Pig goes on a hunt to catch the surreally elusive last Do-Do bird.
Director: Robert Clampett | Stars: Mel Blanc, Billy Bletcher, Robert Clampett, Bernice Hansen
Votes: 2,270
9. Gerald McBoing-Boing (1950)
Approved | 8 min | Animation, Short, Adventure
The story of a little boy who would only talk in sound effects. With story by Dr. Seuss (and Bill Scott of Rocky and Bullwinkle fame) this cartoon won the Oscar for best short subject (animated) for 1950.
Directors: Robert Cannon, John Hubley | Star: Marvin Miller
Votes: 2,084
10. King-Size Canary (1947)
Approved | 8 min | Animation, Short, Adventure
A mangy cat on the verge of starvation finds a tiny canary and a bottle of 'Jumbo-Gro' fertilizer, which gives him an idea that leads to giant cats, dogs, mice and canaries chasing each other round Lilliputian towns and cities...
Director: Tex Avery | Stars: Tex Avery, Sara Berner, Pinto Colvig, Frank Graham
Votes: 1,834
11. Three Little Pigs (1933)
Passed | 9 min | Animation, Short, Comedy
The Three Little Pigs each build a house of different material. The Big Bad Wolf comes along and blows away the straw and stick homes, but is unable to destroy the house of bricks.
Director: Burt Gillett | Stars: Billy Bletcher, Pinto Colvig, Dorothy Compton, Mary Moder
Votes: 6,718 | Gross: $0.25M
12. Rabbit of Seville (1950)
Approved | 7 min | Animation, Short, Comedy
Bugs Bunny gives Elmer Fudd a close shave as they sing and act out Rossini's opera.
Director: Chuck Jones | Stars: Mel Blanc, Arthur Q. Bryan
Votes: 5,648
13. Steamboat Willie (1928)
Approved | 8 min | Animation, Short, Comedy
Mickey Mouse is a mischievous deckhand on a riverboat that is under the command of the tyrannical Captain Pete.
Directors: Ub Iwerks, Walt Disney | Star: Walt Disney
Votes: 11,257
14. The Old Mill (1937)
Approved | 9 min | Animation, Short, Comedy
As a thunderstorm approaches, birds, mice and other creatures try to stay safe and dry in an old mill.
Directors: Graham Heid, Wilfred Jackson | Stars: Elvia Allman, Marie Arbuckle, Barbara Brewster, Gloria Brewster
Votes: 4,859
15. Bad Luck Blackie (1949)
Approved | 7 min | Family, Animation, Comedy
A cute and very tormented kitten is bullied by an incomparably evil bulldog, who lives to know better after a black cat crosses his path.
Director: Tex Avery | Stars: William Hanna, Harry Lang, Pat McGeehan, Tex Avery
Votes: 1,647
16. The Great Piggy Bank Robbery (1946)
Approved | 8 min | Animation, Short, Comedy
After reading a Dick Tracy comic, Daffy Duck has a surreal dream in which he is a P.I. pursuing an army of grotesque villains who stole every piggy bank in town, including his own.
Director: Robert Clampett | Star: Mel Blanc
Votes: 2,284
17. Popeye the Sailor Meets Sindbad the Sailor (1936)
Approved | 16 min | Animation, Short, Adventure
The legendary sailors Popeye and Sindbad do battle to see which one is the greatest.
Directors: Dave Fleischer, Willard Bowsky | Stars: Jack Mercer, Mae Questel, Lou Fleischer, Gus Wicke
Votes: 4,032
18. The Skeleton Dance (1929)
Approved | 6 min | Animation, Short, Comedy
The clock strikes midnight, the bats fly from the belfry, a dog howls at the full moon, and two black cats fight in the cemetery: a perfect time for four skeletons to come out and dance a bit.
Director: Walt Disney | Stars: Walt Disney, Carl W. Stalling
Votes: 6,296
19. Snow-White (1933)
7 min | Animation, Short, Comedy
Trouble starts when the queen's magic mirror says Betty Boop is fairest. Cab Calloway sings "St. James Infirmary Blues."
Directors: Dave Fleischer, Roland Crandall | Stars: Cab Calloway, Billy Murray, Mae Questel
Votes: 2,216
20. Minnie the Moocher (1932)
Passed | 8 min | Animation, Short, Comedy
Betty Boop and Bimbo run away from home, but that night they are scared by a chorus of ghosts singing the title song.
Directors: Dave Fleischer, Willard Bowsky | Stars: Cab Calloway and His Cotton Club Orchestra, Cab Calloway, Billy Murray, William Pennell
Votes: 1,723
21. Coal Black and de Sebben Dwarfs (1943)
Approved | 7 min | Animation, Short, Adventure
So White flees from the wicked Queenie, wins over the thugs from Murder Inc. and meets her overrated Prince Chawmin'.
Director: Robert Clampett | Stars: Ivie Anderson, Mel Blanc, Ruby Dandridge, Vivian Dandridge
Votes: 1,561
22. Der Fuehrer's Face (1942)
Approved | 8 min | Animation, Short, Comedy
Donald Duck has a nightmare that he lives in Germany slaving under the Nazi regime.
Directors: Jack Kinney, Ben Sharpsteen | Stars: Pinto Colvig, Charles Judels, Billy Bletcher, Clarence Nash
Votes: 4,623
23. Little Rural Riding Hood (1949)
Approved | 6 min | Animation, Short, Adventure
The last of Tex Avery's variations on Red Hot Riding Hood (1943), in which the country wolf visits his city cousin, who tries to teach him the rudiments of civilised behaviour when watching... See full summary »
Director: Tex Avery | Stars: Daws Butler, Colleen Collins, Pinto Colvig, Imogene Lynn
Votes: 1,366
24. The Tell-Tale Heart (I) (1953)
Passed | 8 min | Animation, Short, Crime
A madman tells his tale of murder, and how a strange beating sound haunted him afterward.
Director: Ted Parmelee | Stars: James Mason, Jack Mather
Votes: 2,213
25. The Big Snit (1985)
10 min | Animation, Short, Comedy
A couple have a fight over a scrabble game unaware that a full scale nuclear war has started.
Director: Richard Condie | Stars: Jay Brazeau, Ida Osler, Randy Woods, Bill Guest
Votes: 1,941
26. Brave Little Tailor (1938)
Approved | 9 min | Animation, Short, Comedy
Inspired by the Grimm's fairy tale, this classic 1938 Mickey cartoon finds our hero (voiced by Walt Disney) battling a hilariously huge "problem.
Directors: Burt Gillett, Bill Roberts | Stars: Walt Disney, Marcellite Garner, Eddie Holden, Billy Sheets
Votes: 3,341
27. Clock Cleaners (1937)
Approved | 9 min | Animation, Short, Comedy
Mickey, Donald, and Goofy are cleaning a large clock. Among the complications: Mickey fights a sleeping stork that doesn't want to leave, Donald gets tangled up in the main-spring, and Goofy is inside the bell when the clock strikes four.
Director: Ben Sharpsteen | Stars: Pinto Colvig, Walt Disney, James MacDonald, Clarence Nash
Votes: 2,940
28. Northwest Hounded Police (1946)
Approved | 7 min | Animation, Short, Comedy
A wolf convict makes his escape, but is pursued by a diminutive Mountie who seems to be everywhere.
Director: Tex Avery | Stars: Bill Thompson, Tex Avery, Frank Graham, William Hanna
Votes: 1,314
29. Toot Whistle Plunk and Boom (1953)
Approved | 10 min | Animation, Short, Comedy
A crash course on the history of Western musical instruments.
Directors: Ward Kimball, Charles Nichols | Stars: The Mellowmen Quartet, Loulie Jean Norman, Charlie Parlota, Bill Thompson
Votes: 1,555
30. Rabbit Seasoning (1952)
Approved | 7 min | Animation, Short, Adventure
Daffy Duck tricks Elmer Fudd into believing it's rabbit season; but Bugs Bunny uses a female disguise and faulty pronouns to fight back.
Director: Chuck Jones | Stars: Mel Blanc, Arthur Q. Bryan
Votes: 4,722
31. The Scarlet Pumpernickel (1950)
Approved | 7 min | Animation, Short, Adventure
Daffy Duck pitches to J.L. Warner a starring role with himself in a ridiculously over the top swashbuckler film.
Director: Chuck Jones | Stars: Mel Blanc, Marian Richman
Votes: 2,255
32. The Cat Came Back (1988)
7 min | Animation, Short, Comedy
A pesky yellow cat becomes the bane of Mr. Johnson's life as it constantly outsmarts his increasingly desperate attempts to get rid of it.
Director: Cordell Barker | Star: Richard Condie
Votes: 2,464
33. Superman: The Mad Scientist (1941)
G | 10 min | Animation, Short, Action
The Man of Steel fights a mad scientist who is destroying Metropolis with an energy cannon.
Directors: Dave Fleischer, Steve Muffati | Stars: Bud Collyer, Joan Alexander, Jackson Beck, Jack Mercer
Votes: 3,507
34. You Ought to Be in Pictures (1940)
Approved | 10 min | Animation, Family, Comedy
Daffy Duck tries to usurp Porky Pig's job through devious means in this wild blend of live action and animation.
Director: Friz Freleng | Stars: Mel Blanc, Leon Schlesinger, Henry Binder, Gerry Chiniquy
Votes: 1,755
35. Ali Baba Bunny (1957)
TV-G | 7 min | Animation, Short, Adventure
Bugs and Daffy tunnel to Baghdad where they find caves full of treasure and a guard named Hassan who wants only to "chop" them.
Director: Chuck Jones | Star: Mel Blanc
Votes: 2,274
36. Feed the Kitty (1952)
Approved | 7 min | Animation, Short, Comedy
A bulldog, charmed by a kitten, tries to keep her hidden from his human guardian.
Director: Chuck Jones | Stars: Bea Benaderet, Mel Blanc
Votes: 3,548
37. Bimbo's Initiation (1931)
Not Rated | 6 min | Animation, Short, Comedy
Bimbo the dog is initiated into a secret society in a sadistic 'fun house'; then Betty Boop (with dog's ears) takes a hand.
Directors: Dave Fleischer, Grim Natwick | Stars: Margie Hines, Billy Murray, William Pennell, Mae Questel
Votes: 1,704
38. Bambi Meets Godzilla (1969)
Not Rated | 2 min | Animation, Short, Comedy
Bambi is contentedly nibbling the grass, seemingly unaware of his impending encounter with Godzilla. What will happen when the two finally meet?
Director: Marv Newland
Votes: 6,476
39. Little Red Riding Rabbit (1944)
Approved | 7 min | Animation, Short, Adventure
Bugs, the Wolf and bobby-soxer Red chase each other around while Grandma is off working at Lockheed aircraft.
Director: Friz Freleng | Stars: Mel Blanc, Bea Benaderet, Billy Bletcher
Votes: 2,068
40. Peace on Earth (1939)
Passed | 9 min | Animation, Short, Drama
Two baby squirrels ask grandpa to explain what "men" are when they hear everyone singing of "peace on earth, goodwill to men". Grandpa tells the story of man's last war.
Director: Hugh Harman | Stars: Mel Blanc, Jeanne Dunne, The Hollywood Choir Boys, Shirley Reed
Votes: 1,751
41. Rooty Toot Toot (1951)
Passed | 7 min | Animation, Short, Musical
The musical tale of a murder trial by a jealous lover.
Director: John Hubley | Stars: Bill Lee, Thurl Ravenscroft, Annette Warren
Votes: 948
42. The Cat Concerto (1947)
Passed | 8 min | Animation, Short, Comedy
Tom Cat is a concert pianist who plays beautifully until he is interrupted by Jerry Mouse.
Directors: Joseph Barbera, William Hanna
Votes: 4,828
43. The Barber of Seville (1944)
Approved | 7 min | Animation, Short, Comedy
A large Native American walks into the shop. Woody, who is still playing with the comb, is surprised to see a feathered headdress behind him in the mirror. He turns around quickly and notices the man in a chair behind him.
Director: Shamus Culhane | Stars: Mel Blanc, Ben Hardaway, Dick Nelson, Nestor Paiva
Votes: 831
44. The Man Who Planted Trees (1987)
30 min | Animation, Short, Drama
The story of a shepherd's single handed quest to re-forest a barren valley.
Director: Frédéric Back | Stars: Philippe Noiret, Christopher Plummer
Votes: 6,112
45. Book Revue (1946)
Approved | 7 min | Family, Animation, Short
As the literary characters come to life in a bookstore at night, Daffy Duck sings and dances before being chased by the Big Bad Wolf.
Director: Robert Clampett | Stars: Mel Blanc, Bea Benaderet, Sara Berner, Richard Bickenbach
Votes: 1,538
46. Quasi at the Quackadero (1976)
10 min | Animation, Short, Comedy
Quasi, a duck, spends the day at a bizarre amusement park with fellow duck Anita and a robot named Rollo, but his rude and annoying behavior soon becomes impossible for his companions to tolerate.
Director: Sally Cruikshank | Stars: Sally Cruikshank, Kim Deitch
Votes: 734
47. A Corny Concerto (1943)
Approved | 8 min | Animation, Short, Adventure
Elmer Fudd introduces two pieces of classical music: "Tales of the Vienna Woods" and "The Blue Danube", and acted out by Bugs Bunny, Porky Pig, Laramore the Hound Dog, a family of swans, and a juvenile Daffy Duck.
Director: Robert Clampett | Stars: Arthur Q. Bryan, Robert Clampett, Bea Benaderet
Votes: 2,100
48. A Unicorn in the Garden (1953)
Passed | 7 min | Animation, Short, Comedy
A henpecked husband sees a unicorn outside his window--or does he?
Director: William T. Hurtz | Stars: John Brown, Colleen Collins
Votes: 769
49. The Dover Boys at Pimento University or the Rivals of Roquefort Hall (1942)
Approved | 9 min | Animation, Short, Adventure
Three fun-loving, morally upright brothers from Pimento University save their fiancée from their fiendish archenemy, Dan Backslide, in this spoof of the Rover Boys.
Director: Chuck Jones | Stars: Mel Blanc, Bea Benaderet, John McLeish, Tedd Pierce
Votes: 1,828
50. Felix in Hollywood (1923)
Passed | 9 min | Animation, Short, Comedy
A starving actor, reduced to trying his luck in the movies, travels to Hollywood. His cat, Felix, poses as a travel bag and comes along.
Director: Otto Messmer
Votes: 1,027
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