Animation as a storytelling medium affords filmmakers way more freedom than the live-action medium. The legal guidelines of nature are malleable in animated films, as visuals are fluid and areas typically get stretched to distort dimensions and make motion sequences much more energetic. Aesthetically pleasing and distinctive animated films are characterised by such sequences and gorgeously grand and imaginative visuals.
Whereas Disney, DreamWorks, Pixar, and Studio Ghibli are the preferred animation studios, many nice films not made by them additionally stretch the boundaries of the medium, typically by mixing animation with genres that are not related to it. As an illustration, animated documentaries like Piece by Piece and Flee are a singular mix the place the animation makes the tales extra personable.
Animated films are sometimes higher than anticipated as a result of creators are continually experimenting with the medium, prioritizing proximity to actuality at instances and dedication to whimsy at others. Nevertheless, even some animated sequences with hyperrealistic artwork kinds are supposed to be made and seen in animation and would not work if recreated in live-action, which is a often disappointing pattern at this time.
Faarquad Tortures Gingerbread Man in Shrek (2001)
Shrek begins with arguably one of the best opening scene in fantasy film historical past, the place the titular Shrek takes a shower whereas Smash Mouth’s All Star performs within the background. Not solely would the nasty particulars of Shrek’s morning routine lose any comedic appeal in live-action, however a later scene within the film can also be meant to by no means be made in live-action.
When Faarquad tortures Gingerbread Man by threatening to interrupt off items from him, the scene takes on a hilarious tone as a result of Gingerbread Man makes him sing The Muffin Man within the title of answering his questions. Nevertheless, the torture itself wouldn’t look as humorous or convincing in live-action, as he can be an precise cookie, until animated with CGI.
Mater and McQueen are Chased by The Harvester in Vehicles (2006)
Making a live-action Vehicles film firstly faces the problem of giving real-life automobiles faces with out wanting like caricatures. Secondly, the movement of the automobiles in Cars typically violates all legal guidelines of nature. Third, and eventually, their numerous facial expressions are simply readable and look good solely in animation. No matter fashion, real-life vehicles typically look too lifeless to be characters.
And so, the shepherd and sheep relationship between the common tractors and the harvester tractor within the Vehicles scene, the place Mater and McQueen tip over tractors by blowing their horns, would possibly show unimaginable to depict in live-action. The harvester appears to be like menacingly angered when it chases them, which common harvesters do not. The tractors tipping over will not be as humorous both.
Woman and Tramp Share Spaghetti in Woman and the Tramp (1955)
It is onerous to not really feel previous after realizing 2025 marks the seventieth anniversary of the traditional Disney animated film, The Woman and the Tramp, which is a romcom with two canine from totally different social circles who fall in love. Whereas the story is timeless, one explicit scene has had such a cultural influence that it is often referenced in romance films.
The scene is the dinner date the place each Woman and Tramp begin consuming the identical spaghetti noodle, and meet within the center with their mouths touching, sharing an iconic romantic look. Woman and the Tramp was remade in live-action in 2019, however anybody who has watched that has proof that this scene was solely meant to be seen in animation.
The Crew Steal A Automobile in The Unhealthy Guys 2 (2025)
Animated sequels are hardly ever higher than the unique film, however 2025’s The Unhealthy Guys 2 is such a transparent enchancment on an already sensible movie that it is probably going to turn into DreamWorks’ new massive franchise alongside the ever-growing Shrek franchise. A part of what makes the brand new movie so nice is the deeper dive into the backstories of all of the members.
The opening scene, to that impact, is thus a flashback scene that depicts an unbelievable heist and tells us how they bought their iconic automotive from the earlier movie. Whereas nice live-action heist films exist, the best way the vehicles transfer, flying, stretching, or crawling when vital, can be unimaginable to recreate in live-action, and the getaway would lose its appeal.
Yubaba Breathes Fireplace in Spirited Away (2001)
As a fantasy film that modified the style without end, Spirited Away, typically thought of Hayao Miyazaki’s magnum opus, additionally modified animation without end. The meticulously hand-drawn scenes with extra particulars than one can catch in a single viewing, the fluid character designs in opposition to visually secure backdrops, the life-affirming message, and the non-public coming-of-age story of epic proportions collectively create a timeless film.
Spirited Away is the primary hand-drawn, non-English film to win the Greatest Animated Image Oscar.
Whereas there are various pictures within the movie that might by no means be efficiently recreated in live-action, the character of Yubaba maybe challenges the constraints of live-action filmmaking probably the most. Her physique shifts and transforms in distinctive methods, and when she contorts to breathe hearth by means of her nostrils, her rising hair and its occupation of house would look awkward in live-action.
Tai Lung Escapes in Kung Fu Panda (2008)
Films like The Jungle Guide (2016) and The Lion King (2019) could seem promising for live-action variations of animated films about animals, however the characters positively lose a few of their persona when translated into live-action. The humanoid options given to them in animation are vital components of them as characters, and their live-action counterparts are thus lacking parts of them.
Nevertheless, the long-lasting jail escape scene in Kung Fu Panda will show difficult for a special cause, and would possibly should be modified for a live-action adaptation. The size of Tai Lung’s jail aren’t the identical in all of the pictures, and this helps the creators arrange epic manuevers and use angles that embellish how menacing Tai Lung might be.
Tom is Given CPR in Tom and Jerry: The Quick and the Furry (2005)
A brand new Tom & Jerry film is in improvement at Warner Bros. proper now, and whereas many earlier films have confirmed to be forgettable, that is thrilling information. I simply hope I will by no means get up to the information that Tom & Jerry is being remade in live-action. Even the film set in a live-action world options them as animated characters.
The way in which the characters’ our bodies transfer would not be potential to depict in live-action. With out such sequences, they’d lose their appeal. As an illustration, in Tom and Jerry: The Quick and the Furry, the place Tom is given CPR after his automotive crashes underwater, his face swells up like a balloon with each blow, and such a visible solely works in animation.
Miles Fights Kingpin in Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse (2018)
Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse remodeled animation with its colourful, whimsical, character-driven, fluid, and energetic visible design. It’s an progressive celebration of animation as a medium, and it commits to the inherent freedom that it affords a storyteller by means of distortions and design selections that make no real-world sense however swimsuit the story at hand. It is not appropriate for live-action variations.
The climactic struggle scene is the right demonstration of how the Spider-Verse franchise leans into the power of animation as a medium. The house by which Kingpin and Miles struggle continually shifts in dimension and form, there are common bursts of shade, a complete prepare runs by means of it at one level, and but, it is inside a ground of a skyscraper.