Animated film giant Dreamworks has created some of the most memorable on-screen worlds and characters, and boasts 15 entries in the all-time list of 50 Highest Grossing Animated Films.

With the musical adaptation of Shrek set to hit our stages in April, we decided to compile our own top ten list of best Dreamworks’ films. Do you agree with our choices?!

Antz

The vocal talents of Woody Allen, Sharon Stone, Sylvester Stallone and Gene Hackman (among others) combine to make this striking computer-animation film a classic. More of an adult satire than a straight-up children’s film, this release was often compared to Pixar’s A Bug’s Life, although beyond the insect theme it’s difficult to spot many similarities.

Chicken Run

It’s often forgotten that Chicken Run was a Dreamworks film, as its stop-motion clay creations are the signature of Aardman. This loose remake of The Great Escape was a product of that partnership. Whilst it’s surprisingly dark for a children’s film, it manages to entertain young and old alike, and is still the highest-grossing stop-motion animation film ever.

How to Train Your Dragon

How to Train Your Dragon is almost universally acknowledged as Dreamworks’ magnum opus, but we’re also going to make mention of the full trilogy in our list, as the progression of this magical story is truly beautiful. The dragon hero, Toothless, is undeniably adorable, and doesn’t need a single line of dialogue to his name to be an eternally memorable character.

Kung Fu Panda

Kung Fu Panda is rife with lush visuals, brilliant martial arts battles, slapstick humour and an evergreen story that caught many by surprise. Jack Black voices the titular giant panda, Po, throughout this gleeful – not to mention staggeringly successful – adventure. Films 2 and 3 in this ever-more-ambitious series are just as good as the chapter that started the franchise.

Madagascar

A favourite with child audiences, Madagascar frantically leaps from location to location to create an almost “episodic” film that never gives you time to get bored. The stylised renderings of the different animals in this film also look amazing, so it’s little wonder that sequels were inevitable. Aside from the one-liners, watch out for the lemurs’ dance routine!

Megamind

Turning the idea of superhero movies on their heads, 2010’s Megamind starred Will Ferrell as the world’s most intelligent supervillain. The premise of the film is that “Megamind” had no choice but turn out to be a villain, but when the opportunity comes calling to be a hero he jumps to put his skills to the test. Does he succeed? You’ll have to watch the film to find out!

Over the Hedge

A refreshing look at the 3 C’s of conservation, consumerism and consumption, Over the Hedge adeptly balances comedy and action. The values that the film is trying to get across should be apparent to kids without straying into schmaltzy territory, while the slapstick antics flow thick and fast to keep up the entertainment.

Rise of the Guardians

A very underrated release that brings together all of the mythical characters from your childhood (e.g. Jack Frost, Santa, Tooth Fairy, Sandman, Easter Bunny, etc). Overshadowed by the release of The Avengers, this teamwork movie is well worth a look, and also manages to include some slightly darker storytelling that only enhances its credibility.

Shrek

The first Shrek movie laid the foundation for the Dreamworks animation success story, and also wrote the book on how to include humour that could be enjoyed by both children and adults. We’re including Shrek 2 in this bracket as well, as the ongoing character development (plus the arrival of Puss in Boots!) solidified the franchise as a fan favourite.

Wallace and Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit

Another release during the Dreamworks/Aardman partnership, The Curse of the Were-Rabbit improbably managed to capture the spirit and momentum of the three original shorts, and then sustain it throughout a feature-length film. Impressive voice talents like Ralph Fiennes and Helena Bonham Carter joined the regulars in this absurdly entertaining romp.

Don’t forget that if you’re a Dreamworks fan, you can catch the upcoming stage performance of Shrek the Musical here at Blackpool Grand Theatre. Book your tickets now to see the live show.