Through the 2000s, animated films continued to mature, and international cinema made a significant impact. India and Japan continued to produce animation, and there was newfound success in the release of Pokémon and Digimon movies. Notably, the decade also saw the release of Alpamysh, the first animated feature produced in Uzbekistan. Reflecting on this growth, critics often compare these works to the overlooked animated films of the ’90s, showing a continuity of craft and storytelling excellence.
American films continued to be abundantly produced, and longstanding animation director Don Bluth released the science fiction animated movie Titan AE. Other notable American animated films of the decade included Robots, The Simpsons Movie, and Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs. Richard Linklater ventured into the medium with his experimental films, Waking Life and A Scanner Darkly. Advances in production technology also expanded what was possible, with studios increasingly relying on the best animation software.
