When we think of the most expensive films to produce, we probably think of King Kong ($243 million); Avatar ($254 million); or Titanic ($286 million). Yes, there is no denying that the production cost of these films exceeds that of most current animated films, but the budget cost of animated films is also rising. Because of the cost of the studio (electricity, creative facilities, etc.), labor intensity (unlike real-life movies, where there is only one actor per character, animated characters can require multiple), and evolving creative programming (amazing computer graphics require expensive programs). For example, in order for an animation to look as believable and realistic as possible, money needs to be invested in one program after another until the perfect image is captured. Like rapunzel's hair simulator in Rapunzel, it took years to develop.
Not only that, but big production companies like DreamWorks, Pixar Animation Studios, and Walt Disney Company have hired A-list actors to fill their voice casts. In the past, some obscure people voiced to breathe life into familiar characters. Today, however, more and more famous actors are invited to voice them: like Tom Hanks, Billy Christo, Reese Witherspoon, Mike Miles, Cameron Diaz, Eddie Murphy, and more. Dubbing Toy Story, Hanks made $50,000. As a result of the film's success, Pixar paid Hanks $5 million for Toy Story 2 and $15 million for Toy Story 3. Owen Wilson earned $2.5 million for the voice of Pixar's Cars 2. DreamWorks also raised the budget for Mike Myers' voices of Shrek and Shrek 2 from $3 million to $10 million.
Here's a ranking of the 10 most expensive animated films to produce.
10. Frozen – $150 million
Released in 2013, Frozen is Disney's 53rd animated film with a production cost of $150 million. That's an extremely low number compared to billions of dollars in box office revenue. Frozen is the second animated film to break the billion-dollar mark (the first was Pixar's Toy Story 3). The film, based on Hans Christian Andersen's The Ice Queen, won two Academy Awards, Best Animated Feature and Best Original Song, and is rumored to be a Broadway musical.
9. Shrek the Third – $160 million
With a voice cast of Mike Myers, Cameron Diaz and Eddie Murphy, it's no wonder that Shrek the Third cost $160 million to make. Thankfully, it became the highest-grossing animated film of 2007, grossing about $799 million worldwide. The film revolves around the monsters Shrek and Princess Fiona, who enter the royal family faster than expected. The monster Strek, uninterested in becoming king after the death of his father-in-law, sets out to find the dead king's nephew. Some fairy tale characters, a donkey and a cat in boots take you on a sci-fi animation journey together.
8. Wreck-It Ralph – $165 million
Wreck-It Ralph was produced by Disney Animation Studios at a cost of $165 million to produce and $471 million in global revenue. Disney hired top actors to voice the film, John F. Kennedy. John C. Reilly voices the character of Ralph the King of Destruction, Sarah Silverman voices the character of Vanellope, Jack McBrayer voices the character of The Restorer, and Jane Lynch voices the character of Calhoun, a rough sergeant. This computer-animated film uses new procedural techniques that enhance the reflection of surfaces, while also using virtual photography techniques.
7. "How To Train Your Dragon" – $165 million
Adapted from Cressida Cowell's novel How to Train Your Dragon, the 3D animated film was released in 2010 and was a huge box office success. DreamWorks grossed nearly $500 million worldwide after the film's release, which is already a good result for the $165 million box office. How to Train Your Dragon also has famous voice actors, including Jay Baruchel, Gerard Butler, Craig Ferguson, America Ferrera, Konah Hill, and Kristen Wiig.
6. Monsters Vs. Aliens – $175 million
Monsters Vs. Aliens is the third non-Disney film on the list, released by DreamWorks Animation in 2009 and grossing $175 million. Inspired by sci-fi/horror films rated B in the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s, the animated film grossed more than $381 million and included top actors such as Reese Witherspoon, Seth Rogan, Hugh Laurie, Ryan Wilson, Amy Poehler, Paul Luther, and Steven Colbert. Alien Wars is the 18th animated feature film produced by DreamWorks.
5. "Wall-E" – $180 million
WALL-E is probably one of Pixar's most iconic animated films. Wall-E, which cost $180 million to produce, tells the story of a lone robot designed to clean up a polluted planet. What makes the film unique is that for the first 40 minutes or so, there is almost no dialogue. Instead, the viewer enters a world of robots; How it thinks, how it works, how it speaks (or doesn't talk). Pixar's classic film was a success. The film grossed more than $520 million worldwide, received multiple Oscar nominations, and ranked first on Time magazine's list of the best movies of the decade.
4. Brave – $185 million
In 2012, a computer-animated film studio produced Brave, an original story from the Scottish Highlands that tells the story of the relationship between the queen's mother and her unconventional princess daughter. The film cost $185 million to produce, earned more than $538 million, and won the Academy Award for Best Animated Film and the Golden Globe For Best Animated Feature Film. The film also won multiple titles for Pixar. The first female protagonist; the first female director; and the first fairy tale.
3. Monsters University – $200 million
Like Toy Story 3, Monsters University cost $200 million to make. While not as well-sold as Toy Story 3, Monsters University made $743 million worldwide, making it Pixar's third-grossing film. In order to portray real college life on screen, the producers spent weeks observing student life and the various buildings of the school on college campuses such as Harvard, Stanford, and Alabama.
2. Toy Story 3 – $200 million
Produced by Pixar Animation Studios and distributed by Walt Disney Pictures, Toy Story 3 cost up to $200 million to produce ($15 million of which was spent on voice actor Tom Hanks). However, this is nothing compared to its $1 billion worldwide box office. Toy Story 3 became the first animated film to break the billion mark. It was also the highest-grossing film of 2010, receiving five Academy Award nominations, including Best Picture, Best Adapted Screenplay and Best Sound Editing, as well as Best Animated Feature and Best Original Song.
1. Tangled – $274 million
Released in 2010, Tangled is the most expensive animated film today, costing $274 million to produce. The film, based on the German fairy tale Rapunzel, grossed $591 million worldwide and was nominated for best original song at the 83rd Academy Awards. Despite its success, the production of Tangled was quite lengthy. It took 6 years to make, of which rapunzel took years to write a hair simulation program in order to make Rapunzel's hair. Tangled is Disney's 50th animated film.