Was 2011 a bad year for animated feature films? Pixar and DreamWorks did not fare critically well with their latest efforts (Cars 2 and Puss in Boots, respectively).

 The New York Film Critics did not give a single award to an animated film, and NY critic Marshall Fine defends his choice by saying that the animated films of 2011 were more engaging than live-action films.

2011 was certainly a year for wondering about the meaning and definition of animation. Spielberg and his exquisite job at The Adventures of Tintin  (at our no. 6,  alas :) brought back questions whether motion-capture is worthy of the name 'animation' (some years ago, Richard Linklater's rotoscope phillosophical tale Waking Life was not esteemed animated enough), and similar questions were raised about Happy Feet Two.

 Yet, 2011 witnessed a semi-renaissance of European animation for an adult audience, with narrative stories that transcend the comedy genre. Chico & Rita, Alois Nebel, Wrinkles, A Cat in Paris travelled into territory that was not exclusively kiddies stuff -and some of them fared gross commercially in their homeland. The existing problem of their international distribution makes for their absence from top lists, yet they should somehow be included.

So, perhaps 2011 was a mediocre year for US animated films (consider the lackluster sequels), yet it was a fine time for animated features in general. Excluding hybrids of live-action and animation (The Smurfs, The Muppets), and two films that did not have the chance to be seen (Le Chat du Rabbin, Tatsumi), here is our top-5 list in reverse order.

 5. Arthur Christmas (Sarah Smith, UK & US): The Aardman and Sony Pictures Animation collaboration was successful. A genre (Christmas films) that has been reworked to exhaustion seemed surprisingly fresh, joyful, and not at all pop-culture-infected. The story of Arthur, the son of Santa Claus, who travels throughout the world to deliver a missing gift, is sweet but not saccharine, even though the absence of real dramatic tension and edgy humor, 'Arthur Christmas' does not restrain itself to a family audience - a beautiful Christmas gift, though.

 4. Rango (Gore Verbinski, ILM, US): The real surprise here is that Gore Verbinski (Pirates of the Caribbean) directs a bloodless yet self-conscious and intellectual parody of the American West. The lizard Rango (Johnny Depp does marvels here) reclaims the role of the Sheriff in the thirsty town Dirt, and unveils a water conspiracy. With an identity crisis featured in the film's middle section and a narrative that works like a well-oiled machine, the 2D looks of Rango offer a solid drama-adventure and a homage to Sergio Leone heroes.

 3. Wrinkles (Arrugas la Pelicula, Spain): How often do you see a feature animated film on Alzheimer's? The originality of the script, though, is not exhausted by easy compassion. Ignacio Ferreras directs a film (based on Paco Roca's novel) about an elderly house and the dignified treatment of Alzheimer's, with humanity and even comic glimpses. With its simple yet elegant drawings, Wrinkles makes you care about and understand aging a little bit more.

 2. A Cat in Paris (Une Vie de Chat, Folimage, France): The novelty in this exquisite police thriller is that the cat does exactly what all cats do -nothing more and nothing less. Jean-Loup Felicioli and Alain Gagnol direct a story about a girl and her cat, who both get involved in a highly well-narrated, 65-minute nighttime adventure in Paris. The broad visual outlines only heighten the sense of suspense, whereas the final Notre Dame scene recalls Hitchcock. A cat in Paris only mesmerizes. Film Review

1. Chico & Rita (CinemaNX, Spain). Javier Mariscal & Fernando Trueba present a musical fantasy in pre-Castro Cuba. Even though Chico & Rita reworks elements of A Star Is Born (two musicians fall in love and face their respective rise and fall), and profits greatly from the music of Bebo Valdés, the genuine feeling of human touch that their story exudes is enough to keep you begging for more. Sumptuous in its visual form, Chico & Rita does not hesitate to traverse the path from love to lust and despair, remaining enchanting throughout. Film Review