The article argues that some animated films fail not merely through weak execution but through commercial, creative or production decisions that undermine the medium’s potential. It presents a ranking of films it considers among animation’s worst, focusing on concepts seen as cynical, poorly made or unnecessary.

– The Emoji Movie is criticised as an over-commercialised attempt to exploit 2010s emoji culture, relying on product placement and unoriginal humour.
– The Nine Lives of Fritz the Cat is described as an unconvincing sequel made without original creator Ralph Bakshi or comic author Robert Crumb.
– Belle’s Magical World is presented as a cheaply assembled direct-to-video Disney sequel, repurposing stories intended for a television series.