Animation has come a long way, evolving from classics such as Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs to modern masterpieces including Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse. The medium only grows in popularity every year, with each one having better animated films that can dazzle with their creativity and push the boundaries of animation. However, with animation evolving so fast, some older movies are left in the dust, lost to time.
But just because newer films are bigger and better doesn’t mean viewers have to forget magnificent older films, which is why this list will showcase ten forgotten animated movies that are still perfect today. Based on criteria including comparing current popularity to previous popularity, story, animation, originality, critical acclaim, how well it holds up, and how much it deserves a comeback in this modern age.
‘Surf’s Up’ (2007)
The 2000s had a weird thing about penguins, but who doesn’t love penguins, especially after the forgotten classic Surf’s Up? This animated mockumentary follows Cody Maverick (Shia LaBeouf), a penguin from Shiverpool who aspires to be a great surfer. As he enters his first tournament, he learns from a reclusive former pro, learning life lessons and important techniques.
Surf’s Up still has a specific cult fanbase that will never forget about this mid-2000s classic, but the general audience has unfortunately moved on. However, now is the time to revisit it because of its dedication to the documentary style, fit with interviews and shockingly mature and sophisticated commentary. Surf’s Up still holds up in the modern day, and it is more grounded, entertaining, and funny than most new films.
‘Fantastic Planet’ (1973)
This list has proven that French cinema has some underrated animated movies, and one cult classic is Fantastic Planet. A race of giant aliens called Draags keep simple human-like creatures known as Oms as pets, but when one becomes intelligent, it leads its people in a revolution against their captors.
As the oldest movie on this list, Fantastic Planet has had more time to be forgotten than most, but that just means it needs to be brought back even more. The animation looks like a paper cutout, a style that is still quite unique today, making it a truly original animated movie. Its allegory, themes, and message are haunting and gripping, plus its stellar animation makes Fantastic Planet a timeless classic.
‘Angel’s Egg’ (1985)
Ghost in the Shell is one of the most memorable anime movies of all time, but its director, Mamoru Oshii, has a lesser-known wonder known as Angel’s Egg. A young girl is in possession of a mysterious egg that a wandering boy with a large cross can’t help but question. Set in a gothic world, many horrors and mysteries await this pair of characters.
Angel’s Egg is almost entirely silent, meaning its style, setting, directing, and storytelling dictate the narrative, creating an ominous and stylish film. It is mainly a vibes-first type of picture, but even that approach can be philosophical, complex, and profound. Angel’s Egg is a dark and bleak anime, but this piece of visual poetry is a must-watch either way.
‘Fire and Ice’ (1983)
Ralph Bakshi is an iconic animation director known for genre staples such as Wizards, but those masterpieces overshadow some of his other works, including Fire and Ice. Set in a prehistoric world, an evil ice king is moving a massive glacier across the country, engulfing it in an everlasting frost. However, the only people able to stop it are a young adventurer and a masked fighter.
Fire and Ice was always incredible, but it unfortunately was forgotten because it just wasn’t as memorable as his magnum opus. This animated movie uses rotoscoping to perfectly capture human movement, but the animation puts it in a fantastical backdrop of chaos. This visceral piece of pulp is a gritty and magnificent animated film that is another masterpiece in Bakshi’s resume.
‘The Night is Short, Walk on Girl’ (2017)
Usually, movies have to be old first to be forgotten, but some modern classics have a short lifespan, meaning movies like The Night is Short, Walk on Girl can be forgotten. A university student in Kyoto wants to win the affection of his crush by manipulating their fates to intertwine. However, she lets life take her wherever, only living in the moment and enjoying whatever comes next.
Masaaki Yuasa is an avant-garde legend, but unfortunately, most of his films could fit on this list because his style doesn’t have a broad appeal. The Night is Short, Walk on Girl is an anime movie that has aged like fine wine, boasting one of the most visually stunning worlds. The editing, directing, and relentless style work in favor of its chaotic and surreal plot and mesmerizing romance. In the end, this modern classic is an all-time anime masterpiece that deserves more recognition.
‘The Elm-Chanted Forest’ (1986)
While all the movies on this list are mostly forgotten, the countries that made them aren’t; the one exception is The Elm-Chanted Forest, hailing from the now-non-existent Yugoslavia. When a painter falls asleep under an enchanted tree, he wakes up with the ability to speak with animals, and his brush serves as his wand. He must now command the animals in a revolution against an evil king trying to turn the forest into a desert.
The Elm-Chanted Forest is a family movie, but based on the vibe and scenery, it certainly doesn’t feel like it. This acid-trip of a story is a psychedelic experience with vibrant colors and a mesmerizing style that will dazzle younger viewers. However, older viewers will also appreciate its political subtext and themes that create an important message. The Elm-Chanted Forest is a trippy, deep cut that a modern audience would appreciate.
‘The King and the Mockingbird’ (1980)
Everyone knows Studio Ghibli, one of the most prolific animation studios of all time, meaning there is no way one of their films is forgotten. However, the inspiration for the studio is actually quite underrated, and that movie is The King and the Mockingbird. A tyrannical king is in love with a woman in a painting, but her heart is for someone else, leading to all the paintings working together with a mockingbird to escape his castle.
This French masterpiece was a massive source of influence for Studio Ghibli, and fans can see that in its atmospheric style and mystical style. The King of the Mockingbird is a mix of political satire, whimsical humor, and giant robots that creates an animated movie unlike any other. But that creativity is exactly why it is still perfect today, bridging old folk tales with modern sci-fi.
‘Tekkonkinkreet’ (2006)
This list has featured a handful of animated movies up to this point, but one of the most forgotten and obscure is Tekkonkinkreet. Set in a sprawling city of crime and villainy, two kids rule their part of town. However, the appearance of the Yakuza threatens to destroy the town and rebuild it as a resort, starting a war between two children against aliens, Yakuza, and assassins.
Tekkonkinkreet is an avant-garde masterpiece that won’t appease all, but its distinct style and experimental story still have a specific audience. This anime film features some of the most detailed and lived-in background art, creating a phenomenal setting that the story explores in detail. Tekkonkinkreet is a gritty and raw psychological experience that feels perfect for a modern audience with its emotional story.
‘The Thief and the Cobbler’ (1993)
It doesn’t get more forgotten than lost media, and for years, that was The Thief and the Cobbler, constantly being reworked over its entire lifespan. This film follows a shy cobbler and a bumbling thief whose fates become intertwined with the legendary golden city when they have to protect it from an invasion of the Mighty One-Eye.
Directed by legend Richard Williams, he intended it to be his magnum opus. Overly ambitious animation, going over budget, and requiring more time forced him out of the project, resulting in an unfinished disappointment. However, the recobbled version restores Williams’ vision and establishes itself as a must-watch forgotten film that finally got it right decades later. The ambition can be felt in every frame, with the idea starting in the 1960s, releasing in 1993, and being perfected in 2023. This film has so many versions, and many of them aren’t good, but the best one is truly worth watching. The Thief and the Cobbler as a whole is forgotten by most, but when fans watch this ambitious masterpiece, they won’t soon forget it.
‘Waking Life’ (2001)
Richard Linklater is known for his mellow, atmospheric, and nostalgic live-action movies, but he also tried his hand at animation twice; sadly, both movies have been somewhat forgotten. The first of the two, Waking Life, follows an unnamed protagonist who wanders around a series of dreamlike scenarios and has philosophical encounters that have him questioning life and its deeper meaning.
Some of the most memorable movies have nothing important to say, simply being an entertaining watch. Perhaps that is why Waking Life is forgotten today, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t perfect, quite the opposite in fact. The ever-shifting animation creates a visual masterclass that reflects its themes and uncertain direction. Waking Life has fantastic dialogue, philosophical discussion, and a dreamlike vibe that makes it one of the most ambitious animated movies.
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