An excellent animated movie can entertain and thrill audiences for generations, but there are a lot of perfect films that have been completely forgotten. Though studios like Disney and DreamWorks have cornered the market in North America, tons of other great animation is produced domestically and abroad. Animation is typically associated with children’s films, but that isn’t always the case.
Audiences in the West have a narrow view of animation, but countries like Japan have proven that it is a medium by which any story can be told. Naturally, this has produced a variety of films in nearly every genre of cinema. It has also resulted in plenty of hidden gems, with some movies getting overlooked simply because they’re animated.
However, not all underrated animated films are necessarily subversive, and some family-friendly movies fail to stay popular over the long run. This isn’t an indictment of their quality, and many overlooked animated films are actually some of the best to ever grace the big screen. Forgotten animated movies deserve special attention, especially when they’re perfect.
Marcel The Shell With Shoes On (2021)
Adapted from the short films of the same name, Marcel the Shell with Shoes On combines live-action and stop-motion. It concerns the titular shell who becomes the subject of a documentary filmmaker’s newest project, but is so much deeper than its oddball premise. It straddles the line between a family-friendly and adult, without ever tipping too far in either direction.
The poignant themes of family and identity are strong throughout, and it’s an incredibly focused story despite its mocumentary style. It earned a nomination for Best Animated Feature at the Academy Awards, but its limited release meant it never had the chance to gain widespread popularity. Nevertheless, Marcel’s story is one of the best in modern stop-motion animation.
Perfect Blue (1997)
Perfect Blue is well-known in anime circles, but is a Japanese film that deserves to be recognized as one of the pinnacles of flawless animation. Director Satoshi Kon used the medium of animation to tell a gripping psychological thriller story about the dehumanizing effects of fame in a way that wouldn’t have been possible if it was a live-action project.
The movie employs subtle and surreal imagery to create an overarching sense of foreboding, and it’s as chilling as any other 1990s horror film. Though Perfect Blue still hasn’t gotten all the international acclaim it deserves, The Guardian notes that director Darren Aronofsky was heavily inspired by Kon’s masterpiece when making Requiem for a Dream and Black Swan.
Anomalisa (2015)
Charlie Kaufman is best known for his live-action movies like Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, but his foray into animation is absolutely brilliant. Anomalisa is a stop-motion film, but it tells a story with no fantastical elements. Instead, it’s a deep look into one man’s isolation, and is about as adult as an animated film can be.
Anomalisa is subtly humorous and often quite dry, and it intentionally challenges Western perceptions about the medium of animation. It didn’t need to be stop-motion, but by obfuscating reality even a little bit, Kaufman is able to craft his own perfect world that reflects the inner state of the main characters.
Vampire Hunter D (1985)
At less than 90 minutes, Vampire Hunter D is a short anime film that packs a huge punch. It adapts the young adult novels by Hideyuki Kikuchi, and is set in a post-apocalyptic future where the world is ruled by monsters. Despite having dense lore, the movie brings the viewer up to speed without ever slowing down.
The classic anime art is a feast for the eyes, and the combination of gory action and surrealist imagery is an excellent example of how Japanese filmmakers use the medium to its fullest. In a way, the horror story hits all the same beats as a western, and is one of the most compelling mix of genres in animation history.
The Mitchells Vs. The Machines (2021)
The Mitchells vs. the Machines was a COVID-19 casualty, and it never got a fair shake because it didn’t get a full theatrical release. The mega-budget family comedy from Sony combined classic road comedy tropes with a sci-fi action premise, and it also managed to squeeze in a heartwarming story about family too.
Borrowing a lot of the visual charm from Sony’s other animated films like the Spider-Verse series, The Mitchells vs. the Machines is a unique looking film in an era of sameness. It offers a lot for younger viewers, but is also rich enough for parents to enjoy. It was a hit on streaming, but that popularity faded quickly.
The Phantom Tollbooth (1970)
Though Disney is perhaps best known for the live-action and animation hybrids, The Phantom Tollbooth is a rare example that didn’t come from the house of mouse. The surrealistic musical is based on the book by Norton Juster, and employs a variety of animation styles to illustrate Milo’s journey through the Enchanted Kingdom of Wisdom.
Like earlier works such as Alice in Wonderland, The Phantom Tollbooth combines fantasy and surrealism to teach a lesson. At a brisk 89 minutes, the movie clips along from one oddball scene to the next, and it’s a visually stimulating experience. Now regarded as a cult classic, the movie was a bomb at the time and tanked its studio.
Memoir Of A Snail (2024)
Unlike other adult animated movies like Anomalisa, Memoir of a Snail utilizes the medium of animation for stylistic choices that elevate it above live-action. The unflinching character drama is loosely based on the life of creator Adam Elliot, and it manages to find beautiful hope in its overwhelmingly dour storyline.
Memoir of a Snail is only the second R-rated movie to be nominated for Best Animated Feature at the Oscars.
The cartoonish design is playful but dark, and cleanly reflects the mood that the movie aims for. There is a sadness that is undeniable, but the Aussie award-winner brilliantly ushers the viewer into the light by the end. Because the film’s subject, it was never destined for mainstream success, but it still deserves more attention.
The Pirates! In An Adventure With Scientists! (2012)
Aardman is one of the most beloved animation studios in history, but 2012’s The Pirates! In an Adventure with Scientists! is something of a hidden gem in their catalog. As the title suggests, the movie is about a swashbuckling band of wannabe pirates, and their adventure is punctuated with plenty of that signature Aardman cheeky humor.
The beautifully crafted stop-motion figures are bright and eye-catching, and the movie never panders or talks down to younger viewers. Instead, the writing is meant to challenge its intended audience while winking at parents and other adults. Unlike a lot of other forgotten animated films, The Pirates! has only gotten better with age.
Prince Of Egypt (1998)
Before DreamWorks perfected their formula in Shrek, the studio produced a handful of stunning 2D animated films that rivaled Disney’s renaissance. Prince of Egypt adapts the biblical Book of Exodus, but it isn’t a traditional piece of religious media. With a voice cast of A-list stars, Prince of Egypt was one of the biggest spectacles of the late 1990s.
The movie features a sweeping score and opulent animation, and it all combines for a grand cinematic experience that doesn’t exist in the medium anymore. It was a hit at the time, and popular with critics, but has largely been overshadowed by DreamWorks’ later franchises. When looking for Disney alternatives, few are as great as Prince of Egypt.
Batman: Mask Of The Phantasm (1993)
Produced during the run of Batman: The Animated Series, 1993’s Mask of the Phantasm was a feature-length continuation of the show. With most of the voice cast returning to reprise their roles, the movie presents a sleek Batman adventure that is worthy of its extended running time. Though animated, it has earned a spot among the best Batman movies ever.
The show’s Art Deco-inspired style carries over to the big screen, and the performances (especially from Kevin Conroy and Mark Hamill) are some of the best in the Caped Crusader’s long history. It bombed at the box office but was a hit on video. The animated movie is popular with Batman fans, but is still lesser known among casual moviegoers.
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