Contrary to what some may believe, animated movies are not always happy, family-friendly films. Many animated films have taken on surprisingly dark tones, exploring serious themes and challenging viewers’ preconceived notions of what animation can be. The art style has evolved quite dramatically since the first cartoons were released, and modern animated movies have broken the mold of what’s possible. Nowadays, filmmakers are pushing boundaries and using animation to tell their stories in exciting new ways, which could be why animated movies are increasingly dominating the box office.
There are many reasons why filmmakers may decide to make dark animated features. For one, animation allows filmmakers to make storytelling decisions that would be otherwise impossible to convey. Even if the story doesn’t necessarily feel like something that would typically appear as an animated film, filmmakers may recognize that animation is simply the most effective medium to tell it. Another reason would involve the creators looking to introduce more mature stories to younger audiences in a way that would be more palatable to them; for example, animated movies that deal with mental health. Whatever the reason may be, many animated films end up being far darker than viewers expect.
10 The Lord of the Rings (1978)
Directed by Ralph Bakshi
Years before Peter Jackson’s critically-acclaimed trilogy was produced, Ralph Bakshi took the director’s chair for a very different adaptation of J.R.R. Tolkien’s, The Lord of the Rings. Because the film was originally meant to be part of a series, Bakshi’s adaptation does not cover the entire narrative of The Lord of the Rings, but the portion covered in the film does follow the popular story quite closely. While the later trilogy used a budget of over 280 million dollars, the original animated film was made for less than ten million.
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Fans of any iteration of The Lord of the Rings will be well aware that, while the series does follow an epic journey through a fantasy world, it is not exactly a lighthearted story. On their challenging journey to destroy the One Ring, the main characters face many fearsome foes and deadly obstacles. Death is a very real and persistent threat throughout The Lord of the Rings, with characters not being spared simply because the film is an animation. The animated style does, however, allow for many stunning visuals throughout this dark story.
9 Watership Down (1978)
Directed by Martin Rosen
Based on the 1972 novel of the same name by Richard Adams, Watership Down is easily among the darkest animated films to feature an all-animal cast of characters. The dramatic film follows a group of rabbits who must escape their home after learning of an impending residential development, prompting them to go on a dangerous quest to find their new abode. Though the film did receive some opposition for being too intense for younger viewers, critics did offer praise for its brutal, realistic depiction of nature.
While many animal-led animated films do touch on darker subjects, few commit to exploring them quite as in-depth as the original Watership Down. The grim nature of the film may come as a surprise to many audiences, as the animation style does not immediately suggest that the film will follow such an intense, realistic path. Instead, the animation feels more reminiscent of most Disney features of the era, initially portraying the characters as warm, cuddly creatures. This makes it all the more shocking when the film explores the true extent of violence and death in the animal kingdom.
8 The Secret of NIMH (1982)
Directed by Don Bluth
Once you realize what NIMH stands for, it becomes clear that The Secret of NIMH is not likely to be a lighthearted animated feature. This 1982 fantasy film tells the story of a widowed mother mouse who must find a way to relocate her family (including her very sick son) before the local farmer can plow through their home. The Secret of NIMH clearly follows a dark story all-around, presenting genuine dangers to the characters that feel much more grim and believable than young audiences are typically accustomed to.
The title, The Secret of NIMH, refers to the National Institute of Mental Health. In the film, the protagonist is introduced to a small society of rats who were all subjected to various experiments at the NIMH. The idea of turning genetically influenced lab rats into prominent characters in an animated film immediately adds a dark twist. Without giving away too much detail, it is abundantly clear that the NIMH rats were massively influenced by the experiments performed on them, which were certainly done against their will. The mere presence of these characters contributes a palpable darkness to the film.
7 Perfect Blue (1997)
Directed by Satoshi Kon
Animated movies don’t always need to feature family-friendly plots and lovable characters. After all, there is nothing stopping filmmakers from creating violent psychological thriller stories, and using animation as the medium through which to tell them. This is the case for Perfect Blue, an anime film directed by Satoshi Kon. Perfect Blue follows a former pop singer looking to launch her acting career. Things immediately take a dark turn, as she begins to be stalked by an obsessive fan, and various people around her start getting murdered.
Don’t let the animation fool you; Perfect Blue is a truly intense thriller, exploring the darkest side of fame, and all the disturbing changes that come along with it. The film deals with murder, obsession, paranoia, and even the mental hardships that arise as a result of these things. Perfect Blue was well-received overall by critics, with praise being offered for the gripping mystery at its core. Regardless of whether one enjoys the film, it is impossible to ignore the ways Perfect Blue pushes the boundaries of what can be shown in an animated feature.
6 The Iron Giant (1999)
Directed by Brad Bird
One of the major advantages of animation is its ability to present complex topics in ways that are more accessible to younger audiences. This was the goal for the team behind The Iron Giant, the 1999 directorial debut from future Pixar powerhouse, Brad Bird. This animated science-fiction film depicts the touching friendship between a young boy named Hogarth and the massive, otherworldly robot he discovers one day. Unfortunately, not everyone is able to see the Giant’s warmth and tenderness the way Hogarth does, and he begins to face violent, paranoid opposition from the government.
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While The Iron Giant does explore lighter themes like family and friendship, it manages to dive into much more complex topics as well. The entire film could be seen as an allegory for immigration, with the Giant arriving from a distant land and immediately facing strong prejudice from the government and civilians alike, regardless of who he is on the inside. While younger viewers may not fully grasp the depth of the story they are being shown, The Iron Giant and its perfect ending still manage to effectively teach them valuable lessons about acceptance, acknowledging the dangers of a lack of it.
5 Coraline (2009)
Directed by Henry Selick
Henry Selick’s stop-motion adaptation of Neil Gaiman’s novella, Coraline, has become a fan-favorite in the world of dark animation over the years since its release. The eerie film follows the titular eleven-year-old as she discovers a mysterious alternate universe through a portal in her new house, becoming all-too-familiar with the dark secrets hiding within it. Coraline not only follows a spooky story, but it consistently employs dark, unsettling visuals (especially for those who feel uneasy around needles and spiders).
Even beyond the grim idea of being trapped in a bleak, alternate version of the world, Coraline is rooted in an even darker backstory. After all, Coraline is not the only person to discover the mysterious portal in her new house. Three children before her all lost their lives after succumbing to the temptation of venturing into the other world. Coraline, still relevant since its release in 2009, creatively capitalizes on its stop-motion style to create chilling images of death and disfigurement, ones that are bound to stick in the minds of viewers long after the credits roll.
4 9 (2009)
Directed by Shane Acker
With Tim Burton attached as a producer, it is no major shock that the 2009 animated film, 9, employs a rather dark premise. The film is primarily set in an alternative version of the 1940s where life on Earth has been wiped out by a superintelligent machine. The only remaining traces of life are nine human-like rag dolls (dubbed “Stitchpunks”), each containing a piece of the original scientist’s soul, created as his last-second effort to make something capable of destroying the machine he designed.
9 is a rather unique story to be told through animation, as post-apocalyptic features are seldom told without the use of vast, live-action sets, and gore-heavy sequences. The visuals of 9 are consistently stunning, offering a bold, dismal representation of a lifeless version of Earth. The film was made on a budget of 30 million dollars, which certainly would have had to be significantly higher if it wasn’t animated, as it relies heavily on its visual effects and the atmosphere they create.
3 ParaNorman (2012)
Directed by Sam Fell and Chris Butler
The 2012 animated feature, ParaNorman, another stop-motion horror movie like Coraline, chillingly presents a spooky story, while simultaneously keeping it rooted in a truly dark chapter of America’s history. In the film, the protagonist, Norman, is a social outcast with a very special gift; he is able to not only see, but fully interact with the dead. When an annual ritual fails to be performed, a group of zombies begins to rise from their graves, sending Norman and his friends on a frenetic chase to figure out how to put an end to the mysterious curse.
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While any story featuring the undead is bound to have a rather dark feel, ParaNorman takes things a step further by rooting the story in the all-too-real events of the Salem Witch Trials. The curse which wreaks havoc in the film is caused by the spirit of an innocent young girl who was sentenced to death after being accused of witchcraft in the 1690s. Though the primary story of the film is clearly a work of fiction, the ways ParaNorman ties in real events give the supernatural film a grim sense of reality.
2 Marcel the Shell with Shoes On (2021)
Directed by Dean Fleischer Camp
Based on a series of short videos created by the same team about a decade before, Marcel the Shell with Shoes On is a 2021 mockumentary-style film that blends stop-motion animation with some live-action elements. The film presents itself as a documentary made by the director (Dean) himself, focusing on his daily interactions with the titular one-eyed shell and his grandmother, Connie. Upon forming a friendship with Marcel and Connie, Dean makes it his goal to use his documentary to help them find the rest of their family.
While Marcel is infectiously optimistic, it is difficult to ignore the dark undertones of the film. At the time the film begins, Marcel and Connie are the only two remaining members of their once-giant family, having no way to find them after they mysteriously disappeared one day. Dean only enters the story because he is going through a difficult divorce, leaving him with no other place to stay. To top things off, Connie is gravely ill, with her condition only getting worse as the movie progresses. Fortunately, Marcel’s unwavering courage consistently manages to shine through all the darkness.
1 Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio (2022)
Directed by Mark Gustafson and Guillermo del Toro
The story of Pinocchio, the wooden puppet who is magically transformed into a living, human child, has been told and retold many times over the years. While most iterations of the classic tale tend to include some elements on the more dismal side, none embrace the darkness with more vigor than Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio. This should come as no major surprise, though, given the name in the title. Guillermo del Toro is known for his many nightmarish horror works over the years, and he certainly found a way to implement his trademark style when remaking the old fairy tale.
Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio explores the topic of death in much more depth than most animated movies would venture to do. In del Toro’s retelling, Pinocchio is granted immortality; every time he dies, he is soon revived, although he must stay deceased for an increasingly long period each time it happens. Additionally, the film is set during a tumultuous period in Italy’s history, with the fascist leader Benito Mussolini even appearing as a character. The ways the film looks at death and the realities of interwar Europe make Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio an intriguing, darker take on the age-old tale.