The best animated movies for adults prove there is no reason to view the medium as just for children. Since the early days of cinema, animation has been a big draw, especially for families — with Disney’s animated projects (as well as their various competitors) bringing wondrous fairy tales to life even before the first color film. While the best-animated movies often appeal to all ages, with parents enjoying the thrilling stories as much as their children, there’s often been a misconception that cartoons were only made for younger audiences.
Luckily, as with animated adult comedies on television, films fight against those perceptions and deliver brilliant animated movies tailored to an adult audience. While this sometimes means they include violence and sexuality seen in live-action R-rated movies, it also means there are deeper and more mature stories that might not appeal to kids but could take adult audiences on a journey that can only be told in animated form. As more animated movies for adults have arrived with ever-increasing budgets throughout the years, the best cartoons that aren’t for kids include some classic films.
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The users on Letterboxd have reviewed thousands of animated films throughout history and these iconic movies scored higher than any others.
35
Monster House (2006)
The Horror-Comedy Thats Defies The Age Of Its Target Audience
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Monster House
PG-13
Monster House is a 2006 animated film directed by Gil Kenan. The story follows three teenagers who discover that a seemingly haunted house in their neighborhood is actually a living, breathing entity. As they investigate, they uncover the sinister secrets lurking within the house’s walls.
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Director
Gil Kenan
Release Date
June 30, 2006
Cast
Mitchel Musso
, Sam Lerner
, Spencer Locke
, Steve Buscemi
, Maggie Gyllenhaal
, Kevin James
, Nick Cannon
, Jon Heder
, Jason Lee
, Catherine O’Hara
, Fred Willard
, Kathleen Turner
, Ryan Whitney
, Woody Schultz
, Ian McConnel
, Erik Walker
, Matthew Fahey
Runtime
91 Minutes
Expand
2006’s Monster House has become something of a cult gem over the decades since it hit theaters, though it was somewhat overlooked during its initial box-office run. However, the reason for this is also what makes it a great movie for adults – it is, genuinely, quite scary in many places. When it comes to the best animated movies for adults, the majority are clearly not made for younger viewers. However, there is also of course some overlap, with movies that were intended to be family-friendly actually appealing less to kids than they do to grown-ups, and Monster House sits comfortably in this category.
Monster House focuses on a trio of kids who, after investigating disappearances in their neighborhood, discover that the creepy haunted house on their block isn’t actually haunted in the traditional sense, but is in fact a house-shaped monster possessed by a vengeful spirit. The movie is peppered with jokes that go over younger viewers’ heads, and the horror aspects of the dark animated film are done so well that many adult horror fans cite it as a valid example of how well the horror genre can work in animation (even with no gore to be found).
34
The Simpsons Movie (2007)
The Feaure-Length Outing Of The Hit Animated Sitcom
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8/10
7/10
The Simpsons Movie
PG-13
Based on the long-running animated sitcom of the same name, The Simpsons Movie followed Homer, Marge, Lisa, Bart, and Maggie as their hometown of Springfield is quarantined by the EPA due to Homer irresponsibly polluting the town’s lake. The film stars the entire main cast of The Simpsons and includes famous guest stars like Albert Brooks, Tom Hanks, and the members of the band Green Day.
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Director
David Silverman
Release Date
July 27, 2007
Cast
Julie Kavner
, Nancy Cartwright
, Hank Azaria
, Dan Castellaneta
, Harry Shearer
, Yeardley Smith
Runtime
87 minutes
While it’s rated as a PG-13, The Simpsons Movie still stands as one of the best animated movies for adults for many of the same reasons the show appeals to older viewers. The 2007 feature-film takes everything that makes The Simpsons so great and perfectly packages it for a longer runtime. What’s more, the creative team make full use of the opportunity to include jokes that would never be allowed on the small screen due to the stricter regulations around broadcast television.
Moments like Bart skateboarding naked through Springfield make The Simpsons Movie stand out from the show itself. However, even if viewers aren’t Simpsons superfans, The Simpsons Movie works as a great animated movie for adults in its own right. The plot is incredibly coherent and doesn’t require much knowledge of the show, meaning that both established fans and newcomers alike will find plenty to enjoy from the biting humor that definitely isn’t suitable for children.
33
Ronal The Barbarian (2011)
The Adult Animated Fantasy Parody
There are many great international adult animated movies, with many territories outside the U.S. exploring themes that aren’t suitable for kids in the medium many mistakenly believe only appeals to younger viewers. A great example is the 2011 Danish movie Ronal the Barbarian from directors Kresten Vestbjerg Andersen, Thorbjørn Christoffersen, and Philip Einstein Lipski.
Ronal the Barbarian is a parody of fantasy movies, animated or otherwise, and much of the humor comes from its satirical elements as much as it does its adult themes. The more adult humor also stems from the movie’s various nods to traditional heavy metal, a genre of music that went hand-in-hand during the peak of its popularity. There’s plenty for adult fans of animation to enjoy with Ronal the Barbarian, both in terms of its many jokes that definitely aren’t suitable for kids, and its surprisingly deep fantasy plot.
32
Fantastic Mr. Fox (2009)
The Roald Dahl Adaptation With Surprisingly Adult Themes
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7/10
9/10
The Fantastic Mr. Fox
PG
Based on the Roald Dahl children’s book, Fantastic Mr. Fox tells the story of the titular fox, his thieving spree, and the three farmers who seek revenge on him for the thefts.
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Director
Wes Anderson
Release Date
November 13, 2009
Cast
George Clooney
, Meryl Streep
, Jason Schwartzman
, Bill Murray
, Willem Dafoe
, Owen Wilson
Runtime
87minutes
Much like Monster House, 2009’s Fantastic Mr. Fox is an animated movie many adults will enjoy that was, perhaps mistakenly, marketed toward younger viewers. While there aren’t really any jokes in the quirky Wes Andersen adaptation of a Roald Dahl story that are inappropriate for younger viewers, many of the themes are definitely so nuanced that only an adult audience could truly appreciate them.
Much of the plot is driven by themes like trying to relive the carefree attitude of young adulthood, and fears around leaving a lasting legacy as old age approaches – ideas that younger viewers will struggle to understand. What’s more, the subtle humor really shines during moments like the titular Mr. Fox (George Clooney) arguing with his accountant, a struggle younger viewers won’t fully be able to relate to, but adults will find hilarious. All in all, while Fantastic Mr. Fox works as a family movie, it’s arguably much more suited to older viewers.
31
Batman: The Killing Joke (2016)
The Definitive Adult Batman Cartoon
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3/10
Batman the Killing Joke
R
Based on one of the best-selling graphic novels of all time, Batman: The Killing Joke follows Batman as he hunts for the Arkham fugitive Clown Prince of Crime himself, the Joker. When the Joker attacks the Gordon family to prove a diabolical point, the stakes become personal for the Caped Crusader. This story explores the depths of the madness of the Joker’s mind and how far he’s willing to go to prove that all human beings can change their morals if pushed enough.
Director
Sam Liu
Release Date
July 25, 2016
Cast
JP Karliak
, Ray Wise
, Brian George
, John DiMaggio
, Maury Sterling
, Kevin Conroy
, Robin Atkin Downes
, Nolan North
, Mark Hamill
, Tara Strong
Runtime
86minutes
There are many animated DC movies that fall into the category of being for adults only, despite being focused on superheroes. However, if there was to be one that stood out for being inarguably for adult viewers only, the 2016 adaptation of Alan Moore’s Batman graphic novel The Killing Joke is inargubaly the one most worth considering for fans of animated movies aimed at older age demographics. Batman: The Killing Joke is a dark and gritty Batman tale that pits him against his arch-nemesis, The Joker, but is a harrowingly realistic interpretation of both characters.
The Joker in The Killing Joke is the kind of maniacal villain he would be in real life, kidnapping Barbara Gordon and subjecting her to a host of tortures, including implied sexual assault. The Killing Joke definitely isn’t a superhero story for children, and as far as the animated movie goes, both the quality of the animation itself and the vocal performances of Kevin Conry as Batman and Mark Hamill as the Joker make it worth watching even if viewers aren’t necessarily Batman fans.
30
When The Wind Blows (1986)
The Animated Movie That Goes From Quaint To Harrowing In A Single Scene
When the Wind Blows
16+
Director
Jimmy T. Murakami
Release Date
February 6, 1987
Writers
Raymond Briggs
Cast
Peggy Ashcroft
, John Mills
, Robin Houston
, James Russell
, David Dundas
, Matt Irving
Runtime
84 Minutes
When it comes to absolutely harrowing depictions of nuclear armageddon, few would guess that one of the most bleakly unforgettable is a movie set in the British countryside which focuses on an elderly couple called Mr. and Mrs. Bloggs, and is animated by the mind behind the charming Christmas tale The Snowman. However, the adult animated movie When the Wind Blows from writer Raymond Briggs and director Jimmy T. Murakami is exactly that, and remains one of the most unflinching depictions of life after a nuclear war put to film.
An incredibly tragic tale, especially since the couple attempt to remain optimistic even as their bodies are ravaged by radiation poisoning, and it becomes clear the government’s advice on surviving life after the bomb is completely useless.
When the Wind Blows has a relatively simple premise – Jim and Hilda Bloggs live in their cottage in the British countryside when the Cold War becomes scorching hot. Britain comes under nuclear attack, from which point Jim and Hilda attempt to cling to their sense of normalcy during the harshness of a nuclear winter. It’s an incredibly tragic tale, especially since the couple attempt to remain optimistic even as their bodies are ravaged by radiation poisoning, and it becomes clear the government’s advice on surviving life after the bomb is completely useless.
29
9 (2009)
The Quirky Animated Post-Apocalyptic Movie With An All-Star Cast
9 (2009)
PG-13
In a post-apocalyptic world, 9 is a computer-animated science fiction film where small sentient ragdolls battle menacing machines. Led by the titular character, voiced by Elijah Wood, they strive to survive and discover the truth about humanity’s downfall. The film features the voices of Jennifer Connelly and John C. Reilly.
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Director
Shane Acker
Release Date
September 9, 2009
Writers
Pamela Pettler
, Shane Acker
, Ben Gluck
Cast
Elijah Wood
, Christopher Plummer
, Martin Landau
, John C. Reilly
, Crispin Glover
, Jennifer Connelly
, Fred Tatasciore
, Alan Oppenheimer
, Tom Kane
, Helen Wilson
Runtime
79 Minutes
The 2009 animated movie 9, by director Shane Acker, fell short when it was released due to the marketing mistakenly presenting it as a movie targeted at younger viewers thanks to the appearance of the central characters. While the group of inch-high self-aware automatons that make up the only speaking roles in 9 do indeed somewhat resemble characters usually found in kids’ movies, 9 is certainly not an animated movie for children. While it features little that’s directly adult (aside from the odd corpse or two in the background), its central themes and story are far too complex for younger viewers.
9 stars Elijah Wood as “9”, a mechanical ragdoll-like robot who awakens after a nuclear war between humanity and an A.I. created by a corrupt human dictator. 9 finds the world he’s woken into is incredibly dangerous, with the only inhabitants being ravenous red-eyed machines. However, while he initially fears he’s alone, 9 soon meets his siblings (numbers 1 through 8), and discovers that his existence is no mere accident. The tone and visuals of 9 are incredibly dark, and there are few animated movies out there like it.
28
The House (2022)
The Complex Stop-Motion Anthology Movie With Plenty Of Thematic Depth
The House (2022)
R
The House (2022) is an anthology film exploring three unsettling stories set within a single, ever-changing house. Directed by Emma De Swaef, Marc James Roels, Niki Lindroth von Bahr, and Paloma Baeza, the stop-motion animation features a variety of characters from different timelines, encountering bizarre and eerie events.
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Director
Marc James Roels
, Emma De Swaef
, Niki Lindroth von Bahr
, Paloma Baeza
Release Date
January 14, 2022
Writers
Marc James Roels
, Emma De Swaef
, Niki Lindroth von Bahr
, Paloma Baeza
, Johannes Nyholm
, Enda Walsh
Cast
Mia Goth
, Matthew Goode
, Claudie Blakley
, Eleanor De Swaef-Roels
, Mark Heap
, Stephanie Cole
, Miranda Richardson
, David Peacock
Runtime
97 Minutes
The anthology format has always gone hand-in-hand with animated movies, and one of the best modern examples is Netflix’s The House, from directors Emma de Swaef, Marc James Roels, Niki Lindroth von Bahr, and Paloma Baeza. The House contains three tales, each with a dark premise, twist, and animation to match. The tales take place in different timelines and even worlds, though all use the same house as a set. It’s an anthology with an incredible amount of thematic depth, touching on subjects like insanity, the effects of wealth, and the nature of true fulfillment and happiness.
The cast of The House includes the likes of Mia Goth, Miranca Richardson, and Helena Bonham Carter, among others. It was received incredibly well by critics, and even secured a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Individual Achievement in Animation for animator Kecy Salangad. Each of the three tales in The House feels truly unique and yet, at the same time, intrinsically linked to the others, and it’s an incredibly endearing movie both for fans of animation and viewers who simply enjoy a bizzare, surreal film.
27
The Spine Of Night (2021)
The Dark Modern Homage To The Adult Animated Movies Of The 1970s And 80s
The Spine of Night
Not Rated
The Spine of Night is an animated fantasy epic directed by Philip Gelatt and Morgan Galen King. Set in a dark and brutal world, the film interweaves multiple storylines across various epochs, delving into themes of power, corruption, and mortality. Featuring the voices of Richard E. Grant, Lucy Lawless, and Patton Oswalt, the film is noted for its intricate hand-drawn animation and mature content.
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Director
Morgan Galen King
, Philip Gelatt
Release Date
March 25, 2022
Writers
Philip Gelatt
, Morgan Galen King
Cast
Lucy Lawless
, Patton Oswalt
, Richard E. Grant
, Joe Manganiello
, Betty Gabriel
Runtime
93 minutes
Dark, hand-drawn animated fantasy movies were a staple of the 1970s and 1980s, though the subgenre fell out of fashion for a while. However, the format has always had its fans, and in 2021, directors Philip Gelatt and Morgan Galen King paid homage to the unique era of animation with The Spine of Night. The movie was animated using the rotoscope technique, meaning the cels were hand-drawn over live-action footage, giving The Spine of Night a unique feel.
The plot is a suitable homage to its spiritual ancestors too, as it tells a dark tale of swords and sorcery that would feel right at home decades earlier when the films it’s carrying on the legacy of were popular. The Spine of Night focuses on the journey of a magical plant across several centuries, known as the Bloom. The cast features the likes of Richard E. Grant as The Guardian, Lucy Lawless as Tzod, and Patton Oswalt as Lord Pyrantin. Whether viewers are a fan of animated adult-fantasy movies of decades gone by or not, The Spine of Night certainly makes for a unique and action-packed watch.
26
A Scanner Darkly (2006)
A Surreal Animated Tale Of Addiction And Identity
A Scanner Darkly
R
A Scanner Darkly, directed by Richard Linklater, depicts a dystopian future plagued by drug addiction, where an undercover cop, played by Keanu Reeves, grapples with the effects of a powerful drug that alters his reality. The film uses rotoscope animation to capture its dreamlike narrative, featuring performances by Robert Downey Jr., Woody Harrelson, and Winona Ryder. It explores themes of identity, surveillance, and the psychological toll of substance abuse.
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Director
Richard Linklater
Release Date
July 28, 2006
Writers
Philip K. Dick
, Richard Linklater
Cast
Rory Cochrane
, Robert Downey Jr.
, Mitch Baker
, Keanu Reeves
, Sean Allen
, Cliff Haby
Runtime
100 minutes
Another rotoscoped movie like The Spine of Night is 2006’s A Scanner Darkly, the surreal sci-fi set in the near future (2013 to be specific, which was the near future when the movie released) and based on the 1977 novel of the same name by Philip K. Dick. A Scanner Darkly focuses on an America in the midst of a narcotics epidemic of unrivaled proportions, with over a quarter of the population addicted to the mysterious Substance D. To combat this rise in addiction, the government makes use of undercover officers with their identities hidden by “scramble suits”, so their true names and faces are a mystery even to one-another.
Keanu Reeves stars as Bob Arctor, one such undercover officer, whose life begins to unravel when his police identity, “Fred”, is tasked with keeping tabs on his civilian one. Arctor’s sense of self slowly unravels, and his slip into insanity isn’t helped by his addiction to Substance D. Reeves gives a highly underrated performance, as do co-stars Robert Downey Jr., Woody Harrelson, and Winona Ryder. The animation of A Scanner Darkly lends itself perfectly to the plot, and the twist at the end will have viewers thinking for weeks after viewing.
25
I Lost My Body (2019)
An Oscar-Nominated French Film About A Severed Hand Trying To Find Its Missing Body
I Lost My Body (2019)
I Lost My Body is an animated film directed by Jérémy Clapin, following the story of Naoufel, a young man captivated by Gabrielle, and a severed hand that escapes from a lab, embarking on a journey to reunite with its body.
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Director
Jérémy Clapin
Release Date
October 19, 2019
Cast
Hakim Faris
, Victoire Du Bois
, Patrick d’Assumçao
, Alfonso Arfi
, Hichem Mesbah
, Myriam Loucif
, Bellamine Abdelmalek
, Maud Le Guenedal
, Nicole Favart
, Quentin Baillot
, Céline Ronté
, Deborah Grall
, Pascal Rocher
, Bruno Hausler
, Jocelyn Veluire
, Raymond Hosni
, Guillaume Desmarchellier
Runtime
81 Minutes
Expand
The French animated movie I Lost My Body takes a unique story and delivers a strangely beautiful movie with it. It centers around a severed hand that escapes from a laboratory and makes its way across Paris, attempting to reunite with the rest of its body. The premise might suggest a more macabre movie, but I Lost My Body is a surprisingly heartfelt story with a journey that leads to a satisfying conclusion.
It centers around a severed hand that escapes from a laboratory and makes its way across Paris, attempting to reunite with the rest of its body.
I Lost My Body premiered in the Critics’ Week (Semaine de la Critique) section of the 2019 Cannes Film Festival. At Cannes, it ended up as the first animated movie to ever win the Nespresso Grand Prize in that award’s history (the award’s first year was 2001). It went on to earn countless Best Animated Film awards while also receiving an Oscar nomination for Best Animated Feature, although it lost out to Toy Story 4.
24
Mad God (2021)
A Trip To Stop-Motion Hell From An Oscar-Winning Visual Effects Producer
Close
Mad God
Mad God is a stop-motion animated horror film directed by Phil Tippett. Set in a nightmarish, dystopian world, it follows an assassin venturing through a labyrinthine landscape filled with grotesque creatures and desolate ruins. The film showcases Tippett’s dark, inventive imagination and creates a visual experience of chaos and despair, highlighting the haunting power of meticulous animation.
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Director
Phil Tippett
Release Date
June 16, 2022
Cast
Alex Cox
, Niketa Roman
, Satish Ratakonda
, Harper Taylor
, Arne Hain
, Jake Freytag
Runtime
84 Minutes
The best stop-motion animated movies showcase the beauty and brilliance of the medium, with Mad God being one of the most ambitious examples. While stop-motion movies can certainly be more aimed at kids, Mad God is decidedly not. The story follows an assassin who ventures into a hellish underworld of tortured souls and grotesque creatures. This animated movie for adults started life as a Kickstarter project from Oscar-winning visual effects producer Phil Tippet which was 30 years in the making.
Tippet began working on the movie after he worked on Jurassic Park in 1993, believing he wanted to find a way to save stop-motion animation from disappearing with the advent of CGI. The result is a stunning visual experience that showcases how stop-motion can deliver unbelievable scenarios that compete and exceed CGI. Mad God premiered at the Locarno Festival in 2021 and joined Shudder’s lineup of programming in 2022. It went on to win the Best Feature Film Animation at the prestigious Ray Harryhausen Awards.
23
Wolfwalkers (2020)
A Multi-Award Nominated Irish Fantasy Tale With A Truly Unique Art Style
9/10
Wolfwalkers
PG
Wolfwalkers follows the story of a young apprentice hunter named Robyn and her father as they arrive in Ireland to help eliminate the last wolf pack. Her life takes an unexpected turn when she befriends Mebh, a member of a mysterious tribe rumored to transform into wolves by night. Directed by Tomm Moore and Ross Stewart, this animated film explores themes of friendship, folklore, and self-discovery set against a stunningly illustrated backdrop.
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Director
Tomm Moore
, Ross Stewart
Release Date
November 13, 2020
Cast
Tommy Tiernan
, Eva Whittaker
, Simon McBurney
, John Morton
, Honor Kneafsey
, Maria Doyle Kennedy
, Jon Kenny
, Sean Bean
Runtime
103 minutes
Animated fantasy movies may feel as though they are tailor-made for a younger audience. However, the Irish animated studio Cartoon Saloon has excelled at making magical animated adventures that appeal to older audiences perhaps more than younger ones. Wolfwalkers follows Robyn (Honor Kneafsey), a young girl whose father has been tasked with hunting a local wolf. However, she soon befriends a magical young girl with the ability to transform into a wolf at night.
It is a beautifully animated movie with stunning 2D art that feels like both a throwback and totally original animated feature. It received nominations for Best Animated Feature Film at the Academy Awards, Golden Globe Awards, and BAFTA Awards. With a voice cast including Sean Bean, the movie won five Annie Awards, including Best Animated Feature – Independent and the Satellite Award for Best Animated or Mixed Media Film.
22
The Wind Rises (2013)
Hayao Miyazaki’s Biography Of A Famed Japanese Aviation Engineer
The Wind Rises
PG-13
This animated Japanese film is a fictionalized account of the life and work of engineer Jiro Horikoshi, who designed the aircrafts used by Japan during World War II.
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Director
Hayao Miyazaki
Release Date
July 20, 2013
Cast
Hideaki Anno
, Hidetoshi Nishijima
, Masahiko Nishimura
, Keiko Takeshita
, Jun Kunimura
Runtime
126 minutes
While Studio Ghibli uses its stunning animation to tell fantastical stories at times, it also uses it to tell much more grounded and human stories. The historical drama The Wind Rises is a fictionalized biographical film of Jiro Horikoshi, a Japanese designer responsible for precursors to the planes used to bomb Pearl Harbor. Initially meant to be Hayao Miyazaki’s final film, it is another showcase of his incredible talents as a filmmaker as well as a complex look at a historical figure.
It was nominated for several awards, including Best Animated Feature at the Oscars and Best Foreign Language Film at the Golden Globes. The Wind Rises did win the Annie Award for Outstnading Achievement for Writing in a Feature Production and the Japan Academy Film Prize for Animation of the Year. The movie has an 88% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
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Studio Ghibli are a mainstay of anime film studios, having been working since the 80s. Here’s every major film they worked on in the order of release.
21
Guillermo Del Toro’s Pinocchio (2022)
A Legendary Horror Director’s Dark Take On A Classic Fairy Tale
Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio
PG-13
From director Guillermo del Toro comes Pinocchio, a stop-motion animation reimagining of Carlo Collodi’s original tale, The Adventures of Pinocchio. A darker story than the Disney original, this Pinocchio takes place during the fascist regime in 1930s Italy after the passing of Gepetto’s son, Carlo. When Gepetto’s grief overcomes him, he finally seeks an outlet by creating a wooden boy who comes to life. However, Gepetto’s new wooden son is more of a trickster than a well-behaved boy, as he pranks the people he comes across and tends to lean on the wild side. Pinocchio will struggle to make his father proud and learn what it means to be a real boy while avoiding the pursuit of the film’s main antagonist, Count Volpe.
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Director
Guillermo del Toro
, Mark Gustafson
Release Date
December 9, 2022
Cast
Ewan McGregor
, David Bradley
, Gregory Mann
, Ron Pearlman
, Cate Blanchett
, Finn Wolfhard
, Christoph Waltz
, Tilda Swinton
, John Turturro
Runtime
114 minutes
There have been several versions of Pinocchio over the years, but Oscar-winning filmmaker Guillermo del Toro managed to find a new and worthwhile approach to the familiar story. While it follows the same basic premise of the wooden boy that comes to life, there is an interesting element of Geppetto rejecting Pinocchio as a mistake. The setting in Fascist Italy also adds to the intriguing new take, and this version of Pinocchio is one of the best-animated movies for adults, even if it’s relatively free of R-rated elements.
It is a funny, heartbreaking, and visually marvelous tale of mortality while also earning del Toro another Oscar, this time for Best Animated Feature (he previously won Best Picture and Best Director for his fantasy movie The Shape of Water). The movie also won the same award at the Golden Globes and Annie Awards. Pinocchio has a 96% fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
20
Beavis And Butt-Head Do America (1996)
Mike Judge’s Beavis And Butt-Head’s Feature-Length Debut
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Beavis and Butt-Head Do America
PG-13
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Director
Mike Judge
, Yvette Kaplan
Release Date
December 15, 1996
Cast
Mike Judge
, Bruce Willis
, Demi Moore
, Cloris Leachman
, Robert Stack
, Jacqueline Barba
Runtime
81 minutes
Mike Judge brought his Beavis and Butt-head characters to the big screen in Beavis and Butt-Head Do America. Instead of sitting around and watching TV like on the MTV series, the duo hits the road in their big-screen debut, albeit in order to track down their stolen TV. Judge’s work on Beavis and Butt-Head was an early pioneer in adult-oriented animation on television, and he was one of the first to bring that style from the small screen to the big screen.
Undoubtedly one of the most influential animated movies for adults, Beavis and Butt-Head Do America lives on through memes. It also kickstarted Judge’s career, as he directed Office Space three years later and has since brought King of the Hill to the small screen and brought back Beavis and Butthead for a new generation with the Paramount+ original movie, Beavis and Butt-Head Do the Universe.
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Beavis & Butt-Head Cast Guide: Who Voices Each Character
The new season will see Mike Judge return as the show’s main voice actor. He will be joined by a rotating cast who will bring side characters to life.
19
The Lord Of The Rings (1978)
The Animated Version of Tolkien’s Epic
The Lord of the Rings (1978)
PG
The Lord of the Rings is an animated film based on J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings novels. Directed by Ralph Bakshi, The Lord of the Rings adapts The Fellowship of the Ring and The Two Towers, following a group of hobbits attempting to destroy a magical ring created by Sauron.
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Director
Ralph Bakshi
Release Date
November 15, 1978
Cast
Christopher Guard
, William Squire
, Michael Scholes
, John Hurt
, Dominic Guard
, Anthony Daniels
Runtime
132 Minutes
Ralph Bakshi set out to animate The Lord of the Rings trilogy across two movies. However, due to problems behind the scenes, Bakshi only ever managed to make the first one, covering The Fellowship of the Ring and the first half of The Two Towers. Still, Bakshi’s adaptation has achieved cult status as undeniably a different take on the material. Peter Jackson acknowledged its influence on his own adaptation of Tolkien’s work a couple of decades later, and these can even be observed in some of the best scenes from Jackson’s Lord of the Rings trilogy.
The movie did well at the box office when released, making $30.4 million on a $4 million budget (via Box Office Mojo), and it received a 2022 re-release. Critical response was mixed upon its release, with many criticizing the animation and the fact the movie didn’t have a conclusive ending since it was expected to start a trilogy. However, it has been reappraised and has become a legitimate cult classic.
18
Ghost In The Shell (1995)
The Anime Classic That Helped Birth The Matrix Franchise
Ghost in the Shell (1995)
Ghost in the Shell explores the story of Major Motoko Kusanagi, a cyborg public-security agent in 2029 Japan, assigned to track down a mysterious hacker known as the Puppet Master. As she delves deeper into the case, she confronts questions of identity, consciousness, and what it means to be human. The film is directed by Mamoru Oshii and is based on the manga by Masamune Shirow.
Where to Watch
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Not available
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*Availability in US
Director
Mizuho Nishikubo
, Mamoru Oshii
Release Date
December 8, 1995
Cast
Atsuko Tanaka
, Akio Otsuka
, Iemasa Kayumi
, Koichi Yamadera
, Yutaka Nakano
, Tamio Ôki
, Tesshô Genda
, Masato Yamanouchi
Runtime
83 Minutes
Mamoru Oshii’s original Ghost in the Shell movie from 1995 remains a timeless classic of the cyberpunk genre. Apart from touching on challenging themes surrounding transhumanism and institutional politics, Ghost in the Shell is an example of how combining traditional cel animation and computer graphics was already perfected back in the ’90s. The movie’s influence on The Matrix franchise was so strong that the Wachowskis reportedly pitched the project to studios by screening Ghost in the Shell and telling executives they wanted to basically just do that but in live-action.
This is another movie that was a box office disappointment that ended up becoming a massive cult favorite in the years to come. However, despite making less than expected at the box office, it was still a critical success, nominated for five Annie Awards, the most ever for a Japanese movie at that time. This included Best Animated Feature and Best Achievement in Directing, but it lost out to the first Toy Story movie.
Related
Best Order To Watch Ghost In The Shell Movies & TV Shows
Getting into the Ghost in the Shell franchise can be complicated. Here is the best order to watch all Ghost in the Shell movies and TV shows.
17
Mary And Max (2009)
A Stop-Motion Exploration Into Isolation And Companionship
Mary and Max
Mary and Max is a stop-motion animated film directed by Adam Elliot. The story follows an unlikely friendship between Mary, a lonely young girl in Australia, and Max, an older man with Asperger’s Syndrome living in New York. Through their letters, they share their struggles, forging a bond that transcends their differences and distances. The film explores themes of loneliness, connection, and the human experience with poignant depth.
Where to Watch
- stream
- rent
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Not available
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*Availability in US
Director
Adam Elliot
Release Date
April 9, 2009
Cast
Toni Collette
, Philip Seymour Hoffman
, Eric Bana
, Barry Humphries
, Bethany Whitmore
, Renée Geyer
Runtime
92 Minutes
Inspired by his relationship with his own pen pal in New York, writer-director Adam Elliot made Mary and Max, a stop-motion claymation animated dramedy about an isolated Australian girl and the overweight American with whom she exchanges letters. The movie’s use of colors to represent its characters, from Max’s dreary noir-tinged palette to Mary’s warm sepia tones, is exemplary, while the story itself is a heartfelt testament to the virtues of human interaction in all its forms.
Mary and Max is extremely effective at juxtaposing its child-friendly animation style with deeply adult themes. The tragic and emotional story takes a deep look at addiction, loneliness, and mental illness, and the ending is a gut punch that makes this much more than just another animated movie. It went on to win the Best Animated Feature Film Award at the Asia Pacific Screen Awards and the Best Direction in a Feature Film by the Australian Directors Guild.
16
Grave Of The Fireflies (1989)
Studio Ghibli’s Heartwrenching World War II Tale
Grave of the Fireflies
Not Rated
Amidst the devastation of WWII, siblings Seita and Setsuko strive to survive in war-torn Japan after losing their mother. Facing starvation and cruelty, they cling to each other in a desperate bid for survival. As tragedy unfolds and hope dwindles, their poignant journey reveals the resilience of the human spirit amidst unimaginable suffering, culminating in a hauntingly beautiful reunion beyond the realms of earthly sorrow.
Director
Isao Takahata
Release Date
April 16, 1988
Cast
Tsutomu Tatsumi
, Ayano Shiraishi
, Akemi Yamaguchi
, Yoshiko Shinohara
Runtime
89 Mins
Grave of the Fireflies centers on a pair of siblings as they seek to survive the end of World War II in the city of Kobe, Japan. In the first few moments of the film, it is revealed both passed away, and the rest of the movie is a flashback about their journey. This, however, does nothing to cushion the blow of the crux of this truly tragic movie. It should be noted that Grave of the Fireflies is a highly emotional experience that not all viewers are prepared for. However, its valuable lessons about humanity make it a must-see.
The movie shows the horrors of World War II’s ending on innocent Japanese citizens, mostly focusing on children, and that makes this a very hard movie to watch. While the movie was slightly disappointing at the box office, it was universally acclaimed upon its release and has a perfect 100% Rotten Tomatoes score, widely considered one of the greatest animated movies ever made — adult-themed or otherwise.