Non-Disney animated movies worth checking out
I've seen so many Disney movies, so many Dreamworks, Pixar, Miyazaki, Don Bluth movies that I sometimes get tired of them. So here's a list of old/obscure/under-appreciated animated movies in case you're like me and looking for something that may not have the highest budget or best execution, but are at least DIFFERENT to the every day animated/anime movie.
Note. Not all of these are suitable for children.
Note. Not all of these are suitable for children.
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- DirectorSteven HahnStarsJoe ColliganCarmen ArgenzianoNoelle NorthSet on the subterranean Mine-World, a band of human worker are treated like slaves under the power of the evil overlord Zygon until one, Orin, unearths the hilt of a mythical sword that only he can master. Escaping the planet, he runs into the rogue smuggler Dagg and a pair of helpful droids and the princess, who all team up to return to the Mine-World with a plan to defeat Zygon and free Orin's enslaved people.Not really a kids film
- DirectorAdrià GarcíaVíctor MaldonadoStarsImanol AriasHervé CaradecRoger CarelAn orphan boy named Tim is afraid of the dark. However, when the stars start going out in the sky, he finds himself exploring the world of the night, alongside his new friend, the Cat Shepherd.Great for kids. Beautiful animation and a very imaginetive visual style as well as world.
- DirectorDaisuke NishioHirotoshi RissenLeiji MatsumotoStarsRomanthonyThomas BangalterA continuation of the story told in the Daft Punk music videos "One More Time," "Aerodynamic," "Digital Love," and "Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger."An anime without any dialogue and barely any sound effects. All the visuals are set to Daft Punk's Music from their "Discovery" Album. If only TRON Legacy followed this example.
- DirectorJules BassArthur Rankin Jr.StarsJeff BridgesMia FarrowAngela LansburyA beautiful unicorn sets out to learn if she truly is the last of her kind in this sparkling animated musical.Highly Recommended, especially for kids.
- DirectorTibor HernádiStarsChris PhillipsMarbry StewardPeter NewmanIn another dimension, the villainous scientist Duke of Zill, with the help of his mechanical, geometric army, takes over the Land of Oriana, prompting Felix the Cat to save its princess and restore order once again.Very weird and bizzare but I loved it as a kid
- DirectorChuck JonesAbe LevitowDave MonahanStarsButch PatrickHans ConriedMel BlancMilo is a boy who is bored with life. One day he comes home to find a toll booth in his room. Having nothing better to do, he gets in his toy car and drives through - only to emerge in a world full of adventure.I still love this movie. Very imaginetive, I think kids would like it.
- DirectorMasami HataStarsTôru FuruyaMami KoyamaIkue SakakibaraA prince of the sea and a child of fire engage in a tragic forbidden romance.Perhaps too depressing for kids
- DirectorLionel JeffriesMiroslaw KijowiczStarsJames MasonBernard CribbinsBillie WhitelawThis children's fantasy tells the story of a 12-year-old boy who discovers a complex underwater world where young children are held prisoner by an evil shark and an eel.
- DirectorTomm MooreNora TwomeyStarsEvan McGuireBrendan GleesonMick LallyA young boy in a remote medieval outpost under siege from barbarian raids is beckoned to adventure when a celebrated master illuminator arrives with an ancient book, brimming with secret wisdom and powers.HIGHLY recommended to every-one!
- DirectorRené LalouxStarsGlenn CloseChristopher PlummerPierre-Marie EscourrouAn evil force begins to destroy the idyllic paradise of Gandahar, where the citizens are in perfect harmony with nature.Not for kids
- DirectorRichard WilliamsStarsVincent PriceMatthew BroderickJennifer BealsA lonely princess and a poor cobbler fall in love while trying to retrieve three magical orbs that were stolen by a bumbling thief, all while outwitting a powerful sorcerer as adventure and comedic pop culture references abound.Try to track down "The Recobbled Cut" online and stay away from the official DVD release. There's a long history behind this film and why the official version sucks. The recut version is amazing and I highly recommend it.
- DirectorMartin RosenJohn HubleyStarsJohn HurtRichard BriersRalph RichardsonHoping to escape destruction by human developers and save their community, a colony of rabbits, led by Hazel and Fiver, seek out a safe place to set up a new warren.I watched it growing up but it's not really for kids
- DirectorMichael SchaackStarsUlrich TukurMario AdorfHelge SchneiderA cat must investigate brutal murders of other cats in a neighborhood he has moved into with his owner.Not for kids not for kids not for kids!!!
- DirectorNelson ShinStarsOrson WellesRobert StackLeonard NimoyThe Autobots must stop a colossal planet consuming robot who goes after the Autobot Matrix of Leadership. At the same time, they must defend themselves against an all-out attack from the Decepticons.Forget the live action trash and just stick with this film. It's got Orson Welles in it, and I'm not kidding.
- DirectorGisaburô SugiiStarsMayumi TanakaChika SakamotoJunko HoriTwo kittens go on a metaphysical journey on a magical railroad train.
- DirectorMark DindalStarsScott BakulaJasmine GuyNatalie ColeDanny, an ambitious singing and dancing cat, goes to Hollywood and overcomes several obstacles to fulfill his dream of becoming a movie star.
- DirectorMasayuki KojimaHiroshi SaitôStarsRabbe SmedlundJyrki KovaleffElina SaloMoomin, Sniff and My set out to stop a comet approaching the Moomin valley. Along the way they meet Snusmumriken, the beautiful Snorkfröken, Snorken and a Hemul, who join them in their quest.I'm unsure if this is available on DVD anywhere, but if you can find it I Highly recommend it for kids as well as inner-children.
- DirectorVictor CookTad StonesStarsRon PerlmanSelma BlairJohn HurtHellboy (Ron Perlman) and his team face off against a new supernatural threat, while Professor Bruttenholm (Sir John Hurt) must investigate the possible reemergence of a vampire he had slain decades prior.For older kids. Not too bad but younger kids will be scared.
- DirectorAyumu WatanabeKôzô KusubaStarsMisato FukuenEiichirô FunakoshiFumihiko GotôAfter bringing a fossilized egg back to life with the Time Cloth, Nobita finds himself the owner of a baby dinosaur. Everything is fine until it grows up. Nobita and friends use Doraemon's time machine to return it back to its own time.Unavailable in English. a pity because it's something I would've LOVED to watch as a kid.
- DirectorIsao TakahataStarsMiki ImaiToshirô YanagibaYoko HonnaA twenty-seven-year-old office worker travels to the countryside while reminiscing about her childhood in Tokyo.Too slow for children I think.
- DirectorJules BassArthur Rankin Jr.StarsVictor BuonoJames GregoryJames Earl JonesA young Boston writer goes back in time into an era where wizards and dragon reign and science is just barely known.One of my favourite direct-to-DVD animated movies of the 80s. From the same studio who did "The Last Unicorn". Perhaps not as memorable as The last unicorn but with an interesting plot and a nice, solid fantasy story. Very reminiscent of Fantasy novels of the time. Fine for kids.
- DirectorJean-François LaguionieStarsMatt HillSally Ann MarshJohn HurtA rebellious teenage monkey refuses to believe what he has been told and sets out to find the truth.Fine for kids as far as I remember.
- DirectorBrandon ViettiStarsBruce GreenwoodJensen AcklesJohn DiMaggioThere's a mystery afoot in Gotham City, and Batman must go toe-to-toe with a mysterious vigilante, who goes by the name of Red Hood. Subsequently, old wounds reopen and old, once buried memories come into the light.Not for kids. Rather violent.
- DirectorGaëtan BrizziPaul BrizziStarsRoger CarelPierre TornadePierre MondyAsterix and Obelix join the Roman Legions to rescue Obelix's crush Panacea and her fiance Tragicomix, who have been kidnapped to appease Julius Caesar.In my opinion the best of the animated Asterix movies.
- DirectorJo Beom-jinZack KellerEd SkudderStarsNick AinsworthYang Jeong-hwaZack KellerIn a future where energy is made from fecal matter, the government rewards defecation with "juicybars". Small-time hustlers try to get rich while fending off the mutated Diaper Gang.Lots of adult themes and topless nudity and LOTS of violence. Not for Kids.
- DirectorKevin AltieriBoyd KirklandFrank PaurStarsKevin ConroyDana DelanyHart BochnerBatman is wrongly implicated in a series of murders of mob bosses actually committed by a new vigilante assassin.
- DirectorBrad BirdStarsEli MarienthalHarry Connick Jr.Jennifer AnistonA young boy befriends a giant robot from outer space that a paranoid government agent wants to destroy.It's starting to gain recognition now, but more people STILL need to see this movie. Great for kids and adults alike.
- DirectorGerald PottertonJohn BrunoJohn HalasStarsRichard RomanusJohn CandyJoe FlahertyA glowing green orb that embodies ultimate evil terrorizes a young girl with an anthology of bizarre and fantastic stories.Boobs Everywhere. Not for kids.
- DirectorMichel OcelotRaymond BurletStarsDoudou Gueye ThiawMaimouna N'DiayeAwa Sene SarrKirikou, an unusual little boy, must search the wisdom of the forbidden mountain in order to save his village from a spell cast by the evil sorceress KarabaShould be OK for kids. Topless women but shown in a cultural light rather than a sexual way. it depends what you're comfortable with your kids seeing.
- DirectorJanice KarmanStarsRoss Bagdasarian Jr.Janice KarmanDody GoodmanThe Chipmunks compete with the Chipettes in a round-the-world race.It's not the best movie but it's better than the live action movies and has some pretty impressive animation, as well as the great "Girls of Rock and Roll" song. Classic 80s
- DirectorPhilippe LeclercStarsFrédéric CerdalPascale CheminMélody DubosThe Pyross and the Hydross are have been at war for as long as they can remember. The Pyross, who worship the sun, water brings only death and desolation, whereas the Hydross must always stay protected from heat, which petrifies them.Although the plot is very predictable and the animation doesn not have the highest budget, Older children should like it. There's a scene with some toplessness for about 30 seconds and a number of scenes with people melting but no real blood is shown, so it's up to you to decide what you feel would disturb your kids but I think younger children might be bothered by certain parts of it.... unless you're actually french like the film itself I suppose.
- DirectorNina PaleyStarsAnnette HanshawAseem ChhabraBhavana NagulapallyAn animated version of the epic Indian tale of Ramayana set to the 1920s jazz vocals of Annette Hanshaw.
- DirectorDon JurwichStarsCharlie AdlerShuko AkuneJack AngelThe heroic G.I. Joe action force must oppose the ruthless Cobra organization that has secretly allied with a subterranean reptilian people who were their founders.
- DirectorBill MelendezStarsChad WebberRobin KohnStephen SheaWhen Snoopy receives a letter from a girl named Lila, who's in a hospital, he goes on a journey with Woodstock to see her.
- DirectorToshio HirataOsamu TezukaStarsKatsue MiwaRyouko KitamiyaKazuko SugiyamaWhen Unico, a young unicorn, is taken from his family by evil gods, his powers of joy and happiness are put to the test. Can Unico's power triumph the darkness?
- DirectorMoribi MuranoStarsKatsue MiwaIrukaChieko BaishôA young unicorn named Unico must fight an evil magician and save everyone who's trapped under his spell.
- DirectorJosé Luis MoroSantiago MoroStarsCristina CamargoAlfonso ObregonHéctor LeeYoung caterpillar Katy leaves her cherry-leaf tree home and her three sisters one day to learn more about the world and herself. She explores the nearby forest and meets various animals, other insects and even the spirit of Mother Nature.
- DirectorJosé Luis MoroSantiago MoroStarsRocío GarcelMaría Fernanda MoralesDiana SantosKaty is a beautiful butterfly whose young caterpillar children, Kiki and Koko, are impatient to learn how to fly before their time. One night, the children sneak away to find themselves a flying teacher.
- DirectorPaul SommerRay PattersonStarsGeorge O'HanlonPenny SingletonMel BlancThere's intergalactic trouble when the lyrics Judy Jetson wrote for teen heartthrob Sky Rocker are swapped with a secret message from a music-hating witch. Now it's up to Judy, her family, and friends to save rock-and-roll.
- DirectorStéphane AubierVincent PatarBenjamin RennerStarsLambert WilsonPauline BrunnerAnne-Marie LoopThe story of an unlikely friendship between a bear, Ernest, and a young mouse named Celestine.