Animationhas traditionally been associated with kids' entertainment. However, in the past 2–3 decades, animated films have broken free from the constraints of age, bringing high-quality entertainment for grownups with multilayered stories of dreamy romance, heartbreaking drama, chilling horror, and unique visuals that traditional film couldn’t possibly imitate. These are not your typical Saturday morning cartoons but rather a genre that goes beyond generational boundaries.
So, in this article, we recommend some of the deepest, most immersive, and visually stunning animated features that remind us that drawings can speak to both the child and the adult in us.
10Watchmen: Tales of the Black Freighter (2009)
InTales of the Black Freighter(2009), a bone-chilling animated 26-minute film, we follow a sea captain who faces the dreaded pirates of the Black Freighter. After surviving their deadly attack, the protagonist finds himself caught in a prolonged and painful struggle to return home, which all comes at a horrific cost.
This gory and gruesome story comes in the form of bonus material for Zack Snyder’sWatchmenDVD and features the vocal talents of Gerard Butler, Jared Harris, Salli Saffioti, and others. The animation in Tales of the Black Freighter is jaw-dropping, to say the least, with a haunting and artsy quality that perfectly complements the captain’s painful descent into madness. The narrative style reminds us of the works of Edgar Allan Poe and the Odyssey, which makes it worth checking out.
Rent it on Apple TV+
9Ranma ½: Nihao My Concubine (1992)
Back in the late 80s, Rumiko Takashi, creator ofRanma 1⁄2, was one ofthe most revered Shonen(a genre that typically caters to the male audience) Manga artists. She developed a unique blend of comedic melodrama with adult themes, soft eroticism, and martial arts. Her most famous works, includingInuyashaandRanma 1⁄2, were also adapted for the small screen as animes and reached international acclaim.Ranma 1⁄2revolves around a young martial artist named Ranma Saotome, who, when splashed with cold water, involuntarily turns into a girl and back into a male when in contact with hot water. Many of his friends and foes also suffer from similar conditions, making it an anime like no other.
In the secondRanma 1⁄2animated feature film,Nihao My Concubine(1992), Ranma and his friends are faced with an unusual task – the rescue of a number of young women kidnapped by a powerful young prince who is out to capture a wide selection of beautiful girls in his search for his perfect princess. As usual, the story is filled with exciting martial arts fights, tons of humor, romance, and a hint of eroticism.
Here, we have one of the most flawless animated comedies ever produced. Two big-headed, giggling idiots looking for their misplaced television set is the basic idea behind Mike Judge’sBeavis and Butt-Head Do America(1996). The writing and timing of each and every scene as the naive pair’s adventure continues throughout the United States while they’re unwittingly being chased by every ATF Agent in the nation showcases Judge’s unfaltering love for MTV’s favorite dimwits.
The ideal number of memorable comic set pieces, amazing celebrity voice appearances, and a stunning conclusion at the end are the cherry on top of this sweet cake of excellence. Still incredibly popular, the film received a sequel 25 years later titledBeavis And Butt-Head Do The Universe(2022).
Stream it on Paramount+
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7Ghost in the Shell (1995)
Mamoru Oshii’sGhost in the Shell(1995) is a legendary anime and a cinematic achievement ahead of its time. The story follows cyborg federal agent Major Motoko Kusanagi as she goes after a notorious hacker known as “The Puppet Master,” who has the power to mess with the identities of cyborg-human hybrids. Motoko’s adventure takes a wild turn when she begins questioning her own existence and develops an urge to become more human.
The film’s animation is breathtaking. The visuals are stunning even today. There is also a certain fluidity and microscope-level attention to detail, which makeGhost in the Shellstand out as one of the most complete animes of all time. The soundtrack is an incredible masterpiece that is still celebrated today, and Shirow Masamune and Kazunori Itô’s highly intelligent script deals with scientific and philosophical topics that resonate with the current times now more than ever (the rise of A.I., etc.). The film received a sequel in 2004 titledGhost in the Shell 2:Innocenceand was developed into a feature film in 2017, famously starring Scarlett Johanson.
Stream it on Prime Video
6The Last Unicorn (1982
The Last Unicorn
The Last Unicorn(1983) is a soulful Jules Bass and Arthur Rankin Jr. picture that was initially marketed as an adult fantasy animation. In this story, an evil King named Haggard creates a plan to drive all the world’s unicorns into extinction. When a young unicorn (the lovely voice of Mia Farrow) discovers that her kind’s existence is under threat, she sets out on a dangerous journey across a magical land filled with wonders both good and evil, to save her kind. Funnily, her biggest ally is an awkward but well-meaning sorcerer named Schmendrick (Alan Arkin).
The film rocks a powerhouse cast, including Jeff Bridges, Christopher Lee, and Angela Lansbury, and despite being four decades old, it remains a timeless tale that needs to be experienced by adults and children alike. Without a doubt,The Last Unicornis also one of the best animated moviesto come out of the magical 1980s.
Stream it on Peacock
5Princess Mononoke (1997)
Princess Mononoke
Princess Mononoke(1997) is one of the best animes to come out of the 1990s and stands as one of Hayao Miyazaki’s finest works, alongsideSpirited Away(2001) andHowl’s Moving Castle(2004). It’s the story of Ashitaka, a young warrior who is out to find a godly cure for an animal-inflicted wound. Along the way, he witnesses humans destroying the environment, which results in a conflict between a wolf god named Moro, his friend Princess Mononoke, and the human race. He tries to broker peace between the parties to no avail.
It features the vocal talents of Minnie Driver, Claire Danes, and Billy Bob Thornton, among others. The story, as well as the animation, will certainly leave you in awe (the depiction of the Stag alone is a jaw-dropping moment).Princess Mononokedeals with pressing and relevant themes like environmentalism and does so without becoming preachy. It has some intense and even painful scenes that can be difficult to absorb for kids, but young audiences can learn a lot from its hidden messages of morality.
Stream it on Max
4Ninja Scroll (1993)
Ninja Scroll(1993) is a cult classic anime and one of the most ground-shaking adult animations ever made. It stands out with an intense script complemented by out-of-the-box yet perverse characters. The fight scenes can easily rival those from Akira (1988) in terms of choreography, and the shocking gory violence can haunt even the most hardened fans of the horror movie genre.
Ninja Scroll follows Jubei, a skilled ninja who is forced to become a wandering assassin and eliminate his clan. He faces monstrous enemies, such as giants, demonic ninjas, and others who aim to seize power in Japan. He is aided by Dakuan, an elderly spy with sadistic tendencies.
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3Grave of the Fireflies (1988)
Set in WWII Japan,Grave of the Fireflies(1988) tells the story of a young boy and his little sister trying to make ends meet after becoming roofless orphans in the midst of the war chaos. It isone of the most tear-inducing animations ever made– some would say it even topsThe Lion King(1994) andThe Land Before Time(1988) in terms of tear-jerking moments.
This masterpiece of Japanese animation comes with an extremely dramatic and powerful story, is beautifully drawn, and features some of the most magical and emotionally loaded scenes ever – the children’s nightly dances in the firefly fields.
2Batman: Mask of the Phantasm (1993)
Batman: Mask of the Phantasm
A masterclass of noir animation,Batman: Mask of the Phantasm(1993) is a film that does the best job of giving us a real glimpse into the psychology of Batman – better than any live-action or animated film to date. Inthe words of Roger Ebert, “Before Christopher Nolan’s trilogy, the only movie that took Batman seriously was a cartoon.”
The story jumps between time periods as it reveals the painful backstory of Kevin Conroy’s Dark Knight and the relationship between him and his one true love, Andrea Beaumont, all while dealing with a deadly vigilante called the Phantasm. As the Phantasm targets mob bosses, Batman also confronts his own identity and battles a conspiracy that forces him to question his path as a hero.
1Fire and Ice (1983)
In Ralph Bakshi and Frank Frazetta’s animated epicFire and Ice(1983), a heroic warrior named Larn (voiced by Randy Norton) teams up with a beautiful princess (Cynthia Leake as Teegra) to defeat an evil sorcerer who seeks to take over the world by covering it in ice.
Fire and Iceis a uniquely drawn film, a level of skill that can only be witnessed in Bakshi’s works. Sadly, due to the advent of 3D animations, such marvels of animation are becoming extremely rare. This steamy, adventure-filled love story is best suited for older viewers due to its dark and sometimes gory elements.
If you’re looking for more great animated films, check out our video essay below on what we see as the five most timeless animated movies below.
