A nimated films are often underestimated. They are dismissed as “just cartoons” or something that can only be enjoyed by kids. Of course, there have been some incredible animated films that do appeal directly to children. Disney has the widest catalogue, with some of the biggest hitters, but away from the House of Mouse there is a host of animated movies that are too often shunned from the limelight. We’ve put together our top non-Disney animated film recommendations with a variety of different animation styles to marvel at, from stop-motion to hand-drawn.
THE BOY AND THE HERON (2023)
Studio Ghibli (Spirited Away, Princess Mononoke) is renowned for including themes of nature in its films, particularly in the creations of director Hayao Miyazaki. Twelve-year-old Mahito struggles to cope with the loss of his mother, until a mysterious talking heron informs him that she is still alive. Fuelled by hope, Mahito follows the heron into a world shared by the living and the dead. Miyazaki is a master in his element, exploring life after loss accompanied by some of the most beautiful animation this studio has produced. The mystical other world is filled with quirky characters, such as adorable bubble-like spirits called the Warawara. The English dub has a great cast, too, including Florence Pugh, Christian Bale, Robert Pattinson and Dave Bautista.
THE MITCHELLS VS THE MACHINES (2021)
Going on a road trip with your family is trying at the best of times, but this movie imagines a scenario where you are also being chased by evil robots. The relationship between teen Katie and dad Rick is central – while Katie is ecstatic to leave her suburban home and find her place at film school, Rick is reluctant to let her go. He insists on taking a family drive all the way to college, not knowing an army of robots are being released to imprison all of humanity. There are plenty of laughs, but you may also find yourself shedding a tear by the end.