Top 10 Animated Cult Movies
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Top 10 Animated Cult Classic Films
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They may not be as well-known as others, but these animated classics are worth seeking out. Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we’re counting down our picks for the Top 10 Animated Cult Classic Movies. For this list, we’re looking at animated films that may be a bit off the beaten path, but have devoted cult followings for their imagination and originality. We’re discounting anime, so cult favorites like “Akira” and “Ghost in the Shell” will need to sit this one out.
#10: “The Black Cauldron” (1985)
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This 1980s Disney film is often overlooked by fans, perhaps because it came just a few years before the company's “The Little Mermaid”-led renaissance. Based on “The Chronicles of Prydain” book series, the film follows the most unlikely hero of them all, a young pig keeper, in his epic quest to defeat the evil Horned King. Fans of fantasy adventure will find a lot of familiar notes in this particular entry in the genre, but the film has enough striking imagery and spooky atmosphere to make it well worth checking out. Plus there are no big Disney musical numbers, if that isn’t your cup of tea.
#9: “Fantastic Planet” [aka “La Planète sauvage”] (1973)
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If you’re into science-fiction that’s full of big ideas and bigger visuals, then this might be for you. This under-appreciated 1970s gem embodies a lot of what French sci-fi is great at: high concept ideas executed with a painterly flair. The film takes place in the far-flung future, where humankind has been subjugated by a race of blue-skinned giants. The animation in this one is absolutely stunning, with a unique character and style that more than makes up for the fairly simplistic movements. It’s definitely on the weird side, but don’t let that scare you off.
#8: “Batman: Mask of the Phantasm” (1993)
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This film merged forth from the beloved and well-received ‘90s television series. And just like the show, the movie is viewed by many as one of the definitive takes on the Caped Crusader, a beautiful, operatic action spectacle that easily stands up to the live action flicks. The story begins when a mysterious vigilante known as The Phantasm starts taking out Gotham’s organized crime bosses, with the Dark Knight taking the blame. His search for the truth leads him back to his earliest days as a crimefighter, and the woman who nearly changed his destiny forever.
#7: “The Brave Little Toaster” (1987)
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On the surface, this offbeat feature sounds a bit similar to “Toy Story” - though that arrived in theatres several later. When a young boy moves away, some of his family’s household appliances, including a toaster, lamp and electric blanket, set out to find their master again. So how is this movie not just “Toy Story” for appliances? We’ll tell you how: it’s absolutely terrifying. Watch scenes like the air conditioner going insane or the film's nightmare-inducing dream sequence and Sid’s disfigured toys will look like child’s play. Why does the air conditioner sound like Jack Nicholson? We don’t know, we’re too busy hiding under the blankets.
#6: “Yellow Submarine” (1968)
It’s hard to deny how much fun the Fab Four’s animated adventures are. A musical fantasy set to the group’s iconic pop-infused rock, this psychedelic film sees the band help to return music to Pepperland, a far-off realm beset by the music-hating Blue Meanies. As you might expect, the movie is one psychedelic sequence after another, with less focus on plot and more of an eye towards spectacular animated set pieces set to now-classic Beatles tunes. Sadly, the band members don't provide their own voices for much of the film, but they do make an appearance in a brief live-action segment to close out the movie.
#5: “Wizards” (1977)
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American animator Ralph Bakshi is a favorite among fans of outside-the-box animation, thanks to his love of tackling mature subject matter. This 1977 cult favorite was Bakshi’s first foray into fantasy, after making a name for himself with films like “Fritz the Cat”. The story takes place millions of years after a nuclear war has left much of the planet in ruins, allowing magic to return. Our hero is a good wizard named Avatar, devoted to opposing his mutated brother Blackwolf’s efforts to rule the world using ancient technology. Don’t let the cartoony visuals fool you, this one is pretty dark.
#4: “Waking Life” (2001)
Rotoscoping is an animation technique that uses live-action footage as a starting point. Animators then paint and draw over the footage by hand or by computer, creating incredibly lifelike movements. It’s a striking but expensive form of animation that defines Richard Linklater’s 2001 film, a deep meditation on a whole host of philosophical ideas. The film may use a form of animation based on live-action footage, but don’t make the mistake of thinking it’s photorealistic. If you’re looking for surrealist imagery, you’ve come to the right place. Just don’t blame us if you have an existential crisis after watching it.
#3: “The Secret of NIMH” (1982)
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A visual marvel from director Don Bluth, this surprisingly dark tale follows a mouse’s efforts to save her home and children from being demolished. In her quest, she turns to a secretive group of hyper-intelligent lab rats. The film is loosely based on a kids’ book by Robert C. O’Brien, adding a few more fantastical elements to the mix but otherwise staying relatively true to the source material. Like many of Bluth’s works, this one is a bit on the dark side, and probably contributed to more than a few nightmares. Still, the stunning animation and atmosphere have kept fans coming back again and again.
#2: “The Iron Giant” (1999)
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This heartwarming and heartbreaking story of a boy and his best pal – a giant alien robot – holds a special place in the hearts of fans everywhere. Set in a small town in Cold War era America, the story follows Hogarth, a nine-year-old boy who finds an unexpected friend in a huge robot from outer space that crash lands on Earth, losing its memory in the process. In addition to a coming-of-age drama, the film also acts as a parable of Cold War-era paranoia and distrust, as an overzealous government agent attempts to destroy the giant despite it clearly not being a threat. Before we reveal our top picks, here are some of our honorable mentions. “Atlantis: The Lost Empire” (2001) “Watership Down” (1978) “The Last Unicorn” (1982) “Treasure Planet” (2002) ‘Persepolis” (2007)
#1: “Heavy Metal” (1981)
Bursting out of the pages of the cult sci-fi comics anthology, this infamous 80s classic has to be seen to be believed. Like the stories from the comics magazine it’s based on, the film is told as a series of loosely-connected segments of wildly varied tone and presentation, including tales revolving around a taxi driver, a geeky teen and a sexy stenographer. Finding an audience on home video, “Heavy Metal” built up a following with its violence, sexuality, laughs and all-star soundtrack featuring everyone from Devo, Stevie Nicks and Black Sabbath. Just don’t let your parents catch you watching it.
