Top 10 Animated Movies You Forgot Existed

Movies based on Saturday morning cartoons were a dime a dozen in the 80s. While most of them felt like extended TV episodes, “The Chipmunk Adventure” was a motion picture through and through. Its vibrant animation can be partially attributed to Disney’s “The Black Cauldron,” which had recently flopped, leaving several gifted animators in need of work. Among them was Glen Keane, who worked on the “Boys and Girls of Rock n' Roll” sequence before returning to Disney. The globe-trotting plot makes leeway for dazzling backdrops, fast-paced comedy, and a variety of songs. Often overshadowed by modern “Chipmunk” movies, this exciting adventure is easily the franchise’s finest hour. We dare even say it’s more fun than any version of “Around the World in Eighty Days.”

We all know “Peanuts” from the comic strips and TV specials, but people sometimes forget that Charlie Brown starred in four theatrical films between the 70s and early 80s. “Race for Your Life, Charlie Brown” may be the most underappreciated. Raising the stakes, the plot finds the gang on an occasionally perilous voyage down the river. At the same time, the film stays true to the franchise’s simple charms with laidback music and quiet, atmospheric moments. It’s one of the series’ strongest ensemble pieces with every principal player being showcased. At the moral center is Charlie Brown, whose personal journey leaves him with a newfound sense of leadership. Of course, even at his most confident, he’s still Charlie Brown.

The 90s were a golden age for Disney’s animated features, but not necessarily the competition. That’s not to say there weren’t other studios turning in quality work, although they were released to little fanfare. “Cats Don’t Dance” provided a breath of fresh air with colorful characters and clever throwbacks to Hollywood’s golden age. It’s reminiscent of a Gene Kelly musical, that is if Kelly were a cat and Shirley Temple was more like Norma Desmond. The film got lost in the shuffle as Turner merged with Time Warner, bombing financially. “Cats Don’t Dance” nonetheless won the Annie for Best Animated Feature, beating the likes of “Hercules” and “Space Jam.” With Warner Archive announcing a Blu-ray release in 2023, perhaps the film’s time has finally come.

From “Nightmare Before Christmas” to “Coraline,” Henry Selick is the king of stop-motion cult classics. Yet, there’s one gem that rarely gets as much attention, despite having the word “giant” in the title. The creepy yet whimsical world of Roald Dahl was tailor-made for stop-motion. Although Selick’s take on “James and the Giant PeacH” is partially live-action, even those scenes possess an animated quality with storybook environments. The shift to stop-motion gives the film a “Wizard of Oz” quality, but instead of a Yellow Brick Road, a giant peach carried by seagulls forges our hero’s path. With inventive setpieces, well-defined characters, and a timeless story, the film is a peach in every sense. If you haven’t already, do yourself a favor and take a bite.

Between “The Little Mermaid” and “Beauty and the Beast,” there’s a chapter in the Disney Renaissance that’s usually skipped over. Taking a break from musicals, “The Rescuers Down Under” was a thrilling adventure that took full advantage of the era’s blossoming computer technology. In addition to blending 3D and 2D elements, the film went all in on Disney and Pixar’s CAPS system, making digital ink and paint the new norm. Despite its technological breakthroughs and exhilarating action, the film underperformed upon release. Since then, it’s generally been grouped in with Disney’s other sequels. However, this is one follow-up that rises above the call of duty. “Down Under” is arguably even better than its 1977 predecessor, soaring like a golden eagle.

Don Bluth has directed several animated features throughout his illustrious career. With almost all of them, Bluth typically had to answer to a studio or producer. Bluth’s debut feature offered the most creative freedom. That might be why “The Secret of NIMH” is widely considered his darkest, deepest, and most sophisticated film. At a time when even Disney was cutting corners, “NIMH” not only delivered rich, detailed artistry, but also demonstrated why there was room for more than one feature animation studio. Its impact is still felt today, even if the film itself is overlooked. Accepting a Saturn Award for “NIMH,” Bluth said, “Thanks. We didn’t think anyone had noticed.” With each year, more people are thankfully noticing how “NIMH” helped widen the animation field.

“Mask of the Phantasm” might not have had the same impact as Tim Burton’s “Batman” or “The Dark Knight.” Of all the theatrical Batman movies, though, this animated feature perhaps comes the closest to capturing the comic book hero’s spirit. Stemming from the exceptional animated series, “Phantasm” takes everything to the next level, from the Art Deco designs to Shirley Walker’s rousing music. It’s debatably the first Batman film to be driven by an involving mystery, reminding us that the Caped Crusader is a detective above all else. The mystery is wrapped in a tragic saga of loss, redemption, and star-crossed romance. During a period when Batman was beginning to lean back into camp, “Phantasm” did the character justice. We wish the distributor had too.

If this story of sentient household appliances sounds familiar, that might be because “Toy Story” director John Lasseter was originally attached. The project eventually went to director Jerry Rees, although it retained a future Pixar alumnus in co-writer Joe Ranft. It may live in the shadow of Woody and Buzz, but “The Brave Little Toaster” stands out as a surprisingly dark, atmospheric adventure that treats its audience like adults and its central characters like humans, making us genuinely invested in the toaster’s fate. As of writing, the film sadly remains absent from Disney+, despite the platform carrying its straight-to-video sequels. This little treasure is long overdue for a wider audience or at the very least, a Blu-ray. Criterion Collection, could you maybe help out, please?

Audiences forget that before fully giving in to CG, DreamWorks produced a handful of traditionally animated features like “Sinbad” and “Spirit.” Most fans still consider “The Prince of Egypt” to be their magnum opus, complete with an epic scope and score that makes the audience feel the weight of Moses’ journey. Stephen Schwartz’s songs add to the gravitas of this immortal story, which doesn’t shy away from the darker aspects of Exodus. It’s hard to imagine DreamWorks (or any major U.S. animation studio) taking a risk on such a bold creative vision today. Falling by the wayside in favor of mainstream fare, “The Prince of Egypt” remains something of an animated anomaly. Yet, more studios should look to it for inspiration.

Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.

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If you asked anybody what the first animated feature was, they’d likely say “Snow White.” While that Disney classic brought many firsts, it was predated by several others. The oldest example that hasn’t been lost to time is “The Adventures of Prince Achmed.” Director Lotte Reiniger’s simple yet meticulous silhouette animation perfectly suits the “One Thousand and One Nights”-inspired story, making the audience feel as if they’re experiencing a dream. With her husband, Carl Koch, serving as its cinematographer, Reiniger and her small crew spent three years crafting this cinematic landmark one frame at a time. The film was so innovative for 1926 that audiences didn’t know how to respond. With its 100th anniversary approaching, though, “Prince Achmed” deserves to be a household name.