Although most animated movies are geared towards young audiences, many are able to be enjoyed by those same kids once they get older. Certain movies have mature elements and themes that flew under the radar and went over the heads of children. Here are five underrated animated movies that can be enjoyed by people of all ages.
The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1996)
The Hunchback of Notre Dame is one of Disney’s darkest movies. The movie follows the story of a corrupt religious minister who adopts a child with physical deformities. The movie retains several of the themes covered in the original Victor Hugo novel, many of which are topics rarely seen in kids movies such as ableism, racism, lust, and religious hypocrisy. These themes are best shown through the movie’s villain, Claude Frollo, who somehow manages to be more evil than his novel counterpart despite being in a kids movie. He even ends up singing a villain song that shows how insane of a man he really is. The Hunchback of Notre Dame is a great movie that deserves more attention.
Anastasia (1997)
Anastasia is a movie that not a lot of people know about. It is based on the real story of the Russian princess of the same name. Although it is not as tragic as what happened to the real Anastasia, it still contains some of the sadder elements of the true story. The movie follows a young girl named Anya who forgets that she is Anastasia after getting injured during the murder of her family: The Romanov Dynasty. Additionally, the musical numbers are really good. Anastasia is another movie that deserves to be more popular.
Atlantis: The Lost Empire (2001)
Atlantis: The Lost Empire is another underrated Disney film. It is about a young cartographer who lost his grandpa and other marine explorers who enter a submarine in search of the lost city of Atlantis. The movie has beautifully animated action scenes that combine 2D and 3D animation. They are also not afraid to depict firearms, physical combat, and even death. Furthermore, the film’s cast of characters are genuinely hilarious and they make the movie super entertaining. Atlantis: The Lost Empire is a really fun movie to watch.
Puss in Boots: The Last Wish (2022)
Puss in Boots: The Last Wish despite being a spin-off of the comedic Shrek movies, is a well-written masterpiece. The film features the fighting feline currently on the last of his nine-lives. Eventually, he learns about a map that leads to a wishing star where he can wish to live longer. However, many other characters are also after the star, putting Puss in dangerous situations where he has to swallow his pride and face the fact that death is a real threat. The movie is also surprisingly mature at some times, especially when Puss is fearing for his life. Puss in Boots: The Last Wish is an amazing film with loads of action, comedy, and tense moments.
Look Back (2024)
Look Back is a movie with spectacular animation that just came out a year ago. The movie is about two girls who write manga (a type of Japanese comic) for their school’s newspaper. Despite an initial rivalry, the two girls eventually become friends and partners. However, an insane twist occurs during the movie that changes the two girl’s relationship forever. The movie also shows the stress and mental toll certain creators such as writers and artists experience. Look Back is a film that tells a beautiful story that more people should experience.
These five movies are underrated gems that I consider to be some of my favorite movies. I highly recommend that you watch any one of these that piqued your interest.
