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- It's easy to see that adult animated movies are not going anywhere, as every year, more and more animated adult movies (and adult anime movies) are released. Those looking for the best animated movies for adults will be glad to know there's no shortage of award-winning and unique films to choose from. Some may ultimately be okay for older kids or teenagers, but given the target audience isn't kids, it's clear that the following can be counted as some of the best adult animated movies.
There remains a bit of a stigma around animated films in the Western world, which is a shame, in all honesty. While a country like Japan has long ago realized that animation could be used to make great family films and great films aimed at older audiences, Hollywood hasn't seemed to have caught on. Animated films that aren't aimed at kids (or at least kid-friendly) seem rare from Western, English-speaking filmmakers.
Sure, studios like Pixar make fantastic films that kids and adults can enjoy in equal measure, but it's worth pointing out how some films go further and are aimed exclusively at adult audiences. Whether it's because they deal with mature themes or feature content that's not kid-friendly, they all demonstrate how animation can (and should) be utilized to make great films for older audiences.
Updated on April 20, 2022, by Jeremy Urquhart:
It's easy to see that adult animated movies are not going anywhere, as every year, more and more animated adult movies (and adult anime movies) are released. Those looking for the best animated movies for adults will be glad to know there's no shortage of award-winning and unique films to choose from. Some may ultimately be okay for older kids or teenagers, but given the target audience isn't kids, it's clear that the following can be counted as some of the best adult animated movies.
20 'Anomalisa' (2015)
Charlie Kaufman is known for writing (and sometimes directing) challenging, sometimes depressing, but always interesting films that are nakedly honest about the human condition and the struggles of everyday life. In this regard, his first (and so far, only) foray into animation, Anomalisa, is no exception to the other films he's written or made.
Stop-motion animation is used to tell the story of a lonely man who falls for a woman while staying in a strange hotel, all the while experiencing the other areas of his life collapsing around him. It's a strange and sometimes even uncomfortable film that's not for everyone (and definitely not for kids, who'd probably be a bit bored more than anything), but it has a great deal to offer for those willing to give it a shot.
19 'Alice' (1988)
Image via First Run Features
Jan Švankmajer is a Czech filmmaker who specializes in combining stop-motion animation and surreal humor and horror in his movies to captivating effect. One of his most famous films is 1988's Alice, which is an adaptation of the well-known story by Lewis Carroll: Alice's Adventures in Wonderland.
It might not sound unsettling or non-family-friendly on paper, but it's a surreal and often nightmarish-looking movie, and it has some very unsettling stop-motion animation that it combines with live-action elements. Rather than using puppets for the animals, for example, some of them are "animated" taxidermic animals that move about in unnatural, even creepy ways. It might be a good trip for older viewers, but younger audiences might well find themselves too terrified.
18 'The Wolf House' (2018)
The Wolf House is a disturbing and eerie animated horror film that, despite sometimes feeling like a super dark fairytale, is way too horrifying for children. A mix of stop-motion and hand-drawn images painted and animated on the walls of actual sets tells the story of a young woman on the run from a sinister cult that hides out in a strange house.
The presentation and feel of The Wolf House is really what makes it memorable and also really unsettling. It's the kind of horror film that's likely to unsettle most adults, making it one of the last movies you'd ever want to show a kid, animated or otherwise.
17 'Redline' (2009)
Anyone who assumes animated action movies are automatically less exciting than live-action action movies needs to give Redline a watch. It's an anime film with a pretty simple premise that's executed amazingly. In the future, car racing is done on an interplanetary scale and is much faster and way more dangerous than anything seen on Earth.
Amazingly, it was all done with hand-drawn animation, and the fluidity and detail are astonishing. It gives viewers the same visceral rush as Mad Max: Fury Road and is probably too loud and high-octane for most younger viewers.
16 'Mind Game' (2004)
Movies don't get much more bizarre or challenging than Mind Game, a Japanese animated film that takes viewers on a truly wild ride, from start to finish. It centers on a young man who has a crush on a young woman, then they both get entangled with the Yakuza, and then they both end up trapped inside a whale.
All along the way, the animation constantly changes and warps, with the film offering a surprising plot twist or piece of animation seemingly every minute or two. It's quite relentless, but also captivating for those who can handle how much of a madcap journey it is, though some of the movie's adult content and heavy themes ensure it's best for older audiences only.
15 'Paprika' (2006)
Paprika was the last film directed by the late, great Satoshi Kon, and while Perfect Blue might be his best-known and most influential, Paprika is arguably his best. It tells a surreal and dazzling story about a machine that allows therapists to see their patients' dreams and a young woman's journey to recover it after it is stolen.
Paprika is a film that successfully utilizes animation to explore worlds and ideas that couldn't be realized in live-action. Over 15 years since its release, nothing really compares to it, even if Inception uses a similar concept to craft an exciting blockbuster. Paprika is complex, overwhelming, and sometimes very dark, but in the right ways, making for a true animated masterpiece.
14 'Loving Vincent' (2017)
Depicting the life story of Vincent van Gogh in a unique manner, Loving Vincent is likely to be too strange and dark for younger viewers. Additionally, they might not be able to appreciate the film's presentation, as this animated movie is made up entirely of oil paintings that were hand-painted - approximately 65,000 frames, all up.
It has some narrative shortcomings and isn't exactly the most compelling film in the world, but its technical qualities make it worth seeking out. It's like seeing countless paintings come to life and move around in a fashion that's eerie and awe-inspiring, with the film as a whole working as a solid tribute to van Gogh's art and legacy.
13 'Waking Life' (2001)
Waking Life is an experimental adult animated film that thrusts viewers into a dream-like world full of fascinating people. Through the perspective of a man navigating this bizarre and constantly changing environment, the movie depicts intelligent conversations that delve into philosophical topics like free will, consciousness, and the nature of reality.
Fans who really enjoy the weird yet profound way it depicts insightful interactions between the main character and actual philosophers will know that it's an unforgettable masterpiece. It's bound to leave a lesson or at least a new idea for any adult who watches it, and, as a mind-blowing existentialist movie, it's just as relevant as ever today.
12 'Isle of Dogs' (2018)
With Isle of Dogs, Wes Anderson made a stop-motion animated film that was a little more mature than his previous Fantastic Mr. Fox, but not so adult that older kids couldn't enjoy it. The story is set in a future Japan, and follows a group of outcast dogs helping a 12-year-old boy find his pet dog who's gone missing.
It's a nicely made film with a good sense of humor, and is typically engaging to look at from the visual side of things, as one would expect from a Wes Anderson movie. It gets sad and a little strange at points (as you'd also expect from a Wes Anderson movie), but remains consistently entertaining throughout.
11 'Tower' (2016)
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On August 1, 1966, a high-profile mass shooting took place at the University of Texas, one of the first of its kind due to the high number of casualties. Tower tells the story of what happened that day and how it impacted those who were attacked, using rotoscope animation to provide visuals that accompany the stories of the day's survivors.
It's a harrowing and tense documentary, and the animation works to visualize the day's events in a way that makes them feel more real. It's an incredibly gripping and memorable film, but due to the story and the subject matter, definitely not one that's suitable for younger viewers.
10 'Flee' (2021)
Flee is a critically-acclaimed animated documentary that found success at the 2021 Oscars, earning a nomination for Best International Film, Best Animated Film, and Best Documentary. It tells the story of Amin, a refugee from Afghanistan who now lives in Denmark, focusing on the struggles he faced coming to terms with his sexuality and being a refugee.
It's a harrowing story, though thankfully, with some hope and humanity shining through to stop it from being too heavy. Still, it's very much a mature movie that deals with topics younger audiences likely wouldn't fully understand. However, it's eye-opening for older audiences who might be unaware of the plight of modern-day refugees and how difficult it can be to come out as gay in some corners of the world.
9 'Mary and Max' (2009)
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Mary and Max tells the story of two very different people who happen to be pen pals – one who lives in Australia and the other in New York City. Despite having little to do with each on the surface, their friendship spans many years, with the film's narrative broadly told through the letters they send back and forth to each other.
It's not hugely disturbing in terms of content, but the stop-motion animation can be a little unsettling, and the film deals with some confronting themes honestly. It's one movie that shows that characters being animated doesn't necessarily mean they're automatically harder to connect or relate to.
8 'The End of Evangelion' (1997)
The Neon Genesis Evangelion series is no stranger to having some disturbing and violent content. The original anime series was already very dark, but the first attempt to conclude the story for good - 1997's The End of Evangelion - represents the iconic franchise at its bleakest and most alarming.
The film depicts the once-futuristic – but now past – year of 2015 in a desolate and disturbing manner, given the plot essentially revolves around the main characters grappling with an imminent apocalypse. It's surreal, violent, shocking, and also strangely beautiful in parts, but ultimately isn't something you'd want most kids to see.
7 'Waltz With Bashir' (2008)
An autobiographical film about its director, an animated film, a psychological drama, and a powerful anti-war film rolled into one, Waltz With Bashir is unlike anything else there.
With a story about post-traumatic stress brought on by being a soldier, and the quest to uncover the truth about one's potential involvement in a horrific war crime, this film might be too much for many adults to watch. The animation is also stylistic but unnerving, and the film pulls no punches when it comes to showing the horrors, brutality, and dehumanizing aspects of warfare.
6 'Ghost in the Shell' (1995)
Set in a dystopian 2029, Ghost in the Shell portrays a future where technological modifications have decreased the gap between humans and machines. Motoko Kusanagi is a cyborg and public security agent in the cyberpunk thriller, who is tasked with looking for an enigmatic brain hacker called The Puppetmaster.
Weaving together a cautionary tale full of violence, an exploration of the dangers of technology, and hard-hitting questions about identity, it's a thought-provoking and riveting movie that paints a bleak portrait of the future. The technological marvels people achieve still don't rid humankind of corruption and greed.
5 'Persepolis' (2007)
Based on Marjane Satrapi's eponymous autobiographical graphic novel, Persepolis depicts the protagonist's experiences growing up during the Iranian Revolution. Starting from her perspective as a 9-year-old to her tumultuous adulthood, the animated movie emphasizes the way her country changes, and how she is transformed alongside it.
With its disturbing portrayals of war and strong message about oppression, human rights, and even isolation, the film doesn't pull any punches. What makes it even more impressive is its poignant exploration of these struggles through Marjane's eyes, whose powerful story is one that everyone needs to hear.
4 'Perfect Blue' (1997)
Perfect Blue is an adult anime movie that follows the retired J-pop idol Mima Kirigoe, who decides to pursue a career in acting. She has second thoughts when she begins to have unsettling encounters with a seemingly obsessed fan and a mysterious figure from her past.
The classic film by director Satoshi Kon is instantly recognizable for fans of the genre, as it's often cited alongside must-see animated movies for adults. Mima's arc takes some genuinely dark and disturbing turns, especially when it becomes hard for her to differentiate between fantasy and reality.
3 'It's Such a Beautiful Day' (2012)
A minimalist, absurdly comedic, tragically sad character study that touches on continually huge themes as it goes on, It's Such a Beautiful Day is a masterful film that's unlike anything else that's ever been or ever will be.
To give much away would be criminal, as it's a sublime mix of simple animation and storytelling with lofty themes that will make most viewers feel just about every emotion under the sun. Its existentialism and adult themes will mean younger audiences won't appreciate what it's going for, making it an experimental yet accessible and achingly human film that's perfect for older audiences in the mood for something more than a little offbeat.
2 'Princess Mononoke' (1997)
Set in the late Muromachi period of Japan, Studio Ghibli's Princess Mononoke chronicles the war between humans and nature. At the center of it is Prince Ashitaka, who encounters a woman raised by wolves, the badass San. She's willing to do whatever it takes to ensure the forest is safe from the greedy humans, who are also just trying to survive and evolve.
The Studio Ghibli animated movie for adults doesn't reduce its characters by presenting them as straightforward villains or heroes, instead choosing to portray complex motivations and impossible decisions. Plus, it tackles dramatic conflict and dark themes, making it a truly provocative and absorbing masterpiece.
1 'Grave of the Fireflies' (1988)
Grave of the Fireflies has a reputation that precedes it, being one of the most famous tear-jerking films of all time, both animated and in general. It's a movie about two Japanese children trying to survive when their lives are turned upside down after a bombing during WW2 destroys their home and takes their mother's life.
It's a compelling and moving anti-war film that will likely move anyone who watches it and would surely upset and possibly traumatize anyone who sees it at too young an age. It holds up well for an animated film of its time and earns its reputation as one of the best Japanese movies of all time.