The 50 Best Animated Movies for Adults

About this list

It is important to note that the animated movies on this list contain content not suitable for minors; that is, content of a violent or sexual nature, or, at best, simply too complex for children. We've also decided to omit movies based on established anime series, so no Evangelion or similar franchises.

The list is arranged in chronological order of release, so you can easily follow along. If we missed any, leave us a comment!

Animal Farm (1954)

Based on the novel by George Orwell, Animal Farm tells the story of domesticated animals who rise up against humans and decide to take control of their farm. At first, everything seems to go well for the animals, but power ends up corrupting them all. It is a clear allegory of the history of communism and the dangers of totalitarianism. | © Universal Pictures

Fritz the Cat (1972)

The adult animated film par excellence. Why? Because Fritz the Cat was the first animated film to receive an X rating in the United States, and that's due to Fritz's adventures showing a dark side of American society in the '70s, with themes of racism, sexual libertinism, and the occasional reference to Nazism, as is very common in the works of Ralph Bakshi. | © Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer

Belladonna of Sadness (1973)

If there is an animated film that touches on folk tales from an adult perspective and with an incredible visual style, it is Belladonna of Sadness. While the pacing may be a bit slow, the visual aspect is enough to recommend it, being beautiful in its representations of witchcraft and terrifying in the abuse of the protagonist. | © Kadokawa Daiei Studio

Fantastic Planet (1973)

I love René Laloux's films, and while one could argue that the rest of his movies can be watched by children, I have to make an exception with Fantastic Planet. Here, a terrifying race of giant blue aliens captures humans and uses them as pets, forcing them to fight each other, until humanity decides to rebel against their captors. The most terrifying part is the representation of the evil that exists in some children... | © Argos Films

Wizards (1977)

Although I try not to repeat directors, I think it's worth consolidating the concept of a Ralph Bakshi film with Wizards, as you can't ask for a movie that better represents the artist. It has its medieval fantasy aspect, sexualized fairies, and Nazi symbolism to represent the antagonists, which makes it more real. At the very least, it should be recommended for the way they defeat the main villain in a magic showdown, where I'll just say it's better to bring a gun to a wand fight. | © 20th Century Studios

Watership Down (1978)

An adorable bunny movie? Not at all! Watership Down shows us how brutal the English countryside can be, with a group of bunnies trying to cross it to find a home. Along the way, they will have to face all kinds of dangers, from cats, dogs, human shotguns, and other rabbits. And it is as bloody and raw as nature is in the real world. | © Warner Bros.

Heavy Metal (1981)

If you are really into the musical genre and the comics from the famous magazine, then you will surely love the movie Heavy Metal. It consists of several animated short films, some better than others, but the most iconic is the last one, featuring the warrior Taarna fighting against hordes of mutants in a post-apocalyptic world. It has a lot of sex, alcohol, and rock and roll! | © Columbia Pictures

The Plague Dogs (1982)

This might be the hardest movie to watch on the entire list, as The Plague Dogs is about two dogs who escape from a facility where animal experiments are conducted. Having to survive in the harsh world of nature, they will do whatever it takes to stay alive, including succumbing to their primal instincts. But the most heartbreaking part is the ending, which I won't spoil in case you haven't seen it yet. | © Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer

Barefoot Gen (1983)

One of the harshest representations of the nuclear bombs that fell on Japan is Barefoot Gen, also known as Hiroshima. At first, it feels like an adorable movie about the life of Gen, his family, and the people around him. But the scene of the bomb explosion is so graphically brutal that it will certainly give you nightmares. And if that weren't enough, the aftermath of the destruction is devastating for poor Gen as he tries to piece together a semblance of the normal life he once had. | © Madhouse

When the Wind Blows (1986)

Since we are still on the topic of nuclear war, When the Wind Blows gives us a fictional story of what would happen if one fell on the United Kingdom. The tragic aspect of the movie is that it focuses on an elderly couple who follow the instructions on what to do in these cases to the letter, completely unaware that no one can escape the radiation... | © Kadokawa Daiei Studio

Wicked City (1987)

There was a whole movement of adult anime films in the 80s known for their high sexual content, gore, and some horror, and while many of these are nothing more than snuff, Wicked City stands out for its dark streets and excellent creature design. Even if you don't know the movie, you might be familiar with the scene of the woman transforming into a spider. If so, then you'll understand the impact this work has had. | © Madman Entertainment

Grave of the Fireflies (1988)

Probably the most well-known movie on the list for the right reasons, being from Studio Ghibli, and for the infamous reasons due to its ending. Grave of the Fireflies tells the story of two siblings surviving in a war-devastated Japan, having no one else in the world but each other. It is such a moving film that it becomes tragic and heartbreaking to watch because of all the situations our beloved protagonists go through, despite always maintaining an optimistic attitude. | © Toho Co., Ltd.

Akira (1988)

The greatest not only on this list but possibly in the entire history of animated cinema. Although it needs no introduction, Akira is about biker gangs in a futuristic Japan, rebellious high school kids, and government experiments. The high-quality art has been so transcendental that it has been referenced in thousands of other movies and animated series, such as the famous motorcycle slide. | © Toho Co., Ltd.

Alice (1988)

Jan Švankmajer's animations are one of the pillars of stop-motion animation, and he is possibly the greatest in history. That is why, despite being a mix of live-action with this type of animation, his version of Alice in Wonderland had to be included on the list. However, as is typical of Western European puppet animation, it can be uncomfortable to watch and even more akin to a horror story than one for children. | © First Run Features

Felidae (1994)

What initially seems like a simple story of a detective cat moving to a new city starts to turn into something darker. Felidae is not just about the simple adventures of a cat, but about a feline religious cult where they sacrifice themselves with electricity. But what truly makes this story frightening are the nightmares it causes our protagonist, and soon, you after watching it. | © 20th Century Studios

Ghost in the Shell (1995)

Another great classic of animation, and one that I would recommend only to adults, not because it is particularly impactful in its violence, but because Ghost in the Shell has a very complex sci-fi plot with high philosophical content. While the live-action adaptation is trash, the original animated film and its sequel are milestones in the history of Japanese animation, and like Akira, many of its most iconic scenes have been referenced thousands of times. | © Shochiku

Perfect Blue (1997)

It's hard to resist the urge to fill this list with Satoshi Kon's movies, but it's impossible not to include Perfect Blue. The story follows a young Japanese idol who wishes to become an actress while being pursued by a stalker. Of course, that's the surface plot, but beneath it lies a psychological thriller where she doubts everything around her, including herself. It’s no wonder that Perfect Blue was one of the inspirations for the movie Black Swan. | © Madhouse

Jin-Roh: The Wolf Brigade (1999)

Although it is definitely a slow burn and not a movie full of action and adrenaline, Jin-Roh: The Wolf Brigade is great in its depiction of an authoritarian Japan. It follows a member of a paramilitary force who fights against rebels and terrorists until he falls in love with one of them and begins to doubt his own side and the totalitarian regime. | © Bandai Visual

Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust (2000)

One of my all-time favorites, but don't confuse it with another movie of the same name that's a bit older, because Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust has all the action and art typical of the creators of Ninja Scroll. Its fantastical concepts are as beautiful as they are original, from jumping with your horse over giant manta rays to a castle that is actually a rocket that will take vampires to the moon. Does it sound crazy and absurd? Just watch it and satisfy your gothic side. | © Kadokawa Daiei Studio

Walking Life (2001)

Starting with the first of Richard Linklater's rotoscope films, we have Waking Life, which is hard to summarize because it doesn't have a real plot. It's mostly philosophical conversations and sketches from different characters, but they are so interesting that it's worth watching if you're in a state of introspection. But the strangest part is seeing Alex Jones before he became a constant source of memes and ridicule. | © Searchlight Pictures

Dead Leaves (2004)

Do you want a short, fast-paced animated movie full of action and adrenaline about space convicts looking to raise hell against everything in their path? Dead Leaves is exactly what you're looking for. However, I must say it's animation for adults due to certain sex scenes that are more humorous and ridiculous than explicit, but we still have to warn you just in case. | © Shochiku

Blood Tea and Red Strings (2006)

One of the most disturbing stop-motion movies I have ever seen, Blood Tea and Red Strings uses the design of its puppets to take us into the uncanny valley. This magical and fable-like journey will show us insects coming out of cakes, red threads that simulate being the guts of the different puppets, and all kinds of nightmare fuel. But you know what? It is such a technical masterpiece that it's impossible not to recommend it. | © Christiane Cegavske Productions

A Scanner Darkly (2006)

And we arrive at the second of Richard Linklater's rotoscope films, which is A Scanner Darkly. You will immediately notice that it stars none other than Hollywood's darling, Keanu Reeves, and it is a science fiction work based on the novel by Philip K. Dick (who, if you don't know, is the author of the Blade Runner novel). It's complex, it's deep, it's about undercover cops infiltrating to stop a drug epidemic. Definitely one of the most original movies you will see in your life. | © Warner Bros.

Paprika (2006)

And speaking of original movies, we can't overlook Satoshi Kon's masterpiece, Paprika. It deals with dream worlds where the line between reality and dreams begins to blur. Sound familiar? You'll notice that many scenes inspired the movie Inception, particularly the one with the deforming hallway. But of course, Paprika is filled with equally iconic moments. | © Sony Pictures

Persepolis (2007)

Another one of my favorite movies, based on a graphic novel and a true story, is Persepolis. It tells the autobiographical story of a girl and her family in Iran during the Islamic Revolution. As with all revolutions, it is a bloody and cruel process, with images of terrifying events. Despite this, it is a film with deep and very relatable drama, and top-notch quality in its comedy that will make you want to watch it over and over again. | © Celluloid Dreams

Waltz With Bashir (2008)

And since we're talking about the Middle East, one of the best films about Israel has to be the pseudo-documentary Waltz With Bashir, where we follow a veteran of the Lebanon war who can't remember his moments of combat, turning the movie into a series of interviews with his past comrades. The animation style is unique in the world, created specifically for this film, allowing a touch of magical realism in scenes that should be real interviews. | © Sony Pictures Classics

Idiots and Angels (2008)

I could easily fill this list with Bill Plympton's films, but the only one I'll mention is Idiots and Angels because it's one of the artist's most well-known works. His animation style has a fluidity and complexity that you won't find in any other work, and it always combines themes of American society at its most selfish and greedy moments. In reality, you can go with any of this author's films, and you won't be disappointed. | © Bill Plympton

The Sky Crawlers (2008)

There are too many Japanese movies about war, as we've seen in many entries on this list, but one that often flies under the radar is The Sky Crawlers. Here, a pilot fights in a war in an alternate world where, without giving you spoilers, he will discover the truth behind this struggle, creating a perspective of always questioning the morality behind the groups and parties we follow. It's a bit hard to understand, but when you figure out what's really happening, it will blow your mind. | © Warner Bros.

Afro Samurai: Resurrection (2009)

We might be cheating by including Afro Samurai: Resurrection on the list since there is a previous series, but the movie does everything its predecessor did perfectly. With highly stylized animation and visual style, Afro Samurai presents some of the best katana fights you will see in the anime world, with a simple revenge story about being the number 1 in the world. | © Gonzo

Metropia (2009)

I could recommend Metropia just for its visual style. Does it seem strange and uncomfortable to watch? That's the point! Metropia is a psychological thriller, where our character constantly doubts what he sees, and his mind plays tricks on him, living in an underground world, giving us an unreliable narrator. Or maybe, there really is a huge conspiracy behind him... | © Sandrew Metronome

Redline (2009)

One of my favorite movies, and one I've watched dozens of times. Redline has all the action and adrenaline of illegal car races on alien planets. And of course, the stylized art already stands out on its own, but the music? The whole techno vibe is on another level, and I'll just say that every racer has their own song, though you have to pay attention, and the music changes depending on the racer being shown at the moment. Plus, it gives us a glimpse into a rich universe full of planets, cultures, and races, so much so that we wish we had a spin-off series set in this world. | © Tohokushinsha Film Corporation

Chico & Rita (2010)

Chico & Rita is a dramatic, touching, and tragic story about the real-life figures of pianist Chico Valdés and singer Rita La Belle who fall in love and decide to form a duo, only to be separated by fate and history. I could recommend it to children if it weren't for certain nude scenes, but it is a film with drama and a historical lesson that is important for everyone. | © Fernando Trueba PC

It's Such a Beautiful Day (2012)

It is impossible for me to watch the trilogy (although it is really just one movie) of "It's Such a Beautiful Day" without shedding tears. Don Hertzfeldt has the ability to connect with me through simple doodles and humor that can be as refined as it is simply incoherent screams. But his works are always human and very personal, and I think anyone who has done even a minimum of introspection in their life will appreciate them. Although his "World of Tomorrow" trilogy is equally great, I have to go with his first feature film, which is the most real in its emotions. Don't let the simple primary school art style discourage you. | © Bitter Films

The Congress (2013)

We have another movie that combines the live-action world with animation, and it is "The Congress." It is a film about perpetuity, perhaps even immortality, where an actress decides to sell her image and be transported to this cartoonish world, where she can be preserved forever. But of course, her image will also be used in movies and all kinds of media for all eternity, including some that could be unethical... | © Warner Bros.

Anomalisa (2015)

Directed by the brilliant screenwriter Charlie Kaufman, Anomalisa tells a simple story of a man bored with a routine and monotonous life, which is represented brilliantly through the medium of animation, particularly stop-motion. You will quickly notice that all the secondary characters share the same face of the same puppet, to emphasize the idea of routine, where everything always seems the same. One of the great existential concerns that, definitely, the little ones have not yet experienced. | © Paramount Pictures

Birdboy: The Forgotten Children (2015)

Also known as Psychonauts, Birdboy: The Forgotten Children is the first film by director and comic artist Alberto Vázquez, in which he portrays a story with anthropomorphic characters that is partly a coming-of-age tale, but set in a darker and more traditionalist world. The story follows a group of friends who decide to escape from school only to face a sinister world dominated by violence, drugs, and misery. | © ZircoZine

In This Corner of the World (2016)

With so many movies about World War II in Japan and the representations of its tragedies already achieved by Grave of the Fireflies or Barefoot Gen, you would think we'd be tired of the theme. But In This Corner of the World provides a faithful and harsh depiction of family life and the tragedies they endure in their daily lives while trying to live normally amidst air raids. | © MAPPA

Tower (2016)

It is curious that they decided to use monochromatic rotoscoping for the movie Tower, but it works very well for this documentary, where through a series of interviews and recreation of events using animation, they tell us what happened at the University of Texas in 1966 when a sniper decided to start shooting at civilians out of nowhere, and the entire process to capture him and prevent more casualties. | © Go-Valley

Loving Vincent (2017)

Possibly the best rotoscope movie ever created, and one that caused a lot of buzz at the time simply for its technical prowess. Although Loving Vincent may be slow-paced, being a biographical film of the famous painter, its value lies in the thousands of artists they hired to recreate Van Gogh's paintings in the many frames of the movie and bring them to life through animation. A film worth recommending simply for the beauty of its art. | © BreakThru Films

The Wolf House (2018)

We all know the potential that stop-motion has for horror, as we have discussed before, but none have taken it to the limits like The Wolf House. This Chilean film is pure storytelling within a house, where we are told a terrifying story of a woman hiding from wolves inside a house. But the wolves might be more than just animals, and perhaps all of this is an allegory to events that happened in real life... | © Diluvio

Ruben Brandt, Collector (2018)

One of the films with a concept that is as rich in culture as it is in entertainment is Ruben Brandt, Collector. It’s a classic heist film, but instead of banks, it's about museums all over the world. If there's one reason I truly recommend this Hungarian movie, it's for its visual style, which replicates that of many popular artists throughout art history. You will see their works recreated in the various museums visited by our group of thieves. | © Ruben Brandt LLC

Violence Voyager (2018)

One of the strangest films you'll see on this list, and one I had forgotten existed, if not for its cutout animation style reminding me of the wonder that is Violence Voyager. Imagine a plot very much like Junji Ito, with a group of middle school kids attending an amusement park, only to realize it's a front for creating terrifying monsters. Thankfully, it uses cutout figures because some designs are so creepy that I wouldn't want to see them with more movement... | © A-toys

I Lost My Body (2019)

A curious film, certainly, but profound in unexpected ways. I Lost My Body is about a hand that escapes from a laboratory to reunite with its body. And although it sounds like something out of horror or science fiction, it is actually a kind of dramatic coming-of-age story, with the hand recalling its life when it was a complete body and its encounter with the person it was in love with. | © Rezo Films

Josep (2020)

Adult animation often includes many works about war and its consequences, but the Spanish Civil War is rarely depicted, and none do it like Josep. Here, the plot centers on a refugee camp and the horrors that some of its inhabitants have to endure, being abused by soldiers. But it is also a story about finding that ray of sunshine in the darkest places on our planet. | © Les Films d'Ici

Cryptozoo (2021)

No, it has nothing to do with cryptocurrencies or Logan Paul's NFTs. Cryptozoo is about cryptids, those mythical creatures like Sasquatch, the Loch Ness Monster, dragons, etc., all living together in a zoo. Despite the somewhat strange animation, the story is full of imagination and action with the different creatures that live in the zoo, some more human-like than expected. | © Magnolia Pictures

Flee (2021)

Few films manage to convey two messages perfectly, but Flee achieves this through a blend of documentary and biographical narrative. The story tells the journey of an immigrant escaping his country due to war and the many obstacles he must overcome before achieving a peaceful life. It is also about a man discovering his sexual identity and the fear of not being accepted by his family, which is the only thing of value he has left in this world. | © Neon

Mad God (2021)

It's possible that Mad God doesn't have a plot, and if it does, it's not what really matters in this movie. Using years of mastery in stop-motion animation, we are shown all kinds of cruelties of the human race represented in different scenarios, while we follow a traveler passing from one plane to another. Although it may sometimes be unpleasant or uncomfortable to watch, it is a technical masterpiece that took 30 years to complete. | © Shudder

The Spine of the Night (2021)

What I like about The Spine of the Night is that it is one of those projects driven to completion by the raw passion of the artists. With clear inspiration from some sketches of the movie Heavy Metal, it shows us the cycle of humanity's quest for power, corruption, and violence, and the attempt to stop it forever in a grand work of high fantasy. | © Shudder

Unicorn Wars (2022)

A lovable, happy movie about adorable plush toys? Well, not exactly. Unicorn Wars tells the story of these cuddly creatures in a brutal and bloody fight against the unicorns, creating more than just a parody of Apocalypse Now by giving its own twist on the cruelty in the midst of war. More importantly, it explores the ability to remain kind despite all the horrors. Being created by the same mind behind Birdboy: The Forgotten Children, you know you're in for some terrible things... | © Abano Producións

The Peasants (2022)

And to close this list, from the same studio behind Loving Vincent, we have another film with a recreation of paintings through rotoscope with The Peasants. The difference is that, instead of focusing on the biography of an artist, it centers on a completely original plot about a village of farmers in Poland, where gossip and rumors can ruin the lives of some of its inhabitants, triggering a series of tragedies due to lust, jealousy, greed, and even love. | © BreakThru Films