10 Obscure & Amazing Animated Movies That You Probably Haven’t Seen

There are plenty of great animated movies waiting to be discovered for those who want something different from the mainstream. While many of the biggest and best animated movies come from major studios like Disney, DreamWorks and Studio Ghibli, the art form’s accessibility means that there’s also a thriving independent scene, with filmmakers from all over the world pushing the boundaries of animation.

Many of the most interesting animated movies come from smaller studios, unburdened by expectations and free to creatively experiment. The 21st century has seen a boom in these types of studios, as new technologies have destroyed many of the traditional barriers to animation. Now, good storytelling is all that’s needed for a lesser-known animated movie to leave a mark on the world.

10

The Thief & The Cobbler (1993)

The Thief And The Cobbler’s Troubled Production Created A Masterpiece

Movie

My Favorite Movies
My Watchlist

Success!

Your Rating

close

10 stars

9 stars

8 stars

7 stars

6 stars

5 stars

4 stars

3 stars

2 stars

1 star

Rate Now

0/10

Leave a Review

Your comment has not been saved

01423054_poster_w780.jpg

The Thief and the Cobbler

Release Date

September 23, 1993

Runtime

72 minutes

Director

Richard Williams

Writers

Margaret French

Producers

Imogen Sutton

Cast

  • Headshot Of Matthew Broderick

    Matthew Broderick

    Tack the Cobbler (voice)

  • Headshot Of Vincent Price

    Vincent Price

    Zigzag the Grand Vizier (voice)

  • Headshot Of Jennifer Beals

    Jennifer Beals

    Princess YumYum (voice)

  • Cast Placeholder Image

    See All Cast & Crew

Powered by

Expand
Collapse

The Thief and the Cobbler was originally released in 1993, and its poor box office numbers underline the suggestion that many people saw it as a cheap rip-off of Disney’s Aladdin. In fact, Richard Williams had been working on The Thief and the Cobbler for decades, long before Aladdin was ever made. The film underwent a notoriously troubled production which has only added to its legend, with Williams eventually being fired from the project.

Spirited Away and Spider-Man Into the Spider-Verse imagery

Related

10 Most Visually Stunning Animated Movies

From The Iron Giant to Wall-E, here are the 10 most visually stunning animated movies that push the boundaries of the medium and blend art styles.

Posts

1

The Thief and the Cobbler was re-released in 1995 with some tweaks, and this second version was also a box office failure. The movie has only gained a substantial following since a newer cut has been made available, and it’s a must-watch for animation enthusiasts. It quickly becomes evident that the hasty comparisons to Aladdin are completely unfounded, since The Thief and the Cobbler is a singular work of art.

9

Mary & Max (2009)

Adam Elliot’s First Feature Is A Hilarious But Devastating Movie

Movie

My Favorite Movies
My Watchlist

Success!

Your Rating

close

10 stars

9 stars

8 stars

7 stars

6 stars

5 stars

4 stars

3 stars

2 stars

1 star

Rate Now

0/10

Leave a Review

Your comment has not been saved

Mary and Max - Poster

Mary and Max

Release Date

April 9, 2009

Runtime

92 Minutes

Director

Adam Elliot

Writers

Adam Elliot

Cast

  • Headshot Of Toni Collette

    Toni Collette

  • Headshot Of Philip Seymour Hoffman In The 12th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards

    Philip Seymour Hoffman

  • Headshot Of Eric Bana

    Eric Bana

  • Cast Placeholder Image

    See All Cast & Crew

Powered by

Expand
Collapse

Australian animator Adam Elliot was already an Oscar-winner by the time he embarked on his first feature-length film, and Mary and Max was worth the wait. The story follows the relationship of two unlikely pen pals, a young girl from rural Australia and a middle-aged man with Asperger syndrome from New York City. Toni Collette and Philip Seymour Hoffman play the titular characters.

Australian animator Adam Elliot was already an Oscar-winner by the time he embarked on his first feature-length film.

Mary and Max is filled with uproarious dark comedy, as the two characters bond over their shared misery and their failure to understand the world around them. This humor doesn’t stop Mary and Max from delivering an emotional gut punch when it wants to, however. Elliott is one of the Oscar nominees for 2025 with his movie Memoir of a Snail, another animated gem that deserves a much larger audience.

8

Cryptozoo (2021)

One Of The Most Original Animations Of Recent Years

Movie

My Favorite Movies
My Watchlist

Success!

Your Rating

close

10 stars

9 stars

8 stars

7 stars

6 stars

5 stars

4 stars

3 stars

2 stars

1 star

Rate Now

0/10

Leave a Review

Your comment has not been saved

01623572_poster_w780.jpg

Cryptozoo

Release Date

August 20, 2021

Runtime

95 minutes

Director

Dash Shaw

Producers

Tyler Davidson
, Kyle Martin

Cast

  • Headshot oF Michael Cera

    Michael Cera

    Matthew (voice)

  • Headshot Of Lake Bell

    Lake Bell

    Lauren Grey (voice)

  • Cast Placeholder Image

    Alex Karpovsky

    David (voice)

  • Cast Placeholder Image

    See All Cast & Crew

Powered by

Expand
Collapse

Cryptozoo is one of a recent crop of unique animated movies proving that the medium still has room to grow and explore, and that audience’s perceptions of animation shouldn’t be shaped by the big studios alone. Cryptozoo uses an interesting patchwork of different art forms, including pencil sketches, paper collage and watercolors. The result is a visual feast that remains impossible to predict.

Cryptozoo‘s story is just as vibrant and eclectic as its visual style, as a group of zookeepers collaborate to hunt down a strange creature known as a Baku, a dream-eater from Japanese mythology. Apropos of this concept, Cryptozoo often feels like watching a dream, and not just because of the overstimulating and otherworldly animation. Fortunately, it stays grounded for long enough to deliver some surprisingly relatable truths.

7

The Illusionist (2010)

Sylvain Chomet Takes Inspiration From A French Comedy Icon

Movie

My Favorite Movies
My Watchlist

Success!

Your Rating

close

10 stars

9 stars

8 stars

7 stars

6 stars

5 stars

4 stars

3 stars

2 stars

1 star

Rate Now

0/10

Leave a Review

Your comment has not been saved

The Illusionist (2010) - poster

The Illusionist

Release Date

December 25, 2010

Runtime

80 Minutes

Director

Sylvain Chomet

Writers

Sylvain Chomet

Cast

  • Cast Placeholder Image

    Jean-Claude Donda

    Tatischeff / French Cinema Manager

  • Cast Placeholder Image

    Eilidh Rankin

    Alice

  • Cast Placeholder Image

    Didier Gustin

    Songs

  • Cast Placeholder Image

    See All Cast & Crew

Powered by

Expand
Collapse

Many people will recognize the art style of The Illusionist, since it’s similar to Sylvain Chomet’s previous movie, The Triplets of Belleville. For whatever reason, The Illusionist hasn’t quite reached the same international audience, although it’s just as charming and creative. The story is adapted from an original screenplay by French comedy legend Jacques Tati, and the whole movie is packed with his Monsieur Hulot style of physical buffoonery.

Every light chuckle helps endear the characters and the charming world of The Illusionist to the audience.

The Illusionist is frequently hilarious, but it’s also the kind of movie that gets the most out of its smaller jokes. Every light chuckle helps endear the characters and the charming world of The Illusionist to the audience, meaning that the movie conveys a seemingly effortless vitality. Its landscapes are often gorgeous, teeming with intelligent details that are just begging for further exploration.

6

The Night Is Short, Walk On Girl (2017)

Animation Allows The Story To Slip Into A Dream

Movie

My Favorite Movies
My Watchlist

Success!

Your Rating

close

10 stars

9 stars

8 stars

7 stars

6 stars

5 stars

4 stars

3 stars

2 stars

1 star

Rate Now

0/10

Leave a Review

Your comment has not been saved

The Night Is Short, Walk on Girl - Poster

The Night Is Short, Walk On Girl

Release Date

April 7, 2017

Runtime

92 Minutes

Director

Masaaki Yuasa

Writers

Tomihiko Morimi
, Makoto Ueda

Cast

  • Cast Placeholder Image

    Gen Hoshino

    Senpai

  • Cast Placeholder Image

    Kana Hanazawa

    Kurokami no otome

  • Cast Placeholder Image

    Hiroshi Kamiya

    Gakuensai jimukyoku-chô

  • Cast Placeholder Image

    See All Cast & Crew

Powered by

Expand
Collapse

Masaaki Yuasa has always been a prolific manga artist, but he also has a few popular anime movies, showing that he can master both media. The Night is Short, Walk On Girl is a charming comedy about a university student who embarks on a wild night out, drinking and partying her way across Kyoto as she bumps into a revolving cast of eccentric characters, including supernatural beings.

The Night is Short, Walk On Girl benefits greatly from its loose structure, as the young woman bounces from one interaction to the next, propelled primarily by whatever whim strikes her in the moment. Throughout the evening, she repeatedly crosses paths with a fellow student who struggles to find the opportunity and the courage to confess his romantic feelings for her. The meandering story is true to life, as is their quirky romance, even though Yuasa frequently ventures into the bizarre.

5

Marcel The Shell With Shoes On (2021)

A24’s Cute Comedy Is An Uplifting Gem

Movie

My Favorite Movies
My Watchlist

Success!

Your Rating

close

10 stars

9 stars

8 stars

7 stars

6 stars

5 stars

4 stars

3 stars

2 stars

1 star

Rate Now

0/10

Leave a Review

Your comment has not been saved

Marcel the Shell with Shoes On

Marcel the Shell with Shoes On

Release Date

September 3, 2021

Runtime

1h 30m

Director

Dean Fleischer-Camp

Cast

  • Headshot Of Isabella Rossellini In The Los Angeles screening of 'Spaceman'

    Isabella Rossellini

  • Headshot Of Jenny Slate In The 2024 Disney Upfront

    Jenny Slate

  • Cast Placeholder Image

    See All Cast & Crew

Powered by

Expand
Collapse

There are a lot of great A24 movies which have given the studio a firm fan base, but Marcel the Shell With Shoes On is still an underrated gem. Based on a series of web shorts, Marcel the Shell With Shoes On stars a tiny shell looking for his family with the help of a documentary filmmaker. Marcel and the documentarian develop a quirky bond which goes much deeper than it first appears.

imagery-from-Kubo-and-the-Two-Strings-and-Coraline

Related

10 Beautiful Animated Movies That Prove Stop Motion Isn’t Dead

Stop-motion animation is one of the most ambitious and expressive animated styles, and many incredible releases have been made in recent years.

Posts

Marcel the Shell With Shoes On has the kind of premise that could easily become twee and lifeless, but its earnestness makes it hard to dislike. It ends up being a joyous revelation each time the one-inch-tall shell reveals a new contraption that helps him navigate the house. Marcel the Shell With Shoes On is far more than just its cute comedy, however, as it also has a lot to say about grief and healing.

4

The Secret Of Kells (2009)

Tomm Moore’s Irish Folklore Trilogy Deserves More Love

Movie

My Favorite Movies
My Watchlist

Success!

8/10

The Secret of Kells - Poster

Your Rating

close

10 stars

9 stars

8 stars

7 stars

6 stars

5 stars

4 stars

3 stars

2 stars

1 star

Rate Now

0/10

Leave a Review

Your comment has not been saved

The Secret of Kells

Release Date

December 4, 2009

Runtime

78 Minutes

Director

Tomm Moore
, Nora Twomey

Writers

Fabrice Ziolkowski

Cast

  • Cast Placeholder Image

    Evan McGuire

    Brendan

  • Cast Placeholder Image

    Christen Mooney

    Aisling

  • Headshot Of Brendan Gleeson iN The 66th BFI London Film Festival

    Brendan Gleeson

    Abbot Cellach

  • Cast Placeholder Image

    See All Cast & Crew

Powered by

Expand
Collapse

The Secret of Kells is the first movie in Tomm Moore’s Irish folklore trilogy, preceding Song of the Sea and Wolfwalkers. All three movies received Oscar nominations for Best Animated Feature, although none won. Despite their critical success, the three movies still deserve a much bigger audience, since their intelligent storytelling and creative art style are both unlike most mainstream animated movies.

The Secret of Kells is steeped in Irish mythology.

The Secret of Kells is steeped in Irish mythology, with several creatures and characters all coming together in one story. Primarily, the movie is about the creation of the Book of Kells, a religious illustrated manuscript from the 8th or 9th century. The Secret of Kells is a beautiful introduction to Irish folklore, conveying a lot of information while holding the story and the characters in the highest regard.

3

Ernest & Celestine (2012)

The Comic Book Adaptation Is Filled With Physical Humor

Ernest and Celestine: A Trip to Gibberitia

Comic books are a well-respected art form in Belgium, the country which created The Smurfs, Tintin and Lucky Luke. Ernest & Celestine brings a popular series of Belgian children’s comics to the big-screen, and the adaptation has become even more popular than its source material. Ernest and Celestine are the names of a bear and a mouse who strike up an unlikely friendship and soon find themselves on the run from the law.

Ernest & Celestine brings a popular series of Belgian children’s comics to the big-screen.

The English-language voice cast of Ernest & Celestine features some big names, such as Forest Whitaker, Paul Giamatti and Lauren Bacall in her final film role. The dub is, thankfully, lively and energetic without ever feeling out of step with the animation. A sequel, titled Ernest & Celestine: A Trip to Gibberitia, was released in 2022 to equally positive reviews. Both movies are good options for children who might want something different from what the major American studios have to offer.

2

Flee (2021)

Flee Is A Rare Animated Documentary

Movie

My Favorite Movies
My Watchlist

Success!

ScreenRant logo

9/10

Your Rating

close

10 stars

9 stars

8 stars

7 stars

6 stars

5 stars

4 stars

3 stars

2 stars

1 star

Rate Now

0/10

Leave a Review

Your comment has not been saved

Flee

Release Date

December 3, 2021

Runtime

90 minutes

Director

Jonas Poher Rasmussen

Writers

Jonas Poher Rasmussen

Cast

  • Cast Placeholder Image

    Belal Faiz

  • Cast Placeholder Image

    Sadia Faiz

  • Cast Placeholder Image

    Milad Eskandari

  • Cast Placeholder Image

    See All Cast & Crew

Powered by

Expand
Collapse

There aren’t too many animated movies based on true stories, but animation proves to be the perfect medium for Flee, a story that blends documentary with dramatic passages to tell the story of a man who left his home in Afghanistan to seek asylum in Denmark. The man is given an alias, and the layer of animation helps conceal his true identity, since he still fears persecution from his government back home if his secret ever gets out.

Wolfwalkers and How to Train Your Dragon imagery

Related

8 Non-Disney Movies That Should Have Won Best Animated Feature

Disney and Pixar movies account for 15 of the 23 winners in the Best Animated Features category, meaning that the Oscars have snubbed some classics.

Posts

1

Flee uses animation to tell a full story without compromising the safety of its subject, but it also has plenty of artistic flourishes to highlight the humanitarian tragedy. The broader political strokes are always seen through the lens of personal stories, as Flee takes an unflinching look at the realities of the refugee experience. It’s a powerful movie that goes to places that animated movies so rarely have the scope for.

1

Ruben Brandt, Collector (2018)

The Animated Heist Thriller Is A Love-Letter To Art

Movie

My Favorite Movies
My Watchlist

Success!

Your Rating

close

10 stars

9 stars

8 stars

7 stars

6 stars

5 stars

4 stars

3 stars

2 stars

1 star

Rate Now

0/10

Leave a Review

Your comment has not been saved

Ruben Brandt, Collector (2018) - Poster

Ruben Brandt, Collector

Release Date

February 15, 2019

Runtime

96 Minutes

Director

Milorad Krstic

Writers

Milorad Krstic
, Radmila Roczkov

Cast

  • Cast Placeholder Image

    Iván Kamarás

    Ruben Brandt

  • Cast Placeholder Image

    Csaba Márton

    Mike Kowalski

  • Cast Placeholder Image

    Gabriella Hámori

    Mimi

  • Cast Placeholder Image

    See All Cast & Crew

Powered by

Expand
Collapse

Ruben Brandt, Collector is about an art therapist who conspires with his patients to steal the famous paintings which haunt his dreams. Naturally, it’s packed full of references to famous artworks. The cubist faces of many of the characters evoke Pablo Picasso’s portraits, but there are also allusions to artists as varied as Andy Warhol, Vincent van Gogh and Sandro Botticelli. The film is a treasure trove for art enthusiasts.

In keeping with its focus on art, Ruben Brandt, Collector offers deep and detailed artistry throughout, with each corner of its canvas teeming with unexpected creative choices. The story is worthy of this beautiful craft, with a mix of trippy dream logic, crime tropes and intoxicating romance, all coming together to create a singular work of art that needs to be seen to be believed.