Discover the 7 Must-Watch Adult Animated Films – From War Tragedies to Whimsical Stop-Motion – That Redefine Animation and broaden your perspective on this art form.
Animation is no longer just for kids. An increasing number of animated works feature profound storylines or philosophical themes that only adults can fully appreciate. This article highlights seven classic and modern animated films that deserve a spot on every adult’s watchlist.
Grave of the Fireflies (1988)
IMDb Rating: 8.5/10
Release Date: April 16, 1988
Genre: Animation, War, Drama
Runtime: 89 minutes
Country: Japan
Director: Isao Takahata
Starring: Tsutomu Tatsumi, Ayano Shiraishi, Yoshiko Shinohara, Akemi Yamaguchi, …
Notable Awards: Press Award for Outstanding Film, one of the greatest animated films of all time – a “masterpiece” by Studio Ghibli
Streaming on: Netflix
Follow siblings Seita and Setsuko as they struggle to survive in the final days of World War II in Japan. After a devastating bombing, the siblings lose their mother and must fend for themselves in a war-torn nation. This heart-wrenching tale highlights the brutality of war, emphasizing loneliness, hunger, and death.
Love, Death + Robots
IMDb Rating: 8.4/10
Release Date: March 15, 2019
Genre: Animation, Sci-Fi, Horror
Runtime: 10 episodes
Country: USA
Directors: Tim Miller, David Fincher
Starring: TBA
Notable Awards: Emmy for Outstanding Short-Form Animated Program
Streaming on: Netflix
This anthology series features standalone episodes, each with unique animation styles and narratives. Exploring themes of love, death, and robots, the series delves into violence, sexuality, sci-fi, and profound philosophy. It examines pressing modern issues through a distinctive lens.
Metropia (2009)
IMDb Rating: 6.2/10
Release Date: November 26, 2009
Genre: Sci-Fi, Drama
Runtime: 86 minutes
Country: Sweden
Director: Tarik Saleh
Starring: Vincent Gallo, Alexander Skarsgård, Juliette Lewis
Notable Awards: TBA
Streaming on: TBA
Set in Europe in 2024, where oil has run out and corporations control power, Roger discovers a voice in his head and uncovers a sinister conspiracy by the ruling elite. The film’s unique cut-out animation and cold gray tones create a suffocating, dystopian atmosphere.
Watership Down (1978)
IMDb Rating: 7.5/10
Release Date: October 19, 1978
Genre: Animation, Adventure, Drama
Runtime: 91 minutes
Country: UK
Director: Martin Rosen
Starring: John Hurt, Richard Briers, Michael Graham Cox
Notable Awards: TBA
Streaming on: Netflix
Despite its rabbit protagonists, this film is dark and violent, unsuitable for children. It follows a group of rabbits forced to leave their home due to threats. Their journey to find a new home is filled with dangers from nature, humans, and their own kind. A profound allegory about freedom, survival, and politics.
Beowulf (2007)
IMDb Rating: 6.3/10
Release Date: November 16, 2007
Genre: Animation, Action, Fantasy
Runtime: 115 minutes
Country: USA
Director: Robert Zemeckis
Starring: Ray Winstone, Anthony Hopkins, Angelina Jolie
Notable Awards: TBA
Streaming on: Netflix
Based on the ancient English epic, this film follows Beowulf as he helps King Hrothgar defeat the monster Grendel. Using performance-capture technology, the film blends realistic and fantastical visuals, featuring graphic violence, nudity, and themes of desire and betrayal, making it unsuitable for younger audiences.
Coraline (2009)
IMDb Rating: 7.8/10
Release Date: February 6, 2009
Genre: Animation, Horror, Fantasy
Runtime: 100 minutes
Country: USA
Director: Henry Selick
Starring: Dakota Fanning, Teri Hatcher, Jennifer Saunders
Notable Awards: TBA
Streaming on: Netflix
After moving to a new home, Coraline discovers a door to a parallel world where her “Other Parents” are perfect – except for their button eyes. This world soon turns into a terrifying nightmare. The film’s horror elements, psychological depth, and eerie visuals make it ideal for adults and teens.
Loving Vincent (2017)
Release Date: September 22, 2017
Genre: Animation, Art
Runtime: 94 minutes
Country: Poland, UK
Directors: Dorota Kobiela, Hugh Welchman
Starring: Robert Gulaczyk, Douglas Booth, Saoirse Ronan
Notable Awards: European Film Award for Best Animated Feature
Streaming on: TBA
Loving Vincent explores the life and mysterious death of Vincent van Gogh, entirely hand-painted by 125 artists using 65,000 oil-painted frames. This film is not just a biographical journey but an artistic experience for adults, blending beauty with tragedy, inner conflict, and the cost of creativity.
Adult animation opens a world where vibrant colors give way to profound reflections on life, aspirations, pain, and hope. If you seek “mature and transformative” works, let these films accompany you, leaving lasting impressions and insights.
