8 Great Animated Movies You've Probably Never Heard Of

Image via Globo Rojo Films Published Oct 25, 2026, 8:02 PM EDT Jeremy has more than 2800 published articles on Collider to his name, and has been writing for the site since February 2022. He's an omnivore when it comes to his movie-watching diet, so will gladly watch and write about almost anything, from old Godzilla films to gangster flicks to samurai movies to classic musicals to the French New Wave to the MCU... well, maybe not the Disney+ shows. His favorite directors include Martin Scorsese, Sergio Leone, Akira Kurosawa, Quentin Tarantino, Werner Herzog, John Woo, Bob Fosse, Fritz Lang, Guillermo del Toro, and Yoji Yamada. He's also very proud of the fact that he's seen every single Nicolas Cage movie released before 2022, even though doing so often felt like a tremendous waste of time. He's plagued by the question of whether or not The Room is genuinely terrible or some kind of accidental masterpiece, and has been for more than 12 years (and a similar number of viewings). When he's not writing lists - and the occasional feature article - for Collider, he also likes to upload film reviews to his Letterboxd profile (username: Jeremy Urquhart) and Instagram account. He has achieved his 2025 goal of reading all 13,467 novels written by Stephen King, and plans to spend the next year or two getting through the author's 82,756 short stories and 105,433 novellas. Sign in to your Collider account Animation is a wonderfully unique genre, thanks to the way it can capture experiences that are either difficult or impossible to execute in live-action. And while it's undeniably a great genre for kids, animated films can be so much more than just family films. That's not to slight the classics from Pixar — as many of its films can bring adults to tears while keeping kids entertained — or the works of Studio Ghibli, which has amassed a great deal of international acclaim from its diverse and visually stunning filmography. Instead, some bold and unique animated films haven't received as much attention. They all highlight the unique qualities animation can bring to a story and demonstrate its capacity to do more than serve as entertainment for kids. On top of that, they're just great movies in their own right and are deserving of more attention. 8 'Mind Game' (2004) Image via Asmik Ace Entertainment Mind Game would have to be one of the most bizarre animated films ever made. It's sort of about a shy, young man who gets tangled up with the yakuza, dies, comes back to life, and escapes the yak with the girl he loves and her sister, except then they end up inside an inexplicably huge whale. And most of the movie takes place inside the whale. That being said, a lot of it also seems to be occurring inside the main character's mind, maybe in his dreams, or perhaps both... It's hardly ever easy to tell. Whatever the case, it's an extraordinary and compelling ride that words cannot do it justice or make sense of it. It's an experience; that's the only certainty when it comes to Mind Game. 7 'The Wolf House' (2018) Image via Globo Rojo Films The Wolf House is a genuinely creepy and unnerving horror film with a captivating and original visual style. Of all the animated movies in existence, this is probably one of the last you'd ever want a young child to see. While other animated films might have more adult content, few — if any — are as uniquely scary as this one. It tells a loose story of a young woman (Amalia Kassai) who's fled some sort of prison camp and takes shelter in a strange house, but it's more memorable for the overall experience and atmosphere than its story. It's a strange blend of stop-motion and hand-drawn animation that appears on surfaces like walls, all within real three-dimensional sets, and utilizes other techniques that are hard to comprehend. It's also made to look like it was "filmed" in one take. It's hard to forget, both for its disturbing qualities and the filmmakers' remarkable level of technical skill. 6 'Tux and Fanny' (2019) Tux and Fanny are unlike anything else out there. It runs for 82 minutes and comprises dozens of short films — about 1-2 minutes each — combining to tell one story. To call said overall story a strange and unpredictable one would be an understatement. It centers on the two title characters and their solitary lifestyle in a house by the woods and all the strange misadventures that come their way. It's mostly animated in an 8-bit style but will sometimes break out of it and get even stranger. It's funny, sad, bewildering, surprisingly deep, random, and insightful when it comes to ideas surrounding existentialism and one's purpose (or lack of it) in life. It's all available on the creator's YouTube channel for free, so you've got nothing to lose money-wise from checking this remarkable little film out. 5 'Apollo 10½: A Space Age Childhood' (2022) In all honesty, Richard Linklater's latest film might not qualify as an obscure film: it's a new release and has had some promotion from Netflix. Yet, it hasn't had enough exposure and seemingly went under too many radars. Linklater is a remarkably talented and always interesting filmmaker. Given how one of his most popular films is a nostalgic coming-of-age story — 1993's Dazed and Confused — it's surprising that Apollo 10½: A Space Age Childhood isn't resonating as much, despite dealing with similar themes. It has unique-looking animation, some fun characters, and good humor. Overall, it makes for a pleasant, fairly breezy, largely entertaining watch. It definitely doesn't deserve to be completely buried under the mountains of other content on Netflix. Collider Exclusive · Universe Personality Quiz Which Iconic Universe Do You Belong in the Most? Star Wars · Lord of the Rings · Harry Potter · Game of Thrones · Star Trek Five legendary universes. Five completely different visions of what the world could be — or already was. One of them is the world your instincts, your values, and your particular way of existing were built for. Eight questions will tell you which one. 🚀Star Wars 💍Lord of the Rings 🧙Harry Potter 👑Game of Thrones 🖖Star Trek FIND YOUR UNIVERSE → 01 What gives your life its deepest sense of meaning? Every universe is built around a different answer to this question. ABeing part of something larger than myself — a cause, a rebellion, a fight for freedom that outlasts me. BThe journey itself — the places I'll go, the companions beside me, the world I'll discover on the way. CLearning — unlocking what I'm capable of, understanding the world's hidden mechanics, growing into something more. DLegacy — the name I leave behind, the power I build, the mark I make before the world moves on without me. EUnderstanding — exploring what exists beyond the horizon and asking what it means to be alive in a universe this vast. NEXT QUESTION → 02 Which kind of world do you most want to inhabit? The environment shapes who you become. Choose carefully. AA galaxy of planets, each with its own culture — connected by conflict, trade, and the Force. BAncient lands of breathtaking beauty, deep history, and a creeping darkness at the edges. CA world hidden inside our own — full of wonder, community, and magic waiting to be learned. DA brutal, beautiful continent where power is everything and every alliance is a calculation. EA future where humanity has reached the stars — and must decide what kind of species it wants to be. NEXT QUESTION → 03 How do you prefer your conflicts resolved? The shape of a world's conflicts tells you everything about its soul. AThrough sacrifice and courage — someone has to make the impossible choice so others don't have to. BThrough fellowship — the impossible becomes possible when the right people walk the same road. CThrough growth — confronting what you fear, understanding what you lack, and becoming equal to the challenge. DThrough strategy — outthinking, outmaneuvering, positioning yourself so the outcome was never in doubt. EThrough dialogue — finding the third option, the peaceful resolution, the answer that doesn't require a body count. NEXT QUESTION → 04 Who do you want beside you when things get difficult? Your ideal companions reveal the world you were made for. AA small crew — a pilot, a rogue, a warrior — each broken in their own way, unbeatable together. BA fellowship of different kinds of people, bound by purpose and deepened by the long road. CFriends who grew up alongside me — who knew me before I knew myself, and stayed anyway. DAllies whose loyalty I've earned — and tested — and whose ambitions align with mine, for now. EA crew of brilliant, curious, principled people from every corner of known space. NEXT QUESTION → 05 What is your relationship with power? How you seek, wield, or resist power is the map of who you are. AI want to use it to protect — and I'm terrified of what I might become if I'm not careful. BI distrust it. The most important power in this story is the courage to give it up. CI want to earn it — through knowledge, through effort, through becoming someone worthy of it. DI want to wield it. Preferably before someone else decides to wield it against me. EI want to understand it — its structures, its limits, its ethical dimensions. Power without accountability is the real threat. NEXT QUESTION → 06 How does your universe treat good and evil? A world's moral architecture tells you more about it than any map. AThere is a dark side and a light side — and the choice between them is always present, always personal. BEvil is real and ancient and patient — and goodness, however small, is the only thing that can undo it. CGood and evil are real, but they live inside people — and people are complicated, always capable of both. DGood and evil are mostly a matter of perspective and proximity. Power is the only honest currency. EEvil is usually the result of ignorance, fear, or broken systems — and understanding it is the first step to solving it. NEXT QUESTION → 07 What role would you naturally fall into? Every universe has archetypes. Which one fits you without trying? AThe reluctant hero — ordinary origins, extraordinary moment, changed forever by the choice to act. BThe unlikely carrier — the one nobody expected to matter most, quietly bearing the weight of everything. CThe student — not yet who I'll become, learning through every mistake, growing into something the world needs. DThe player — sharp enough to see the game for what it is, ambitious enough to try to win it. EThe explorer — drawn to the unknown, driven by curiosity, most alive when standing somewhere no one has stood before. NEXT QUESTION → 08 What do you ultimately believe about the future? The answer to this is the clearest window into which universe already lives inside you. AThat hope is real — that even in the darkest galaxy, a new hope is always possible. CThat even the smallest person can change the course of the future, if they have the courage to try. CThat love and friendship and doing what's right will matter in the end, even when everything says otherwise. DThat the wheel keeps turning — that power shifts, winters end, and what endures is those willing to fight for it. EThat humanity — or whatever we become — is capable of extraordinary things, if we choose to be. REVEAL MY UNIVERSE → Your Universe Has Been Chosen You Belong In…Your answers point to the iconic universe your values, your instincts, and your particular way of seeing the world were built for. This is where you would find your people — and your purpose. Star WarsYou believe in the cause — in the idea that freedom is worth fighting for even when the odds are impossible and the empire is vast. You are drawn to the moral clarity of a universe where hope itself is a form of resistance. You'd find your people in the Rebellion — a ragtag coalition of true believers held together by conviction more than resources. Star Wars is fundamentally a story about ordinary people choosing to matter in an extraordinary conflict — and that is exactly your kind of story. The Force may or may not be with you. But the will to use it for something larger than yourself certainly is. Lord of the RingsYou understand, in the deepest part of yourself, that the journey matters as much as the destination — and that the world's beauty is worth protecting even at great cost. Middle-earth is a world of ancient wonder, deep friendship, and a darkness that only retreats when enough small acts of courage accumulate. You would thrive here because you value the fellowship more than the glory — the road more than the arrival. Tolkien's universe rewards patience, loyalty, and the willingness to carry something heavy across a very long distance. Those are not burdens to you. They are simply how you move through the world. Harry PotterYou believe that love, loyalty, and doing what's right are not naive sentiments — they are the most powerful forces in any world, magical or otherwise. The Wizarding World is a place of wonder hidden in plain sight, where learning is transformative and the bonds you form at school follow you into every battle. You would flourish here because you take both the magic and the friendships seriously — and you understand that one without the other is incomplete. Harry Potter's universe ultimately rewards those who choose to stand for something even when standing is terrifying. That choice — made quietly, without guarantee — is something you understand completely. Game of ThronesYou see the world clearly — its power structures, its hypocrisies, its brutal arithmetic — and you are not paralysed by that clarity. You use it. Westeros is a world that rewards intelligence, adaptability, and the willingness to understand that every alliance is also a negotiation. You would survive here — possibly thrive here — because you don't confuse the world as it is with the world as you'd like it to be. Game of Thrones is a story about what happens when the idealists and the realists collide. You are sharp enough to know which one lasts longer. Winter always comes. You are already prepared. Star TrekYou believe the future is worth building — that curiosity, cooperation, and the expansion of understanding are not just ideals but the most practical path forward for any civilisation. Star Trek is a universe where the questions matter as much as the answers, and where encountering something utterly alien is cause for wonder rather than fear. You would belong here because you are fundamentally optimistic about what intelligence and decency can achieve — while being honest about how hard that achievement is. The Federation is the universe's most ambitious thought experiment: what if we actually got better? You don't just hope that's possible. You think it's the only thing worth working toward. ↻ RETAKE THE QUIZ 4 'Ruben Brandt, Collector' (2018) Image via Mozinet Ruben Brandt, Collector is a Hungarian film that focuses on a group of thieves and their attempts to steal various pieces of valuable artwork and a detective's quest to track down who's organizing the series of heists, if anyone. Ruben Brandt, Collector stands out because it's rare to see this kind of crime/heist premise done in animation, and not only that, but the sort of unusual and distinctive animated style this film offers. It's fast-paced, slick, and full of fun sequences and interesting characters and themes. It's a good demonstration of how animation can bring something fresh to a well-established genre. 3 'Is the Man Who Is Tall Happy?' (2013) Michel Gondry is a French director who's probably best known for working with Jim Carrey on Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind and the TV show Kidding. Yet, for anyone wanting to dig a little deeper into his body of work, it's a truly fascinating and unpredictable one. One of his most distinctive feature films is the surreal animated documentary, Is the Man Who Is Tall Happy? It's framed around a series of interviews Gondry conducted with famed linguist and philosopher Noam Chomsky, where Gondry then uses animation in an attempt to understand and explain Chomsky's sometimes complex but always engaging thoughts. It branches out into some fascinating areas and becomes a documentary not just about Chomsky's ideals and life but also about the obstacles and mysteries of communication itself. It's an interesting watch, to say the least. 2 'Comet in Moominland' (1992) Did you find yourself watching 2021's Don't Look Up and wishing it was about half as long, animated, less cynical, more hopeful, and had a cast of quirky animals instead of boring human beings? Probably not, but if you did for whatever reason, Comet in Moominland has you covered. It might be the least depressing disaster movie ever made, which is nice for a change, as it's about a group of anthropomorphic animals and how they deal with the news that an approaching comet may wipe them all out. As it's kid-friendly, it's less downbeat than that premise may make it sound, and any potential gloominess is counter-balanced nicely with the film's humor, characters, and cute visuals. 1 'The Gate to the Mind's Eye' (1994) The Gate to the Mind's Eye has no plot, so to speak. It's part of a series of films made during the early years of CGI animation that aimed to experiment with the still-new technique. Each film contains several scenes with a science-fiction or fantasy feel but little in the way of a plot to tie all the scenes together. The bold musical score at least strings together the scenes in its own strange way, and the experience is undeniably compelling if you approach it with the right mindset (yes, pun intended). It's surreal and otherworldly, as early CGI animation had a bizarre and hypnotic feel. It undeniably provides open-minded viewers (again, intended) with a wholly unique and compellingly bizarre animated odyssey. The Gate to the Mind's Eye Release Date October 25, 1994 Runtime 55 minutes Director Michael Boydstun Producers Steven Churchill Cast