Animated moviesare traditionally viewed as media for children and often lumped together as either Walt Disney or Pixar productions. These US companies, along with DreamWorks, Nickelodeon, and Illumination, dominate the genre, but animation is a much broader category than appears on the surface. Manyanimated movies and TV showshave adult themes and darker content, tackling everything from social issues to ancient folklore. This is especially true with international and foreign language animated movies from across the globe that Western viewers may be unfamiliar with.
These animated films made outside the US share common themes, like building relationships, trauma, life and death, and good versus evil, but each has its own unique visual style. While it’s true that a majority of this list could bemovies from Studio Ghibli, we’ve tried to branch out and represent a larger variety of films by limiting the Ghibli selections to just a handful of entries. If you’re looking for something new to watch and want to experience an international animated movie, here are 20 you can consider for your next movie night.
20Persepolis (2007) - France
Persepolis
The 2007 French animated filmPersepolisis based on Marjane Satrapi’s life as presented in her graphic novel biography series of the same name. This deep and artistic film boasts simple black-and-white animation that lets the story truly shine and caters more to adult viewers than children.
Persepolisfollows Satrapi’s life from childhood in Iran, both during and following the Islamic Revolution, and documents her time living in Vienna and France during the political upheaval. The movie showcases Satrapi’s family, social commentary, and a surprising amount of humor in the heavy, emotionally charged content.
Persepolis Is an Animated Film With an Important Message
One of the most pressing themes inPersepolisis power, whether that be in society, war, or even the education system. The movie showcases how devastating the effects of war are on families and how difficult it is for children and young adults to find their own identities during times of injustice. It received praise and success upon release, receiving over 50 award nominations, including an Oscar nomination for Best Animated Feature Film of the Year in 2008.Rent on Apple TV.
19Spirited Away (2001) - Japan
Spirited Away
One of Studio Ghibli’s most successful films isSpirited Away, released in 2001. This coming-of-age story follows a ten-year-old girl named Chihiro Ogino and her parents as they move to the Japanese suburbs. During their journey, the family finds a strange amusement park after taking a wrong turn and decides to explore the unsettling abandoned property.
However, Chihiro’s parents are transformed into pigs, leaving her alone to navigate the supernatural world they’ve stumbled upon. Chihiro must work through her fears and find a way to get her and her parents out of the spirit world while dealing with frightening creatures and a sorceress who doesn’t want her to leave.
A Beautifully Animated Film About the Challenges of Life
While it can be hard to understandSpirited Awayif you take it in at a surface level, there are so many intricacies tucked in the story that give it depth and meaning. The animation is stunning with the color schemes and creates a universe so captivating that it truly brings the film’s wide range of characters to life. It’s the type of movie that everyone should watch at least once to experience the unique form of storytelling through the dreamlike sequences.Stream on Max.
Related:20 Animated Fantasy TV Shows You Have to Watch at Least Once
18The Secret Of Kells (2009) - Ireland
The Secret of Kells
The Secret of Kells explores the mystical journey of a young boy in medieval Ireland who embarks on a quest to complete an ancient book. Set amidst a backdrop of monastic life and looming Viking invasions, the story unfolds with a blend of Celtic legends and historical context, offering a visually stunning narrative that emphasizes themes of faith, knowledge, and resilience.
The Secret of Kellsis a 2009 animated fantasy film from Ireland that is technically an Irish-French-Belgian production by Cartoon Saloon. The movie is set during the 9th century in Ireland and follows Brendan, a young boy living a sheltered life in the remote monastery Abbey of Kells under the rule of his uncle, Abbot Cellach, whose only focus is building a wall around the village to prevent it from Viking attacks.
When a monk named Brother Aidan arrives at the Abbey after his own monastery is attacked, he seeks Brendan as an apprentice and sends him into the woods in search of ingredients to make ink. This sets Brendan off on a journey that leads him to not only discover magical creatures in the forest but also develop friendships that end up helping him when the Vikings attack.
A Simple Story Based on Irish Mythology
Many ofThe Secret of Kellsscenes are calm and with stunning animation, specifically the forest scenes, yet there are sinister, dark parts that emerge from the story. The hand-drawn content is remarkable and makes this a captivating watch, also helping the film earn an Oscar nomination for Best Animated Feature Film of the Year, only losing to Pixar’s hitUp. It took home several awards, including Best Animated Film at the 2010 Boulder International Film Festival, and has maintained a 90% on Rotten Tomatoes.Rent on Vudu.
17Grave of the Fireflies (1988) - Japan
Grave of the Fireflies
The Japanese animated filmGrave of the Firefliesis another Studio Ghibli production released in 1988. This anime war drama is loosely based on a 1967 short story by Akiyuki Nosaka, which depicts the lives of two siblings in Japan during World War II. The movie opens with a bombing that kills 14-year-old Seita and four-year-old Setsuko’s mother, leaving them orphaned during the war. The two go on to live with an abusive aunt for a brief period before moving to the streets, where they are forced to try and survive living in an abandoned air raid shelter.
A Haunting Anti-War Film
There’s no denyingGrave of the Firefliesis an incredibly haunting andmoving piece of animated cinemathat moves slowly through the plot without feeling mundane. It’s a poignant wartime story that doesn’t need excessive effects or over-the-top twists to make the message effective, as it plays out the events in a painfully realistic and heartbreaking way. Grave of the Fireflies is an emotional and moving movie that’s a good watch for older children and adults.Not available for renting/streaming.
16Porco Rosso (1992) - Japan
Yet another animation by Studio Ghibli is the 1992 fantasy movie,Porco Rosso. It’s one of the more underrated films from this studio that focuses on a former World War I pilot, voiced by Michael Keaton, who now works as a bounty hunter over the Adriatic Sea after being transformed into an anthropomorphic pig during the war. However, Porco is pursued by an American pilot working with the pirates, leaving him no choice but to work with a female mechanic named Flo to repair his plane and head into battle.
An Action-Packed Adventure Movie
Compared to some of the other darker and more emotionally taxing Studio Ghibli productions,Porco Rossois more appropriate for younger viewers, though adults can enjoy the story just as much. It does a fantastic job of blending a bright and fun visual story with important elements of world history. The movie was also well received by critics after its release, taking home three awards from 1992 to 1993, and has a 96% rating on the Tomatometer.Stream on Max.
15Immortal (2004) - France
The combination animation and live-action science fiction movieImmortalis a French production featuring Linda Hardy, Charlotte Rampling, and Thomas Kretschmann. The movie is set in a dystopian New York City in the year 2095, where the world is made up of both genetically altered humans and Egyptian gods. A god named Horus is sentenced to execution and sets out to find a human body that is capable of carrying the child of an ancient god, as well as a host body for himself. It’s a strange steampunk take on the comic bookLa Foire aux immortels, also known asThe Carnival of Immortals.
A Solid Story That’s Not Without Its Flaws
Much ofImmortalfeels like its setting is inspired by movies likeBlade Runner,while keeping a lot of the authentic details from the comic book series. Some of the CGI and human live-action scenes feel strange and can detract from the plot’s flow, but the reliability of content to match the graphic novel helps it to shine overall. It’s a fast-paced, entertaining watch, though it could have benefited from a longer run time to expand on some holes in the story.Stream on Roku.
14Perfect Blue (1997) - Japan
Perfect Blue
Perfect Blueis a Japaneseanime psychological thrillerloosely based on the bookPerfect Blue: Complete Metamorphosis. The movie opens with viewers being introduced to Mima, a pop star in a successful group who wants to leave her singing career for the world of acting. Unfortunately, some of her new roles break the clean image she once had as a pop star and cause a former fan to turn into a dangerous stalker. To make things worse, she discovers a website where her innermost thoughts are posted, leading her to spiral into a world of paranoia and questioning what is real.
A Dark Anime With Numerous Plot Twists
Make no mistake,Perfect Blueis not an animated movie for children, as it features sexual violence and a plot much darker than the synopsis can describe. Some scenes feel like a creepy horror movie that makes it easy to forget you’re watching an animated movie and leaves viewers questioning what reality is for Mima. Yet, despite some of the exploitative, twisted content, it took home three awards, including Best Film in Animation at the Fantasporto Awards and Best Animated Feature at the 2000 B-Movie Film Festival.Stream on AMC+.
13Renaissance (2006) - France
Renaissance
The French animated science fiction movieRenaissanceis a 2006 production from France, Luxembourg, and the United Kingdom. The impressive cast features Daniel Craig, Catherine McCormack, and Jonathan Pryce as voices for the main characters who live in a futuristic Paris in 2054. In this highly monitored city, a scientist named Ilona is kidnapped, and her employer, a powerful mega-corporation, wants her found at any cost. This leaves Police Captain Karas and his force with no choice but to wade through all the witnesses who are turning up dead to find the missing gene research scientist.
Impressive Graphics With a Tech-Noir Presentation
Renaissancemay not have been a box office success, but it took home its fair share of awards after its release. The movie was nominated for Best Feature at the Chicago International Film Festival and took home the award for Best Feature at the Annecy International Animated Film Festival in France. Yet, reviews are mixed from critics, with the movie holding a 50% on Rotten Tomatoes. It’s a production viewers should watch once to experience the bold animation and form an opinion for themselves.Rent on Google Play.
12My Neighbor Totoro (1988) - Japan
My Neighbor Totoro
Jumping back to the world of Studio Ghibli,My Neighbor Totorois a no-brainer when it comes to any list involving international animated movies. This heartwarming story follows two young siblings, Satsuki and Mei, who move to the Japanese countryside with their father to be closer to the hospital where their sick mother is receiving treatment. The sisters spend time exploring the forest surrounding their home and discover a number of creatures, including Totoro, a spirit that presents itself as several different types of animals meshed together.
A Gentle Tale About the Wonders of Childhood
One of the best things aboutMy Neighbor Totorois that it’s lighthearted in content anda great watch for any age group. It’s colorful, enchanting, and has a childlike innocence to the movie that makes it truly heartwarming without being overly sentimental. It’s been a beloved piece of Japanese cinema since its release in 1988, taking home five awards and earning #179 on the IMDB top-rated movie list.Stream on Max.
11Fantastic Planet (1973) - France
The science fiction fantasy movieFantastic Planetis a French production that centers around the planet Ygam in the future, where humanoid creatures known as Oms are viewed as inferior to the Draags who rule the planet. These rulers have blue skin and an oversized stature and think of Oms as nothing more than pets or nuisances rather than beings capable of learning. However, things change when an Om boy teams up with a Draag to learn the language and become educated, causing a rebellion from the Oms. Can the two beings live in peace, or is the need for power stronger than their ability to coexist?
A Trippy and Psychedelic New World
Fantastic Planetis truly a surreal movie that transports audiences to an entirely new world that feels more like a work of art than a science fiction cartoon. The 2D animation is perfect and gives a strong, dreamlike quality to the entire picture. Even with the odd atmosphere and characters, this movie received two award nominations and won the Special Award at the 1973 Cannes Film Festival.Stream on Roku.
