Cult classics aren't just live-action movies. Even animated movies can be considered classics if you find the right ones. Cult classics are movies that might not have done well originally but gathered a following later on. Maybe they pushed the boundary too much, are strange and absurd, or are fun and likable but have such distinct and unique characters they stick out among others in their genre. Surprisingly, there is a lot of that in animation.
Update June 28, 2023: This article has been updated with even more animated cult movies worth checking out.
With animation, there is an entire world that is out of reach from live action. Wild, out-there ideas and characters, entire worlds that can be conjured up and produced far easier than live action. Audiences tend to have a preconceived notion of what they expect from an animated film, though the idea is slowly changing. Here are some cult animated films worth checking out.
25 The Emperor's New Groove
The Emperor's New Groove might not have been a box office hit, but it eventually became a cult classic. David Spade and Patrick Warburton's performances as Emperor Kuzco and Kronk were hilarious for adults and children alike. When Emperor Kuzco gets turned into a llama, he has to team up with a local villager to try and find a way to get back to normal. It not only is one of the most quotable animated movies for an entire generation, but it launched a franchise, and still today, there is a cult following. Kronk's ability to talk to squirrels with his squeak squeaks will be quoted for generations to come who share The Emperor's New Groove with their children.
24 The Great Mouse Detective
The Great Mouse Detective resonated with fans and stayed with them forever as a beloved Disney take on a Sherlock Holmes story. It is adapted from the children's books Basil of Baker Street. The movie revolves around mouse detective Basil as he sets out to solve a crime in Victorian London. Basil undertakes the most significant case in his years as a detective as he tries to find London's master toymaker, who has been kidnapped. The Great Mouse Detective maintains the wondrous mystery of a classic detective story but injects the narrative with that oh-so-familiar adventurous Disney spirit.
23 Grave of the Fireflies
Grave of the Fireflies is not just one of the most remarkable films created by the acclaimed Studio Ghibli, but it has a resounding cult following as anyone who watches it will be left with a profoundly emotional imprint on them for the rest of their life. During the final days of WWII in Japan, two children, a teenage boy and his five-year-old sister, have to survive on their own after their mother dies in an air raid. It is a beautiful film with incredibly haunting and gorgeous animation.
The story is touching, sad, and everything in between, as it covers the whole gamut of emotions one could experience while watching a film. Grave of the Fireflies is a potent Anti-war film that the late great Rodger Ebert said is a "powerful dramatic film that happens to be animated."
22 The Nightmare Before Christmas
With the writing of Tim Burton and the unique animation of director Henry Selick, The Nightmare Before Christmas is, without a doubt, the strangest Christmas move ever made. At least that is made for kids. It has some incredible musical numbers and is, in a peculiar way, very heartwarming, but that is just enough to make it kid suitable as it is incredibly bizarre, really the stuff of nightmares.
It is a graveyard Christmas story that revolves around Jack Skellington, the king of Halloween Town, who discovers a portal to Christmas Town. He is astounded at the undead and Christmas Town's joyfulness, so naturally, he decides to kidnap Santa Claus, or "Sandy Claws," as he likes to say. Pretty Christmasy, right? Like much of anything Burton or Selick touches, it is strange yet brilliant and innovative, so inherently, fans who enjoy the joyful yet macabre flock to it, and a cult following is born.
21 My Neighbor Totoro
My Neighbor Totoro is another renowned classic from the legendary Hayao Miyazaki. The story observes schoolgirl Satsuki and her younger sister, Mei. While waiting for their mom to recover from an illness in a hospital, they settle into a home with their father. They start adventuring around the house and in the wilderness, where they eventually stumble upon a huge cuddly beast called Totoro.
The movie is light-hearted and whimsical and explores the beauty of nature and the age of innocence. It is so rich in heart and themes that it is impossible not to get sucked into it. My Neighbor Totoro reminds us all that even in dire situations, such as having a severely ill parent as a kid, it is easy to find the beauty in all the little things.
20 The Black Cauldron
Often considered one of Disney's darkest movies, The Black Cauldron isn't one you might easily recognize. It was a major break from the company's original style. The company has mainly tried to forget the film, although it has gained a cult following for being an alternative to Disney's classics. This is one animated film that audiences seem to be okay with Disney attempting a live-action remake.
19 Tales From Earthsea
Unfortunately, one of the reasons Tales From Earthsea didn't do so well is that it ended up being a huge disappointment for fans of the books. The characters are done wrong, and the storyline isn't very similar. However, anyone that hasn't read the books and is a fan of other Ghibli works and animated movies might find themselves enjoying the movie. It's got an intriguing plot line, fantastic voice actors, tons of little details, sprawling and gorgeous landscapes, and all the other things that make Ghibli an amazing studio.
18 The Last Unicorn
At first, The Last Unicorn may seem like a movie for kids, but it is actually a lot deeper than that. It talks about heartbreak, being the last of your kind or family, and delves deep into the story. While children may enjoy it, it definitely isn't for them specifically. The Last Unicorn manages to capture the attention of children and adults alike with an animation style that may even rival big companies like Disney and Dreamworks.
It also has an amazing cast, with actors like Mia Farrow and Christopher Lee. Technically, this is an anime, as it was made by a Japanese animation studio known as Topcraft. Some people may recognize the traditional Japanese animation style, but it is subtle enough not to dissuade anyone who isn't a big fan of Japanese animation.
17 The Iron Giant
Those who have watched the film The Iron Giant may be surprised to find out that it was originally a failure at the box office. This is especially surprising, considering that critics and fans often both agree that it was the best-animated film of the 90s.
The main reason the movie failed was that the studio, Warner Bros, was hesitant and a little unwilling to invest a lot of money into another animated movie after the previous box office disappointment of Cat's Don't Dance. However, Iron Giant quickly became a cable classic and a movie that helped launch the film career of Brad Bird, who would follow up with The Incredibles, Ratatouille, and Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol.
16 Yellow Submarine
As any fan of The Beatles might have guessed, Yellow Submarine is a tale about the fab four of John, Paul, Ringo, and George, as they go on an adventure. It was made in the 60s, and you can really tell, thanks to the unique animation style that has often been referred to as psychedelic.
Some people find the colors and animation too much and get sick from watching it. If you aren't easily sick, it is well worth watching. Strangely, the band doesn't use their own voices for most of the film, but they do appear in person near the end of the movie.
15 The Triplets of Belleville
This one is a unique take on a classic. The Triplets of Belleville, unlike many cult classics, started off pretty popular. It had two nominations for Academy Awards and was fairly well-known internationally, despite getting started in France. However, the success faded over time, and now it is pretty unknown. It is a movie that is best enjoyed without any expectation or pre-understanding of the movie, but it is focused on an old French woman and her tales as she goes on an adventure.
14 Rock & Rule
Full of 80s rock music and a story centered around a post-apocalyptic world, we doubt you've ever seen a film like it. Many fans praise Rock & Rule, saying that the songs stay in your head long after the movie is over. It features songs from some pretty interesting artists like Lou Reed, Debbie Harry, Chris Stein, Cheap Trick, Iggy Pop, and Earth, Wind, & Fire. Despite being a cult classic now, the movie pretty much failed at the box office. However, people looking for a mix of rock music, a good post-apocalyptic storyline, and fun animation won't be disappointed.
13 Treasure Planet
Many people talk about Treasure Planet and how it was one of their favorite movies when they were a kid. With all the talk about it, it is hard to imagine that this movie wasn't insanely popular upon release. However, it's true; it was a box office disaster. Despite being from the creative team behind The Little Mermaid and Aladdin, as well as an impressive voice cast, the movie was crushed at the box office by films like Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, Die Another Day, and The Santa Clause 2. Yet to an entire generation, this was a Disney classic.
12 The Thief and the Cobbler
The Thief and the Cobbler was originally in production in 1964, with the animator Richard Williams as the lead. However, it didn't get released until 1995, and Richard Williams was completely left out after being fired from production. It was intended to be his masterpiece, but since he was left out, it didn't do as well as the wanted. The original cut in 1995 is often called the Miramax version and is the one that leaves out Richard Williams.
However, there is another version, called the Recobbled Cut, which follows Richard Williams's ideas and original story more closely. It isn't an official release and can only be found on places like YouTube and other sharing sites. Fans say that the Miramax version isn't worth watching at all, and the Recobbled Cut is the only true version, so it is worth checking it out even if you've seen the original.
Heavy Metal is a movie based on a magazine that focused on science fiction and fantasy. The magazine and the movie even share the name. Unfortunately, though this movie was interesting, it had a heavy focus on sex and violence, which has made it not as popular over time. However, fans that don't mind these themes find it interesting and well worth watching for the nostalgia factor. It is a dark movie for sure, and despite being animated, isn't ideal for children. Heavy Metal provides a mix of bizarre and fantastical stories that are focused on eroticism, horror, and dark fantasy.
10 Akira
Akira is one of the most influential and popular animes of all time. While not a mainstream blockbuster among Western animated audiences, the movie found a passionate, loyal fanbase among young teens and helped anime get a footing in the United States. Akira is one of the greatest animes of all time, and despite numerous attempts at a live-action remake, you should just watch the original.
9 Fantastic Planet
Cult classics become classics for many different reasons. Sometimes they push the boundaries of what is considered good and standard in a film. This is the case with Fantastic Planet. The movie focuses on humans being treated like animals by the aliens that live on the planet. This is one for those looking for animated films that are very different.
8 Time Masters
Time Masters is a movie relatively unheard of except by dedicated fans. It is another French animated film that didn't initially do well. It was the second feature film of Laloux and wasn't given any screenings in America. In fact, it took about 20 years before an English translation was even provided. The main reason it didn't do so well is that, though the movie started with a great plot, it started to lose direction halfway through. It also took a lot of liberties with its mythology retellings and the book it was based on.
7 The Brave Little Toaster
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ITC Entertainment
The Brave Little Toaster sounds cute on the surface. You may expect something like Toy Story or Cars, but you'd be wrong. This movie is a lot scarier and darker than either of those. One scene that sticks out in the mind of many people who watched is when the air conditioner goes absolutely insane and ends up blowing itself up, with no one caring about him at all.
This is just one moment that makes you realize that this isn't the little innocent kid's movie you might think it to be. But the movie doesn't really start with that information, and the first few minutes of animation and the poster for the movie look cute and innocent, leading you to mistakenly believe that this movie is for everyone.
6 The Secret of NIMH
The Secret of NIMH is one that many people look back fondly on when thinking about their favorite childhood movies. The art style was unique and a little bit darker than the average art style at the time, especially for movies aimed at children. What really makes this movie stand out, though, was that the animation was done by a man known as Don Bluth.
He started his career working on Sleeping Beauty by Disney and later came back to do other big works. However, he and a few other animators left when they felt that Disney's works were declining. To prove it, Don Bluth worked hard to prove his animation style could be better.
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