Top 20 Animated Movies Not Suitable for Children
Viewer discretion is advised. Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we’re looking at movies that prove animation isn’t just for all ages. It can be exclusively for adults. We’ve based our picks on a mix of quality and how far parents would want to keep them away from the kiddies.
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00:00Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we're looking at movies that prove animation isn't just
00:08for all ages.
00:09It can be exclusively for adults.
00:11We based our picks on a mix of quality and how far parents would want to keep them away
00:15from the kiddies.
00:1620.
00:23The Animatrix
00:24Being PG-13, one might assume this anthology is more restrained than the live-action Matrix
00:38films.
00:39Yet, The Animatrix contains some of the most graphic imagery in the franchise, especially
00:43The Second Renaissance Part I, where heads are as smashable as pumpkins.
00:47As gritty as intense as the imagery is, The Animatrix is nothing short of visually stimulating,
00:52covering a range of genres and styles.
01:05The film isn't style over substance, however.
01:07Where some segments are heavy on world-building, others tell smaller-scale, more personal stories.
01:12Either way, you can expect them to emphasize the ideas and philosophies this series is
01:16known for.
01:17We don't think it's a hot take to say it's the second-best Matrix movie after the original.
01:2719.
01:31The Plague Dogs
01:32Director Martin Rosen is best known for Watership Down, which predated the PG-13 rating, and
01:37has thus scarred children for generations.
01:40Rosen's next adaptation of a Richard Adams novel, The Plague Dogs, would retroactively
01:44be rated PG-13, but even that feels lenient.
01:54This harrowing story follows two dogs who escape from a torture chamber posing as a
01:58research lab.
01:59While Snitter and Rolfe were subjected to unspeakable cruelty, nature isn't much more
02:03forgiving.
02:04To survive, the animals must become, well, animals.
02:08Considering how the white coats treated them, we may be the real animals.
02:12Even with several scenes cut from the US release, Plague Dogs is uncompromisingly bloody and
02:16brutal, but also thought-provoking in its portrayal of how the animal world views the
02:20human world.
02:2318.
02:27Aqua Teen Hunger Force, movie film for theaters
02:35This big-screen version of the hit Adult Swim show sets a tone with its title alone.
02:40Even then, few could have anticipated the opening when the let's-all-go-to-the-lobby
02:44snacks are bombarded by a heavy metal band, who proclaim that even if you walk out, your
02:48money's theirs now.
03:00That said, we could imagine some adults heading for the exit, specifically those who weren't
03:05raised on this brand of irreverent humor.
03:07For those well-acquainted with the Aqua Teens, Mooninites, Plutonians, and Carl, this feature
03:12is a laugh riot that raises the stakes while undermining the plot at every turn.
03:25As for kids, let's just say they might not be ready for this material, or the substances
03:29some adults will bring into the theater.
03:3117.
03:32The Wind Blows, Jimmy T. Murakami's film adaptation of Raymond Briggs' graphic novel
03:37might not seem strictly adult-oriented at first glance.
03:40The film invites the viewer in with a cozy style that blends hand-drawn and stop-motion
03:44techniques, almost calling a pop-up book to mind.
03:56Jim and Hilda Bloggs are delightful central characters, even when they're talking about
04:00the prospects of a nuclear holocaust.
04:02By the second act, though, this nuclear attack is no longer theoretical.
04:06Jim and Hilda carry us through the hardships with their optimism and love for each other,
04:10leading us to believe the worst is behind them.
04:13Alas, this is only the beginning.
04:24When the Wind Blows is a descent from denial to acceptance, as we powerlessly watch a married
04:29couple succumb to fallout.
04:3216.
04:33Heavy Metal
04:34For anyone who thinks animation is just for kids, Heavy Metal is a rite of passage.
04:38That's not to say Heavy Metal isn't an immature film.
04:40It is, with over-the-top violence and gratuitous nudity for the sake of gratuitous nudity.
04:45For anyone who was ever a rebellious teenager, though, few films better encapsulate our wildest
04:50daydreams.
05:01Capturing the spirit of the magazine that inspired it, this anthology is an 80s time
05:05capsule with the highest of high fantasy, the punkiest of steampunk, and a rock and
05:10roll sound.
05:11It's a product of the time, but that's why Heavy Metal has endured.
05:26Over four decades later, it still serves as a gateway to adult animation and an inspiration
05:31for modern anthologies like Love, Death, and Robots.
05:3415.
05:35Ghost in the Shell
05:36Speaking of gateways, Ghost in the Shell was an entry point for many in terms of anime
05:40and adult animation.
05:50At the time, Japanese animation was gaining a reputation for being more violent and sexualized
05:54than what most Westerners were used to.
05:57Even a fair deal of kid-friendly anime had to be censored for those sensitive North Americans.
06:01Ghost in the Shell was introduced to the U.S. with a hard R rating, keeping its kinetic
06:06violence and sex-positive portrayal of the female form intact.
06:09While this made the film not suitable for children, its meditation on humanity, technology,
06:14and identity made Ghost in the Shell adult.
06:28It not only ushered in a new age of more adult animation, but smarter sci-fi films as well.
06:3314.
06:349.99
06:35From the stunning establishing shot, director Tatia Rosenthal immerses us in a stop-motion
06:40world that's so simple, yet so layered.
06:43A couple of bucks can only take you so far in this world.
06:46At the same time, opening your wallet can make all the difference.
07:00For less than 10 bucks, you may even learn the meaning of life.
07:03At least, that's what an ad reads.
07:059.99 doesn't spell out the meaning of life, or even the movie's meaning.
07:09Through a series of interlocking stories, however, we experience life at its most mundane,
07:14and its most surreal.
07:15In short, the film is about life itself, and the best things in life are free.
07:19Of course, a ticket is worth the price of admission.
07:3113.
07:32American Pop
07:33Ralph Bakshi is synonymous with adult animation, and American Pop is among his most mature
07:47films.
07:48When we say mature, we're not talking about sex, drugs, and violence, although all three
07:52are present here.
07:53American Pop may be Bakshi's most thematically mature film, chronicling the lives of a Russian-Jewish
07:58immigrant family across four generations.
08:00Accompanied by a banger soundtrack, we not only experience the evolution of music throughout
08:04the decades, but also this family's pursuit of the American Dream.
08:16In addition to the past and present, you can argue that American Pop looks to the future.
08:21Six months after its debut, MTV launched, giving birth to the music video generation.
08:26American Pop has the essence of an epic music video, backed by a timeless story.
08:3112.
08:32Waking Life
08:33Primarily known for live-action, Richard Linklater has helmed several rotoscoped films aimed
08:37at older audiences.
08:38A scanner darkly gained a passionate cult following, but many consider Waking Life to
08:42be his masterpiece.
08:43In animation circles, rotoscoping is divisive, with some writing it off as glorified tracing
08:48While live-action footage was shot first, the visuals were still digitally drawn frame
09:04by frame, with the artist adding a surreal touch.
09:06However you categorize it, we can't think of a better method to tell a story that blends
09:10reality, dreams, and everything in between.
09:13The film transports you to another plane of consciousness, where even if you don't understand
09:17every image or conversation, the experience is as engrossing as a dream you don't want
09:21to wake up from.
09:3011.
09:32Marianne Max
09:33Director Adam Elliott's work is perhaps best summed up as whimsically bleak.
09:37This unusual marriage of tones is on full display in Elliott's Marianne Max.
09:41The film's limited color palette reflects the themes of depression, isolation, and other
09:46facets of mental health.
10:00While few would describe it as a feel-good movie, there's an abundance of charm to be
10:03unearthed.
10:04From the offbeat character designs, to Elliott's quirky screenplay, we'd say that it's bittersweet,
10:08but the film is never 100% bitter or sweet.
10:11It is ultimately life-affirming though, demonstrating the importance of friendship, no matter how
10:16unlikely.
10:17Although the relationship between the titular pen pals can seem inappropriate, one being
10:20much older than the other, it stems from a place of sincerity.
10:2710.
10:31Waltz with Bashir
10:32Ari Fulman's film is unlike any war documentary we've ever seen before.
10:36We aren't merely saying that because it's animated, although this does help to distinguish
10:40it.
10:41What stands out about Waltz with Bashir is its subject matter.
10:52The film revolves around the 1982 Lebanon War, as well as the Sabra and Shatila massacre.
10:58Yet, it's more about memories.
11:00When you think about it, that's what every documentary essentially is, a reflection on
11:04past events.
11:05Some people have photographic memories.
11:07In Fulman's case, some memories are clear, others are distorted, and a select few might
11:12be forever erased by trauma.
11:23While the animators hauntingly recreate Fulman's living nightmares, this is one of the most
11:27psychological war documentaries, presenting PTSD through a whole new lens.
11:329.
11:33I Lost My Body
11:34I Lost My Body is about separation in more ways than one.
11:38After interacting with a woman over an intercom, Naofel becomes determined to meet her properly.
11:43Although his methods are questionable, Naofel grows more detached after losing his hand
11:57in a freak accident.
11:58If you think that sounds morbid, the hand develops a mind of its own, determined to
12:02find its way back to Naofel.
12:04What ensues is right out of a survival movie, with an urban playground proving every bit
12:08as deadly as the wild.
12:10While some may cringe and faint at the sight of the hand, we surprisingly come to care
12:13for the severed body part as an individual.
12:16What's lost can't always be found, but it can forge a new path.
12:248.
12:29I Married a Strange Person
12:30A strange film by a strange person, and we mean that as the highest of compliments to
12:34director Bill Plimpton.
12:46This indie animated film was only produced for $250,000, but it overflows with Plimpton's
12:52signature twisted humor and style.
12:54We use the word twisted for a variety of reasons, namely because Plimpton has a knack for animating
12:59transformations.
13:00His skills are perfectly suited for a story about a man who can change people and objects
13:05with the power of his mind, although he can't always control what pops into his head.
13:09This puts a strain on his marriage, with reality itself also potentially a jeopardy.
13:23For those unfamiliar with Plimpton's work, I Married a Strange Person is a gateway down
13:27his demented rabbit hole.
13:307.
13:31Perfect Blue
13:32With films like Millennium Actress and Paprika, the late Satoshi Kon left the audience constantly
13:36wondering what's real and what's a dream.
13:39This theme traces back to his feature-length debut, Perfect Blue, one of the most disturbing
13:44animated films we've ever watched.
13:51As shocking as the imagery is, that's only part of what makes this thriller so unsettling.
13:56Centered on a young celebrity being stalked, the terror stems just as much from what we
14:00don't see.
14:01As the protagonist begins to question her sanity, we're left with a query sure to
14:04make anyone's skin crawl.
14:05Would you rather be the target of a malevolent outsider or a victim of an inescapable enemy
14:10within?
14:11It's a question most are afraid to even ask.
14:146.
14:16Sausage Party
14:17We'd like to think that at least one absent-minded parent put on Sausage Party for their kid,
14:30assuming it was a Pixar movie, and left the room.
14:33Then later, over a hot dog dinner, the kid said,
14:35Mommy and or Daddy, I'm not sure I'm comfortable putting my Frank inside a bun anymore.
14:40If you think that sounds explicit, then you aren't prepared for this film's unfiltered
14:44glory.
14:45The film's director, John Brogan and company, set out to make a CG animated film that appeared
14:48family-oriented on the surface, but in reality, was strictly for the adult crowd.
15:02As unapologetically low-brow as Sausage Party is, it's also a clever satire, not just
15:06of other CG animated films, but religion as well.
15:10We guess you could call this the anti-veggie tales.
15:135.
15:14Anomalisa
15:15For a film with full-frontal puppets, Anomalisa is much deeper than you may expect.
15:20Sex, nudity, and profanity might have earned it an R rating, but that's not purely why.
15:25Anomalisa isn't aimed at kids.
15:27Charlie Kaufman and Duke Johnson's film depicts a midlife crisis in a way that only
15:31stop-motion can convey.
15:43Protagonist Michael Stone works as a motivational speaker, despite being overcome with loneliness
15:48and self-loathing.
15:49As everyone else in Michael's orbit blends in with one another, the ordinary Lisa stands
15:53out.
15:54Lisa seems like an anomaly, although at the end of the day, this chance encounter is an
15:58anomaly that can't be sustained.
16:07This portrait of middle-aged life is grim, but being a Charlie Kaufman production, it's
16:12awe-inspiring even at its most depressing.
16:144.
16:15Grave of the Fireflies
16:17Studio Ghibli makes movies for everyone, but some lean more adult than others.
16:21Any older Ghibli fan will tell you Grave of the Fireflies makes Princess Mononoke look
16:25like My Neighbor Totoro.
16:26Ironically, Totoro and Fireflies were released in Japan as a double feature.
16:31Although both center on young siblings, one awakens your inner child, while the other
16:34forces the viewer to grow up.
16:40Sadly, Seita and Setsuko can't grow up.
16:48We're not giving too much away, as the film is upfront about where the story will end.
16:52That doesn't make the experience any less devastating.
16:54While there is a light at the end of the tunnel, you can only rewatch Isao Takahata's film
16:59so many times.
17:00Yet, it sticks with you forever.
17:033.
17:04Fritz the Cat
17:13To give you an idea of where animation was in the 70s, the decade kicked off with Disney's
17:17The Aristocats.
17:18Two years later, Ralph Bakshi gave us a very different film about another cat.
17:25Fritz the Cat, based on cartoonist R. Crumb's creation.
17:36While the definition of adult animation has evolved over time, Fritz was a turning point,
17:41being the first American animated feature to be rated X, so even with a parent, no kid
17:46was getting in the theater.
17:47Although the film was remembered for an infamous bathtub scene, Fritz was perhaps even more
17:51influential with its topical commentary and how its dialogue captured youth culture at
17:55the time.
18:01It set a tone for everything that followed, including Bakshi's next feature, Heavy Traffic.
18:062.
18:07South Park, Bigger, Longer and Uncut
18:10Parents have been against South Park since its earliest episodes, which honestly feel
18:14tame compared to later ones.
18:16Art imitated life with this feature, which sees parents literally go to war over profanity
18:20while turning a blind eye to the bloodshed they're exposing their children to.
18:32Even more than 20 years after its release, Bigger, Longer and Uncut still holds multiple
18:36milestones, including the Guinness World Record for most swearing in an animated movie.
18:41Like the show that inspired it, there's much more to the film than foul language.
18:44Trey Parker and Matt Stone take on censorship with their signature wit, infectious songs,
18:49and an attitude that doesn't care who gets offended.
18:52It's not suitable for children, but maybe they should sneak into the theater anyway.
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19:22Number 1 – Akira
19:24Akira wasn't the first adult animated feature.
19:27In North America, though, animation's perception can essentially be divided into two eras – before
19:32and after Akira.
19:34For many, Katsuhiro Otomo's magnum opus was an eye-opener, revealing just how gritty
19:38yet profound the medium can be.
19:50The imagery ranges from gorgeous to grotesque, and you'd be surprised by how often the
19:55two cross over.
19:56For years, when someone said adult animation, Akira was the film that immediately came to
20:01mind.
20:02The market is more saturated now, but no film has managed to top its cultural impact.
20:06Akira showed Westerners a whole realm of animation waiting to be discovered and expanded
20:10upon.
20:11Just as Tetsuo transcends humanity, Akira took animation to the next step in evolution.
20:17What's the most adult animated film you've watched as a youngster?
20:23Tell us in the comments!