Animated movies have always been an important part of the film industry since its very beginning. They have allowed stories to be told that were impossible to depict as live-action works and when done well, animated features can be enjoyed by fans of all ages. The 1980s was a huge decade for the genre.
New, bold things were being done with animation and more complex stories were being told. Disney was preparing its comeback while other films either caught on with audiences or faded away. But sometimes the movies best remembered from the decade do not represent the best of the genre.
Underrated: The Brave Little Toaster (1987)
Animated films have proven that just about anything, living or not, can make for an adorable and lovable protagonist. The Brave Little Toaster really put this to the test by making a movie that asked audiences to care about household appliances. The story centers on a group of outdated appliances that make a long journey to reunite with their owner.
The Brave Little Toaster feels like a precursor to Toy Story and shares a lot of the charm of that film. Many viewers might be surprised at how involved they get with this toaster's adventure.
Overrated: All Dogs Go To Heaven (1989)
It's a strange choice to make a family-friendly movie based on the idea of dogs dying. In All Dogs Go to Heaven, Burt Reynolds provides the voice of an angel dog who leaves the afterlife to go back to Earth, where he befriends an orphan girl.
Fans speak fondly of the film as a heart-tugging animated story. However, the emotion of the movie is cheap, and the story added nothing memorable. It fails to make anything interesting with its bizarre premise.
Underrated: An American Tail (1986)
While All Dogs Go to Heaven might not be the emotional tale it could have been, An American Tail is almost guaranteed to produce some tears. The film follows a family of Russian mice immigrating to America when one of the young mice named Fievel gets lost.
The movie is a smaller, more personal story that feels different from a lot of the family-friendly animated films of this era. It is rare to see a film like this tackle an immigrant story and it makes for a beautiful adventure.
Overrated: The Black Cauldron (1985)
When The Black Cauldron was released it was anything but overrated. It failed to reach an audience and Disney seemed eager to bury it because of its dark content. However, in subsequent years the movie has received a solid cult following and a live-action remake is apparently in the works.
That cult following seems to be based more on nostalgia than the actual quality of the film. The fantasy elements and darker tone feels different from other Disney films, but it fails to be interesting beyond that.
Underrated: The Secret Of NIMH (1982)
The Secret of NIMH was another animated fantasy film that was perhaps a bit darker than some of its contemporaries. But this film is remembered beyond its unique tone thanks to its compelling story about a field mouse who must embark on a quest to find a cure for her son's illness.
The movie is a beautifully animated adventure with enough fun and thrills for the younger audiences. However, the emotionally satisfying story will grip most older viewers in a way some other animated films fail to do.
Overrated: Oliver & Company (1988)
A year before Disney would kick off its comeback period with The Little Mermaid, they produced Oliver & Company. The film is a retelling of the Oliver Twist story and follows a young cat who joins a gang of streetwise stray dogs living in New York City.
The movie often gets lumped in with the Disney Renaissance, but it doesn't hold up to the classics of the period. Despite a couple of memorable songs, this is a largely forgettable film overall.
Underrated: My Neighbor Totoro (1988)
The '80s saw the emergence of one of the most celebrated animation studios of all time with Studio Ghibli's first features. The Japan-based studio started to see some crossover success as their beautiful and imaginative films became popular in America.
My Neighbor Totoro is a perfect example of the brilliance of Studio Ghibli and filmmaker Hayao Miyazaki. Though it has received high praise from fans over the years, there are still many who aren't aware of it and why it is one of the best animated films of all time.
Overrated: Heavy Metal (1981)
The '80s saw a rise in animated films that were aimed at an older audience. Heavy Metal is a prime example of this trend as the anthology film took unique animation styles to tell several stories far more hardcore than what was common in the world of animated features.
The film's influence cannot be denied, but it may not be as interesting as some fans remember. The fact that it has R-rated material is not shocking compared to these days, and what's left is a somewhat messy pile of shorts.
Underrated: The Great Mouse Detective (1986)
Though made before the Disney Renaissance, The Great Mouse Detective proves the studio was still making great family-friendly adventures even before their famed comeback period. The film follows the mouse detective Basil as he investigates a missing person case in London.
The film is a funny, thrilling, and inventive take on the Sherlock Holmes stories. It is a genuinely fun mystery and features Ratigan, perhaps the most underrated Disney villain of all time.
Overrated: The Transformers: The Movie (1986)
Long before Michael Bay brought Transformers to life in his loud and chaotic live-action films, the robots in disguise hit the big screen in this animated feature. The film follows the heroic Autobots as they try to stop a planet-destroying robot.
Despite poor reception on its release, fans look back fondly on the film, perhaps as a more modest take on the source material compared to Bay's work. The Transformers: The Movie has become a cult hit, but it's hard to see where the enthusiasm comes from as it is a rather dull action story.