Just because a movie is animated does not mean it can't be intense, scary, or even shocking. Sometimes we look at animated kids films and slap a label on it just because it has a bright and colorful exterior. Believe it or not, there are actually several animated features that really push the kid-friendly rating.
Even big animation powerhouses like Warner Bros., Laika, and even Disney have released films that aren't exactly sunshine and lollipops. Today, we're looking at ten such animated features. Though they might have a cartoon exterior, they might be slightly more than a PG rating.
The Brave Little Toaster
We start our list with one of Disney's lesser-known animated outings The Brave Little Toaster. Inspired by the short story of the same name, the film tells the story of a group of sentient appliances on an adventure to be reunited with their owner.
This all sounds like sweet and standard Disney... until you throw in a suicidal airconditioner, mutilation of certain characters, and a demonic clown that would give Pennywise the shivers. The film is still engaging and entertaining, but at times it's depressing, dark, and even terrifying. It's a great animated film for maturing kids, but maybe put a P in front of that G rating.
Fantasia
Walt Disney's concert feature is an animated masterpiece every film fan should see. Though only certain segments like "The Sorcerer's Apprentice" will get kids attention, it's still a beautiful film. That all being said, there's one famous sequence that is most assuredly not G rated.
We are, of course, talking about "Night on Bald Mountain." As Chernabog, the Slavic god of darkness unleashes his minions of hell for a midnight rave on Bald Mountain, viewers are exposed to horrifying imagery, occult creatures, and even nudity. Keep in mind, this is all Walt Disney's doing. Definitely an appropriate visual selection to the titular composition, this is one sequence that will definitely shock younger viewers.
Who Framed Roger Rabbit
We're kind of cheating throwing this on our list, but considering there are more animated characters than there are live-action, we'll count it. Who Framed Roger Rabbit is an '80s masterpiece, but despite having a colorful collection of animated characters, the film does not shy away from darker materials. The film has intense acts of violence, drinking, swearing, sensual content, and the scariest performance ever seen from Christopher Lloyd.
Despite featuring characters like Mickey Mouse and Bugs Bunny sharing a scene, there are definitely some scenes and subject matter that would require a PG-13 rating in today's world. We're looking at you, Jessica Rabbit.
Spirited Away
We take you from Disney to our friends across the pacific at Studio Ghibli. Famous for marvelous films like My Neighbor Totoro. Hiyo Miyazaki's animation studio has produced gem after gem with their beautiful animated films. Their arguably most famous film, Spirited Away, not only won an Oscar but freaked out a few of its younger viewers.
Honestly, the film is a little on the freaky side, not that that's a bad thing. But we'd be lying if we said we weren't weirded out by some of the monsters, transformations, and expressions by some of the more grotesque characters. A beautiful film all the way, but not without a few shocking features.
Scooby-Doo on Zombie Island
Don't let the lovable talking dog fool you, because it's terror time again with Scooby-Doo on Zombie Island. For decades, Mystery Inc. has unmasked every ghost and ghoul that they've ever encountered. So what would it be like if the monsters were real for a change?
Along with Hocus Pocus, this was perhaps many of our first introductions to zombies, and what a way to bust out of the gate. With voodoo, ghosts, monsters, and a whole bayou full of scary zombies, this isn't your average Scooby-Doo mystery. Whether it gave you nightmares or served as your introduction to the horror genre, it's definitely more than a G rated flick.
Frankenweenie
If your kids have already seen The Nightmare Before Christmas, this is definitely the next step to further their education on the magical madness of Tim Burton. Inspired by his Disney short film of the same name, Frankenweenie is a quirkier animated version of Frankenstein, but with pets. And possibly more violence.
There were so many times in this movie it toed the line between PG and PG-13. Of course, any good monster movie is going to have some degree of violence, but this one gets a bit gruesome for Disney. Impalement, disfigurement, and corpse-reanimation are all wonderful things to show our kids, right?
Watership Down
If you think this is a cutesy vintage film about bunnies in the forest, you are sadly and horribly mistaken. Based on the novel by Richard Adams, Watership Down is a story of survival, death, and strange mythological imagery that will definitely scar your kids for life.
The film is so notorious for its horrific imagery, depictions of blood, death, and rabbit violence that it's developed a reputation as one of the darkest children's movies ever made. Though the narrative spins an interesting tale involving the rabbit's culture, mythology, and plight, this is nowhere near a PG rating.
The Black Cauldron
Speaking of films with a reputation, how about a film that nearly killed Walt Disney Animation Studios? The Black Cauldron has been referred to as Disney's black sheep for years, but there are several good reasons why. Scenes of violence, horrifying creatures, and scary situations are just a few of the elements that put the film on our list, and that's only what made it into the film.
Over 11 minutes of the original film was cut due to graphic and gory violence involving the Cauldron Born soldiers, intense and brutal combat sequences, and one infamous transformation sequence that nearly slapped it with an R rating.
Hunchback of Notre Dame
When one thinks of adult-oriented Disney features, The Hunchback of Notre Dame sets the bar for perfection. Not only does this film have the most adult message out of any Disney, but got away with ludicrous amounts of mature themes with a G rating. And all under the sign of the mouse.
From social outcasts and prejudiced hatred to themes of religion and corruption of power, this movie got away with murder and more. The infamous "Hellfire" scene definitely scared the sin out of us as kids, but even with a seductive vision of Esmerelda in a fireplace, the movie retains its stature as a family film. Not by today's standards, Disney.
Coraline
To be fair, this film is a masterpiece of horror cinema. Some kids like horror flicks, and there's nothing wrong with that. But this film needed a hard PG-13 rating like burgers need fries. With nightmare-fuel sequences and over-the-top scares, the colorful Henry Selick-designed exterior did nothing to contain the horrors within.
Neil Gaiman is a master storyteller, and his children's book of the same name is still one of the scariest things we've ever read, of course, it makes for horror movie gold. No gore, no violence, no bloodshed, but this movie still gives us a serious case of chills.