With animated movies still dominating the box office in the form of the phenomenon that is Minions: The Rise of Gru, it's easy to forget that there are plenty of amazing animated movies that go completely unnoticed. Even Disney Pixar's Lightyear failed to make its expected impact at the box office. showing just how easily it can happen.
Along with older animated movies that start to become forgotten with time, like Ralph Bakshi's The Lord of the Rings, it means there's an enticing world of cult animated movies to explore. Redditors have taken to the website to recommend the best cult classic animated movies that get them excited.
The Triplets of Belleville (2003)
Though it was a modest success commercially and received two Academy Award nominations, gaining its French director a degree of international attention, The Triplets of Bellville has since become relatively unknown outside of some very specific circles. Some Redditors, including user iLikefilmsngames, feel that more people should get to experience its distinctive charms.
The movie has an intriguing plotline of an elderly woman setting out to rescue her son from the French mafia but its presentation style, which largely relies on music and charming visuals rather than dialogue, makes it a unique movie worth going into with an open mind. That's likely why the user simply stated the movie's title "The triplets of Belleville" as their recommendation.
My Life As A Zucchini (2016)
An adaptation of Gilles Paris' 2002 novel Autobiographie d'une Courgette, My Life As A Zucchini quickly became the subject of adoration from critics and fans alike thanks to its touching story and beautiful stop-motion style. An English voice dub that starred Nick Offerman and Amy Sedaris expands the movie's appeal but it's still very much a cult movie.
That's why it was a title that came up frequently in Reddit's discussions of cult animated movies with Redditor Mississippi-lessly chiming in to say they were "Seconding My Life as a Zucchini" as a recommendation. Considered one of the best GKIDS movies, its charming characters and memorable story of orphans finding a way to move on from their traumatic pasts made it an easy choice for many.
Rock & Rule (1983)
The kind of wild celebration of rock music that could only have come out of the 80s, the biggest appeal of this cult Canadian movie set in a post-apocalyptic world populated by mutant humanoid animals is the soundtrack, and its fans know it. Redditor inksmudgedhands explained why everyone who watches the movie goes away satisfied, saying "Long after the movies ends, you will have the songs stuck in your head."
This includes songs from artists like Cheap Trick, Chris Stein, Debbie Harry, Lou Reed, Iggy Pop, and Earth, Wind & Fire, making it a must-see for classic rock fans. The movie flopped at the box office when it was released in the early 80s but is kept alive now by lovers of rock music, post-apocalyptic fun, and old-fashioned animation.
The Thief And The Cobbler (1993)
For a movie to become a cult classic despite being infamously still "unfinished" is no small feat but a disastrous production cut short too early didn't stop this classic fantasy from being ranked amongst the best obscure animated movies. Conceived by Richard Williams, who served as animation director on Who Framed Roger Rabbit, it's no surprise the animation is great.
Redditors were quick to heap praise on the movie, particularly a more recent fan edit that purports to correct some of the mistakes of previous attempts, with one user, Jon-Osterman, describing it as "so wonderful". With one of the most fascinating, detailed, and downright strange fantasy worlds ever created and the legendary Vincent Price playing the central character, it's easy to see why it continues to be so well-liked.
Heavy Metal (1981)
Based on the legendary science fiction/fantasy magazine of the same name, Heavy Metal is a fascinating anthology that includes an all-star cast of voice talent that includes Rodger Bumpass, John Candy, and Harold Ramis. Redditor digitalscale was the one to put forward the movie, saying simply "Heavy Metal 1981" and receiving no shortage of support for the suggestion.
What makes Heavy Metal stand out and likely causes it to keep coming up in discussions of cult animations is the movie's obsession with sex and violence. For the same reason, it hasn't aged perfectly in the 40 years since it was first released. Its fans still consider it more than worth watching though for its originality as well as the nostalgia surrounding it.
A Scanner Darkly (2006)
Though the massive success of movies like Boyhood might have overshadowed his animated work, Richard Linklater reminded everyone why he's renowned in that area too with Apollo 10 1/2: A Space Age Childhood earlier this year becoming one of his best movies. As it turned out, he'd already shown how well a rotoscoped animation style could work in this adaptation of the dark Phillip K. Dick novel.
Redditor StinkyBrittches summed up the movie effectively, recommending it as "a rotoscoped sci-fi from Richard Linklater [...] with RDJ and Keanu Reeves." Indeed, the star power is a big part of the appeal of A Scanner Darkly, as it's rare to see such big names in a relatively unknown cult movie. Crucially too, it's a faithful adaptation of Dick's original darkly engrossing vision.
Waking Life (2001)
For those who felt that the manic, paranoid A Scanner Darkly was still too grounded, Waking Life is Richard Linklater's earlier, more experimental foray into rotoscope animation. A surreal exploration of reality and dreams presented in an ethereal style that appears to constantly change, Waking Life isn't an easy movie to sell, which is likely why it heavily underperformed at the box office.
Redditor poultryposterior helps explain how it's still managed to build up a strong fanbase, as although they "just stumbled on a copy at a thrift store," Waking Life is "so good!" that it still managed to win them over. Despite its commercial failure, the movie is acclaimed by critics as well as its fans, giving it all the makings of a quintessential cult hit.
The Last Unicorn (1982)
Even though its box office wasn't particularly impressive, The Last Unicorn has continued to gain fans over the years thanks to home video releases as well as television showings. Whilst older animation fans might be put off by its Disney-esque aesthetic style and unicorn central character, one Redditor insisted this shouldn't mislead anyone.
According to them, "The Last Unicorn may look a big cutesy at first, but it's well worth your time." The movie's darkly intriguing premise that its main character is the last of her kind and is on a mission to find out what happened to the rest leads to some truly creepy scenes and, along with a top-notch voice cast, it's easy to see why it has so many older fans.
The Lord Of The Rings (1978)
Ralph Bakshi's attempt at adapting the first part of the Lord of the Rings novels may feel quaint in comparison to the Peter Jackson movies that have since overshadowed it but that doesn't mean it isn't a gem. Redditor magicalfeelings echoed a sentiment expressed by many in calling the movie "Sublime" and saying they "wish they'd finished it."
Created in a time when fantasy was more of a niche genre and even the now ubiquitous Lord of the Rings wasn't that widely known, it's amazing how faithfully it attempts to capture the heart of the series, even if it makes as many necessary alterations as Jackson's trilogy. Whilst those movies are amazing, the animated The Lord of the Rings is a great niche alternative.
Fantastic Planet (1973)
Oftentimes the reason why movies become cult classics rather than seeing much commercial success is that they're simply too weird and experimental for a lot of people to enjoy. Experimental movies like Fantastic Planet, a sci-fi set on a planet where humans are seen as animals by the alien inhabitants, are the best examples of this.
Redditor DuanePickens calls the title a "Super weird 70s French movie" and adds "Get ready for a blown mind" to their recommendation of a movie full of depth and symbolism. Redditors also praise the movie's score and striking visuals, which help engross the viewer from the very first minute.