8 Animated Movies that are Criminally Underrated

Despite the insane amount of passion, time and artistry that goes into the making of a film, not every animation is a box-office success. 

Several movies fly under the radar and never get the appreciation that they truly deserve. Let's change that, shall we?

The Prince of Egypt (1998)

An animated musical drama film produced by DreamWorks Pictures. It’s a beautiful retelling of the biblical story of Moses and his struggle to free the Hebrew slaves from the tyranny of Pharaoh Ramses. The soundtrack (composed by the legendary Hans Zimmer) is stunning, timeless and tastefully grand. Despite critical acclaim, the film underperformed at the box office. This was probably because it was released within a month of Disney’s animated classic, Mulan. Talk about tough competition! 

The Iron Giant (1999)

A science fiction film directed by Brad Bird (best known for The Incredibles). Set during the Cold War, the film centers on a young boy named Hogarth Hughes, who discovers and befriends a giant robot. Hogarth attempts to prevent the U.S. military and a paranoid federal agent from finding and destroying the Giant. Unfortunately, the film was poorly marketed by Warner Bros. and failed to compete with other blockbusters like Toy Story 2 and Tarzan.

Treasure Planet (2002)

A science fiction adventure film produced by Walt Disney Feature Animation. In this space-themed adaptation of R.L. Stevenson’s novel, Treasure Island, Jim Hawkins sets out on a voyage to find the not-so-mythical Treasure Planet. Despite positive reviews, the film was a financial failure for Disney, earning only $109 million worldwide against a massive $140 million budget. Poor marketing and competition from Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets were often cited as reasons for the flop.

Persepolis (2008)

A biographical drama film, based on Marjane Satrapi’s autobiographical graphic novel of the same name. The story follows the life of a young women during the Iranian Revolution, determined to forge her own identity even in the face of political chaos and strict societal norms. Despite covering these significant themes with nuance, it remains underappreciated because of its limited distribution and unconventional animation style.

Loving Vincent (2017)

An indie drama film about the life of Vincent Van Gogh, and the first fully painted animated feature film ever! It follows a young man’s quest to uncover the mystery of Van Gogh’s death by travelling to every place the famous painter lived in. The compelling story and unique painterly style make it a pleasure to watch. However, it failed to gain a wide audience because of the complex narrative structure and lack of marketing.

Klaus (2019)

Klaus is an adventure comedy film, produced by The SPA studios. It features a unique take on the Santa Claus origin story. The gorgeous blend of CGI and hand-drawn animation, as well as the heartwarming storyline, make for an instant classic. Despite winning several awards, it was overshadowed by films from beloved franchises like Frozen 2 and Toy Story 4. Unlike these movies, it was never released in theatres and remains a hidden gem on Netflix.

Nimona (2023)

A fantasy action film, based on the graphic novel of the same name by ND Stevenson. It follows the journey of a banished hero and a chaotic shapeshifter with a mysterious past. It presents a clever subversion of the hero and villain tropes, blurring the line between good and evil. However, Disney (the original studio behind Nimona) cancelled the film’s production because of their discomfort with certain themes. Luckily, Annapurna films and Netflix picked up the rights for the film, bringing it back for the 2023 release. 

Look Back (2024)

The latest release on this list, Look Back, is a Japanese film by Kyoto Animation. It tells the story of two aspiring manga artists, Fujino and Kyomoto, who form a strong bond as they pursue their dream. However, their friendship is challenged by artistic rivalry, and a mass violence event forces them to confront the tragedy of loss. Despite its emotional depth, Look Back has flown under the radar due to its challenging themes and lack of mainstream promotion.

Written by Michelle Sarah, a 11th grader from SJBHS Bengaluru

This article was written for and published in The Josephite Journal, a student-run publication curated by the 11th and 12th graders of St. Joseph's Boys High School, Bengaluru, as part of the Editorial Board Training Program