Animated Features
During my last years of college, I decided to watch “every good animated movie in existence”. I knew the objective was neither achievable nor well-defined, but it did lead me to watch some interesting things that I otherwise would not have seen.
At the time, what made me like a film was, first, having a grounded feeling; second, a unique visual style. (Fortunately, I’m now in a less hippie phase 🌭).
In the end, I watched more than 100 movies over the course of two years from a a variety of countries and techniques.
Highlights of the Journey
Fehérlófia
(Hungary 1981)
The Hungarian folk tale about a boy born from a mare who journeys into the underworld to challenge three dragons.
It uses a lot morphing to convey ideas, along with psychedelic imagery. There is nothing similiar to it.
If there is one movie on this list you should watch, it is this one.
Night Is Short, Walk On Girl
(Japan 2017)
Imagine you are in your college years, it is Friday night, and you are looking to have a good time. You start drinking, walking randomly through the night, meeting weird people.
Well, this film is the animated translation of this.
Fantastic Planet
(France 1973)
Strayed out of a Golden Age sci-fi short story, It explores an surreal planet inhabited by giant aliens and his pets, the humans.
Nezha Conquers the Dragon King
(China 1979)
A folk tale about the Chinese hero Nezha battling the Dragon King.
I mean, at some point, he uses the spine of a dead dragon as a jump rope — pretty rad, if I may say, Specially considering this is an children movie.
Chie the Brat
(Japan 1981)
A slice-of-life film about a girl trying to balance school and running a bar while dealing with her dysfunctional family.
Directed by Isao Takahata— the best director of Studio Ghibli.
The Wolf House
(Chile 2018)
Creepy as hell stop motion animation about a distorted fairy tale with pigs that turn to humans.
The Case of Hana & Alice
(Japan 2015)
If you give a chance for the rotoscoping, this is a great story, half amateur mystery murder, half slice-of-life coming-of-age story.
The Tale of the Fox
(France 1937)
A 1937 stop-motion film about a clever fox outsmarting the lion king in an fairy tale like story.