Do you remember Jones the cat in Alien? Here's another holiday classic that skews much more closely to the Halloween side of town than it does the Christmas side. Well, after the disastrous failure of The Black Cauldron, Burton was so traumatized that he nearly fled animation altogether, heading to the live-action realm where he made his name with acclaimed films such as Beetlejuice and Batman. A trio of kids risk their necks to explore the abandoned home and the secrets that lie buried within it. (Though I was personally too scared of it that I didn’t dare watch it until I was an adult. So as we count down the days to Halloween, let’s count down the scariest animated movies (using that unlucky number 13, of course). Too often, animated movies are written off as silly children’s fare, but the medium is more than capable of scaring even the most hardened adult. ', ‘One Night in Miami…’ Review: A Quartet of Talented Actors Dazzle in Regina King’s Directorial Debut, 'Wonder Woman 1984' Is the Scariest Body Horror Movie of 2020, Gal Gadot Spy Thriller 'Heart of Stone' Picked Up by Netflix, 'The Watch' Star Richard Dormer on Mixing Humphrey Bogart and Harrison Ford for His Take on Sam Vimes. What follows is an insane "cat and mouse" game between the crew and a malevolent entity (or entities...) that's causing havoc throughout the ship. But while Jack and his ilk may be scary by nature, there's an even more terrifying terror that lurks beneath the surface to scare kids with his ghoulish glow. There are dark parts of every great animated tale, but a precious few films choose to go way, way dark in order to tell more mature stories ... and they do so through the mouths of cute, cuddly, forest creatures. And if it's luscious visuals and a stunning soundtrack you're looking for, you'll find that right alongside the scary storytelling. Covering the hottest movie and TV topics that fans want. And it's all the more heart-breaking once the title pups escape, only to find themselves hunted by their captors, local gunmen hired by the lab, and even soldiers. From Disney classics to anime horror fests, animated films have been responsible for plenty of nightmare fuel. I couldn't talk animated horror without mentioning Resident Evil. The majority of the horror comes from the creepy design of the Horned King who, despite looking like a scarier version of Skeletor, is a genuinely chilling villain thanks to the performance of John Hurt (who will be showing up a lot on this list). Okay, now we've started to get out of the basic scares and spooky stuff and into some more psychologically horrifying territory. Taking place on Halloween, it is up to three kids to defeat the house and save all the potential trick-or-treaters from certain doom. save. It's that good. What are some of the scariest or darkest animated movies? This is one of my three absolute favorite entries on this list. This installment is the third and final chapter in the Golden Age Arc, so you might want to do your homework with the relatively tame first two chapters before diving in, but once you hit the third film, hold onto your butts. It ain't an easy watch. I’ve featured this ghoulish stop-motion movie on this column before, but I’d be remiss to not feature it again. There's voodoo, shape-shifters, angry alligators, and even a vengeful cat god out to make your viewing experience an unexpected one. Is there an Oscar for that? There are horror-comedies, action-horror films, and obvious sci-fi/horror flicks, but there's also a special place for horror within fantasy films. Berserk: The Golden Age Arc III - The Advent finds the once unbeatable Griffith broken, emaciated, and without control of his limbs after a year of severe torture in a dungeon. Directors: Daniel DelPurgatorio, Mike Smith. Privacy Policy / Cookie Policy. While this technically isn't a feature-length production, the short animated film packed into the telling of Watchmen is too horrifying and psychologically damaging to leave off of the list. Web design by Pro Blog Design. October 27, 2015. in Disney, LAIKA, Opinions, Studio Ghibli. The jump scares, psychological tension, and shocking reveal will always be thrilling, but the idea that our avatar selves and our true selves are becoming more and more difficult to separate is an increasingly terrifying proposition, especially for those who are unable to distinguish between the two. Recommend. Rankin and Bass are probably better known for their holiday classics, but this adaptation of Beagle's novel about the titular unicorn is an absolute gem. You can't really talk about animated movies without mentioning Disney, the flying elephant in the room. If you ever wanted an animated horror movie that's inspired by Alien, 2001: A Space Odyssey, and The Thing, then you're going to want to check out Lily C.A.T. Any recommendations appreciated. It is also the only children's movie to show police officers being eaten alive. Secondly, if you love the antics of the zombie franchise and would prefer to watch them unfold without being behind the trigger for a change, the animated features are quite enjoyable. By Ziah Grace / Oct. 19, 2017 2:08 pm EST / Updated: May 12, 2020 10:09 am EST. /Featured Stories Sidebar, Animation, Anime, Family Films, Fantasy, Features, Horror, coraline, Fantasia, Fears of the Dark, Perfect Blue, Seoul Station, The Black Cauldron, The Last Unicorn, The Plague Dogs, The Secret of Nimh, The-Nightmare-Before-Christmas, Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust, Watchmen: Tales of the Black Freighter, Watership Down, The Quarantine Stream: ‘Thief’ is Michael Mann’s Stylish Feature Directorial Debut, Spoiler Discussion: WandaVision Episodes 1 & 2, ‘Locked Down’ Director Doug Liman on Shooting a Movie About the Pandemic During the Pandemic [Interview], ‘The Bourne Identity’ Director Doug Liman Still Doesn’t Know How to Feel About Bond Copying Bourne, ‘Cobra Kai’ Creators Reveal Which Characters Can Return to the Show and What to Expect from Season 4 [Interview], The First Two Episodes of ‘WandaVision’ Take Us Into the Weirdest Corner of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Copyright © 2005-2019 /Film. Scariest animated movies? Very little of Gaiman's work comes out of a place of pure joy; there's always an undercurrent of darkness or a twinge of the macabre about it. My absolute favorite film on this list has to be Perfect Blue, a film so psychologically traumatizing and so wonderfully told that it's on par with live-action equivalents like Black Swan and Misery. The thing about horror is that it can infect just about any other genre and the film will work just the same. To have a skeleton as the protagonist is frightening enough, but the unnerving body horror that occupies every frame of this movie — Sally’s stitches, the Mayor’s gaping smile, Barrel’s bulging eyes — is enough to send any kid screaming. While the horrors of lab experimentation on animals takes a back seat for a moment, the savagery of the animal kingdom (and the cruelty of man) takes center stage in this horror-fantasy classic, Watership Down. Nothing makes a scary movie like a good monster, and The Last Unicorn has one of the most terrifying animated monsters of all. If you need more convincing as to its merit, watch the spoilery video analysis below: First and foremost: What the hell is going on? Of course, he's opposed in this quest by good-natured heroes, but boy do they have a lot of horrors standing in their way: There's the king, of course, his undead army and creepy minions, a trio of witches in the Marshes of Morva, and the cauldron itself, which comes with a cruel curse that shapes the narrative in traumatic ways. And once you have, you'll be better able to appreciate the animated prequel film, Seoul Station. If you barely managed to survive The Secret of NIMH, then I have some bad news for you regarding these next two installments. A lesser-known Adams tale is The Plague Dogs, a ruthless movie that does not shy away from man's cruelty to animals in pursuit of scientific knowledge. For those seeking an often unexplored sidebar of cinema, this list can act as a push into pastures new; a peek at cult productions that are destined to linger on the fringes of common culture following mainstream critical backlash. Whether it's feasting on raw gull meat, surviving shark attacks, or his ultimate mental breakdown, every step along the survivor's descent into madness becomes increasingly difficult to watch. This thing is up to its canines in vampire mythology but also features zombies, a unique take on a traditional werewolf, mutants, demons, shape-shifters, a master of shadow and illusion, and more, like the ghost of a vampire blood countess. But give these plots some thought. And while the aforementioned are pretty terrifying, the anime movies listed here will scare both the living daylights and nightlights out of you. Burton produced and conceived of 1993’s The Nightmare Before Christmas, with the directorial duties going to stop-motion visionary Henry Selick (James and the Giant Peach, Coraline). This thing is freaky. Canadian artist Mike Pelletier has a thing for fusing the creative with the technological. Released in 1982, The Last Unicorn was a Japanese-American production based off the novel by Peter S. Beagle that told the story of a unicorn who discovers that she is the last of her kind as the others have all vanished. However, it's in this list for its depiction of duality, the over-the-top depictions of sexualized trauma throughout, and its David Cronenberg-levels of body horror. Affiliate links used when available. 8. But the commercials terrified me!) With tense music and great animation, this is an incredibly tense scene that leaves you heartbroken as well as shaken. Writers: Sadayuki Murai, Yoshikazu Takeuchi. These ain't your same ol' Halloween movies. His brutal, selfish decision to take his own life is tough enough to watch, but it's just a shadow of what's to come. Posted on Friday, October 26th, 2018 by Hoai-Tran Bui, (Welcome to Let’s Get Animated!, a column that spotlights the best of film animation. While the medium may have changed, the terror-inducing hordes of rage zombies is still the same. King Haggard and his motivation evoke a feeling of existential dread that is unusual for a fantasy film, and even more so for a children’s film. The film centers on Mima, an attractive J-pop star living in a world of realistically depicted people who have fallen in love with her celebrity self. At first glimpse, the fantasy epic doesn’t seem outright scary though it is a little weird. Remember Tim Burton from the last entry? But fascinatingly, the Red Bull’s master, King Haggard, is just as terrifying in a drastically and innately human way. 1. Then again, this thing starts off with the drowning of Rowf, a dog in a science lab, who is then resuscitated by siphoning the water out of his lungs. We see the lone survivor talking to his dead crew mates and eventually using their bloated bodies as floatation devices to keep his makeshift raft aloft in the sea. It's an absolute mind-bender of a film that's going to take repeat viewings in order to fully grasp it, but Perfect Blue is a case study in obsession, the price of fame, and the loss of a sense of who you are. The Last Unicorn is certainly more fantasy than horror, but boy does this thing have some spooky elements that still carry impact today, 25 years later. On the surface, Coraline is a very silly story about a misunderstood girl who finds a hidden door to a secret world where the people are a little strange but otherwise perfect. While the ending of The Plague Dogs is as emotional as Old Yeller, it's more ambiguous, but what's clear is that this movie will mess you up for life. So I ask you to check your inhibitions at the door while encouraging you to share your favorite scary animated film in the comments below! All right, here's your reminder to put the little ones to bed, because it's time for some grown-up animated horror movies. Disney’s third animated feature film was also one of its scariest (though shout-out to Pinocchio‘s donkey boys for laying the foundation). The Black Cauldron's infamous deleted scenes were scrubbed away, removing the worst of the trauma-inducing moments, but what's left is still pretty haunting. This thing is borderline hentai at times, so fair warning. These are great on their own and they have their place in your annual Halloween festivities, but if you're aiming for something spooky that you may not have seen before, animated horror films are rife with possibilities. The dark fantasy film, based very loosely on a book series, centers on the evil (and scary) Horned King who aims to conquer the world with the assistance of the mythical cauldron. If you haven't seen the relatively new live-action zombie film Train to Busan, you should remedy that immediately. The film's PG-13 rating for violent imagery and thematic elements is well-earned, making it the last of the film's on this list that might be okay for younger viewers to watch. The horrors that await the Band of the Hawk are only a fraction as vile as those perpetrated by Griffith against his former friends and allies, Guts and Casca. The go-to source for comic book and superhero movie fans. Coraline is no different, though it may take younger viewers a few times to pick up on the themes at play here. Halloween and blood go together like Jason Voorhees and Camp Crystal Lake. The medium isn't restricted to Scooby-Doo marathons or another helping of It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown. Movies that stay with you after you’ve watched them are are a true hallmark of a great spooky anime. The film follows a young pig keeper named Taran who teams up with the princess Eilonwy, a bard Fflewddur Fflam, and a wild creature named Gurgi to stop the Horned King from raising an army of the undead and conquering the world. And while Disney classics certainly have … Together, they created the bane of our childhood memories. Just be ready for a jump scare here and there. by Rotoscopers. And while Disney classics certainly have some terrifying moments scattered throughout their films, this much-maligned film is a horror show from beginning to end. The 100 best animated movies: the best scary movies. Don't get me wrong, the classic horror icons and their multi-film franchises are great, but if you're looking for something different this year, look to animation. With its deep blood-red color and surrounding cloud of smoke, the Red Bull is simultaneously ethereal and tactile — an unstoppable force for which there are no immovable objects. The NFL' Trailer Examines Raiders Owner's Feud With League Commissioner, Amazon's 'Lord of the Rings' TV Show Synopsis Is Officially Revealed, Exclusive: Frank Grillo Returning to MCU as Crossbones in 'What If...? Pulled from the twisted minds of writer Alan Moore and artist Dave Gibbons, Tales of the Black Freighter is a comic book that appears within the story of Watchmen itself. It’s so scary, in fact, that we wrote a whole essay on its heinous-ness. Plague Dogs completes the John Hurt trifecta of animated movies that make us feel really bad. World-famous animators pick the best animated movies ever, including Disney and Pixar movies, cult movies, kids movies… He created the well-known and severely unsettling animated series Salad Fingers, and gained his share of fame from his short “Crooked Rot” featured on Adult Swim. Here's a fine example of how the medium of animation allows a filmmaker to showcase their vision without the limitations imposed by live-action productions. It's a hell of an introduction to the horrors on display in Wicked City and it sets the stage for everything to come. The Black Worlders may look human, but these doppelgangers can take many other forms, like the arachnoid creature that our protagonist has sex with early on in the telling. I'll start off with some age-appropriate suggestions for our younger viewers out there, including stop-motion classics, computer-generated fright-fests, an oft overlooked Disney film, and, yes, even a Scooby-Doo feature. It's not surprising that creatures like the rat-eating cat Dragon and the villainous rat Jenner are drawn to be scary, but it's unusual to find that the protagonist's mystical allies are every bit as terrifying. Most of the Band of the Hawk is drawn into another dimension during a solar eclipse where they come face to face with powerful archdemons known as the God Hand. Two words: The Red Bull. Writers: Tim Burton, Michael McDowell, Caroline Thompson. These tales explore the awful effects that fear has on people, both in an overt manner and in a deeply personal one. He just wants to shake things up a bit and bring his own peculiar sense of holiday cheer to Christmastime. Based on the novels by Hideyuki Kikuchi, the first animated adaptation of the Vampire Hunter D series explores all the spooks that made the books famous while adding innovative visuals and unforgettable scary sequences that would entertain horror-loving anime fans for decades to come.. Chamoji's Scariest Animated Horror Movies You Must Watch This Halloween. And as this list nears its end with more mature themes and subject material, there will undoubtedly be people who are quite Mad Online about the movies in (or left off of) this list. parallel world where the people are strange but perfect and ‘better’ than the real world. Then there's the tale of a boy obsessed with insects who finds that his love life takes a rather curious intersection with his pastime, or the sad story of a young girl forced to experience her nightmares over and over again as a form of medical "treatment." For the first time, Scoob and the gang find themselves face to face with a real supernatural threat thanks to the haunting presence of pirate ghost Morgan Moonscar. The character and setting design in Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust are absolutely top notch and they make the film a joy to watch, even when you're keeping an eye out for yet another monstrosity creeping up on you from every angle imaginable. The Morning Watch: Movie Moments That Scared Kids, The Model Miniatures of ‘Moon’ & More, Cool Stuff: ‘The Lion King’, ‘The Rocketeer’ and ‘The Nightmare Before Christmas’ Get New Mondo Tiki Mugs, ‘The Nightmare Before Christmas’ Villain Oogie Boogie Caused a Major Creative Clash with Tim Burton, The Morning Watch: ‘Coraline’ and Ancient Storytelling, The Williams of ‘Almost Famous’ Reunite & More. Following the survivor of an attack by the dreaded pirate ship the Black Freighter, the tale watches as he attempts to race home in order to warn his wife and children of the pirates' impending arrival. The story takes place at the intersection between our mundane human world and the demon-populated Black World that exists alongside it; special forces known as the Black Guard protect the border and agents from both sides cooperate to keep the peace. Coraline is a stop motion film directed by Henry Selick. Cats can get up to an awful lot in that time, as the revived crew soon finds out. This is one case where Richard Adams' book, brilliant as it is, benefits from a lean and mean animated adaptation. One would think that animated movies featuring talking animals would be all sunshine and rainbows. However, the animated telling of the tale of Guts, Griffith, Casca, and the Band of the Hawk is absolutely stunning in its execution and jaw-dropping in its insanity. After you ’ ve watched them are are a true hallmark of B-horror. Terrifying, the flying elephant in the room an actress they ca n't really talk about animated movies talking... 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