Underrated Animated Movies and TV Shows
by quiqueperezsoler | created - 15 Jan 2018 | updated - 1 month ago | PublicThese are in MY own personal opinion the animated movies and TV shows that I think are enormously underrated. Underappreciated soundtrack, character development and/or design, plotline, movie message/s or even theme of the movie itself. I highly recommend you check this movies and/or rewatch them (with new and different eyes if you can) and try to see the good side of them rather than aspects that may not be well received nowadays (cheesiness, slight inaccuracy, common tropes, etc.)
- Instant Watch Options
- Genres
- Movies or TV
- IMDb Rating
- In Theaters
- Release Year
- Keywords
1. The Iron Giant (1999)
PG | 86 min | Animation, Action, Adventure
A young boy befriends a giant robot from outer space that a paranoid government agent wants to destroy.
Director: Brad Bird | Stars: Eli Marienthal, Harry Connick Jr., Jennifer Aniston, Vin Diesel
Votes: 227,407 | Gross: $23.16M
Is not that is not highly regarded by the critics but many people don't even know about this movie. Those who do is either because they grew up with its VHS version or are just animated movie fans who stumbled upon it and loved it. Now becomed an animation classic, back in the day it was oversaw by many audience mainly because it was poorly publicized and for some reason it got lost in the avalanche of Disney classics that rained those years Tarzan, Toy Story 2, A Bugs Life, Mulan..
2. Kim Possible (2002–2007)
TV-G | 22 min | Animation, Action, Adventure
A high school cheerleader and her clumsy best friend balance their duties as global crime-fighters with the typical challenges of adolescence.
Stars: Christy Carlson Romano, Will Friedle, Nancy Cartwright, Tahj Mowry
Votes: 32,220
3. Superman: The Mad Scientist (1941)
G | 10 min | Animation, Short, Action
The Man of Steel fights a mad scientist who is destroying Metropolis with an energy cannon.
Directors: Dave Fleischer, Steve Muffati | Stars: Bud Collyer, Joan Alexander, Jackson Beck, Jack Mercer
Votes: 3,505
4. The Road to El Dorado (2000)
PG | 89 min | Animation, Adventure, Comedy
Two swindlers get their hands on a map to the fabled city of gold, El Dorado.
Directors: Bibo Bergeron, Don Paul, Jeffrey Katzenberg | Stars: Kevin Kline, Kenneth Branagh, Rosie Perez, Armand Assante
Votes: 107,443 | Gross: $50.86M
5. The Black Cauldron (1985)
PG | 80 min | Animation, Action, Adventure
A young boy and a group of misfit friends embark on a quest to find a dark magic item of ultimate power before a diabolical tyrant can.
Directors: Ted Berman, Richard Rich | Stars: Grant Bardsley, Freddie Jones, Susan Sheridan, Nigel Hawthorne
Votes: 40,728 | Gross: $21.29M
6. Anastasia (1997)
G | 94 min | Animation, Adventure, Drama
The last surviving child of the Russian Royal Family joins two con men to reunite with her grandmother, the Dowager Empress, while the undead Rasputin seeks her death.
Directors: Don Bluth, Gary Goldman | Stars: Meg Ryan, John Cusack, Christopher Lloyd, Kelsey Grammer
Votes: 136,010 | Gross: $58.41M
7. Moana (I) (2016)
PG | 107 min | Animation, Adventure, Comedy
In ancient Polynesia, when a terrible curse incurred by the demigod Maui reaches Moana's island, she answers the Ocean's call to seek out Maui to set things right.
Directors: Ron Clements, John Musker, Don Hall, Chris Williams | Stars: Auli'i Cravalho, Dwayne Johnson, Rachel House, Temuera Morrison
Votes: 378,086 | Gross: $248.76M
8. Atlantis: The Lost Empire (2001)
PG | 95 min | Animation, Action, Adventure
A young linguist named Milo Thatch joins an intrepid group of explorers to find the mysterious lost continent of Atlantis.
Directors: Gary Trousdale, Kirk Wise | Stars: Michael J. Fox, Jim Varney, Corey Burton, Claudia Christian
Votes: 134,042 | Gross: $84.05M
9. Treasure Planet (2002)
PG | 95 min | Animation, Adventure, Family
Jim Hawkins is a teenager who finds the map of a great treasure hidden by a space pirate. Together with some friends, he sets off in a large spaceship, shaped like a caravel, on his quest.
Directors: Ron Clements, John Musker | Stars: Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Emma Thompson, Martin Short, Roscoe Lee Browne
Votes: 133,018 | Gross: $38.18M
10. Sinbad: Legend of the Seven Seas (2003)
PG | 86 min | Animation, Adventure, Comedy
The sailor of legend is framed by the goddess Eris for the theft of the Book of Peace and must travel to her realm at the end of the world to retrieve it and save the life of his childhood friend Prince Proteus.
Directors: Patrick Gilmore, Tim Johnson | Stars: Brad Pitt, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Joseph Fiennes, Michelle Pfeiffer
Votes: 59,455 | Gross: $26.48M
11. The Emperor's New Groove (2000)
G | 78 min | Animation, Adventure, Comedy
Emperor Kuzco is turned into a llama by his ex-administrator Yzma, and must now regain his throne with the help of Pacha, the gentle llama herder.
Director: Mark Dindal | Stars: David Spade, John Goodman, Eartha Kitt, Patrick Warburton
Votes: 225,429 | Gross: $89.30M
12. Hercules (1997)
G | 93 min | Animation, Action, Adventure
The son of Zeus and Hera is stripped of his immortality as an infant and must become a true hero in order to reclaim it.
Directors: Ron Clements, John Musker | Stars: Tate Donovan, Susan Egan, James Woods, Barbara Barrie
Votes: 255,097 | Gross: $99.05M
13. The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1996)
G | 91 min | Animation, Drama, Family
A deformed bell-ringer must assert his independence from a vicious government minister in order to help his friend, a gypsy dancer.
Directors: Gary Trousdale, Kirk Wise | Stars: Demi Moore, Jason Alexander, Mary Kay Bergman, Corey Burton
Votes: 171,648 | Gross: $100.14M
14. Tarzan (1999)
G | 88 min | Animation, Adventure, Comedy
A man raised by gorillas must decide where he really belongs when he discovers he is a human.
Directors: Chris Buck, Kevin Lima | Stars: Tony Goldwyn, Minnie Driver, Brian Blessed, Glenn Close
Votes: 247,166 | Gross: $171.09M
15. The Jetsons (1962–1963)
TV-Y7 | 25 min | Animation, Comedy, Family
The misadventures of a futuristic family.
Stars: George O'Hanlon, Janet Waldo, Mel Blanc, Penny Singleton
Votes: 23,963
I think we are not aware of how many of the gadgets and technologies we have today were invisioned back in the 60s with this show. The particular vision it had of the 21st century, although mostly inaccurate, was revolutionary and let alone should be highly regarded as such.
16. Martin Mystery (2003–2006)
TV-Y7 | 22 min | Animation, Action, Adventure
Martin and Diana, two mismatched teenagers, and Java, a massive caveman lost in time, work for an undercover bureau specializing in mysterious phenomena.
Stars: Sam Vincent, Kelly Sheridan, Teryl Rothery, Dale Wilson
Votes: 3,054
17. American Dragon: Jake Long (2005–2007)
TV-G | 30 min | Animation, Action, Adventure
A teenage slacker is given the ability to turn into the American Dragon and defends all mythical creatures that secretly reside in the human world.
Stars: Dante Basco, Charlie Finn, kittie KaBoom, Keone Young
Votes: 13,592
18. The Prince of Egypt (1998)
PG | 99 min | Animation, Adventure, Drama
Egyptian Prince Moses learns of his identity as a Hebrew and his destiny to become the chosen deliverer of his people.
Directors: Brenda Chapman, Steve Hickner, Simon Wells | Stars: Val Kilmer, Ralph Fiennes, Michelle Pfeiffer, Sandra Bullock
Votes: 146,330 | Gross: $101.22M
19. Buzz Lightyear of Star Command: The Adventure Begins (2000 Video)
Not Rated | 70 min | Animation, Action, Adventure
Buzz Lightyear must battle Emperor Zurg with the help of three hopefuls who insist on being his partners.
Director: Tad Stones | Stars: Tim Allen, Nicole Sullivan, Larry Miller, Stephen Furst
Votes: 5,478
20. Chicken Run (2000)
G | 84 min | Animation, Adventure, Comedy
When a cockerel apparently flies into a chicken farm, the chickens see him as an opportunity to escape their evil owners.
Directors: Peter Lord, Nick Park | Stars: Mel Gibson, Julia Sawalha, Phil Daniels, Lynn Ferguson
Votes: 212,253 | Gross: $106.83M
21. Hotel Transylvania (2012)
PG | 91 min | Animation, Adventure, Comedy
Dracula, who operates a high-end resort away from the human world, goes into overprotective mode when a boy discovers the resort and falls for the count's teenaged daughter.
Director: Genndy Tartakovsky | Stars: Adam Sandler, Kevin James, Andy Samberg, Selena Gomez
Votes: 280,997 | Gross: $148.31M
22. Surf's Up (2007)
PG | 85 min | Animation, Adventure, Comedy
A behind-the-scenes look at the annual Penguin World Surfing Championship, and its newest participant, up-and-comer Cody Maverick.
Directors: Ash Brannon, Chris Buck | Stars: Shia LaBeouf, Zooey Deschanel, Jon Heder, Jeff Bridges
Votes: 90,796 | Gross: $58.87M
23. Spider-Man (2017–2020)
TV-Y7 | 44 min | Animation, Action, Adventure
Peter Parker, a new student at the famous Horizon High, fights evil super-villains as the costumed superhero, Spider-Man.
Stars: Robbie Daymond, Nadji Jeter, Fred Tatasciore, Laura Bailey
Votes: 3,217
24. Wreck-It Ralph (2012)
PG | 101 min | Animation, Adventure, Comedy
A video game villain wants to be a hero and sets out to fulfill his dream, but his quest brings havoc to the whole arcade where he lives.
Director: Rich Moore | Stars: John C. Reilly, Jack McBrayer, Jane Lynch, Sarah Silverman
Votes: 458,366 | Gross: $189.42M
25. Megamind (2010)
PG | 95 min | Animation, Action, Adventure
Evil genius Megamind finally defeats his do-gooder nemesis, Metro Man, but is left without a purpose in a superhero-free world.
Director: Tom McGrath | Stars: Will Ferrell, Jonah Hill, Brad Pitt, Tina Fey
Votes: 295,767 | Gross: $148.42M
26. Meet the Robinsons (2007)
G | 95 min | Animation, Adventure, Comedy
Lewis is a brilliant inventor who meets mysterious stranger named Wilbur Robinson, whisking Lewis away in a time machine and together they team up to track down Bowler Hat Guy in a showdown that ends with an unexpected twist of fate.
Director: Stephen J. Anderson | Stars: Daniel Hansen, Wesley Singerman, Angela Bassett, Jordan Fry
Votes: 111,356 | Gross: $97.82M
At first the animation sort of dragged me back, it reminded me too much of the horrible Chicken Little style of animation. But after I got immersed in the plot everything went better. Also, I did see the movie now (2018) and might have forgotten to take into account what 3D animation looked like in those times.
Either way, the movie kind of gets all over the place. Is not until the end that you realise how it all fits together and what the actual message was about all along. I don't wanna get into details but just get to the point to why, in spite of all the weaknesses this movie might have, it should be regarded as one of Disney's greatest in terms of character/world design and originality.
Here might come the spoilers so you are warned. The movie is a love letter to retrofuturism and the "atomic age" vibe in terms of designs: houses, spaceships, clothes and even hairstyles. In my own personal opinion I always liked this style and theme for a portrayal of the future. Is vivid and vibrant and it matches the crazyness of the plot. And that leads us to the content not the cotinent of this movie, the plot. The plot is basically about timetravel. That's the general device of the story which, to be honest, for me it kind of came as a surprise as by the trailer itself the movie only looks like a voyage to the future not really revolving around the life of the main character as we later discover. Then again, the trailer fooled me in the most welcoming of ways as I would have never suspected how the plot would unravel as. It was a delightful surprise to see that that kid who felt so alone and missunderstood actually created such an awesome family! And I also thought it was pretty original to not have the typical evil guy but rather someone you would have NEVER suspected would turn into such character. It was a great plot twist and a pretty satisfying one.
Basically I think what i like the most and think is the best thing of the movie is the spirit of the message. The push inventors and creative people to keep trying and never give up. I know it might be cliche and all but I like that they didn't throw it straight at your face (despite the scene were Wilbur keeps telling him that catch phrase, which i honestly saw it as a comedic thing and not really the core message),like everything makes sense after you see the movie not while you are seeing the plot unravel. I had to go back and rewatch many of the scenes to get all the references and family members right.
Also, something I really liked and think is also a forte of the movie is the amount of scifi classic tropes it has: robot hats taking over the world, mindreaders, space pizza delivery... The themes in this movie are amazing and I believe have similarities to those of the creative and also underrated Tomorrowland. For those of you who loved this movie I recommend you check Tomorrowland. Is a movie for spirited entrepreneurs, childhood and adult inventors and finally space fans.
The most wonderful thing about these "simple" or "stereotypical"-considered movies by many who criticize them is that it reminds us of those amusing images and messages they give us about the wonders of being a kid, the difficulties of growing up, the joys and sorrows of family and love and the fact that we are valuable as people, our ideas and opinions are valuable and they don't need to "save the world" or something to be so, they already do because they are yours.
27. Ragnarok (2013)
PG-13 | 100 min | Adventure, Fantasy
Norwegian archaeologist Sigurd Svendsen forms a small team and sets off to find the true meaning of the secret runes found carved in rock and accidentally awakens a giant monster.
Director: Mikkel Brænne Sandemose | Stars: Pål Sverre Hagen, Nicolai Cleve Broch, Sofia Helin, Bjørn Sundquist
Votes: 8,822 | Gross: $0.00M
28. The Little Prince (2015)
PG | 108 min | Animation, Adventure, Drama
A little girl lives in a very grown-up world with her mother, who tries to prepare her for it. Her neighbor, the Aviator, introduces the girl to an extraordinary world where anything is possible, the world of the Little Prince.
Director: Mark Osborne | Stars: Jeff Bridges, Mackenzie Foy, Rachel McAdams, Marion Cotillard
Votes: 66,517 | Gross: $1.34M
29. The Rescuers (1977)
G | 77 min | Animation, Adventure, Comedy
Two mice of the Rescue Aid Society search for a little girl kidnapped by unscrupulous treasure hunters.
Directors: John Lounsbery, Wolfgang Reitherman, Art Stevens | Stars: Bob Newhart, Eva Gabor, Geraldine Page, Joe Flynn
Votes: 69,902 | Gross: $71.22M
30. The Adventures of Tintin (2011)
PG | 107 min | Animation, Action, Adventure
Intrepid reporter Tintin and Captain Haddock set off on a treasure hunt for a sunken ship commanded by Haddock's ancestor.
Director: Steven Spielberg | Stars: Jamie Bell, Andy Serkis, Daniel Craig, Simon Pegg
Votes: 243,202 | Gross: $77.59M
31. The Pirates! Band of Misfits (2012)
PG | 88 min | Animation, Action, Adventure
Pirate Captain sets out on a mission to defeat his rivals Black Bellamy and Cutlass Liz for the Pirate of the year Award. The quest takes Captain and his crew from the shores of Blood Island to the foggy streets of Victorian London.
Directors: Peter Lord, Jeff Newitt | Stars: Hugh Grant, Salma Hayek, Jeremy Piven, Martin Freeman
Votes: 51,410 | Gross: $31.05M
32. Oliver & Company (1988)
G | 74 min | Animation, Adventure, Comedy
A lost and alone kitten joins a gang of dogs engaged in petty larceny in New York City.
Director: George Scribner | Stars: Joey Lawrence, Billy Joel, Cheech Marin, Richard Mulligan
Votes: 52,946 | Gross: $74.15M
33. Mr. Peabody & Sherman (2014)
PG | 92 min | Animation, Adventure, Comedy
Sherman, a young boy, misuses a time machine made by his scientist father Mr. Peabody and causes the world history to go haywire. It is now up to Mr. Peabody to rescue his son and the world.
Director: Rob Minkoff | Stars: Ty Burrell, Max Charles, Stephen Colbert, Leslie Mann
Votes: 77,792 | Gross: $111.51M
34. Shrek Forever After (2010)
PG | 93 min | Animation, Adventure, Comedy
Rumpelstiltskin tricks a mid-life crisis burdened Shrek into allowing himself to be erased from existence and cast in a dark alternate timeline where Rumpelstiltskin rules supreme.
Director: Mike Mitchell | Stars: Mike Myers, Cameron Diaz, Eddie Murphy, Antonio Banderas
Votes: 224,508 | Gross: $238.37M
35. Peter Pan 2: Return to Never Land (2002)
G | 72 min | Animation, Adventure, Family
In London during World War II, this is the story of Wendy's daughter, Jane, who is kidnapped by Captain Hook and Peter Pan must come to the rescue.
Directors: Robin Budd, Donovan Cook | Stars: Blayne Weaver, Harriet Owen, Corey Burton, Jeff Bennett
Votes: 22,082 | Gross: $48.43M
36. Beauty and the Beast: The Enchanted Christmas (1997 Video)
G | 72 min | Animation, Family, Fantasy
Astonished to find the Beast has a deep-seated hatred for the Christmas season, Belle endeavors to change his mind on the matter.
Director: Andrew Knight | Stars: Paige O'Hara, Robby Benson, Jerry Orbach, David Ogden Stiers
Votes: 12,075
Tell Your Friends