Seven animated films you must have seen
For many people, animated films are synonymous with Disney, Dreamworks or Studio Ghibli. I'm deliberately leaving out the titans of the industry here and showing you that animated films don't just have to be family-friendly fun.
This article was first published in a slightly different form on 12 May 2020.From 7 September 2021, the Fantoche animated film festival in Baden will be showing current and older animated films. The short film programmes in particular offer a great overview of national and international work in animated film. However, there is also always a nice selection of feature-length films in the programme. As a Baden native, the festival is in my blood; for years I sold tickets at the box office and then attended dozens of screenings. From Soviet propaganda short films to Iranian drama and French comedy, animated film is so much more than shallow entertainment for children, but is unfortunately usually dismissed as such.
This is why I want to present a small but fine selection of seven films that were made outside of the big studios Disney, Dreamworks or Ghibli and are intended to show the many facets of animated film.
Le Roi et l'oiseaux
The genesis of this film would be worth an article of its own. Shortly after the Second World War, Paul Grimault and Jacques Prévert began production on "Le Roi et l'oiseux". However, the two lost the rights to their own work in 1950 and an unauthorised version was released in 1952. Grimault only regained the rights in the 1970s and finally released his version of the film in 1980. The story about a tyrannical king and a cheeky bird in a surreal, dystopian world is considered a masterpiece of French animation and an inspiration for Studio Ghibli founders Hayao Miyazaki and Isao Takahata.
Year of release: 1953 / 1980
Box office takings: ?
La planète sauvage
Psychedelic, colourful, absurd and with a dark message. "La planète sauvage" is not for the faint-hearted. People live on a planet with giant, blue aliens and are constantly harassed. Those who are lucky are kept as pets, those who are unlucky are trampled on. In addition to the Salvador Dali-like drawing style, the funky soundtrack stands out in particular.
Year of release: 1973
Box office takings: ?
Waltz with Bashir
"Waltz with Bashir" is the first feature-length animated documentary about director Ari Folman's involvement in the 1982 war in Lebanon. Combining animated film with documentary works brilliantly in this case because Folman is able to underline his repressed memories with images that perfectly support the surreal horror of war. This courageous work was nominated for an Oscar in the "Best Foreign Language Film" category.
Year of release: 2008
Box office takings: 11.2 million USD
Redline
The Japanese "Madhouse Studios" have released a whole series of excellent anime since the 80s. "Redline" stands out in particular because the production almost drove the studio to ruin. The story about an intergalactic car race took seven years to publish. 100,000 pictures were drawn by hand. The effort was worth it. The result is a hell of a ride from the Animatrix makers and proof that Madhouse is one of the most innovative Japanese animated films. Other Madhouse films worth checking out are "Ninja Scroll", "Perfect Blue" and the short film collection "Neo Tokyo".
Year of release: 2009
Box office result: ?
Your name.
I thought long and hard about whether "Your Name." would find a place here. After all, the film was a huge hit in Japan and broke all records. The coming-of-age story of a girl from the countryside and a schoolboy from Tokyo who swap bodies by chance is beautifully drawn and told. And I love the work of Makoto Shinkai, especially this film, which is why the blockbuster has landed on the list. Sure, the film is cheesy, all Shinkai films are. But I like the narrative style and how the hyper-realistic backdrop merges with fantastical ideas. Incidentally, "Your name." is Makoto Shinkai's first feature-length film. He has previously released several short films, all of which are also well worth seeing.
Year of release: 2016
Box office takings: 359 million USD
Persepolis
"Persepolis" is based on the comic of the same name by Marjane Satrapi and tells the story of the director in her home country of Iran and in Vienna, where she goes to school during the first Gulf War and experiences her youth. The drawing style is the complete opposite of "Your name.": simple 2D animation in black and white. A stark contrast to the colourful narrative style with lots of humour. A great film about home, foreign countries and growing up.
Year of release: 2007
Box office takings: 22.8 million USD
My life as a courgette
The Swiss-French co-production about little Zucchini, who loses his alcoholic mother and is sent to an orphanage, is beautifully animated and tackles the tragic topic with a lot of humour. "My Life as a Courgette" won dozens of awards and was nominated for an Oscar in 2017. Unfortunately, it received little attention in German-speaking Switzerland.
Year of release: 2016
Box office takings: USD 5.8 million
These seven films are just the tip of the iceberg, a small selection to show you that animated films don't always have to follow the Disney formula. I am also aware that I have not included many good films. Do you have any tips? I look forward to a comment with your favourites.
When I flew the family nest over 15 years ago, I suddenly had to cook for myself. But it wasn’t long until this necessity became a virtue. Today, rattling those pots and pans is a fundamental part of my life. I’m a true foodie and devour everything from junk food to star-awarded cuisine. Literally. I eat way too fast.