Although animated films have gained something of a reputation for being rather sugary and sweet, that is not always the case. In fact, there are a number of animated films that have made a deliberate effort to cut to the darker side of human nature. It is for this reason, along with their stunning animation, that they deserve the respect and admiration of generations of audiences.
“The Secret of NIMH”
Directed by Don Bluth, one of the most famous and iconic animation directors of the 1980s, this dark film follows the adventures of a widowed mouse as she struggles to keep her family safe while also meeting the mysterious Rats of NIMH. Along the way, we as viewers are treated to some of the most complex and richly drawn animation produced by a company outside of the Disney studio (although Bluth was a former animator for Disney). The storytelling is also masterfully done, making this film a gem of an animated feature.
“The Black Cauldron”
Although this film would later go down in infamy as the black sheep of the Disney family, it is actually a pretty good movie if you can look past the fact that it has almost nothing in common with the book except the title. The animation is up to the usual Disney standards, and John Hurt steals the show as the sinister, raspy voice of easily the creepiest of Disney villains, the Horned King. It also has a very dark and gritty undertone, making it a refreshing change from the run-of-the-mill animated feature.
“All Dogs Go to Heaven”
Finally we come to this film, one of Don Bluth’s less successful ventures. Despite the fact that it was not nearly as popular as some of its predecessors, “All Dogs Go to Heaven” still does manage to capture some of the darkness that was the hallmark of his most successful movies. In contrast to many other animated films, this one does not shy away from showing us rather frightening images of Hell, as well as other themes that you don’t normally see in animated films. Clearly this is not your average children’s movie.
If you are looking for family entertainment that can also appeal to older children, then you should definitely consider some of these darker animated films, which show that you don’t have to be a kid to enjoy the wonders of traditional hand-drawn animation.
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