Dark fantasy is a niche genre that often overlaps with visceral horror, visions of dystopian futures, or experimental science fiction. With its otherworldly elements, it can be difficult to create realistic dark fantasy in live-action. Some creators have turned to animated media to bring their ideas to life.
The audience for animated dark fantasy movies is even smaller than that for live-action, since these aren't always for kids and not every adult likes cartoons. Plenty of Japanese animated films have taken on the concept of dark fantasy, with popular movies like Paprika being a famous example. However, plenty of unique films from other parts of the world have also made their mark on the genre.
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Move over Dark Souls. These upcoming dark fantasy games are bringing their own twisted brand of grim settings and grotesque foes.
10 The Black Cauldron
The Unique Darkness Of Disney
The Black Cauldron
Display card tags widget Display card community and brand rating widget Display card main info widget- Release Date
- July 24, 1985
WHERE TO WATCH
- Cast
- Grant Bardsley, Susan Sheridan, Freddie Jones, Nigel Hawthorne, Arthur Malet, John Byner
- Runtime
- 80 Minutes
- Director
- Ted Berman, Richard Rich
- Writers
- Lloyd Alexander, David Jonas, Vance Gerry, Ted Berman, Richard Rich, Al Wilson
The Black Cauldron was one of the last animated movies produced before the era known as the Disney Renaissance, and it almost drove the animation section of the company to bankruptcy. It wasn't a bad movie, and it made some strides by mixing new CGI technology with animation. The problem was that the dark subject matter wasn't exactly for kids, and the target audience was never clear.
Hidden by darkness. Guarded by witches. Discovered by a boy. Stolen by a king. Whoever owns it will rule the world. Or destroy it.
The movie is an adaptation of the first two books in Lloyd Alexander's Chronicles of Prydain, which are based on Welsh mythology and consist of some dark magic and ancient mystery. The Horned King, the story's antagonist, is opposed by the humble swineherd Taran, his friend the bard, a princess, and a strange creature named Gurgi. The Horned King wants to use the magic of the Black Cauldron to take over the world, and the motley band of adventurers has to stop them.
9 Beowulf
An Ancient Saga Of Monster Slaying
Beowulf
Display card tags widget Display card community and brand rating widget Display card main info widget- Release Date
- November 5, 2007
- Runtime
- 115minutes
- Director
- Robert Zemeckis
- Cast
- Ray Winstone, Anthony Hopkins, John Malkovich, Robin Wright, Brendan Gleeson, Crispin Glover
- Writers
- Neil Gaiman
Beowulf was one of the first big-budget full-length feature films to use only CGI throughout the animation process, and it was an ambitious project for the time. The ancient legend of Grendel, an old story from Denmark, is retold here with some minor changes to the character and storyline. Not only is Beowulf an interesting example of dark fantasy, but it's also a movie that puts the ancient world on film. Thus, it includes monsters, magic, and the secrets of the human heart.
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From genre classic to modern iterations, dark fantasy has seeped its way into the MMO genre, and it doesn't look like it will let go any time soon.
Your legend is known from the high seas and the snow barriers to the Great Island Kingdom - you are the Monster Slayer.
In the original epic poem, Beowulf is the outspoken hero enlisted to fight the monster Grendel, and then Grendel's mother. This is when the movie takes an interesting turn from the original story. The new ending isn't completely out of pocket, however, since one of the ancient myths states that Beowulf did meet a golden dragon eventually.
8 Wizards
The Subversive Fantastic
Wizards
Display card tags widget Display card community and brand rating widget Display card main info widget- Release Date
- February 9, 1977
- Director
- Ralph Bakshi
- Writers
- Ralph Bakshi
- Cast
- Bob Holt, Jesse Welles, Richard Romanus, David Proval, Jim Connell, Steve Gravers, Barbara Sloane, Angelo Grisanti
One of the best examples of dark fantasy in any medium, only Ralph Bakshi could create something as subversive and unique as Wizards. The story takes place in a future devastated by a nuclear war, and radioactive fallout has turned humans into mutants. This has allowed the older races of dwarves, elves, dragons, and other fantastic creatures to reclaim the earth.
The world blew up in a thousand atomic fireballs.
The premise of Wizards is a dark fantasy, but the theme is a lesson in the paradox of tolerance. Avatar is the good Wizard, and his brother, Blackwolf, is the bad one. Avatar's stubborn adherence to peace and non-violence is what allows Blackwolf and his minions to take over the world and plan to kill anyone who believes in magic. The way in which Avatar regains control feels like a contradiction, but it's a dark choice no matter what.
Shout out to Fire and Ice, another fantastic animated dark fantasy movie directed by Ralph Bakshi.
7 Heavy Metal
Classic Dark Fantasy From Canada
Heavy Metal
Display card tags widget Display card community and brand rating widget Display card main info widget- Release Date
- August 7, 1981
- Runtime
- 1h 26m
- Director
- Gerald Potterton, John Bruno
- Cast
- John Candy, Joe Flaherty, Susan Roman, Don Francks
- Writers
- Daniel Goldberg
A cult classic with a dedicated fan following, Heavy Metal has inspired remakes, parodies, and fan fiction in the decades since it was released. The movie is an adaptation of the comic books of the same name, which always had dark subject matter that mixed the fantastic with apocalyptic science-fiction.
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A shadow shall fall over the universe, and evil will grow in its path, and death will come from the skies.
The film leans into horror at the beginning, introducing the malevolent entity known only as Loc-Nar and how its evil influence has caused death and destruction throughout history and the universe. Several episodic stories featuring the Loc-Nar are strung together, and each is stranger and darker than the last. The story finally culminates in the confrontation at the end that combines both destruction and creation.
6 The Animatrix
Apocalyptic Dreams From The Matrix
The Animatrix
Display card tags widget Display card community and brand rating widget Display card main info widget- Release Date
- May 9, 2003
- Runtime
- 102 minutes
- Director
- Peter Chung, Andy Jones, Yoshiaki Kawajiri, Takeshi Koike, Mahiro Maeda, Kôji Morimoto
- Cast
- Akio Otsuka, Clayton Watson, Pamela Adlon, Hedy Burress, Terrence Carson, Melinda Clarke
- Writers
- Lilly Wachowski, Lana Wachowski, Yoshiaki Kawajiri, Kôji Morimoto, Shinichirô Watanabe, Peter Chung
The Animatrix is a compilation of several stories, each with its own director and style, that take place in the Matrix universe. Some of the stories take place in the past, forming some backstory for the present state of the earth, but A Kid's Story involves both Neo and Trinity and takes place between two of the live-action films, The Matrix and The Matrix: Reloaded.
And Man said, 'Let there be light'. And He was blessed by light, heat, magnetism, gravity, and all the energies of the universe.
The first story, The Final Flight of the Osiris, is intended to set up the premise for a video game, Enter The Matrix. The Osiris is also the ship that contacted Zion at the beginning of Reloaded to warn them about the Sentinels. Beyond is the story of a lost cat and a haunted house, a creepypasta before there was even such a thing. Although each story takes place in our universe, the presence of virtual reality and the constant threat of death from the machines make The Animatrix a dark fantasy.
5 The Secret of NIMH
Talking Rats, Guiding Owls, & Animal Testing
The Secret of NIMH
Display card tags widget Display card community and brand rating widget Display card main info widget- Release Date
- July 16, 1982
- Runtime
- 82 Minutes
- Director
- Don Bluth
- Cast
- Derek Jacobi, Elizabeth Hartman, Arthur Malet, Dom DeLuise, Hermione Baddeley, Shannen Doherty, Wil Wheaton, Jodi Hicks, Ina Fried, John Carradine, Peter Strauss, Paul Shenar, Tom Hatten, Lucille Bliss, Aldo Ray, Norbert Auerbach, Dick Kleiner, Charles Champlin, Joshua Lawrence, Philo Barnhart
- Writers
- Robert C. O'Brien, Don Bluth, John Pomeroy, Gary Goldman, Will Finn, Ken Anderson
While his former employer, Disney, was struggling with a failing animation department, Don Bluth was making The Secret of NIMH. This movie is a cultural touchstone for kids who grew up in the 1980s and is still visually stunning more than a generation later. It's what made Don Bluth Productions a major player in the world of animation.
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My child, we can no longer live as rats. We know too much.
Younger kids might have been put off by some of the more intimidating visuals, but the film had some great music and memorable characters and resonated with kids of all ages. The film was adapted from the novel Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH by Robert C. O'Brien, and the movie version has more fantasy elements than the book. The main character, who is renamed Brisby in the movie, is trying to save her deathly ill son but gets mixed up with the local rats, who have an interesting connection to her deceased husband.
4 South Park: Bigger, Longer, and Uncut
Kenny Goes To Hell (Again)
South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut
Display card tags widget Display card community and brand rating widget Display card main info widget- Release Date
- June 30, 1999
- Runtime
- 81 Minutes
- Director
- Trey Parker
- Cast
- Trey Parker, Matt Stone, Mary Kay Bergman, Isaac Hayes, George Clooney, Brent Spiner, Minnie Driver, Dave Foley
- Writers
- Trey Parker, Matt Stone, Pam Brady
There's not a lot of comedy-horror out there, but popular movies like the Evil Dead franchise prove that the combination can work. The fantastic and the weird are part of the South Park aesthetic, so it's not a surprise that the first movie the franchise produced had some elements of dark fantasy.
You go ahead and miss church, and then when you die and go to hell, you can answer to Satan!
This musical comedy starts with the horrific accidental death of a child, followed by a graphic depiction of the horrors of an unforgiving afterlife, but still makes audiences laugh in a way that only a South Park creation would be able to do. Playing on yet another time when Kenny dies, he is sent to Hell, and part of the plot consists of the hooded and muffled-voiced hero trying to turn Satan against his domineering boyfriend, Saddam Hussein, who wants to start the war of Armageddon.
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3 The Nightmare Before Christmas
Halloween + Christmas = Dark Fantasy
The Nightmare Before Christmas
Display card tags widget Display card community and brand rating widget Display card main info widget- Release Date
- October 29, 1993
WHERE TO WATCH
- Cast
- Catherine O'Hara, Glenn Shadix, Ken Page, William Hickey, Chris Sarandon, Paul Reubens, Danny Elfman
- Runtime
- 76 minutes
- Director
- Henry Selick
- Writers
- Caroline Thompson
Henry Selick is the master director of dark fantasy animated movies, and The Nightmare Before Christmas also benefits from Tim Burton and Mike Johnson's presence, who would later go on to create 2005's fantastic Corpse Bride. These films tend to be associated with each other due to their stop-motion art styles and Gothic fantasy aesthetic, but The Nightmare Before Christmas is the more beloved of the two. It is also one of the more celebratory dark fantasy stories, one that follows Jack Skeleton as he tries to bring Christmas to Halloween Town.
I am the shadow on the moon at night, filling your dreams to the brim with fright.
While family-friendly and filled with quite a bit of (great) humor, The Nightmare Before Christmas still has more than its share of imaginative imagery and unsettling monster designs, although it never quite ventures into the realm of genuine horror. The movie is delightful in pretty much every sense of the word, from its visuals to its music, characters, and tone.
2 Coraline
The Other World
Coraline
Display card tags widget Display card community and brand rating widget Display card main info widget- Release Date
- February 5, 2009
- Runtime
- 100 minutes
- Director
- Henry Selick
- Cast
- Dakota Fanning, Teri Hatcher, Jennifer Saunders, Dawn French, Keith David, John Hodgman
- Writers
- Henry Selick, Neil Gaiman
Arguably the best dark fantasy animated movie that everyone should watch, Coraline tells a great character-driven story while being both creative and just straight-up creepy. While it doesn't have the high fantasy elements of something like Heavy Metal, the 2009 film presents an alternate universe that is ripped right out of nightmares, even if it is initially seen as a dream by the eponymous girl. Along with hating her new home, Coraline feels ignored by her parents, especially her mother. Soon, she finds a portal that leads to a very similar world, albeit with everyone being replaced by doppelgangers who have button eyes. Her Other Mother seems perfect at first, but it slowly becomes apparent that she might have ulterior motives.
She wants something to love, I think. Something that isn't her. Or, maybe she'd just love something to eat.
Coraline is perfectly paced, blends fantasy and horror better than most animated movies, and features a story that is constantly riveting. The stop-motion animation is also top-notch and complements the movie's tone and, especially, the Other World's aesthetic and vibe. If you haven't watched this flick yet, try to get to it sooner rather than later.
1 Mad God
A 30-Year-In-The-Making Dark Fantasy Masterpiece
Mad God
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- Release Date
- June 16, 2022
- Cast
- Alex Cox, Niketa Roman, Satish Ratakonda, Harper Taylor, Arne Hain, Jake Freytag
- Runtime
- 84 Minutes
- Director
- Phil Tippett
- Writers
- Phil Tippett
Dark fantasy comes in many forms, art styles, and tones, but no other animated movie in the genre is as unrelentingly unpleasant as Mad God. Just to be clear, that is 100% meant to be a compliment, as this horrifying film embodies the concept of dark fantasy (and dark sci-fi) with every fiber of its being. As long as you are generally a fan of (or tolerate) claymation, and don't mind grotesque creatures and buckets of blood, you should go out of your way to watch this long-in-the-making masterpiece that favors atmosphere, smart dystopian world-building, and shudder-inducing imagery.
If you disobey Me and remain hostile to Me, I will act against you in wrathful hostility.
Now, I will say that Mad God's story is very simple and is mostly just there to give the protagonist a motive to push forward and act; therefore, if you are somebody who prioritizes storytelling, something like Coraline will likely hit the mark. However, you should still go out of your way to see Mad God, as there is absolutely nothing else like it. Once you watch it, you will never forget it.
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