Best Animated Movies NOT By Disney Or PixarReleasing its first full length animated feature film, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, in 1. Walt Disney Productions has become the gold standard in animation. When asked to name their favorite animated movie, most people will inevitably answer with a Disney film. From perfect princesses to dashing princes to the most lovable of four legged friends, the Mouse House has been making cartoons beloved by all for almost a hundred years and shows no signs of slowing down anytime soon. While it is true that Disney reigns supreme in this department of filmmaking, many lesser known animated features are deserving of the same recognition. There are countless other realms to explore, incredible journeys to embark on and amazing characters to encounter. Disney doesnt hold the keys to every kingdom. Many of these films are quite moving, while a couple of them are even a bit traumatizing. Some have become venerated classics, although sadly, others have faded into obscurity. However, all of them are excellent. You have no doubt seen several of the movies on this list, but there are probably at least a few that are unfamiliar. Here are the 2. 0 Best Animated Films That Were Not Made By Disney. The Lego Movie. Lets be honest, The Lego Movie was kind of amazingLater this week, genrefocused streaming network Shudder will be releasing all four chapters of Neil Gaimans Likely Stories, shortfilm adaptations of strange and. Look, guys. This falls offering of books is huge. Huge. Were not even going to suggest reading all of these, unless you yourself are some kind of alien or. You sleep with your sawedoff shotgun across your lap and your fingers wrapped loosely around the handle of your machete because remember blades dont need. Disney may have set the bar when it comes to animated features, but there are plenty of other incredible movies that deserve just as much recognition. Its not just that the movie brilliantly employs pastiche and intertextuality, but its also a brilliant social satire. The Lego Movie lulls you into complacency just like its protagonist from the very beginning, with a bright, shiny world, set to the beat of one unstoppable hook. We recognize Emmetts prison of conformity, but it does indeed feel like Everything is Awesome However, the movie then proceeds to subvert just about every expectation that you had when it began. Aside from that, The Lego Movie is more enjoyable than a film about toys has any right to be. Its also got a solid message for kids and adults alike. Growing up doesnt have to mean becoming shackled to a life of monotony. There is no point in life at which we need to quash our creativity and become someone who we no longer recognize in favor of some bogus idea of what adulthood should look like. The Lego Movie reminds us just how important it is to have fun All Dogs Go to Heaven. Released in 1. 98. Don Bluths All Dogs Go to Heaven may be a bit disjointed, but that doesnt mean its not beloved. Cult Sci Fi Cartoons Moon Man here. The story of a bad dog who had to die before he could learn how to be a good one kicks off with just that the death of our protagonist, Charlie B. Barkin. Well, after he tunnels out of doggie death row, that is, and returns home to his drinking, gambling ways, only to be killed off by his duplicitous partner who set him up in the first place. All in all, pretty disturbing subject matter for children, no That was certainly a distinguishing characteristic of Bluths work. All Dogs Go to Heaven may not have always made narrative sense. However, it was a beautiful and heartbreaking meditation on love and loss. Charlie wasnt always likable, but a great protagonist doesnt have to be. In the end, he gave his life for Anne Marie and earned the spot in heaven that he had originally given up. Thats awesome, because the doggie hell depicted in the film is terrifying The Hobbit. Peter Jacksons overblown Hobbit trilogy may be the adaptation that springs to mind when people think of the landmark Tolkien novel, but this 1. RankinBass animated special was the one that the book deserved. At the time, the production company was most well known for their beloved stop motion Christmas classic, Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer. Peter Jacksons approach was perfect for adapting The Lord of the Rings trilogy and if he had taken some cues from this animated feature, as opposed to attempting to replicate his earlier success, The Hobbit might have had a more faithful live action adaptation. The cartoon not only embraced the musical aspects of the novel, but also the smaller scale of the story. Topcrafts gorgeous animation was perfected in subsequent efforts well get to that and the members of this Japanese team later reformed under Hayao Miyazaki as Studio Ghibli. The movie may have been made for children, but as with most of the animation of the time, it was never condescending, which is why it remains a classic for viewers of any age. Paprika. Satoshi Kons 2. This sci fi film was based on Yasutaka Tsutsuis 1. Christopher Nolans 2. Inception. Although Nolans film is hardly a rip off, the similarities between the two movies are impossible to miss. A machine that allows therapists to enter the dreams of their patients is stolen and the world descends into chaos. Like the dreams that act as the films basis, the movies logic isnt always apparent. However, none of that really matters, because Paprikas sumptuous visuals tested the limits of what animation was capable of, weaving dreams through reality with mind bending effect. Aside from that, it had an incredible score. The film was absolutely gorgeous, an unforgettable head trip in the best possible way. Wallace Gromit The Curse of the Were Rabbit. Wallace Gromits creator, Nick Park, is a legend in stop motion animation. The top two highest grossing stop motion animated films ever were his creations, Chicken Run and Wallace Gromit The Curse of the Were Rabbit. Both are excellent films, but weve chosen the latter for this list because of its titular stars, and also, because by this point Park had truly honed his meticulous craft. Released in 2. 00. The team had previously starred in several wonderful and award winning shorts, and with the immense success of Chicken Run, it was a no brainer to finally bring them to the big screen. Wallace and Gromit are undoubtedly two of the most lovable animated characters ever created. The film takes everything that made the shorts so special and expands on it, giving man and dog their greatest challenge yet. Of course, they faced it head on, making the world a little better and leaving our hearts a little lighter. Shrek. This delightful fairy tale satire did such a good job of slyly mocking Disney animated features that the film had to be screened by lawyers of Disney and Dream. Works in order to avoid lawsuits. Shrek was an important film, not just for how clever and heartwarming it was, but also for the fact that it saved Dream. Works Animation. It was because of Shreks success that the studio was able to go on to create several more prosperous franchises. Its hard to believe that the role of this lovable ogre originally went to Chris Farley, and that he had recorded the majority of the characters dialogue before his death in 1. Actually, the original idea for the film was for Bill Murray and Steve Martin to play Shrek and Donkey. At this point, it is impossible to imagine anyone other than Mike Myers and Eddie Murphy in those iconic roles. Released in 2. 00. Shrek not only deconstructs the idea of fairy tales, but also picks up those pieces and creates a new one. The tropes may be familiar, but the outcomes other than the happily ever after part are not what youd expect. The Land Before Time. The Land Before Time was released in 1. An American Tail. The Land Before Time was a truly beautiful film about friendship and love that also explored prejudice in a way that kids could understand. Like most of Bluths films, it was also fairly dark. The Land Before Time followed the journey of Littlefoot, a young Apatosaurus or Brontosaurus to those of us who grew up in the 8. Littlefoot was separated from his herd, and along with Cera, Ducky, Petrie, and Spike, searched for safety in the Great Valley. There are certainly similarities to Bambi and at the time, the film was often compared to the best of Disneys Golden Age. The movie elucidates hard truths, especially concerning death It is nobodys fault.