On March 27th, 2022, all eyes turned to Hollywood. That was the day the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences had its 94th awards ceremony, picking out what they considered to be the best of the best when it came to film and cinema as an art form. However, a certain comment made during the ceremony was met with controversy by fans of animation. This was when Halley Bailey, Lily James, and Naomi Scott stepped forward to present the award for Best Animated Feature Film.

“All these characters hold such a special place in our hearts, because animated films make up some of our most formative movie experiences as kids," Bailey said. “So many kids watch these movies over and over and over.”

Scott added,“I can see some parents out there know exactly what we’re talking about.”

While it was meant to be a funny quip, many in the animation industry found it offensive, as there are members of the animation guild who are currently fighting for better schedules and higher pay. The sad truth is that too many audiences and industry heads see animation as a medium that should only be directed to children. This is simply not true, as animation is a medium that is for everyone, all audiences, and all ages. To prove this, here is a list of five animated films from around the world, and from various periods in time and genres.

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5 Son of the White Mare

     Son of the White Mare

Country of Origin: Hungary

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Year: 1981

Son of the White Mare is an animated feature that is like watching a dream being painted in front of your eyes. Based on the Hungarian folk tale of the same name, Son of the White Maretells the story of Treeshaker, a child born from a mysterious white horse. As he grows and matures, the mare tells him the tale of a king who was overtaken by three dragons. The boy grows up and sets off to find his brothers, Stonecrumbler, and Ironrubber, who team up with him and go on a journey to face the dragons and save the kingdom. While this is a film based on a folk tale, it also features imagery that, while a feast for the eyes, can be very overwhelming and downright scary for young children. Characters move and transform in the blink of an eye, as well as get hacked to pieces or shout in booming voices. It’s a film that is a dream come true for those that have always wanted to see classic illustrations come to life.

4 Fantastic Planet

     Fantastic Planet

Country of Origin: France and Czechoslovakia

Year: 1973

Fantastic Planet is another feast for the eyes, but for those that also love all things weird and unnerving. Based on the 1957 novel Oms en série by Stefan Wul, Fantastic Planet tells the story of the relationship between man and alien, only the roles are reversed. On the planet Ygam, the giant blue creatures known as Traags have brought human beings from Earth and treat them as pets. The film opens up with our protagonist, Terr, who witnesses his mother’s death and is adopted by a young girl Traag. When the boy grows up, he escapes and finds a colony of other Oms (what Traags call humans on Ygam). Terr, through the help of stolen Traag technology, leads the colony on an escape plan to free themselves. The story of Fantastic Planetharkens to early science fiction like H.G. Wells The Time Machine, all set on a colorful yet brutal planet. The film also contains such scary imagery as blood, death, and dreamlike sequences that would dazzle more mature audiences but would easily frighten young children. It’s a must-see for anyone who considers themselves a fan of science fiction.

3 Ethel & Ernest

     Ethel and Ernest

Country of Origin: Britain

Year: 2016

While the first two entries utilize animation to present the weird and dreamlike, Ethel & Ernest utilizes animation to give a nostalgic look at the world before. Based on the graphic novel of the same name, Ethel & Ernest tells the true story of the titular characters, who happen to be the parents of British author and illustrator Raymond Briggs. The story follows the two characters from when they first meet in 1928, all the way to their deaths in 1971. We follow them as they court, find a house, make various renovations, try for a baby, and everything beyond. As we follow the small family, we see the events of the world through their eyes, sending their son away during the threat of World War II, getting a television in their home, even the mental anguish when they discover that their son wants to go to art school. Certain elements of such a mundane story might not be very appropriate, or enjoyable, for younger audiences. But for those that have an appreciation for the time periods, or just want to see the simple story of the lives of two ordinary people, this is a lovingly crafted film to feast your eyes on.

2 Mary & Max

     Mary and Max

Country of Origin: Australia

Year: 2009

Mary and Max is probably the closest on this list to something that could be considered a “family” film, though it is considered an adult-animated comedy-drama. The stop-motion film tells the story of a friendship between two pen pals from across the world: Mary, a little girl in Australia, and Max, a single man living in New York City. Mary is lonely, neglected by her mother, and just wants a friend. So, one day she pulls a random address out of the phone book and writes a letter to the name attached. That name happens to be Max. We follow the two throughout the years, as Mary grows up and Max discovers new things about himself. This is another film that younger audiences might find uninteresting, but adults especially might find eye-opening. One of the themes of the film is the struggles of the disabled, for it is revealed that Max has Asperger’s syndrome. The film follows Max as he copes with his mental health, and Mary as she tries to understand it (as well as making a hard mistake). The story’s theme is one of forgiveness and learning to love yourself, which is something adults especially need to hear. Mary and Max is a lovely story that gives a voice to those that are usually silenced in popular media.

1 Fritz the Cat

     Krantz Films

Country of Origin: United States of America

Year: 1972

The poster for this film proudly displays, “We’re not rated X for nothin’ baby,” and it wasn’t a lie. Based on the comics by Robert Crumb, Fritz the Catfollows our titular hero as he gets himself in and out of trouble for the sake of a little tail. Directed by Ralph Bakshi, in his feature directorial debut, the film follows Fritz as he drops out of college and off on an adventure. But just because this is a cartoon starring a talking cat, it doesn’t mean this is a Saturday morning show. The film covers all kinds of mature themes that were hot topics in the 1960s, such as race wars, counterculture, the free love moment, drug use, and more. Bakshi made the film as a means of showing how animation can be more than just for children, and because of his efforts Fritz the Cat was the first American animated feature film to receive an X rating. It’s an impressive romp through a dingy, dirty city, but also can be viewed as a unique time capsule into the politics of the time period.