Many of the best kids’ movies of all time are animated. It’s a style that’s remained relevant for decades, but the best animated films also offer something for adults, too. Whether it’s thanks to subtle in-jokes or mature themes, the greatest films in the genre have something for everyone, and many of those movies become household names.

While even casual moviegoers know the heavy-hitting animated titles, many other similar films never garner the same audience. A lack of buzz at release doesn’t necessarily speak to their quality, either. Some incredible movies never get the attention they deserve at the box office, and many great animated movies fall into that same category.

The titles on this list fell out of the conversation for numerous reasons. Some faded into obscurity through time. Others flopped at the box office or failed to find an audience due to external factors, like poor marketing or unclear trailers. It seems no studio is immune to release-day woes, either, and several Disney movies feature on the list despite their high quality.

Many of these films have received positive reception years after release, but remain rather obscure compared to a blockbuster classic. Whether you’re in the mood for a 2000s adventure epic or a blast from the past that remains relevant decades after its release, here’s a selection of exceptional animated movies that are wildly underrated.

10

Treasure Planet (2002)

We don’t typically associate Disney films with underrated projects, but 2002’s Treasure Planet famously flopped at the box office. It has since retained a cult following, boasting an animation style that still holds up today.

Treasure Planet tells the story of Jim Hawkins, who discovers a map to Treasure Planet. Hawkins meets a man named John Silver, who offers to help him on his quest, but that offer may come with unwanted strings attached.

The movie has a notably darker tone than many other Disney projects. It also explores relatable themes with jokes and plot lines that land for audiences of all ages.

9

Atlantis: The Lost Empire (2001)

Atlantis: The Lost Empire was released a year before Treasure Planet and suffered a similar fate at the box office, failing to attract a large audience. Still, the premiere performance doesn’t speak to the movie’s quality, and it remains a superb adventure film with an unlikely hero.

That hero is Milo, voiced by Michael J Fox. He’s a linguist, and joins a group of explorers to uncover the lost continent of Atlantis. However, he quickly realizes that his companions have different motivations than he does.

Atlantis: The Lost Empire is light on the musical elements you may expect from a Disney film. It’s a focused underwater sci-fi adventure with memorable characters, beautiful visuals, and a gripping story.

8

Anastasia (1997)

Anastasia is another impressive animated movie, this time, produced by Fox Animation Studios. Meg Ryan voices Anastasia, a young woman with a mysterious past. A con artist, Dimitri (John Cusack), makes her believe she may be part of the royal family, and the movie follows their adventure to meet the empress.

The journey would be straightforward, but Anastasia has a supernatural adversary, Rasputin (Christoper Lloyd), who makes it much more difficult. He’s a superb villain, and genuinely frightening at times, particularly for a younger audience.

Anastasia has everything you expect in a family-friendly movie. The animation is beautiful, the story is fast-paced, and the soundtrack is full of exceptionally catchy songs, including Rasputin’s unforgettable “In the Dark of the Night.”

7

Street Fighter II: The Animated Movie (1994)

Street Fighter II: The Animated Movie might seem like an odd inclusion, but it’s a remarkable movie for several reasons. It’s arguably among the best video game movie adaptations ever made, and stays faithful to the source material.

Fans of the games will enjoy seeing their favorite characters in action, and each fighter’s moves and mannerisms are impressively accurate. The attention to detail alone will be enough to please gaming audiences, but the movie also tells a surprisingly dark and gritty story that shows just how evil M. Bison is.

Even for an animated movie, the battles in Street Fighter II are beautifully choreographed. The fight scene between Chun-Li and Vega is particularly memorable for its visceral brutality, and even lesser-known fighters make an appearance.

6

The Rescuers Down Under (1990)

The Rescuers Down Under boasts an animation style ahead of its time and tells a grand adventure story with a threatening antagonist. Miss Bianca (Eva Gabor) and Bernard (Bob Newhart) are two mouse agents working for the Rescue Aid Society (R.A.S).

The duo embarks on a grand mission to rescue a young boy and a golden eagle from a ruthless poacher, Percival McLeach (George C. Scott). Their adventure takes them deep into the Australian outback, where our heroes enlist the help of many weird and wonderful allies.

The Rescuers Down Under is a fast-paced action-adventure sequel to the 1977 movie The Rescuers. It’s notably less reliant on songs than other Disney films of the time, and tells a surprisingly busy story.

5

The Road to El Dorado (2000)

The Road to El Dorado tells a tale about two con artists, Tulio (Kevin Kline) and Miguel (Kenneth Branagh). They find a map to a rumored city of gold and journey across the sea to claim their fortune.

Tulio and Miguel’s journey hits a snag when they wash up on a mysterious island. The island’s inhabitants believe they are gods, and the story becomes increasingly tense as their deception grows harder to maintain.

The jokes in The Road to El Dorado hold up well today, and the starring duo has great chemistry. The soundtrack is exceptional, and the entire film is full of quotable one-liners. Many people know of the movie for the “both, both is good,” meme, but that only scratches the surface.

4

Cloudy With A Chance Of Meatballs (2009)

Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs is a unique movie on this list as it’s made by Sony Pictures Animation. It stars Bill Hader as Flint Lockwood, a young scientific genius desperate for his big break.

The townsfolk have grown tired of Flint’s antics, but he quickly rises to stardom after creating a machine that can make any food rain from the sky. However, Flint never intended for the device to do what it does, and overuse could end in disaster.

Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs is full of slapstick humor and jokes that still hold up today. Mr. T is hilarious as Earl, the police officer, and the movie is also relatable, exploring Flint’s awkward relationship with his father.

3

Rise Of The Guardians (2012)

Rise of the Guardians features a wild cast of legendary guardians who spring into action when an evil spirit called Pitch starts filling children’s heads with nightmares.

Those guardians are of particular note, as they include beloved characters such as the Tooth Fairy and North, who looks suspiciously like Father Christmas. The movie explores the link between children and their guardians, and how Pitch’s plan could have grave consequences.

Rise of the Guardians offers a unique take on established characters and weaves them into a stylish fantasy story. The movie tells an action-packed tale while also exploring mature themes that adult audiences will appreciate.

2

Balto (1995)

Balto is loosely based on a true story, and stars Kevin Bacon as a dog named Balto. He’s a wolf-dog hybrid, which makes townsfolk and other dogs wary of him, no matter how hard he tries to win them over.

Despite how the town views Balto, he is still a sled dog. A disease outbreak sweeps across the village, forcing Balto and other dogs to embark on a treacherous journey to another town for medicine.

The route is fraught with danger, with Steele (Jim Cummings), a rival sled dog, adding to Balto’s woes. Balto tells a surprisingly emotional story, and many themes hit so hard because they are grounded and relatable. It remains a superb story of self-worth and a high-stakes adventure.

1

The Secret Of NIMH (1982)

The Secret of NIMH is an underrated animated classic. It’s also surprisingly mature for an animated movie aimed at kids, exploring themes that would resonate with an adult audience.

The movie focuses on the adventures of a field mouse called Mrs. Brisby. Her home is under threat from a farmer. To make matters worse, she’s also trying to care for her sick son, Timothy.

Brisby must conquer her fears and embark on a quest to find the rats of NIMH. These rats are special, as they are incredibly intelligent, and their mysterious world reflects that.

The Secret of NIMH is a high fantasy adventure film with dark, fairy tale visuals and adult themes of power struggles and sacrifice. It’s an emotionally heavy movie exploring themes we rarely see in animated projects.

Despite its dark themes, The Secret of NIMH does have moments of brevity that break up its emotional moments. It remains a must-watch for its story and incredible visuals, which still hold up more than 40 years later.